Turn 1

Turn 2

Turn 3

Turn 4

Turn 5

Turn 6

Turn 7

Turn 1

USN Comments: This plays out as a very conservative NT1 first turn.  No one tries anything particularly risky.

I did OK at Pearl Harbor -- getting three BB and both CA out.  That would be better than unusual except that I'm missing the 7th AF!  The Repulse makes it out of Indonesia, so I'm OK there.  However, having one fewer LBA on Turn Two will definitely put me on the defensive.

IJN Comments: My patrols for T1 are no different than those for a non-NT1 game except my LBA placement - three to Indonesia, one to the South Pacific and two to the Marshalls. Yokosuka sails safe in the Japanese Islands as John patrols the Indian Ocean, reserving only Houston in the Philippines for raiding.

IJN raiders send eight CV/CVL to Hawaii along with 4x436 and 6x118. John's raiders stay in Hawaii - unengaged. The I-Boat heads for Hawaii and a possible US BB shot.

The Pearl Harbor raids down the 7th Air Force and sink or bottom all but Tennessee (-3), Oklahoma (-2), Pennsylvania and New Orleans. The first regular round in Hawaii is night, but John's USN fleet keeps the IJN raiders at arm's length by not engaging. The last Hawaii round sees the IJN flyers destroy the three bottomed BBs - Maryland, California and Arizona. The I-Boat misses Tennessee (-3).

Indonesia sees the 21st, 22nd and 23rd Air Flotillas hit and kill the 5th Air Force. Raid 2 features a mass attack - 9 shots - on the Prince of Wales, but she survives, taking 3 damage. The first regular round is day. The IJN splits attacks this time, six on Prince of Wales, three on Repulse. Prince of Wales is hit again and sinks. Repulse is disabled.

That ends the Turn 1 fighting. IJN +3. On to T2.

IJN gains the standard 3 PoC.

Turn 2

USN Comments: I have to be ready for a big fight this turn, so I use my LBA conservatively (both in the U.S. Mandate) and patrol lightly -- two CA in the Coral Sea, one in CPO, and one in NPO.  The IJN strength in the Marshalls is enough to persuade me not to even threaten the block (since usually that just gets 1-2 CA killed).  The IJN still back it up since the two BB alone won't cut it.

Even with two CV in Australia, four LBA in Indonesia is too tough to risk.  I shore up the Mandate and Coral Sea with BB in the hope of some CA attrition.  My main effort is all five CV in SPO -- hoping to overwhelming the IJN LBA quickly.  I send every surface ship that can reach the CPO to save Midway.  The IJN has no surface force there, but the flag and two CVL could chew me up badly.  I hope, since the CVL are 2-bangers, that even if it takes 3-4 actions to reach night that I don't lose more than 3 ships.

The IJN runs in the Coral Sea.  In the Mandate, a night action sees one BB and no CA sunk.  Talk about an unexpected reversal of attrition!  The Houston takes a shot at saving the Philippines in the Marianas -- but ends up being disabled without causing any harm.

I get my wish in the Central Pacific -- as it's night action right away.  I sink the IJN CA and both CVL

In the SPO, the night action allows the lousy I-Boat to sink a CV.  Ick.  Fortunately, the LBA can't capitalize on the I-Boat's fortune.  I handily win the area without further loss (though one CV does take 1 damage).  I'm happy with the results (particularly losing only one CV), but nothing decisive has occurred yet.  The I-Boat is one reason the US needs to really gang up on the IJN -- and not risk close battles.

IJN Comments: IJN patrols are lighter than I usually would commit, as John's surviving Pearl BBs make any surface engagements a bit riskier. I want to be able to back up chosen fights with more power. I decide to be conservative, and though I threaten the Coral Sea and US Mandate, I support the regular perimeter with CVLs, massing four LBA in Indonesia and two in the South Pacific. The IJN covers the rest with surface patrols and CV/CVL support.

John surprises me by sending a large surface force to challenge me in the Central Pacific, where I have just Atago, Ryujo and Zuiho. All five USN CVs go after the two LBA in the South Pacific. The I-Boat follows the USN CVs.

In the crucial South Pacific, I get the night action I want, and the I-Boat comes through to sink Hornet. In Round 2 both Yorktown and Enterprise are only disabled. John's CVs shoot well, downing both LBA. Aaaaack!

In the Marianas, Houston is hit for..............1 damage and disabled, whiffing in return fire against the two IJN CAs.

In the Central Pacific, John gets night against the flag and promptly sinks both IJN CVL. Atago cannot extract any revenge and retreats. John's USN CAs pursue, and disable Atago.

In the Coral Sea Suzuya escapes the surface force sent to sink her, evading in bright daylight.

