The I-Boat Raid, North Pacific Option, Reinforcement Flexibility, and West Coast Bases adjustments are in play.
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Allied Report: Andy does a typical IJN
deployment. The OK, W V/-4, NV/-4 and 7th AF escape the Pearl raid.
Only the Repulse/-2 gets away from the Indonesia raid. The I Boat puts 2d on
the Hermes. I get lucky when Gp W shows up in the NPO to give me a POC. Gps X
& Z show up in the HI while Y comes in on T2. I decide to send all 4 CVs to
Australia to maximize the T2 Indo pressure. POC goes to 6.
Allied Report: I brought the T2 reinforcements in at Pearl. Andy put out the usual IJN full court press with his patrols along with 4 LBA in Indonesia – probably to discourage any Allied challenges there.
The Hermes repairs a point of damage. The crippled NV does not repair in case Andy raids a CV into the CS and I’m too busy elsewhere to fight him off.
I considered everything from 3 Indo LBA to sprinkling them around. But in the end I decided to protect the USM. The T3 US BBs & marines will come in at Samoa and I didn’t want an IJN flag there to lock them in. My patrollers are relatively light so I can respond to whatever evil intentions Andy has. He decides on a one area attack with carriers protecting his perimeter.
I had a number of options for my raiders. I didn’t like HI because of the big IJN surface advantage. Indo was tempting. But the odds were with the IJN & I was afraid I would lose a couple US CVs and still not be successful. It’s a game winner if I hit the jackpot. But I don’t like hoping to get lucky. Losing a couple CVs for 2 or 3 LBA would not be worth it in my mind. I generally don’t like the 40% chance of failure of the suicide CV in the HI. I also thought about just ducking Andy’s air entirely & just going for surface attrition risking only the IB at a CV. But I was afraid I might not get that much attrition & I was reluctant to surrender all that territory.
So I finally decided to go for the Marshalls. If I control the Marshalls, it will threaten conversion next turn. And of course, there will be the threat of a marine invasion next turn. I’m hoping I don’t lose 2 CVs (although I easily could) and 3 would be a disaster.
The turn did not go that well for me as Andy’s first round Marshalls air attack sunk the Hornet & Enterprise. My 16 shots at the 26th all whiffed but the Hiryu went down from my last 4 air strikes. Fortunately the IB missed. Andy ran & I lost a CA while sinking the Mutsu, crippling the Nagato and holding the area. In the other areas, I lost 4 CAs and the flags in both the NPO & CS while only sinking 2 CAs in return.
So it was not a good turn for the Allies losing 2 CVs to 1 for the IJN, 5 surface ships to 3 for the IJN and POC climbing to 15.
IJN Report: Nothing exciting about my pats. I set them up to be flexible during my raiding stage. If Ed guards the USM with just 2 LBA, I'm going after it(along with HI). Since we are playing with option 3, it would be very nice to lock down both Allied home areas so that the T3 marines are contained. And if a big fight occurs, all the better for the IJN! The IJN love even attrition and should never be afraid to keep letting their surface ships duke it out with the weaker USN fleet, even if the Allies have a couple of LBA's still around...just keep pounding the USN fleet. It will serve you better in the end game!
As far as other moves, I am not beyond sending some pressure into the CS if I feel the need. And I think Ed knows this! After Ed's pats, I send him this message: "Kinda sneaky of you not repairing NV(4d). I would have liked to have paid her a visit! But I guess you know I often toss a carrier that way. (-;"
I place 4 LBA with my pats into Indo to try to send a message that I will not be caught short of LBA. They will be needed there anyway as Ed has loaded up Aust. with 4 CV's! Ed's 3xLBA's go to the USM so I should be fine in Indo. My other two LBA go to the SPO and Marshalls.
