The CPO Withdrawal adjustment is in play.
Turn 1
The Pearl Habor raid allowed the LBA, 1 damaged BB, and 1 CA to escape while the raid in Indonesia allowed the Prince of Wales to escape with 3 damage. Two USN CVs showed up in the Hawaiians and escaped to Australia after one was dinged for one point of damage by the I-Boat.
Japanese Islands (3) U.S. Mandate (2) North Pacific Ocean
Aleutian Islands (0)
Central Pacific Ocean (1)
Marianas Islands (2)
Indonesia (3)
South Pacific Ocean (2)
Marshall Islands (1)
Coral Sea (2)
Bay of Bengal (1)
Hawaiian Islands
Indian Ocean
IJN gains the standard 7
PoC.
Turn 2
Headline -- Tokyo Press..... The victorious IJN forces rolled over the British surface fleet in Indonesian waters. Without air support, HMN was no match for our valiant airforce. Singapore and all the oil and rubber are now ours....
In the Coral Sea, a minor carrier task force scored a major victory against poorly trained American pilots.
In the Aleutians, our landing forces secured the area around Dutch Harbor and capturing the Attu island group. No resistance was met.
The lone Battleship Fuso scored a minor victory denying Allied control of the South Pacific area. The brave crew paid the ultimate price for this heroic feat and was overwhelmed by what was reported to be at least 4-5 battleships supported by a massive carrier group......
In the Hawaiian islands, the IJN forces threatened the oil reserves of the allied units, doing some coastal bombing and shelling of areas around Pearl Harbour. The recent stategic attack a short while ago that fatally crippled the Allied fleet was still evident. Smoke still billowed from the hulks littering the entrance to the harbour. Not even a token airforce was sent against the IJN task force.
In the area around the Marshalls, Battleships Nagato and Mutsu along with a small landbased air operation have seriously damaged Allied operations. The Nagato is reported to have taken on water and may have to be scuttled. Meanwhile, the combined air and submarine forces have sunk at least 2 allied carriers and a third is leaking oil and has withdrawn from the area. In a second round of attacks the Allied forces overcame the mighty but tired pilots and have temporarily taken the area.
Finally, in the sea around Samoa a massive air battle raged. IJN forces have destroyed one allied airgroup and have seriously damaged another while covering landing operations to establish a base on New Hebrides. The resulting allied attacks on the landing forces caused some of the ships to swamp....Although the Allied air was chased from the skies, the landing was postponed until a later time.
Imperial sorces indicate is only a matter of time before IJN forces will be victorious.
USN Report: The Allies narrowly averted total disaster. The USN elected to dodge the major thrusts by the IJN and go for a blocking strategy. The block worked fine in the Central Pacific (saving Midway). The block also ended up working in the Marshall Islands -- however, two CVs were lost (and another
disabled to Singapore and then dislodged to Lae) to the LBA which managed to survive its first round against 12 dice. The strategy would have been a total success except for the South Pacific where the IJN, at the cost of a BB, took out the lone CA patroller during a night action. The saving of Lae may, especially combined with Guadalcanal, make life tough on the IJN later. However, a path to the U.S. Mandate is still open -- making the IJN conversion of Samoa likely. The real disaster strunk in the Coral Sea where an 005 CVL managed to shoot down an Allied LBA with no losses. Not only does that mean that every Allied major port is blocked in, it means there is much less defense available in the air for Samoa next turn. That was compounded by the loss of an LBA in the Mandate (though the LBA was able to disable the NLF to save New Hebrides and make the conversion less certain now that it will require CVs).
The USN position at the end of the turn is OK -- especially considering the forward based CVs and CAs together with the threat in the Marshalls and the fact that Pearl Harbor is not threatened next turn.
