Turn 1

Turn 2

Turn 3

Turn 4

Turn 5

Turn 6

Turn 1

USN Report: One damaged BB (a 553 with 2 damage), one CA, and the 7th AF (with 2 damage) got out of Pearl Harbor alive while both British BB made it out of Indonesia (with 4 and 2 damage respectively).  That's not too far off of the average, but the damage on the 7th AF will mean I need to be careful next turn -- even more than usual.  Fortunately, 3 CVs come on the board and take station in Australia to maximize the pressure on Indonesia next turn.  Unfortunately, none go to the NPO, so the IJN gets the regular 7 PoC.

Sunk

5-5-3 Maryland
4-5-3 Tennessee
4-5-3 California
4-4-3 Arizona
4-4-3 Pennsylvania
4-4-3 Nevada
4-4-3 Oklahoma
1-1-7 San Francisco
2-4-* 5th A.F.

IJN gains the standard 7 PoC.

Turn 2

USN Comment: Mike has often gone with a conservative turn two attack -- going mainly after the Hawaiians with small attacks/feints in the Coral Sea and U.S. Mandate.  As a result, I decided to go with a more aggressive LBA placement -- with only two LBA in the U.S. Mandate -- figuring that will keep the IJN away.  My other patrols, 1 CA in SPO, 3 CA in Marshalls, and 1 BB in Coral Sea, are all conservative.

However, Mike decides to go for the Mandate in a serious way -- leaving only the Marshalls and SPO as weak spots (but covering the Marshalls with enough surface ships to make an Allied block unlikely).  It's an excellent move.  In retrospect, I should have kept the 3rd LBA in the Mandate too.

I decide to take a big risk to compensate -- sending two naked CVs to the Mandate.  Provided the flag (and the +2) give me a pure daylight action (72%), I should save the U.S. Mandate without exposing my fleet to a meat-grinder situation (where I win the area but only have 1 LBA left -- allowing the IJN fleet to wait for several night actions).  My odds are only slightly ahead of even if a day/night occurs, but it's total disaster if it's a pure night (17%).  Although risky, I hope to sink three IJN CV here -- which will force the IJN to use LBA to convert Pearl Harbor next turn (and make the rest of the ocean a lot safer for the USN).

I also send three CVs (including my two strongest) to the South Pacific against a single LBA -- where I'm heavily favored to win in a single round and the odds of losing a CV are around 50%.  With any luck, I'll have three CVs operating out of Guadalcanal next turn.  I include another CA -- to enable me to patrol the Marianas from Guadalcanal next turn (or move through the Marianas if my LBA gets lucky).  I send my surface fleet to CPO to save Midway.  I figure I can last enough rounds to get a night action and sink the Junyo.

The overall move is designed to kill 4 IJN CV and 1 IJN LBA while leaving me with Lae (and a big threat to Indonesia) while not sacrificing the NE corner.  That should make life very tough on the IJN next turn as he tries to convert Pearl Harbor against 6 Allied LBA.

The 7th AF in the Marianas does end up saving Dutch Harbor -- as Sasebo must invade the Philippines at night instead -- but doesn't punch the huge hole in the Marianas.

The CPO gambit saves Midway, but the IJN withdraws after two rounds (and sinking two USN cruisers).  Without slow BB firepower and absent two CA, I don't pursue.  That'll help the IJN next turn...  but holding both Midway and Dutch Harbor will give me some possibilities and hurt IJN plans down the road too.

In Indonesia, I elect to keep both Houston and Hermes in port despite the presence of the Zuiho (and potential air raids).  The advance position of Houston would have been big if the Marianas gambit had paid off.  Unfortunately, it's daylight -- and the IJN air disables two BB and puts 3 damage on Resolution (making staying for additional rounds suicide).  The air raid on Hermes whiffs.  Houston transfers to Lae when the Philippines falls.

In the Marshalls, my CA disable Haruna but two of them are sunk in return.  My CA losses are already hurting!  Fortunately, in the Coral Sea West Virgina sinks Tone and wins the flag.

In the critical U.S. Mandate battle, I do get my wish for daylight.  Hornet is sunk, but the rest of the IJN shots go off-mark.  That's a lot better than I'd hoped for.  In return, Akagi is sunk while Soryu and Hosho are disabled.  So much for sinking 3 IJN CV here!  :-(  The IJN stays in hopes of sinking Yorktown.  Daylight sees Ryujo sunk while Yorktown takes 1 damage.  Better still, my LBA shoot at IJN CA -- and sink two 118s!  That's enough to persuade the IJN to flee.