The US Mandate night action sees Chikuma disabled and Tone sunk. Before their departure/sinking, Oklahoma (-2) takes one more damage and Tennessee (-3) takes 2 more damage and is crippled.

In Indonesia, Warspite is hit for 2 and disabled; Revenge is hit for 5 and sunk.

In Hawaii, an unopposed landing seizes Johnston Island for a forward base.

In the Aleutians, Sasebo invades Dutch Harbor, clearing the Aleutians and North Pacific of Allied bases.

Tough turn. POC only rises to IJN +8, and Midway and Lae remain blue thorns in the IJN side.

IJN converts Attu and the Philippines by isolation; Dutch Harbor and Johnston Island by invasion.

IJN gains 5 PoC to increase the over-all IJN lead to 8 PoC.

Turn 3

USN Comments: I patrol Indonesia heavily -- including Hermes to encourage the IJN to abandon the area.  John does.  I patrol the Aleutians, Marianas, and Marshalls to create hot seas for next turn.  I patrol just one damaged BB in the Coral Sea and U.S. Mandate to take advantage of the IJN fixation on the Hawaiians.  I keep the over-all patrols low to increase the IJN commitment to the Hawaiians and allow maximum response to any openings.

Japanese raiders back up the Japanese Islands, the Central Pacific invasion, and the Hawaiian conversion.  One IJN CA also heads to the Aleutians to deny me the flag there.  Japanese LBA help the conversion plus scatter in the Marianas and South Pacific to pick up as much easy POC as possible.

I decide to give the rescue of Midway an unlikely chance as well as fighting for the flags in the Marshalls and Marianas.  I leave the Coral Sea and the U.S. Mandate to surface forces and hope to pull off the POC there anyway.  I send two USN CA to Indonesia to base in (and patrol from) Lae for next turn.  Many USN players make the mistake of not considering next turn's basing in their moves -- which often makes life much easier for the IJN!

In the Marshall Islands, the IJN gets its way (night), but can't remove my cruiser anyway.  His cruiser is sunk.

In the Marianas, the IJN gets its way (night) again.  The lousy I-Boat sinks the wounded CV.  Argh!  Fortunately, the LBA retreats  without any additional loss on my part.  This game would be going very nicely for me if it weren't for that I-Boat.

In the Coral Sea, the IJN denies me the flag but is sunk in return.  In the US Mandate, the IJN isn't so lucky -- being sunk without removing the patroller.  In the Aleutians, the IJN gets revenge by sinking my CA with no loss.

The USN continues to have its way in the Central Pacific -- winning night action.  The NLF is sunk while three sinks are removed on both sides.  The CVL is still in action, however.  The USN takes another chance and wins night again.  I joke with John that the New Mexico is hauling an experimental weather control machine.  The CVL is disabled.  Continued fighting eventually leaves 3 USN CA to win the battle.  The IJN loses two BB to the USN's one (albeit the other is quite beat up and returns to Samoa for repair).  However, the USN loses two CA to the IJN's one.

The IJN wins the Hawaiians battle to convert Pearl -- and does so cheaply (losing only two CV).  However, there's no air raid, so I get the three new BB plus a repairing BB out along with the two Marines.

The good news for the USN is the low PoC score together with low CV attrition and the fact that no bases other than Pearl were lost this turn.  The IJN, however, has a terrific CV situation and a good base/port situation.  That gives the IJN a lot of potential over the next two turns.

IJN Comments: Having lost two LBA in Turn 2, I have to be careful not to overreach. I send single 118s into Coral Sea and US Mandate. Hawaii gets 4x444 and 4x117. Yamato and Kitakami patrol the Home Islands, while more single CA patrols try to hold the Central Pacific and the Marshalls. I cannot afford to keep Indonesia and still have LBA for Hawaii, so I give Indo to the Royal Navy for a turn.

I send two LBA to the Hawaiians, and one each to the South Pacific and Marianas. Kure heads for Midway, trying to clean up the northeast corner of the board while John is occupied defending Pearl and wrecking havoc elsewhere.

John's Allies patrol the Aleutians, Marianas, Indonesia (Brits), Marshalls, Coral Sea and US Mandate. Six LBA cover Hawaii from the air. John's two Marines and BBs elect to stay in port, hoping the LBA and Pearl ack-ack can keep the IJN dive bombers at bay.

I send a 107 to the Aleutians to try to snatch the one POC from De Ruyter. I send 8 CV/CVL plus some more BBs and CAs to Hawaii, hopefully to ensure conversion of Pearl Harbor. I support Yamato and Kitakami with Hiyo in the Japanese Islands, and send a CVL, BB & CA force to the Central Pacific to cover Kure, hoping it is enough to keep John's raiders away.