Japanese Islands (3) North Pacific Ocean (1) South Pacific Ocean
Aleutian Islands (0)
Marianas Islands (2)
Indonesia (3)
Hawaiian Islands (2)
U.S. Mandate (2)
Coral Sea (2)
Central Pacific Ocean (0)
Marshall Islands (1)
Indian Ocean (0)
Bay of Bengal (1)
IJN converts Attu, Singapore, and The Philippines by
isolation; Dutch Harbor by invasion.
IJN gains 11 PoC to increase their total lead to 18 PoC.
USN Report: In the patrol phase, I elected to threaten the Marianas and to strongly follow up my flag in the Marshalls to take pressure off of other areas (not being under the delusion that the IJN would let me convert the two Marshalls bases). I also sent a patrol to the Aleutians to draw IJN response (since there was no IJN patrol). As it turned out, Bob gave me the Aleutians flag as a gift - one that I will exploit as another potential base-conversion threat next time! I patrolled the Hawaiians only with the Turn 3 material that was otherwise trapped. I also strongly patrolled the Coral Sea - in this case hoping that the IJN would be scared out of the area (given how many other things they had to respond to).
When it came down to raids, I elected to take a chance in Indonesia because of the severe threat that will occur next turn were I to get a flag there (since Lae was not threatened and the two LBA defense seemed inadequate against even just the British CVLs). I committed an extra USN CV to help. The other USN CVs headed to Central Pacific - on the premise that it's easier to defend a key base than it is to take it back. And, with Pearl safe, there's no question that Midway is the most critical green base on the board (and I already have Lae, after all).
I also sent a huge surface force to the Coral Sea against the flag to try for CV attrition and to prevent Australia from being cut off from key areas next turn (since I'm going to want my CVs there to threaten Indo). I was also hoping to save New Hebrides.
Of course, in the battles, Indo went all my way. The IJN sank one British 027 but only disabled Saratoga while both LBA were shot down on the first round. In the cruiser chases, two out of three got away (and I sank an IJN CA along the way). CPO also went my way. The initial day action saw the Lexington sunk but taking the Junyo and NLF with it. The IJN lost the 436 and another CA in pursuit. In a surprise move, the IJN inserted the Shoho into the Hawaiian Islands (on a speed roll, no less). The first round was day followed by night. When the Shoho's shots went astray (trying to stop a marine), she was unceremoniously sunk.
In other action, the IJN scored big-time in the U.S. Mandate where they shot down 2 LBA and heavily wounded another while seizing New Hebrides and converting Samoa for no loss at all! I'll have to hope the Allied LBA is scarier next turn!
The final action was the Coral Sea (not because of the order of battle but because it went 11 rounds)! The Ryujo enjoyed 9 rounds of daylight before the first day followed by night. During the daylight, she sank two BB and three CA while disabling another BB (with 4 bonus damage) and two CA (one with damage). The USN, feeling forced to stay because the Saratoga was docked in Australia, got a day followed by night in the 10th round. While losing another ship, the USN managed to disable the Ryujo and two CA. In the final round, both remaining IJN CA were disabled with no more damage to USN surface forces. The 8 to 4 hull attrition will make life much tougher on the USN in coming turns!
Diary entry from IJN pilot on board carrier
Ryujo
somewhere in the Coral Sea.
Reports from the front continue to bring good news. My wingman informed me of rumors of the fall of the fortress island of Saoma with no major casualties.
We celebrate tonight with Sake... We continue to fly sortie after sortie against the combined Allied fleet. We are beginning to run low on ammo and might have to leave the area. Smoke from burning oil has begun to cause the sky to appear as if it were night and may quickly force us to give up air operations if we don't run out of bombs first.
The Marshalls and South Pacific areas have been confirmed free of USN naval forces stopping the threat a few months ago in the Marshalls.
Rumors of a large British/USN battlegroup supported by a heavy carrier fleet. Early reports and a distant sighting of a possible damaged carrier putting in to an Australia port cause great joy to our crew.
I will try to write later.....
........Later that day (seems like night will never come around here....)....
