The I-Boat Raid and CPO Withdrawal adjustments are in play.
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POC: IJN +7
IJN Commentary: I was very lucky with my raids -
allowing only Tennessee (-4), San Francisco and New Orleans to survive and leave
Pearl. The first round was so good, I chanced a shot at 7th Air Force and got
it!
The dice in Indonesia gave me a clean sweep, shooting down 5th Air Force during
the raid and sinking both Prince of Wales and Repulse in a round 1 day
engagement.
My normal IJN strategy with raid results this good is to put extreme pressure on
the Allies, going all out for Hawaii and the US Mandate. Jon is very good,
especially as the Allies. He whipped me soundly in my opening game last year at
the MWO as (you guessed it) the Allies! (See the MWO site for picture
http://mysite.verizon.net/john_sharp/VITP/MWO.html ) I will have to be very
careful with Jon not to get hurt when I stick the IJN neck out.
Still, I WILL pressure him, rather than let him pressure me.
USN Comments: The sinking of the LBA at Pearl
changes my turn 2 thinking. Luckily, I get a couple of battleships out of Pearl
after John has a fantastic first round.
IJN Commentary: Jon knows his way around the
board as the Allies, and will take advantage of every opportunity I give him,
and more!
I patrol Hawaii and the US Mandate fairly heavily and send single cruisers
elsewhere. I intend to hold the Marshalls, South Pacific and Indonesia with LBA,
but realize Jon might try to hold Indo and prevent conversion of Singapore, Lae
and the Philippines. I decide four LBA in Indonesia is the minimum, and send one
each to the Marshalls and South Pacific. I deployed two LBA with my patrols, and
knew Jon had sent both his LBA to Indonesia before placing the remaining four
LBA. Jon has an opportunity to block, but isn't defending Hawaii or the US
Mandate with LBA.
Jon patrols strongly, sending three CA to the Marshalls and two CAs to the South
Pacific. Single CAs patrol the North Pacific and Coral Sea. The typical British
sail into Indonesia, supported by the two LBA, to my surprise!
Yokosuka heads for Johnston Island. Sasebo goes for Dutch Harbor.
IJN raiders go 100% to Hawaii and the US Mandate. Even the two CVLs from
Yokosuka both make their speed rolls into Hawaii, giving me six flattops in
Hawaii and five in the US Mandate. In retrospect, I should have added a CVL to
the Marshalls instead of being so strong in both Hawaii and the US Mandate.
Jon responds with three CVs to the Marshalls to try for the block. In addition,
Yorktown sneaks into the Johnston Island area for a possible suicide shot at
Yokosuka! Jon's last CV challenges the lone LBA in the South Pacific. Surface
raiders hit the Aleutians, Central Pacific and the Coral Sea.
The I-Boat tries to help in the Marshalls.
In the day-night rolls, Jon gets his night in Indonesia, against the flag,
retreating his Brits and saving his LBA for Turn 3.. I win the Marshalls night I
need, but the I-Boat whiffs. In the South Pacific, the sun shines brightly,
allowing the 23rd Air Flotilla to sink Lexington without being shot down in
return. Day in the Coral Sea allows the 118 patroller to retreat to Truk in
safety. In the Aleutians, Jon gets night and loses Louisville, while putting
three damage on Sasebo and disabling it to Truk. Day-night in the Central
Pacific is night for all practical purposes, and the IJN patroller is sunk with
no US losses. In Hawaii, the climactic battle of the turn, Jon gets day, and
Yorktown, sensing her fate, gets four (4) hits for twenty-one (21) damage
against Yokosuka! Yorktown slides beneath the surface of the sea, a sea littered
with IJN Royal Marine bodies and gear.
This round is awful for the IJN. The Allied block now rests on the outcome of
the lopsided battle in the Marshalls.
Round 2 sees three damage inflicted on the lonely 24th Air Flotilla in the
Marshalls. In return, the IJN fliers can only disable Enterprise. In the
Aleutians, both sides whiff.
In Round 3, the LBA whiffs and Jon's two CVs kill the 24th, setting up the
block, while in the Aleutians, Astoria and Oi are each disabled.
This turn ends with both Hawaii and the US Mandate flagged, but no way for the
IJN to patrol Hawaii. Nicely done, Jon.
Singapore, the Philippines and Lae flip to red.
POC after Turn 2 is IJN +16
Allied Commentary: We have a game!
Usually I defend USM with 3 LBA and go after the CVLs. This game I try to
exert pressure on Indo with the hope of drawing 5LBA, making it easier to block
in SPO and Marshalls. I would prefer not to use a suicide carrier if possible.