The I-Boat goes to SPO.  The first action is night (meaning that I only got the U.S. Mandate preference on the first round!) -- and the I-Boat disables Enterprise.  In daylight action, the LBA disables Lexington and takes 1 damage.  In the third round, the LBA disables Saratoga and survives to control the area.

All-in-all, the turn is a catastrophe.  The move in the Mandate works, but without the CV attrition needed for future turns.  The CPO move works, but without the CV attrition hoped for (and with two CA lost).  However, the SPO lynchpin fails to open a movement path for next turn -- wiping out most of the potential threats the USN had hoped to create and losing Lae and the threat to Indonesia.  The IJN will have more CV and more LBA next turn than planned -- while the USN (despite having 4 CV -- 1 more than hoped for) will have virtually no threats.  Not good!

Sunk

1+1-8 Tone
1+1-8 Chikuma
1+1-8 Mikuma
1-4-6(4+) Akagi
0-1-5(2+) Ryujo
0-3-3 Yokosuka [takes Johnston Island]
0-3-3 Sasebo [takes the Philippines]
1-1-7 New Orleans
1-1-7 Northampton
1-1-7. Australia
1-1-7. Canberra
0-2-7(4+) Hornet

IJN converts the Philippines and Johnston Islands by invasion; Attu, Singapore, and Lae by isolation.

IJN gains 7 PoC to increase the IJN lead to 14 PoC.

Turn 3

USN Comment: My plan this turn is to draw as much IJN firepower as possible into the Hawaiian Islands -- and then take as much of the rest of the ocean as possible.  Mike's patrols make it clear that he'll compensate for this possibility by throwing the British a bone -- and giving up Indonesia for a turn (an option he wouldn't have been able to afford if Lae or the Philippines were still in Allied hands).  My movement flexibility and threats are so low this turn that, even with 6 LBA and 2 Marines defending Pearl Harbor, that once Indo is given up, the IJN can launch a serious attack on the U.S. Mandate.

I patrol the perimeter areas with a CA each in the hopes of exploiting an IJN weakness.  I also patrol what I hope are free areas in the NE corner.  Mike does give me the Aleutians and NPO -- but manages to sneak an NLF into Dutch Harbor under cover of the flag (since the USN has no CV in the NE corner).

However, when Mike does follow-through with the heavy U.S. Mandate force, he forces the USN hand.  If he wins both Pearl (as he should) and U.S. Mandate while shooting down all the USN LBA, the knockout will be a cinch.

I respond with full power in the U.S. Mandate (giving up everything else) -- although I keep the CPO ships where they'll continue to create a small threat rather than trying to cash in for a few PoC now.

Mike sinks one of the CAs in Marshalls and SPO while disabling the other.  In the Coral Sea, Modami takes 1 damage and is then disabled as she puts 1 damage on West Virginia.

In the vital U.S. Mandate, the USN curse with day/night rolls continues -- bringing up night.  The IJN sink a BB and 4 CA while heavily damaging the other two BB.  In return, the IJN loses Nachi -- while Haruna and Maya are disabled and Kirishima and Kongo are maxed.  The surface fleet loss is already catastrophic for the USN -- just what my Turn 2 move was supposed to avoid.  At least the I-Boat whiffs.  The second round is day followed by night!  Lexington and Enterprise are sunk while Yorktown is disabled during the day action.  In return, Junyo, Shoho, Hiei, and Kumano are sunk -- I have to shoot at surface ships rather than Hosho to keep the IJN from lapping me at night.  During the night portion of the round, Mississippi is disabled and Quincy is sunk.  Much better than I could have hoped for.  In exchange, Nagato is sunk and Suzuya takes 1 damage.  I'm behind the lap again -- even with the IJN's poor shooting.

The third round is also night -- no pure actions for the USN despite our +2!  Mike shoots badly again -- sinking only DeRuyter.  In return, Takao takes 1 damage.  The USN is out to prove that no matter how badly the IJN shoots, it can do worse.  Aaack!  The 4th round is day finally.  Saratoga takes 2 damage.  On the other end, the Hosho is disabled.  The IJN, despite its ability to win night so often, then retreats.  In pursuit, USN CA disable Suzuya for no loss while Saratoga (on the naked pursuit) finishes off the crippled Kirishima.

In the Hawaiians, the first round is night -- allowing both Marines to be sunk without using any CV firepower.  Given what's happening in the U.S. Mandate, the Allied LBA retreats -- to ensure a fight for Samoa on Turn 4 if the Mandate is lost and to fight for Guadalcanal if not.  Unfortunately, that also means that the IJN CV fleet is in terrific shape.

The negative attrition of the turn together with few movement options for the turn coming up spell another disaster for the USN.  I'll need very good luck to climb back in the game.