I so dearly wish to visit the Somoan people that I still think about an attack there even though Ed has placed all three of his LBA there. However, I quickly discard the notion as too risky and pursue a plan of flag defenses that I hope will net USN CV's and cause bases to flip. Ed's move of 4 CV's to Aust. leaves the N.E. corner more vunerable and I will try to expolit it(Just like any sneaky Japanesse admiral would). It was this line of thinking that led me to place the Sasebo NLF into the AI as I wish to overload the capabilities of that single PH based carrier (Saratoga).
During my raiders, I setup many killing zones in all the perimeter areas. The Marshalls is the weakest(It should be able to rid me of Ed's pats if he goes for the block or get me some CV attrition if not) but I couldn't guard everywhere! The AI even gets the Soryu to give me 3 free bonus shots(and perhaps 6 total) at the Saratoga(she would be there to try to save DH and would have to direct her fire toward Sasebo) or to escort Sasebo into DH. Having a carrier there also gets the USN thinking twice about sending CA's up there to save Attu "On the cheap".
Ed raids the Marshalls with all 5 CV's and several BB's. His CA's go for attrition in CS and NPO. I don't mind this to much as it will allow me to flip several bases(Lae and perhaps the entire N.E.). I will also get about 50/50 shots at decontrolling the CS and NPO. And since Yokosuka will invade Johnston, I will be able to shoot at CV's in the Marshalls.
The pref rolls bring at least some day to all the areas(SPO was a D/N). We both had no choice but a night action in the NPO.
I had a stellar first rd of fire as Enterprise, Hornet and 2xCA are sunk. After suffering through two games of only sinking a total of two USN carriers(I lost a whopping 18 carriers in those 2 games in a combined 7 turns), this was a big lift for my airmen! I also manage to cash in on both 50/50 shots and decontrol the CS and NPO. My lucky dice have given me an edge. Ed's luck was not as good. An extreme example of that was 16 shots, directed at the 26th, failed to register a single hit. He does sink Hiryu, Mutsu and cripples the Nagato in the Marshalls. Mutsu sunk a cruiser just before being sunk herself. Ed ends up holding the Marshalls for the block as I run for the hills thanking my lucky stars that the 26th is still alive!
In the end we each will get something out of the turn. Ed has a potential spot for his Samoa based T3 marines and a hot spot in the Marshalls. I gain a whole lot of bases, POC and some positive attrition. I give the turn to the IJN. I'll see how the next turns go but it is my best start in some time. POC goes to 15.
Allied Report: Andy repairs Nagato and patrols pretty much as expected with a big push for the HI. I repair the NV in Australia & the Hermes. I decide to only send 1 patroller to the Marshalls because Andy will protect it with more than I will be able to challenge if I patrol it too heavily. My LBA all defend the HI so as to draw his fire power there and away from other areas. My main decision is what to do with the marines. I finally decide I need them in the HI also or else Andy will be able to divert too much of his stuff to raid other areas.
Most of his raiders go to the HI. But the Kaga fails it’s SR & goes to YNY out of harms way. I decide to make a push in the Marshalls. I don’t really expect to be able to control the area, but my patroller will likely divert some fire away from my carriers.
It’s D/N in the Marshalls. Rats, I wanted a pure D. Luckily Andy whiffs against a CV & Canberra. I decide to divert 1 CV attack to the Kirishima. It’s another whiff against his LBA (now 24 shots and counting – aarrgh!) but I do sink the BC. The IB whiffs again. Whew! Not taking any chances Andy obliterates the Canberra with shots from both LBA. I finally manage to down an LBA and Andy runs.
I get some luck with a pure D in the HI. Andy sends 8 bonus shots against each marine sinking 1 & damaging/disabling the other. He downs an LBA while I manage to sink the Soryu & Junyo. I decide to stay for one more round hoping to sink another carrier or two. Bad decision! Andy sinks 2 LBA while I can only put 1 damage point on the Ryujo. Aargh again!! So I withdraw.
No luck for me in the SPO or CPO either as the Australia is sunk & Mikuma runs away during D. POC goes to 19.