Rumors of a possible disaster in Indonesia are not put to rest. Overwhelming Allied forces seem to have forces, land-based air units, to re-group. We are told that massive forces are being rushed to the area and will quickly crush any attempt at additonal advances in this area.
Moral is still very high. There is even talk of an Australian invasion this spring.
As predicted we are putting in to the new liberated port of New Hebrides for fuel, ammo and supplies. Our twin cruisers remained in the area to "mop up" the last remaining enemy forces.
Japanese Islands (3) Aleutian Islands (1) Central Pacific Ocean
North Pacific Ocean (1)
Marianas Islands (2)
South Pacific Ocean (2)
Marshalls Islands (1)
U.S. Mandate (2)
Indonesia (1)
Hawaiian Islands (3)
Indian Ocean (0)
Bay of Bengal (1)
Coral Sea
IJN converts Samoa by isolation; New Hebrides by invasion.
IJN gains 5 PoC to increase their total lead to 23 PoC.
RYUJO (Yokohama D.Y., April 2, 1931) Displacement: 7,600 tons Complement: 600 Length: 548 ft Beam: 60.5 ft Draught: 15.3 ft Aircraft: 31 Guns: 12 - 5.1 inch AA Machinery: Geared turbines. Kampon boilers. D.H.P. 40,000 = 25 kts. Notes: Laid down in Jan., 1930. To be completed in 1932
May 1943 ... further diary entry from
Yuotaka Sako aboard the Carrier Ryujo.... (During IJN Raider
Deployment)
Pappa, I do not know how much longer we will be apart. It has been over a year since I last set foot on Japanese soil.
Our forces continue to do well. We have been dispatched to again patrol off the coast of Australia. Maybe this time we will be able to invade and knock Britain out of the war. In the north a large taskforce has been sent to repel British and Allied forces on their advance on Burma and China. Massive land, sea and air forces have been dispatched to this area. Our captain has told us that we are once again sending an assault force against the Hawaiian islands.
No major Japanese losses have been reported for what is now our third year of fighting the combined Allied forces. Rumors of carrier raids and allied shelling of our home soil can not be believed by most of the crew.
The fortress islands of Midway and Lae still remain in enemy hands but the reports of increased Allied supplies and new "super" weapons are believed by most to be just stories.
My mission is to patrol the skies around my ship and prevent any allied landing forces from gaining a beachhead on the New Hebrides. I only wish we were sent up north to fight the British, but my duty is to server the Emperor and my captain.
Secret Imperial communication:
Disaster was narrowly averted in the Indonesian battle zone.
Heavy British forces backed by strong American airforces. In a surprise move, our landing forces were able to wrestle the island of Lae from the American forces and overrun the airfields supplying aerial support. Allied forces withdrew their air cover. However, strong allied surface forces remained in the zone and inflicted large casualties on our surface screening forces sinking the carriers Soryu, Zuikaku, and the ships Tone,Atago, Furtaka, Aoba, and Haruna for minimal Allied losses. Under cover of darkness, the allied forces managed to even land a small invasion force and retake (although temporarily) the Philippine island chain.
In the Hawaiian taskforce, the cruisers Takao and Atago were lost but the Shokaku was saved.
The landing of US Marines at Manila will now allow a USN fleet to base with carriers that threatens both the supply line to Truk and the carries a threat to the Home Islands.
The surrender of the island of Attu further increases pressure on our forces. Some members of the Imperial High command are questioning the wisdom of our field commanders.
Finally intial reports of carrier succes in the South Pacific were dashed when both carriers were bombed and forced to return to Truk, abandoning the newly landed ground forces on Lae to their fate.
Both the Western and now Northern fronts are causes for some alarm. Increased loss of surface tonnage is also a prime concern. This last campaign has lost two Battleships, four cruisers and 1 carrier. The enemy losses, while still great, can easily be replaced.