John sends his US CVs to the Marianas (3) and Marshalls (1). Surface forces go with Enterprise to the Marshalls, support the Coral Sea and US Mandate patrollers, and try for night against the Midway invasion fleet. I guess they weren't intimidated enough!

I send the I-Boat to the Marianas to even the three-to-one odds.

In the Marianas, I get lucky and draw a night round first, get a hit with the I-Boat on Yorktown, but can only score ONE damage point. You'd think those IJN torpedoes would be OK from a sub, but NOOOOOO. Round two is day, and everyone whiffs. I get very lucky as John fires 12 CV shots at 21st Air Flotilla, but no hits. Not trusting to the fates any more, the IJN withdraws, yielding the area.

In the Marshalls, I also get night, but miss patroller Astoria. In return, Pennsylvania and Astoria disable Chikuma, ending that fight.

Coral Sea is night, where Kumano and Oklahoma sink each other - depriving both of the POC.

US Mandate is also night, where Mogami goes down with no Allied losses. Well, one out of two isn't bad.

Central Pacific is also night. John sinks Kure and Suzuya, and misses Shoho, but loses Pensacola sunk, New Mexico max damaged, and Idaho, Minneapolis and Vincennes disabled. Round 2 is night again, with Atago hit for 1 and disabled, while Louisville is sunk and Quincy is disabled. In Round 3, New Mexico is finally sunk, ending the battle.

In the Titanic Battle of the Aleutians, Round One Night is a fizzle, both sides missing each other. Round 2 we each miss again. Round 3 sees De Ruyter sunk, Oi surviving.

Hawaii is day. Both sides draw blood - Zuikaku is sunk, Kaga hit for 3, Shokaku and Hiryu disabled; 10th AF is shot down. Round 2 another day - and the RAAF goes down. However, John does better, sinking Akagi and disabling Junyo. Looking grim for the IJN. Round 3, 11th AF takes 1 damage, and Kaga (-3) is disabled. Not good! Round 4 Soryu and Hosho are disabled, leaving only the two LBA to try to convert Pearl. The RNZAF is shot down, but it is now two IJN LBA vs three Allied LBA. Yikes!

Only Hawaii remains as a battleground. Round 5 the IJN shoots down the 5th AF while John's Allies puts 3 damage on the 24th Air Flotilla. It is two - two now - although one of the IJN LBA is badly hit. Round 6, the IJN flyers get hot, downing both of the remaining Allied LBA. Both Allied LBA whiff in reply, sealing Pearl's fate. However, with no IJN CV/CVL left in Hawaii, John keeps both Marines, the three T3 BBs AND a repaired Tennessee. Ouch! There will be US fleet in Samoa!

POC this turn is negligible, as the IJN control only the Japanese Islands (3), South Pacific (2), Hawaii (2) and North Pacific (1). The Allies control US Mandate (2), Marshalls (1), Marianas (1), Indonesia (1), Indian Ocean (0) and the Bay of Bengal (1).

POC ends Turn 3 at a paltry 10. Can I ever reach 29??????

IJN converts Pearl Harbor by isolation.

IJN gains 2 PoC to increase the over-all IJN lead to 10 PoC.

Turn 4

USN Comments: The IJN patrols widely.  I commit the British except for one wounded BB and one CA to Indonesia.  I want the conversion threat to be as strong as possible.  I patrol strongly in the Marshalls and Marianas for the same reason.  I figure a strong attack in the U.S. Mandate is coming, so I don't patrol there.  I patrol the Aleutians to create a hot sea for next turn.  I patrol the Japanese Islands just for the threat value and to draw IJN resources there.

The IJN LBA splits between Indonesia and the Hawaiians.  The IJN raiders go strongly to the perimeter areas (SPO and Marshalls).  A few respond to my threat in the Japanese Islands and even fewer to the Marianas (hoping to deny me the flag).

My LBA in the SPO are my thin line between the Japanese and Lae.  The Japanese try a Midway invasion on the cheap.

I go all out to Indonesia to attempt conversion.  My forces there aren't enough for conversion -- unless the IJN spends a lot of effort trying to stop the Marines.  I also send a CV to the Marianas to try for conversion.  I dispatch enough surface and a CV from Samoa to the Central Pacific to save Midway.  The North Carolina fails her speed roll to the Marianas and sits out the turn in Australia.  I send a BB to the Coral Sea to try to win the flag there while two BB go to deal with the CA in the U.S. Mandate.