John doesn't overreact to my LBA and I chose not to gamble the game on a big
Indo battle. The NE corner can be saved with purely surface ships. The HI and
USM were untouchable. That left me with the Marshalls block. I hedged my bets by
sending a carrier to fight the lone LBA in SPO. This would enable me to continue
to play if the suicide carrier didn't accomplish its mission and I won in SPO.
Lost 2 CVs, but saved Pearl and the NE corner. Getting past the first few turns
seems to be the biggest hurdle for an allied player. John had about a 1/4 chance
of basically winning the game on this turn.
IJN Commentary Hampered by the Block, I have to
modify my T3 strategy. In 15+ years of play, this is only the second time I have
had the block work against my IJN, so I'm in fairly new territory
Conversion of Samoa is my primary objective, and I'd like to increase POC if I
can. However, Jon will make that as difficult as he can.
My IJN send six CA to the US Mandate and single CAs to the other areas
patrolled: Japanese Islands, Aleutians, Central Pacific, Marianas and Coral Sea.
LBA handle Indonesia (3), South Pacific (1) and the Marshalls (1). Jon sends
single CAs to the Aleutians and North Pacific, and two CAs to the Coral Sea. His
LBA split, one to Hawaii and five (5) to the US Mandate. Gonna be a fight in the
US Mandate this turn!
Kure heads for Midway, while the 1st & 2nd Marines stay in port.
IJN raiders split and support patrols in the Aleutians, Central Pacific and US
Mandate. A lone 118 tries to snatch the POC from Jon for the North Pacific. Jon
hits the Japanese Islands, North Pacific, Marianas and Coral Sea with surface
raiders. Jon sends his three CVs into the South Pacific against the 25th Air
Flotilla. The I-Boat supports the 25th.
Day-night rolls for Round 1 result in day in the South Pacific, in which three
damage are scored on the 25th Air Flotilla. The 25th disables Hornet. I might
have a chance here! The I-Boat hits Enterprise for.........1 damage. In
Indonesia, day allows the IJN to sink Indomitable, hit Formidable for 1 damage,
and disable Illustrious. Jon's Brit CVs whiff, and the fleet retreats to Ceylon.
In the Coral Sea, day allows Suzuya to beat a hasty retreat to Truk, outrunning
her slower pursuers. Night in the Marianas sees Mogami sunk by Idaho. In the
Japanese Islands, Kitakami is disabled, ending the battle. In the Aleutians, day
reigns, allowing Hiyo to sink Vincennes. In the North Pacific, everyone whiffs,
extending the fight another round. It's day in the US Mandate. Sasebo is sunk,
while in return, 7th & 11th Air Forces are shot down and 2 damage inflicted on
5th Air Force. With the invasion of New Hebrides stopped, Jon's remaining Allied
LBA retreat from the US Mandate.
Round 2 - South Pacific day sees Enterprise (-1) sunk, but the wounded 25th
succumbs and the area falls. In the North Pacific, Tone sinks Astoria, stealing
one POC. Tone is hit for 1 damage and disabled in return.
POC goes up only one (1) to 17, but I now have something of a perimeter between
Hawaii and my interior. Samoa converts by isolation.
Turn 4 will be a challenge, but at least Jon's forces will be split. With Hornet
disabled to Hawaii, Jon will have at most 1 CV on the west side of my line of
flags. I might be able to handle that and still make progress taking territory
and gaining POC. Two CVs in the east will be easier to handle, too.
USN Comments: I would like to save Samoa this
turn, but I am unwilling to sacrifice too much for it. The LBA will have to fend
for themselves. I also place an LBA in HI to score the POC. John has a good
round against my LBA, so I decide to sink his SNLF and run. I need to save my
LBA in case he tries for a KO in 5 strategy.
I take what John gives me. Namely, attrition and POC. I know John is playing a
good game because I find myself consistently attacking LBA to obtain my
objectives. I hate attacking LBA!!! He sinks 1CV and disables another leaving
only 1CV behind his flags in the Marshalls and CPO.
I send the british into Indo hoping to get lucky. Best case senario, 4 POC
swing. Worse case scenario, I lose all the british 027s. The 2 027s are going to
Europe anyway, might as well try to sink a few LBA.
IJN Commentary: After 3 turns, POC is only 17.
Jon has been able to keep too many bases, and saved Pearl Harbor. Samoa is mine,
but I'll have to grab New Hebrides to keep it. And, the point swing is less with
Samoa than with Pearl.