Sunk

5-5-4 Nagato
4-3-6 Hiei
4-3-6 Kirishima
1+2-7 Nachi
1+1-8 Kumano
1-2-4(3+) Junyo
0-0-5(2+) Shoho
0-3-3 Kure [takes Dutch Harbor]
5-5-3 Colorado
1-1-7 Indianapolis
1-1-7 Minneapolis
1-1-7 Quincy
1-1-7 Chester
1-1-7 Pensacola
1-1-7 Salt Lake City
1-1-7. De Ruyter
1-3-7(4+) Lexington
0-2-7(4+) Enterprise
0-2-7.(2) Indomitable [Removal]
0-2-7.(2) Formidable [Removal]
0-4-3 1st Marines
0-4-3 2nd Marines

IJN converts Dutch Harbor by invasion; Pearl Harbor by isolation.

IJN gains 4 PoC to increase the IJN lead to 18 PoC.

Turn 4

USN Comment: I use one CA to threaten conversion of Attu in the Aleutians (mostly to draw off IJN forces from the front lines).  I also push a lot of British, including Hermes, to the front lines during patrols for the same reason.  I know Mike won't risk having the British convert Singapore and Saigon, so I'm hoping to draw a lot of IJN units away from the areas where my CV will be!  I also attempt to speed roll one BB into the Marshalls -- to threaten getting a flag.  Unfortunately, it fails -- wasting a good roll!

I get exactly the IJN placement I wanted -- with forces spread out on the defensive in the Japanese Islands, Aleutians, Marianas, and Indonesia.  Not surprisingly, the IJN are also after Guadalcanal to close the Samoa to Indonesia route.  I use six of my LBA to counter that threat -- barely adequate against 2 NLF -- while the other two cover my remaining home areas.

In the raid phase, I decide to go for the Hawaiians.  I won't flag it, but it's worth a lot of PoC, a way to connect with Midway, and the lack of a flag will let my Marines take Johnston Island back next turn.  Unfortunately, Yorktown misses her speed roll (1-5 needed, so I use a 6)!

I get lucky in the Aleutians -- where Hiryu is unable to sink Astoria on two tries (putting one damage on her in the first round and disabling her to Australia in the second).  I got what I wanted in Indonesia -- lots of Japanese.  Unfortunately, that comes with a price to be paid too -- in this case, the loss of the Hermes.

In the South Pacific, night comes up -- allowing the IJN to invade Guadalcanal without shot fired.  The IJN NLF have been perfect up to this point!  With only Midway left as a forward base, life is getting tougher for the USN!

In the Marshalls, I get lucky and get a day followed by night -- which should let my two powerful BB hit Zuiho.  However, in the day action, Mike puts 5 damage on Indiana and disables her while crippling Washington with 6 damage.  Even my lucky breaks don't work out!  I miss with my single shot at night -- and Zuiho finishes Washington off during pursuit.  What a disaster!

In the Hawaiians, it's a day action -- Wasp takes 2 damage and is disabled to Samoa.  Hosho misses Saratoga.  I put all my firepower on the LBA but whiff.  Thankfully, the I-Boat also misses.  With just the 2 damaged Saratoga left against an undamaged LBA and Hosho, I decide to beat a retreat.  Hosho pursues and misses in daylight.  Saratoga proves that the Allies can't get anything good this turn and disables Hosho.

The complete failure of the USN plan this turn leaves me facing the full Applebaum (aside from the two BB at Midway) with two CV one damage short of max and Vicky next turn.  The IJN CV fleet hasn't been seriously hurt -- so my options next turn are probably going to be grim.  When I retreated from the Hawaiians, I may have given up my best remaining chance in the game -- that's how bad it's going!  Of course, with two complete failures out of three turns, it's not too surprising!

Sunk

0-3-3 Yokosuka [takes Guadalcanal]
5-6-5 Washington
4-4-4. Warspite [Removal]
4-4-4. Valiant [Removal]
4-4-3. Revenge [Removal]
4-4-3. Resolution [Removal]
1-2-4.(1) Hermes

IJN converts Guadalcanal by invasion.

IJN gains 9 PoC to increase the IJN lead to 27 PoC.

Turn 5

USN Comments: With just one slow CV in each of Australia and Samoa plus a British CVL in Ceylon and Samoa, I don't threaten much this turn.  Mike is still on the offensive!

I use 8 LBA to defend Midway (since they lack any other forward base and since Mike didn't patrol the Mandate or Coral Sea).  The other two flag my home areas -- leaving me with maximum raiding forces.  I also patrol Marshalls and the Hawaiians with 2 CA each -- with the hopes that I might pull off one of Indo, Marshalls, or the Hawaiians.  Mike defends each of those with 2 LBA and puts a huge fleet in SPO.  I split my Marines -- which makes them unlikely to score a base.  Unfortunately, I can't afford to concentrate the IJN response.