Allied Report: I based all 3 CVs, several CAs & the 5 speed NC in Australia at the end of T3 to threaten the JI & Marianas. Andy patrols as expected, threatening control of the USM to make my LBA behave. But I'm surprised to see 1 of his LBA go to the SPO. Andy may have been keeping the USM option open & hoped the 1 LBA might hold the SPO if he sent his raiders there. I put 3 in the USM so a big carrier commitment would be required if he decided to raid there. I put 2 in the SPO in case he does raid the USM. If he protects the SPO, I hope to my LBA get to shoot. I can afford to lose them, as I will have 8 next turn. In retrospect I probably should have only placed 1 in the SPO & put the other in the CS.
Andy plays conservative with the SPO/Guad sending all 3 SNLFs there. My damaged marine sails to Indonesia hoping for N to take the Philippines. Andy uses the flag defense in several areas and sends a BB to threaten the CS 2 POC. I'm interested in preserving POC and my CVs. The HI is just too tempting and I decide to go for that instead of a risky chance to control Indo. Besides I might get the Philippines and the HI. The Yorktown avoids any air attack & tries to protect the CS POC. My surface fleet is looking for N in the Marianas & Marshalls to knock out his patrollers. I get some good luck as all 4 BBs make their SRs to the Marianas.
The key D/N rolls all go Andy's way. He gets the pure N in the SPO taking Guad & pure D in Indo, Marshalls & Marianas. I do get some luck in the HI & CS as we shoot down the 22nd AirFlot and sink the Kongo for the cost of the Quincy getting nicked for 1 pt of damage. So both flags are mine.
Hosho whiffs during a first round Marshalls action. The next round is D/N assuring both IJN ships will get to shoot at my patroller. Hosho comes through disabling Chicago and Oi puts 2d on OK before being sunk along with Hosho.
But the rest of the battles go against me. My 3 USM LBA all whiff on his CAs. Indo is pure D and all IJN air strikes are directed at the 1 Mar sinking her. The Brits & IB whiff. I decide to run to preserve the Brits as I'm worried about some D rounds sinking the Brit CVLs. I couldn't win the area and wanted them to help out on T5. But I'm not sure that was the best move.
The Marianas turns ugly for me. Andy rattles off 8 pure D actions in a row. He sinks the SD & wrecks the IN. It probably would have been worse if he had shot at my CAs as he would have sunk 4 of them. FINALLY on R9, I get a pure N action. But my 13 shots don't score a single hit on Shoho only disabling her. Adding insult to injury, I whiff on the Kinugasa. ARGH#$&*%. The next round is small consolation as Kinugasa is blasted into little bits for no cost. Where were those hits last round??? Sigh.
POC goes to 21.
Allied Report: Andy surprises me with a big HI surface patrol. More typically the IJN fleet guards the SPO. This is a nice move as it neatly makes it difficult to challenge him and get Johnston Island or flip Pearl. His LBA patrol the rest of his perimeter. The only Allied advantage to not having any forward bases, is there are lots of LBA to patrol the few areas we can. Ugh. I do repair 3 BBs in Samoa and Repulse in Ceylon for the big fight to come.
My biggest dilemma is what to do with my marines that had based in Samoa. I’m afraid Andy might raid more carriers to the SPO than I will want to tangle with if I send them there. So I finally decide to go for a Marshalls base. Andy may shoot at my carriers letting me have a base with another marine positioned to move further inside his perimeter next turn. And I need a forward base for my slow-slug BBs.
Andy responds pretty much as expected with raiders backing up key areas. I have to raid the Marianas to clear a raiding lane to the JI from the Marshalls next turn. And I have to have the Marshalls. My BBs have to SR to the Marianas so I need to send enough CAs to give me surface protection. And I need CAs in the Marshalls to patrol the Marianas & CPO next turn. Ugh. I don’t think that leaves me with enough to raid the NPO.