Finally, our I-boat fleet failed to duplicate it's former success and although sighted, did not sink an American carrier.
Much planning needs to go into any further campaigns. Some members suggest caution and a possible halting to further advances. Consolidation and possible a more defensive posture may be warranted at this time.
Others still feel the war can be "won" and attacks on all Allied ports and bases are called for. Sending Task forces both east and west.....
With a smaller fleet and stronger allied forces my dear emperor, I am not sure this is possible in all areas....
Oh for those heady days of early 1941 when the fleet stretched as far as the eye could see...
USN Report: I made my move to capitalize on the huge threat of converting Indonesia - figuring that I could force the IJN to leave the rest of the ocean as easy pickings. LBA in the South Pacific threatened to stop the single NLF from invading Lae (and were guaranteed to stick around themselves even if this mission failed) while LBA in Indonesia, backed by the British surface fleet, would make life challenging in Indo.
As it worked out, the move became much more risky that I'd anticipated. I'd expected more IJN LBA in Indo and less surface - since, after all, the Allies surface fleet would be able to lap them significantly and had the flag. However, Bob surprised me by putting a lot of CVs and small escorts in the area. I followed up with a big surface force -- being unwilling to abandon the whole British fleet.
Reflecting on the move, this was a poor time to finish repairing the Prince of Wales -- which should have been in Indo with the rest of the fleet!
As for the rest of the ocean, I basically got what I wanted though the IJN force in the Hawaiians was enough to stop me from trying to liberate Samoa. I sent the Marine to Midway even though I could have invaded Dutch Harbor without opposition because the IJN will have two NLF next turn, and I can't afford to lose Midway in a game where I control Pearl Harbor.
In combat, the NLF in the South Pacific was able to invade during a night action - jeopardizing a huge Allied force in Indo (which now had basically no air cover). In the second round, the IJN CVs shot down one LBA but were both disabled. In the Marianas, the IJN lost a BB in day action while the I-Boat missed. In the Japanese Islands, the USN CA was sunk while trying to flee. In the Aleutians, the IJN CA was sunk with no USN loss (thereby converting Attu)! In the Central Pacific, both IJN CAs were sunk but took one USN BB with them (and put 3 damage on the other)! In the Marshalls, the USN lost one CA before withdrawing. There were no losses in the Mandate. In the Hawaiians, the first round was night. The IJN lost two CAs to one but was able to withdraw with no other losses (the Zuikaku got off with a disable result after taking 5 bonus shots).
In the big battle in Indonesia, the first round was night - rescuing the Allied fleet from disaster and threatening one for the IJN. However, despite 4 BBs on CVs, the IJN lost only one (with another being disabled). More surprisingly, the IJN lost only one 436 while removing four Allied ships! Committing to another round, the Allies invaded the Philippines. The second round was also a night; however, this time the Allies only lapped the IJN by one ship! The casualties were also more evenly split - with the USN losing their BB and a CA while the IJN lost a couple of CAs. The CV under BB fire was, again, only disabled. The remaining Allies then withdrew and, since they still had an overlap, the IJN did not pursue.
In retrospect, the move into Indonesia was probably too risky - the faster Brits should have been held off as raiders. The Allied fleet could have been annihilated in a day action after the SPO NLF managed its landing. Fortunately, both fleets took similar damage (and I even managed to sink a CV) rather than the crippling attrition that could have been the result.
Japanese Islands (3) Aleutian Islands (1) Central Pacific Ocean
Indonesia (3)
Marshalls Islands (1)
U.S. Mandate (2)
Coral Sea (2)
North Pacific Ocean (1)
Marianas Islands (1)
South Pacific Ocean (1)
Bay of Bengal (1)
Hawaiian Islands
Indian Ocean
IJN converts by Lae invasion.
USN converts Attu by isolation; the Philippines by invasion.
IJN gains 6 PoC to increase their total lead to 29 PoC.