My plan in Indonesia works.  In fact, the IJN ignores the Marines -- allowing both to land in the Philippines.  I come close to converting Singapore and Saigon too -- shooting down two LBA before the Japanese can get rid of the last CV.  The big downside is that the IJN sinks Yorktown and Saratoga plus the Hermes.  The attrition will really hurt my options.

The Coral Sea also goes as planned -- with my BB sinking Mikuma and securing the flag.

Disaster strikes in the U.S. Mandate where the two IJN CA sink Mississippi and cripple Colorado on the first volley.  In return I disable a single CA.  The Colorado is eventually sunk while the IJN CA survives to improbably flag the U.S. Mandate.  The knock-out threat that shouldn't exist will haunt me next turn and require that I commit a lot of resources to a threat that the IJN probably won't follow-through on.  Given the importance of this area, I wish I'd sent three BB instead of two.

In the South Pacific, my LBA sink the Yokosuka NLF and a CV (on the second round) before being shot down.  My bases there are secure!

I lose all three CA in the Marshalls for nothing, but manage to get my CA out of the Hawaiians.  I win the fight in the Aleutians this turn -- but don't sink the IJN CA.  I lose a CA in the Japanese Islands.

In the Marianas, I win the base conversion plus sink all three IJN CA.  That lets me base a lot of ships inside the IJN perimeter.

In the CPO, I stop the invaders during the day action, but both CA escape.

Over-all, the turn is a surface attrition nightmare for the Allies.  If either of the U.S. Mandate or Indonesia had ended differently, I'd have called the turn a success.  But as it is, the IJN solves most of its POC problem, all of its surface problem, its lack of threats, and its perimeter problem.  The only bright spot in the Allied situation is the base situation -- since I keep Midway, Lae, and Guadalcanal while adding the Philippines and Saipan to my side.  I'll need to take advantage of my LBA superiority to project power in the adjacent zones to take advantage of this situation.

IJN Comments: I MUST build some sort of a perimeter, and get some POC! I decide to use my LBA (at least I now have six!) to hold Hawaii and Indonesia, three each. John still has the Royal Navy, and with his surviving USN BBs could overpower the IJN surface forces if I let him link up with the Brits in Indo, so Indonesia HAS to be LBA. Surface patrols cover the South Pacific and Marshalls in fair strength. Light CA patrols cover the Japanese Islands, North Pacific, Central Pacific, Marianas, Coral Sea and US Mandate. Gotta keep some pressure on John, and he has only 2 LBA this turn. This is the last time I'll see that few Allied LBA - gotta go while I can! My LBA do split - three each to Indonesia and Hawaii.

John's Allies patrol everything except the South Pacific, North Pacific and Central Pacific. Two Allied LBA go to the South Pacific, filling that void.

My Sasebo SNLF again tries for Midway, while Yokosuka heads out into the South Pacific.

The IJN sends 4 CVs and 4 BBs raiding to reinforce the South Pacific BB patrollers. CVs and escorts also go to the Marshalls, to establish a perimeter or cause some Allied losses. I send a couple of CVLs and another CA to the Japanese Islands, to try to hold that POC. More CAs head out to steal what POC they can.

John's Allied raiders go for the gusto in Indonesia, the Marianas and the Central Pacific. I send the I-Boat to Indonesia - rich with USN CV targets, and the key hotspot this turn. John flipping Saigon and Singapore to blue would ruin my day. The good news - if I win in Indonesia, I'll have a perimeter.

In the Marianas, day dawns but Enterprise whiffs. Round 2 is night. Portland is sunk, and New Orleans, the remaining patroller, is hit for........1 damage. John's Allies sink Haguro, disable Kako and hit Aoba for 1 damage. In Round 3, a day battle, Enterprise ends it by sinking damaged Aoba, controlling the area for two turns and converting Saipan! Not good!

In the Japanese Islands, Minneapolis succumbs to two CVLs' bombs.

Indonesia sees a day action first, with Saratoga sunk, Lexington disabled. In return, John kills the 25th Air Flotilla and hits the 22nd for 3 damage. The I-Boat strikes, sinking the Yorktown. Round 2 - Hermes sinks, but so does the 22nd Air Flotilla! Just the 23rd Air Flotilla vs Formidable! Round 3 - the 23rd whiffs, but Formidable strikes for 1 damage. Round 4 - the 23rd Air Flotilla (-1) disables Formidable, but she cannot score on the IJN LBA. Indonesia holds.

In the South Pacific, John sinks Yokosuka as the SNLF heads for Lae. However, the two LBA pay the price and both go down in flames.

Night in the Coral Sea spells the end of Mikuma.

