Turn 1

Turn 2

Turn 3

Turn 4

Turn 5

Turn 6

Turn 1

IJN Report:  A slightly sub par Pearl (1 crip BB, 1 wounded BB, 2 CAs & 5^th AF escape) and 3 CVs basing in Australia complicate my life.

Turn 2

IJN Report:  The Allies save Attu, Lae and drive off the IJN from USM.  But the IJN lose 4 CV/CVLs while taking out 2 USN CVs.  Surface losses are light on both sides, although I lose 2 BBs to the USN 2 CAs.  POC is 13.

Turn 3

IJN Report:  Pearl is converted and Attu invaded to clear out the NE corner.  Indo is given to the Brits, but a lone LBA + the IB is able to hold off 3 USN CVs, sinking 1, before they flee to minimize losses.  But John inflicts more carrier losses sinking Akagi, Kaga & Hiyo.  Surface losses are light on both sides again as John will have more BBs (9-8) than the IJN and about equivalent carrier striking power (13-12) on T4.  But 6 Allied LBA are downed and the POC goes to 20 helping out.

Turn 4

IJN Report: I attempt to set up a perimeter leaving the Marshalls as the weakest link. The HI defense holds up well as Lex is sunk & Enterprise disabled by the LBA. The IB comes through sinking the Wasp … a definite help. But John gets some luck too as both SNLFs are disabled in the SPO although we hold on to the area shooting down both LBA. In the Marshalls, we sink a couple BBs before the Ryujo is sunk during a N action. We can’t hold the Marianas, but at least the perimeter is established. POC goes to 28 – another big help.

Turn 5

IJN Report: With Lae & Guad in US hands, I don’t think I can hold the SPO. So I feint there with some patrollers but concentrate on Indo. Since I don’t have enough marines to keep Lae, I hope to sink a bunch of Brits to minimize their impact in the JI for T8. (I anticipate giving up Indo on T6 & T7.) John sends the Brits and some carriers. John’s air strikes target my marines sinking two of them, but whiffing on the third. We do some real damage to the Brit fleet over several rounds including sinking both carriers. The IB sinks the Vicky in the SPO. POC goes to 29.

Turn 6

IJN Report: I patrol the Marianas heavily as John will have to speed roll most of his BBs and face a big surface fleet wrap with my flag. I could get hurt there if John could roll enough pure Day actions in a row. But I can always run if I have to. And I will still have a good position with the HI in my hands. John decides he is in poor enough position that he has to challenge the HI LBA. That is the biggest payoff for him if he can pull it off. But alas, it is not to be. The IB disables a CV during a first round N action. Several carriers are sunk and disabled while John can only damage one LBA. So he withdraws. Musashi fails in her mission to take out the Marshalls patroller and pays for her ineptness by promptly being sunk. POC stays at 29.

USN Report: Ed and I have concluded our match, or should I say Ed has concluded our match.  After six (6) turns, Ed's IJN have a lock.  He played a faultless game, bombs fell true, SNLF charged home, torpedoes ran hot, straight and normal, and shells hit hard.  My valiant Allies alas could hit little, and then could sink/shoot down few.

IJN Report: John surrenders after seeing that the IJN remember to patrol the NPO with 2 patrollers to protect against the F Boat and a heavy JI patrol. All in all, an exciting game with the IJN able to build the POC and hang on for a win.