Yuotaka Sako lives and writes: Father, I am well. I was one of the few survivors of the disaster. The well planned trap sprung by USN forces was almost complete.
We were on a task force near the island of Samoa in the newly named "Nippon" Mandate region of the South Pacific.
Our might force consisted of the carriers Kaga, Zuiho and our beloved Ryujo along with covering ships Suzuya, Mikuma, Haguro and Myoko.
With reports of only a lightly enforced Allied landing force that was attempting to retake New Hebrides, our commanders felt this was all the force necessary. Warnings of allied carrier activity as well as possible battleship forces were dismissed as treasonous rumor. How wrong they all were.
Our force was surprised by a large allied force containing the battleships Indiana, Washington, Mississippi, as well as a few cruisers and two carriers. Our forces still should have been able to destroy the enemy but a crash of one of our scout planes caused a fatal delay. Our force (in hindsight) should have pursued our course instead of trying to search for the pilot. This two hour delay did not allow our planes to spot the massive allied buildup until too late. Our planes were unable to operate in the deepening darkness. Without scouting flights, our force was unprepared for the night battle that followed.
Suddenly, it was battleships against carriers. Our crews fought to contain the fires but the damage to the Ryujo was too great. I was one of only 4 survivors taken aboard the carrier Kaga. The valiant efforts of our screening forces heavily damaged the Indiana and sunk the Quincy. In the confusion the Kaga was able to once again escape the big guns of the Allied battleships that sought to destroy her.
Throughout the port of Truk, sailors and airmen alike mourn the deaths of their friends on the crews of the Mikuma, Hiyo, Kitakami, Kako, Suzuya, Kumano and Hiryu.
Allied Marine landings on New Hebrides threaten our hold on Samoa.
Only in the Indonesian theater and on the fortress island of Dutch Harbor were our forces safe victorious like the days of old.
Large allied tonnage is the only good news. Lack of surface screening ships may yet prove fatal to allied advances. Our land-based airforces and landing forces will be called upon more and more as Allied forces creep closer to our shores.
I will continue to fight for our family honor and to protect you from harm dear father.
USN Report: Again to lead IJN forces away from the perimeter around the Hawaiians, I placed LBA in Indonesia along with British surface forces - drawing a huge reaction to both Indonesia and the Marianas. Just enough to scare me out of a fight there. Had one less NLF gone to the Marianas I'd have tried a suicide CV in that area.
My top objective for the turn was to keep the Central Pacific open so that the Turn 6 reinforcements will have a lot of options and be able to raid the high IJN's high PoC areas. After the LBA and raiders were done, this area was already locked up for me. My tough decision was what to do with the Marine at Midway. I elected to keep him there in order to secure the island against NLF on Turn 6 (and, thereby, keep the lane open on Turn 7) because invading Okinawa didn't look promising.
After IJN raiders, I decided to take a chance on converting Dutch Harbor by isolation, make sure Hawaii was not controlled by the IJN, and try to control the U.S. Mandate or, at least, invade New Hebrides. In the Mandate, I brought enough air cover (Wasp and Victorious) to be competitive (since the IJN would use the first round shooting at the Marine).
In Indo, with the USN LBA gone, the IJN sank both the Hermes and Exeter for no loss. There were no losses in Central or South Pacific. In the North Pacific, first round day action saw the Hiryu disable the Saratoga while being sunk in return. The second round saw both IJN CAs sunk for no USN loss. In the Aleutians, the first round day saw the IJN CA sunk; however, the I-Boat managed to sink the USN CA to save the conversion of Dutch Harbor.
In the Hawaiian Islands, a first round day action saw the USN LBA sink the IJN CV. Meanwhile, in the U.S. Mandate, the first round was night! The Ryujo was sunk (while the Kaga, as in Indonesia the turn before, took 5 bonus shots only to be disabled). Two other CAs were also sunk while one was disabled. One USN patroller was sunk along with another BB. New Hebrides was invaded! The second round was day followed by night. The Zuiho missed the last USN patroller and was sunk in return (though I realize I should have shot at the CA instead)! In the night action, the IJN missed again and was sunk in return.