The US Mandate's night action in round 1 has Ashigara disabled, Nachi untouched, Colorado is hit for 5 and crippled, and Mississippi is hit for 6 and sunk! WOW! During the night Round 2, Nachi whiffs. Colorado (-5) whiffs, too. Another round! The 3rd round, Nachi hits Colorado (-5), sinking her, and dodges the return fire. The IJN control the US Mandate! Turn 5 Conversion??????

The Marshalls gets very dark, giving John's Allied CAs some targets. They disable Nagato. Australia and Canberra are both sunk. Round 2 is a bright day, and the fliers find and sink Northampton.

In Hawaii, Houston (-1) is hit and sunk by the LBA.

Central Pacific is day - Sasebo is clobbered and sunk, ending another attempt to take Midway. The two IJN CA flee.

Another stalemate ensues in the Aleutians, with both cruisers missing each other in the fog. Round 2 reverses the IJN trend, with Vincennes sinking Kinugasa and surviving to control the area.

End of Turn 4 looks very good for the IJN for a change - key battles in (of all places) the US Mandate and Indonesia mean the POC goes up to 19 - a gain of 9 for the turn. Much needed! I was able to hold all the big POC areas - Japanese Islands, Indonesia, South Pacific, Hawaii - even the US mandate. Lost the Marianas and Saipan, and John didn't even have to spend a Marine to get it.

On to Turn 5.

USN converts Saipan by isolation; the Philippines by invasion.

IJN gains 9 PoC to increase the over-all IJN lead to 19 PoC.

Turn 5

USN Comments: The threat to the U.S. Mandate will use most of my LBA and, therefore, negate the advantage I get from my bases this turn.  I'll use all of my extra LBA in Indonesia.

The IJN again patrols aggressively in an attempt to run up the score and engage the USN widely.  My USN patrols are limited to areas where I can convert bases or threaten to do so or my high-POC home areas.  My naval forces in the U.S. Mandate are limited to the trapped reinforcements -- only three USN ships in total!

The IJN again uses his LBA on the perimeter (Indonesia and the Hawaiians).  I don't have the CV to go up against 2 LBA any more, but with LBA support I can go against the two in Indonesia.  The IJN raiders are all over the map in the key POC areas and perimeter areas.

I should have been more focused in my response -- since the worst thing the Allies can do is throw away an advantage to engage the IJN in close battles.

Instead, I send a small task force (with the surface edge and air parity) to the Japanese Islands with Marines to take Okinawa.  I send a few CA to the Aleutians to see if I can't convert Attu if the IJN misses on the first round.  I send a small task force to the Marshalls with the surface edge but slightly outgunned in the air in the attempt to create the hot sea and a hole in the perimeter for my Turn 6 reinforcements.  The Allies should never be typing the word "outgunned" in an area with raiders unless they're already desperate.  I send Lexington to the Coral Sea for the POC.  Everything else that can hit Indonesia does.

I believe that my decision to keep the Lexington safe rather than committing her to Indonesia too is what costs me the game in the end.

In the Japanese Islands, it's day followed by night.  The IJN CV sinks Enterprise.  Enterprise tries to make it easier on me at night -- but only puts 7 damage on Musashi.  The night round sees Indiana crippled and disabled while one CA is sunk.  In return my bonus baby can only disable Soryu.  Washington sinks Musashi.  After more night rounds, Washington and one CA are the only surface ships left.  The surface attrition is in my favor by one sunk BB vs. one crippled BB.  The Marines take Okinawa.  This is the first time I've done this in more than 20 years.

In the Coral Sea, the Lexington sinks the IJN CA before night can fall.  The day battle in the U.S. Mandate is devastating -- all three IJN CA are sunk.

In the Marshalls, the first round is day.  The Wasp is sunk.  In return, the heavily damaged Kaga is merely disabled.  My inability to sink IJN CV is killing me.  The Hosho wiffs on the next round.  Then it's night.  My bonus baby sinks Hosho.  However, the IJN CA eliminates my patroller before being sunk herself.  At least I'll have a raiding lane for next round -- but no hot sea.

In the Aleutians, the IJN CA sink my patroller before being disabled.  Notice the theme so far?  The USN is winning fights -- but taking a terrible cost and not completing its objectives.

In Indonesia, the IJN disables Formidable and shoots down an LBA on the first round.  I whiff.  In the end, the Allied LBA are all shot down and one IJN LBA with 3 damage remains.  It's a POC disaster and an LBA disaster.  The USN is just about eliminated.  As noted, in retrospect the Lexington belonged here too -- which undoubtedly would have been enough to turn the tide over all those rounds.