This turn, I want to set up the perimeter, and clean up some bases. I must
increase POC, as Jon is very capable of coming back during the last three turns.
If I want a fairly free hand, I have to threaten Pearl. That's the only way to
pin Jon's LBA into one area.
IJN patrols focus on areas where I plan to support them later with CV/CVLs.
Single CAs go to North Pacific, Central Pacific and the Coral Sea. Pairs of CAs
cover the Aleutians and Marshalls. Four 127s patrol Hawaii and three BBs patrol
South Pacific. My 5 LBA scatter: Japanese Islands (1), Indonesia (1), Marianas
(1) and US Mandate (2), to secure the most POC. Jon can challenge one but not
more. I want to tempt Jon, but not make it easy.
Allied patrols are slim - two CAs to the North Pacific, two green CAs to the
Coral Sea. A damaged LBA cruises the icy clouds off the Aleutians, and five (5)
defend Hawaii.
IJN sends Yokosuka to the Coral Sea, to close out New Hebrides. I choose Coral
Sea because I can outnumber Jon here with certainty. In the US Mandate, he MIGHT
get a wrap and sink the SNLF. I don't even consider taking that chance. Because
he saved Pearl Harbor, Jon's two Marines are free. 1st Marines heads for Midway,
2nd goes into the Marshalls.
The IJN supports patrols in the Aleutians (two fast CVs), Central Pacific (three
CV/CVLs, three BBs), Marshalls (three CV/CVL, three BBs), South Pacific (two CV/CVLs,
two CAs) and Coal Sea (two CVLs, two BBs, three CAs). I have fair-sized forces
in each area, and flags where it ought to count.
Jon sends Allied raiders to the Aleutians, North Pacific and Marshalls. The
three CVs in the Marshalls look like good targets to me - but Jon wraps me if he
can beat the day-night roll against the flag.
The I-Boat slips into the Marshalls, hoping for a carrier or a fat attack
transport full of Marines.
Combat
Marshalls - Jon beats the flag, getting pure night. His BBs sink all three IJN
CV/CVLs, and disable Fuso and Ashigara. IJN fire disables three BBs and sinks
San Francisco. Not a good omen, to start the combat round! The I-Boat tries for
2nd Marines, gets a hit, and scores.........2 damage. The Marines take Kwajalein.
The remaining three IJN ships scatter, and Jon's Allied pursuit sinks two while
crippling the third to Yokosuka. Disaster in the Marshalls.
Hawaii - Jon gets day, but only disables two of the IJN CAs. The others withdraw
on a hurry!
North Pacific is day, allowing Mikuma to retreat to Truk.
Aleutians is day, Hiryu & Shokaku shoot down the damaged 5th Air Force. The 5th
disables Hiryu in return. Round 2 sees Jon once again get pure night against the
flag. Shokaku is sunk, along with Kitakami. New Mexico goes down, and Oi runs.
In the pursuit, New Orleans is sunk and Oi disabled, to end the Aleutians
fighting.
Central Pacific saw night and the 1st Marines sunk by the fire of the small IJN
fleet.
Indonesia was day by agreement, with Hermes squaring off against the 21st Air
Flotilla. Hermes is disabled, missing the 21st.
What a disaster! Yes, New Hebrides falls, and POC goes to IJN +27, so I'll
likely max. However, the IJN lose four (4) CV/CVL, a BB and two CA. Kwajalein
falls, and there are still holes in the perimeter. Jon is making the IJN earn
every POC! And, his knack of getting night against the flag in key areas hurts.
USN Comments: John scores big points with his
LBA. He tries to form a perimeter with his fleet split between CPO and Marshalls.
I have to punch a hole somewhere. I chose the Marshalls because 1)allows access
to SPO and opportunity to protect Guadl next turn, 2)Fleet based in Guadl can
participate, 3)If raid into Aleutians successful I'll be able to raid into JI
from there.
I was prepared to sacrifice my remaining CVs with the hope that the marine would
be able to take Kwaj and force a permanent hole in his perimeter. Luckily, night
comes up in Marshalls and his CVs are sunk in the wrap. Pursuit sinks some
surface for roughly even attrition.
The hermes sails out to Indo to try and steal 3 POC. If John is only going to
send out 1 LBA, the hermes will sail out every turn till it's sunk. I'm not
concerned about losing the hermes because Indo will be held with 1 LBA, hermes
or not.