Thankfully all 3 BBs make their SRs to the Marianas. I hope for N somewhere but Andy owns the D/N roller again as there is daylight everywhere. Zuikaku & Yorktown sink each other in the Marianas. Andy runs & I only pursue Musashi with the 3 BBs. Musashi sinks the MA before being sunk by return fire. I was hoping for better than a trade of ships, but no luck there.
Andy sinks the Formidable and whiffs on the Hermes while the Brits whiff. Rats. I decide to stick around hoping for a N, but no dice again. Andy sinks Hermes & wounds Ramillies with air strikes. But Hermes comes through sinking the Ryujo! OK, that helps. The Brits turn tail & head back to Ceylon.
In the Marshalls, Andy has to decide what to shoot at and picks the carriers. But he whiffs while Zuiho is sunk and the 26th AirFlot is shot down. The I Boat goes for the Wasp & whiffs. Except for damaging Hermes on T1, Andy’s I Boat has whiffed every turn. That has been a big help. OK, I have the flag & a forward base!
The Wichita is sunk in the SPO. POC goes to 27. That will be tough but not impossible to overcome. The IJN flag in the SPO means my T6 carriers can’t reach Indo which hurts. But 3 CVs do base at Kwaj.
Allied Report: Andy makes a fine move putting out large surface patrols in the JI & Indo. I don’t have enough to patrol the areas I need to and challenge him in a surface battle in one of those areas. I put out patrols in the obvious areas. His LBA make my life more difficult by splitting between the HI & SPO. His marines move to Indo to protect the Philippines & Lae. Kure moves from Johnston Isl to the NPO out of harms way.
I decide to send both Samoa-based marines to the SPO & the Kwaj based marine to the Marianas. I hope to convert Pearl by isolation & gain Saipan/Guad by invasion.
Andy makes another fine move backing up his LBA with carriers. I don’t think I can let Andy have Indo & either the SPO or HI. The odds of taking Indo away look worse than taking both SPO and HI. Fighting lots of IJN LBA on T6 is something I really really hate to do because they come back for T8 and my sunk carriers do not. But I think it is my best choice so into the cauldron I go.
Andy continues to get the D/N roll as it is pure D in both areas again. To make matters worse, Andy has a good round of shooting. Saratoga/B Wood are sunk & Lex is nicked for 1 damage in the SPO. In the HI, Wasp/CV16 are sunk and Essex disabled.
In the SPO I decide to shoot only at his LBA & hope to down both and/or get a N to take out his carriers next round. We do down the 23rd AirFlot which still gives us a chance. In the HI, we get some luck as the 22nd, 25th and Shokaku are sunk plus we ding the 24th for 1 damage. The odds look good for me there.
Things take a bad turn in the SPO though as the I Boat comes through for Andy sinking the Lexington. I’m now down to two 2-bangers facing an LBA and 2 carriers. I decide not to land my marines – a decision I will regret as it turns out.
I really need a N in the SPO next round. But it is not to be as it is pure D – again! Andy disables both my carriers, one with damage. (I sure wish I could have disabled them to Guad where they could threaten the JI.) So I’m down to my last 4 shots at his LBA. Eureka, they manage to come through for me as the 21st is shot down!! This time my marines do land at Guad. In the HI, Andy whiffs with his last LBA before it is shot down. OK, I own the HI.
Back in the SPO for R3, I finally get the D/N roll as it is pure N. Whew!! Andy’s BBs come through for him as both my patrollers are disabled. But we sink both carriers & Ise is disabled with damage. Hyuga is sunk for no cost in the next round. Getting both of my patrollers was big for Andy, because now I can’t flip Truk next turn. That makes my basing for T8 a lot more difficult.
If I had failed in either the SPO or HI, I would have had some bleak prospects. But I got some luck that at least keeps me in the game. POC goes to 24.
Allied Endgame Comment: Congratulations Andy on your win. It was a foregone conclusion after T7, unless a miracle happened … which it did not. I thought you played a very good game making life difficult for me all the way. I always enjoy playing you even if I don’t like the result at times like this.