IJN Comments: With such a topsy-turvey basing situation, this turn will be a free-for-all. My only saving grace is that John's Allies have only two effective Allied CVs. Victorious will be stuck in the US Mandate for her only turn on the board. I decide I need to keep the POC as high as possible by denying John his high-POC areas. No control is at least no POC for John. His ships "behind my lines" make this tough - he can be anywhere, but can only concentrate his strength in a few perimeter areas. Keeping his forces separate will help me hold what I need.

I want to keep his T6 CVs out of Indo if I can, so I patrol South Pacific heavily. I also threaten his home areas, not that I can take them, but the flag in the US Mandate last turn has to weigh heavily on the Allied mind. He will have to deploy enough LBA to assure I don't flag the USM again. Another flag = game over! Other areas get one or two patrolling CAs. My four LBA (two damaged) split to Indonesia and Hawaii.

John patrols sparsely - getting short on ships. His only numerous surface patrol is in Indonesia - where the British Royal Navy risks three 117s. John splits the Allied LBA - 5 to the US Mandate and 3 to Indonesia. Uh-Oh! 3 Allied LBA vs 2 IJN LBA (one damaged).

I once again send Kure SNLF towards Midway - while John sends 1st Marines up to the Japanese Islands to assault Okinawa! Whooooaaaa!

I spread the IJN raiders around, figuring John's 2 CVs cannot be everywhere. I send Oi to the Aleutians to try to snatch the POC from the Northern Nemesis Quincy.

John's Allied raiders go after POC and holes in the perimeter - the Japanese Islands, Indonesia, and the Marshalls. He also sends a couple of CA to support Quincy in the Aleutians.

I send the I-Boat to the area around Okinawa - hoping to stop the 1st Marines one way or another.

In the Japanese Islands, round 1 is day-followed-by-night. I decide to hit Enterprise, hoping one of my two CAs survive to maintain the flag, negating the impending Okinawa disaster. Luckily, Soryu scores 3 damage on the big E, sinking her. In return, Enterprise puts 7 damage on Musashi. In the night portion of Round 1, Musashi (-7) hits Indiana for 6, crippling her. Allied fire disables Soryu and sinks both Musashi and Furutaka. The I-Boat takes her shot at the 1st Marines, and gets a hit......... for 3 damage! 1st Marines land, seizing Okinawa! Oooooh, Nooooooo! Allied LBA next turn! Round 2, the IJN misses everything. The Allies sink Kitakami, ending combat.

In the Marshalls, Wasp is hit for 3 and sunk; Astoria is hit for 4 and sunk. Wasp can only disable Kaga (-3) in return. Round 2 is day-followed-by-night, but Hosho misses South Dakota. In the night portion, Myoko hits South Dakota for 5 damage. New Orleans disables Myoko while South Dakota sinks Hosho. Neither of us will flag the Marshalls - and the T6 lane is open.

Night in the Aleutians, and the lonely Oi scores, hitting Quincy for 5 damage and saving the POC in the North. Oi survives the return fire from the three Allied CAs. Round 2 sees Oi sink, after she misses Chester.

In the US Mandate, the IJN cruisers zig-zag north, dodging daytime bombs as best they can. Takao and Nachi are both sunk, while Chokai is hit for 2 and crippled. Massachusetts sinks Chokai (-2) in the pursuit.

In the Coral Sea, another day-chase ensues and Chikuma falls to Lexington's flyers, sinking.

Formidable is disabled in Indonesia in a Round 1 day action. Two Allied LBA put two more damage on 23rd Air Flotilla (-1), bringing that unit up to the max. Round 2 - 21st Air Flotilla shoots down the 10th AF, and the 23rd puts 1 damage on the 14th AF. In return, all 3 Allied LBA whiff. In Round 3 the 24th Air Flotilla shoots down the 14th AF (-1), and the 23rd Air Flotilla (-3) takes one more hit to crash in flames. It is now 1-1 in Indonesia. Finally, after eight (8) rounds of combat, the Naval AF is eliminated, holding the Indonesia POC for the IJN.

In the Central Pacific, Kure invades Midway (finally!).

What a brutal turn! The IJN don't even hold the Japanese Islands, and lose Okinawa! POC rises 6, though, desperately needed. 25 sounds sweet, much better than the T3 10 POC I had earlier. Miraculously, Lae flips by isolation, and I hadn't noticed until scoring the POC. Wow! John's Allied base situation still looks good for him as he holds Okinawa (!), Saipan (!), the Philippines (!) and Guadalcanal. I have finally cleaned up the northeast corner of the board with the capture of Midway.

Turn 6 the Allied CVs will be loose, and Allied LBA will have opportunities, with so many bases. I'll have to count, count, count POC - see what I must do to win this.

IJN converts Lae by isolation; Midway by invasion.
USN converts Okinawa by invasion.

IJN gains 6 PoC to increase the over-all IJN lead to 25 PoC.