IJN Commentary: Jon's Allies have been picking
me apart, forcing holes in the IJN perimeter. Jon's ability to win those crucial
day/night rolls is hurting me badly. So far in this game, we have had eleven
(11) day/night rolls where the IJN wanted day with the flag (+2) and the Allies
went in for night against the flag (+0). Jon won eight (8) of those eleven, and
lost three (3)! Not bad rolling!
I have to try to close some holes, gain a couple of POC and try to clean up some
of the blue island bases still holding out. Jon controls Dutch Harbor and Attu,
and has preserved Guadalcanal.
IJN patrols seek to hold some areas and force Jon to use his LBA in defense.
Single cruisers patrol the Japanese Islands, Marianas, North Pacific, Central
Pacific and Coral Sea. A pair of 118s patrol Hawaii, while Mutsu, Nagato (fails
SR) & Aoba steam for the Aleutians. LBA cover US Mandate (2), South Pacific (1),
Marshalls (1) and Indonesia (1).
Jon sends Allied patrols to Indonesia (many Brits), Marianas (117), US Mandate
(117) and North Pacific (117). Allied LBA fly over the Aleutians (1), Hawaii
(2), Marshalls (1), South Pacific (1) and Coral Sea (4).
Sasebo and Kure make for the Aleutians. 3rd Marines leaves Pearl for the North
Pacific.
IJN raiders move in force to the Aleutians and Marshalls. CVLs support Central
Pacific and the Marianas.
Jon sends the Allied raiders to clobber me where the IJN is weakest. Wasp fails
her speed roll into the Marianas, so surface only forces hit the Marianas, North
Pacific and Japanese Islands. CVs push into the South Pacific to support the
Naval Air Force. Victorious and escorts challenge the Central Pacific.
The I-Boat slips into the North Pacific, hunting troop transports.
Combat
South Pacific looks overwhelming for the 23rd Air Flotilla. They retreat under
cover of darkness.
Daylight shines in the Marshalls, but it takes two rounds to down the veteran
7th Air Force, with no losses to the IJN.
In the Marianas, Jon gets night against the flag, sinking Zuiho and disabling
Kako.
Central Pacific sees a day round, and Junyo gets Victorious. Round 2 is
day-followed-by-night. Massachusetts is disabled in the day, Junyo hit for 2
damage in the following night. Finally, Junyo is disabled, and Oi gets away
after sinking Houston.
Indonesia sees Hermes take on the 24th Air Flotilla. It takes 3 rounds of day
combat before Hermes is hit for 2 damage and finally disabled by the 24th.
Night in the Japanese islands (against the flag!) sees North Carolina hit for 2
damage, while Furutaka is blown to little tiny slivers of steel by the Allied
BBs.
In the Aleutians, RAAF is shot down, and hits Kure for...........2 damage. Kure
takes Dutch harbor. Sasebo waits to see if 3rd Marines survives the I-Boat
torpedoes.
North Pacific sees day, so the I-Boat can shoot and Kumano can decide if she
must sacrifice herself to steal the POC. If 3rd Marines fails to grab Dutch
Harbor, Kumano will retreat. If 3rd survives, Kumano stays for a shot at
Wichita. The I-Boat gets a hit! For 3 damage. =:>( Kumano stays to try for the
POC steal. She cannot survive the BBs fire, but if she gets lucky... Even that
fails, for she hits Wichita for 1 damage and is sunk in return.
Hawaii in daylight results in one IJN CA sunk, one running.
In the US Mandate, Australia is hit twice and sunk in bright sunshine.
Coral Sea is day, and the 26th Air Flotilla misses the 14th AF. The 26th is shot
down, and Ashigara retreats.
This turn is a disaster! Jon pops more holes in the never-established perimeter,
and gains two POC! Only poor shooting has saved my fleet.
POC is IJN +25
USN Comments: Obtained raiding lane through CPO. Try and keep POC down with raids in JI, Mari, SPO. I get lucky again with D/N rolls and sink a CVL and max damage Junyo. I like the idea of sailing a large surface force behind Vicky. It gives me 2 rounds to get night without putting an American CV at risk.
USN Comments: 5 POC swing possible with combat in Mari, NPO, USM, and Aleutians. I get lucky and win every area. I only need 13 adjusted poc on turns 7-8.
USN Comments: I avoided disaster in the SPO by sinking his marines and John conceeds. A well played game by John. He had opportunities to ice the game on turns 2 (block) and 4 (pure night in the marshalls).
Final POC +3 USN Raw, +7 USN adjusted
IJN Report: Jon seems to have my number over the last two years, boasting a 3-0 record against me. He played a perfect Allied game.