The IJN have spare CV galore and back up each area with my CV power than I can muster (plus more surface in SPO).  With no realistic chance to win any of the areas with my meager force, I repair three ships (including Wasp and two BB).

Ultimately, I face the decision -- fight in the Hawaiians with 2 CV and 1 CVL (with a 33% chance that one of my main CV won't show) against 2 CV and 2 LBA.  I'd have to get a night against the flag on the first round -- and then I'd still be against the odds!  I figure my odds are worse than 1 in 12.  As a result, I elect to face the full Applebaum and 29 PoC on Turn 6.

I'd have liked to have left my CV in port altogether; however, I have to maximize my threat for next turn -- so I bring them out to face the I-Boat's shot -- in the hopes of basing at New Hebrides where the speed loss won't be quite so grim.  Thankfully, I'll also get Guadalcanal back.  My chances are heavily dependent on how much (especially a Marine) gets out of the Marshalls and Hawaiians and whether or not I can retain Midway against two NLF.

The Marshalls is a total disaster -- with daylight seeing both CA sunk and the Marine sunk (while trying to flee).  Night comes up in the Hawaiians.  I guess I should have sent the whole fleet!  Mike's CA sinks one of my CA in exchange for one damage -- with the shot against Shokaku whiffing.  In pursuit, Houston escapes to Australia while the Marine is sunk.  The attrition will be grim for the USN again.

Fortunately, the I-Boat misses -- so at least my play-it-safe strategy leaves my CV ready to go for next turn.

In the Central Pacific, my LBA sink both IJN NLF in the day part of a day/night action.  Midway is safe (for a turn).  In the night action, New Mexico takes 1 damage while both BB fail to do anything to the IJN CA.

There's an excellent chance Mike will lock up the game next turn -- if he forces and wins a big battle.  I'll need a big victory with few casualties next turn to stay in it.  I'd feel good about this turn if I'd gotten a Marine out of Marshalls or the Hawaiians -- without that it'll be hard to get the advance bases I'll need to get the PoC back.

Sunk

0-3-3 Sasebo
0-3-3 Kure
1-1-7 Wichita
1-1-7 Vincennes
1-1-7 Louisville
0-2-7.(2) Victorious [Removal]
0-4-3 1st Marines [takes Guadalcanal]
0-4-3 2nd Marines
0-4-3 3rd Marines

USN converts Guadalcanal by invasion.

IJN gains 9 PoC to increase the IJN lead to 29 PoC (Maximum).

Turn 6

USN Comments: Normally, the USN has no choice but to throw themselves to their death in the Hawaiians against this perimeter.  Fortunately, I've managed to save Midway, so I still have a choice.  I use four LBA to fend off the next invasion of Midway (which was guaranteed to come even though Mike didn't patrol the area).  The others are used to patrol home areas and the South Pacific (at least I own Guadalcanal)!  The Hawaiian defense is so obvious that I don't even bother to throw ships away patrolling.  In hindsight, this is a mistake -- since it takes away the option to throw myself to the lions.

The British attack Indonesia since their remaining CVL will be withdrawn at the end of the turn anyway.

Ultimately, I decide to avoid battle and take my chances in the Marshalls.  There's no real way to win without a base in the Marshalls at this point anyway -- since I won't be able to reinforce Midway or take advantage of the CPO hole to strike at the Japanese Islands without it.

Interestingly, this is the first game where I've had three of the initial 6 USN CV survive to Turn 6 and still felt like it was hopeless!  Apparently, CV attrition is not the sole judge of the game!

The combat starts off with the Japanese winning night in the Central Pacific to take Midway and day in the Marshalls -- where they sink the 4th Marines with double damage to spare.  The Illustrious is sunk in Indonesia too for good measure.

That means that Mike has locked up victory (unless he forgets to patrol both the North Pacific and Japanese Islands with two ships each next turn.  Not gonna happen, folks.  So it's time to run up the white flag and surrender.

I need to keep Midway (good chance) and score a base in the Marshalls (small chance) to have any hope in the next turn turns.  Neither worked out.  Of course, I was lucky to save Midway for this long, so I can't complain -- the Turn 2 and Turn 4 disasters are really what did me in!

IJN Comments: Don't think it was anything stellar on my part--was graced with good dice on turn 3 that did to you what you did to me last game--sank too much of your fleet

Best of luck in the rest of your matches.

Congratulations, Mike!