Turn 6

IJN Patrols Comments: Thanks for the compliment. I was lucky the last two turns - and luck when one needs it makes a big difference. Winning Indonesia - even with eight rounds - was huge. And that was all luck.

You have always been a tough opponent - mistakes are rare, your strategy sound, and you have vision to see what you need to do. That's why the compliment is appreciated.

I have attached my meager patrols - meager because I have so few ships. Still have a long way to go. I have a slim chance in this game, but will need that luck to come through again.

USN Comments: Believe it or not, this turn my biggest problem is the fact that I lost three LBA last turn.  That leaves my efforts in key areas (like Japanese Islands and Marianas) understaffed.  Both surface navies have been thrashed -- so I don't have enough ships to effectively patrol everywhere and have to rely on LBA.  Nonetheless, to conserve LBA I'm forced to patrol ships in areas like the US Mandate, Coral Sea, and SPO -- and take risks in those areas.

I'm also alarmed by the POC score, so I make foolish moves like the CA to the Aleutians again.  I patrol the CPO in the hopes of converting Midway next turn and blocking IJN movement.  At least my British patrols in Indonesia are in good shape.

If I'd had three more LBA, I'd have been able to put two more in the Japanese Islands and another in the Marianas.

In the Japanese Islands, it's day.  So I get to shoot.  However, one NLF skates through and re-takes Okinawa.  That solves the last of the POC problems for the IJN.  In the Aleutians, I lose my CA.  I trade one LBA for one CV in the Marianas and then decide to withdraw.  In Indo, I trade Lexington for Kaga and shoot down the IJN LBA in round two.  The British CVL survives to be withdrawn (which is very unusual too).

In the SPO, it's night action.  The IJN sinks my patroller.  I disable one IJN CA.  In pursuit, I disable the other IJN CA.  Argh!

In the Marshalls, I lose my patrollers in a night action but sink the Japanese ships.  I lose in the Hawaiians -- it's not even close.  The IJN ends with two LBA -- and sinks the 3 big CV and cripples one of the CVL in the process.  In retrospect, I should have sent the CVL in Marshalls and SPO to HI too.

The POC score is just about the final nail in my coffin. 

IJN Comments: Tasks this turn - retake Okinawa, maintain flags in Hawaii, the Marianas, Indonesia (if I can), re-flag the Japanese Islands (for the POC) and steal whatever POC I can from the Allied efforts.

The IJN patrol the Marianas in strength, and cover the North Pacific with a CA. LBA cover Hawaii, Indonesia and the Japanese Islands. I gamble in the JI and decide not to use ships - just the lone damaged LBA and SNLF (to disable the Allied LBA), as John cannot get any Allied CVs to the JI. IF the SNLF retake Okinawa, John's Allied surface forces won't matter against the IJN LBA.

John's Allies patrol aggressively - but mostly single ships except for Hawaii, the Marshalls and the US Mandate. His Allied LBA go to the Japanese islands (4, ugh!), Marianas (2) and Indonesia (1).

Yokosuka and Sasebo sail with no surface cover towards Okinawa, seeing the hordes of Allied Corsairs winging their way.

Allied Marines head for Johnston Island, Maleolap and an unidentified island near Indonesia - maybe Lae? Or reinforce the Philippines?

IJN raiders support the patrollers in the Marianas and Indonesia, and head out to snatch Allied POC from unwary blue patrollers.

John's Allies beef up Hawaii and Indonesia, and also support the POC patrollers against the IJN raiders.

The I-Boat sails on it's last mission to Indonesia.

In the crucial Japanese Islands, John wins the day preference roll, allowing his four LBA their shots at survival. Alas, no hits and only one disable, so Yokosuka retakes Okinawa and Sasebo disables to Yokosuka Naval Base. John's Allied flyers retreat, with no base from which to refuel.

South Pacific is night, and Atago (-1) and Maya sink Boston, the Allied patroller. Maya is disabled in return. In the day action of round 2, Atago (-1) is disabled, ending the combats here. No POC for the Allies here.

It is night in the Marshalls, too, where Kirishima and Kongo disable both Baltimore and Vincennes, the Allied patrollers. Another POC snatched! Kirishima is hit for 1, Junyo and Kongo are sunk. Round 2 is day - Kirishima joins Kongo and Junyo on the bottom. 3rd Marines take Maleolap.

Night in the Aleutians - Ashigara and Myoko sink Indianapolis, stealing another POC. Indy misses Ashigara.

Hawaii - day - the IJN can only disable CV-10. The Allied CVs put 3 damage on the 22nd Air Flotilla. Night next, and the IJN hits North Carolina for 4 damage and disables her. Alabama and North Carolina sink both Hiei and Haruna. Round 3 is day. 22nd Air Flotilla (-3) is shot down. The next day round sees Essex disabled, Belleau Wood hit for 6 and sunk, but no hits by the Allies. The USN and the 4th Marines withdraw.

Marianas - Day for Round 1, and the RNZAF is hit for 4 and shot down. The Allied flyers strike back, and Hiryu goes down. The remaining Allied AF retreats from 3-1 odds.

Indonesia - Round 1 is day. All the IJN can do is hit Lexington for 1 damage, and Lexington sinks Kaga (-3). The I-Boat misses, out of torpedoes, final losing mission. Round 2 is day - and Lexington, Formidable and the 11th AF crush the 26th Air Flotilla to secure the area for the Allies.

A brutal turn for the Allies, as even now the POC goes up 2 to IJN +27 POC.

IJN converts Saipan by isolation; Okinawa by invasion.
USN converts Maleolap by invasion.

IJN gains 2 PoC to increase the over-all IJN lead to 27 PoC.

Turn 7

USN Comments: This turn is all about the forced battle in the Japanese Islands.  I put everything I can there, but it's not enough on the surface or in the air.  The first round is night.  I do better than expected, but not enough to make a difference.  The IJN handily win and lock the game up.  I do win the Marianas battle, at least.  John played well and deserves credit for a huge comeback win!  John needed a lot of luck, but I played into his hands and he lured me in.  Excellent play, John!

IJN Comments: I count the POC, and I count again. Others will tell you I'm not the best in the late turns, and they are right. Ed Menzel once spent about 30 minutes trying to teach me his way of quickly counting and assessing the POC swings, but I couldn't get it! Soooooo, I count again. Then I count the ships - twice!

I decide to force John to split his CV force and choose between the North Pacific and Japanese Islands. His Samoa forces cannot reach the North Pacific because I hold Hawaii. Two LBA there make it tough, as John's available forces for that area are just 2 CVL, which he will need in the Japanese Islands. Everyone else stays home - most patrolling but a few raiders should a POC steal situation occur.

John covers all he can, and reserves a fair force for the raid into Japanese waters.

I send the two SNLF to the Marianas - if they run the gauntlet successfully, they take the Philippines, and another POC slips from the Allied coffers. 2nd Marines heads for Okinawa, bent on revenge.

I count the ships again - John has potentially 12 surface raiders that can make the Japanese Islands. I decide on no raids for POC - just stay at home. I'll have 12 surface to John's maybe 12, as he has speed rolls to pass for some. In CV/CVLs and LBA, I'll have 10 - some weenies, but 10 decks or LBA. John will have 6, half 027-2 CVLs and half big CVs.

The Allies come in force - ready for the big battle. Two BBs fail their speed rolls, so I'll have a two-ship wrap if I can get night. I have 7 BBs to John's 3. I choose to settle the Japanese Islands first, and get the night I want. Round 1 the IJN hit Massachusetts for 5, hit Wichita for.......1, hit CV-10 for.........1, disable Washington & Salt Lake City, and sink Baltimore, Tennessee and New Orleans. Allied return fire sinks Mutsu & Fuso, disables Atago, Yamato (-2), Nagato & Maya. John's Allies cut the wrap to 1!

After round 1, the F-Boat sinks Shokaku. That hurt!

Round 2 is day - Essex, CV-10 and Princeton are sunk, while Monterey is hit for 2 and crippled. John's Allies sink Soryu and Shoho, disable Hiyo and hit the 25th Air Flotilla for 1 damage. John is down to one (1) effective CVL - Independence.

Round 3 is night - and Independence falls to Yamashiro's guns.

The IJN lookouts see the white flag flutter over the USN fleet, and the game ends.

IJN Post-Game Comments: Thank you! I was tempted to throw in the towel a number of times - you kept me off balance the whole game.

I owe this win to Ed Menzel, as he taught me (through example) not to give up, to find a way and give the dice a chance to save the game.

Matches like this are great fun, on either side. Better if one wins, of course... Lots of action, not like most other games, new stuff happening (Okinawa falls! And is counter-invaded!), and exciting throughout!

Now, if I can remember to notify the GM, and write up my comments....

GM Comments: I don't know -- the GM's pretty grumpy right now.  Some troublemaker has been sinking all of his ships!  :-)

USN converts Saigon and Singapore by isolation; Johnston Island and Okinawa by invasion.

USN gains 8 PoC to reduce the over-all IJN lead to 19 PoC.
With a bid of 1.5 and a maximum of 17 PoC next turn, the IJN gets a mathematical lock.

Congratulations, John Sharp!