I'm in excellent shape going into Turn 6 with one exception - loss of surface ships. Fortunately, the IJN has also lost a lot. However, I have excellent bases and good movement possibilities for Turn 6 and even trimmed the lead by one.
Japanese Islands (3) North Pacific Ocean (1) Aleutian Islands
Marianas Islands (2)
Indonesia (3)
Marshalls Islands (1)
Central Pacific Ocean (0)
South Pacific Ocean (1)
Hawaiian Islands (3)
U.S. Mandate (2)
Coral Sea (2)
Bay of Bengal (1)
Indian Ocean
IJN converts the Philippines by invasion.
USN converts New Hebrides by invasion.
USN gains 1 PoC to decrease the total IJN lead to 28 PoC.
Turn 6
Communication from from Naval High Command:
************** Your Eyes only ******************
Prime Directive To all fleet commanders:
Allied naval invasion task forces have been spotted in three areas of operations:
Northern Pacific --
Projected objective is the fortress island of Dutch Harbor. No naval
or air forces could be spared for this area. Possible interdiction by
I-boat fleet may be the only way to save this island. Ground troops
are encouraged to fight on and avoid capture.
Southern Pacific --
Projected objective is the fortress island of Lae to help further Air
operations in the coming months. A small surface fleet and the Hosho
for scouting and possible daytime operation have been dispatched to
this theater. A landing force has also been dispatched to either
counter a marine landing or remove the Allied land-based air threat
by invading the lightly held island of Guadalcanal. Allied surface
fleet is not seen as a threat but additional carrier units have been
sighted steaming north from Australian ports. High command has not
yet determined their final destination.
Area around Marianas island chain --
Projected objective is the much contested Philippines island chain. A
single Allied surface ship and marine unit currently are steaming
towards Manila. High command is not sure if this is a ruse to draw
much needed IJN forces into battle or if a heavier raiding force is
following a few days behind the Allied invasion force. Undercover
operatives in the Pearl Harbor area have sighted large numbers of
newly launched carriers and battleships leaving port and heading west
or southwest. We have dispatched two carriers and supporting surface
ships to repel the invaders. Among the carriers is the legendary Kaga
and Shokaku both of which survived direct hits from American
Battleships.
Indo and Nippon Mandate areas are also threatened by Allied surface and air units. We have dispatched our best pilots to help repel this threat.
It is critical that you do whatever it takes to destroy these invasion forces as well as any patrolling ships that are in your areas of operations. These next few months may decide the entire war. Without bases, the allied forces can not re-supply their massive fleets and we can easily interrupt their long supply lines. With a rumored allied invasion of Europe, the Allied forces will be hard pressed to attack our bases if given time to fortify our position. It is vital that you and all your commanders give your all for our Emperor.
********** End of communication ****************
Minutes from Top Secret Planning Conference:
************* For Your Eyes Only *************
Commander High Seas Fleet:
In recent battles with the Allied forces a major production effort is finally being felt. The set-backs of Pearl Harbor while still great, have not lasted as long as first anticipated.
Massive carrier forces in the Nippon Mandate as well as task forces sent to the North Pacific allowed previous deployed allied forces to also deploy in the area around Singapore (Indo area).
The results are mixed. The following reports are from task force commanders (or their replacements).
Keep in mind gentlemen, this enemy is still able to pack a punch and the High Command fears they are also reading communications, thus able to predict our ship, air and landing force moves.
Commander LBA forces defending Indonesia:
Sir, I regret to report that large American and British forces have destroyed or greatly reduced the forces I sent to defend our oil fields and rubber plantations in Indonesia. I regret to inform you that a massive carrier task force is still patrolling these waters and has pushed us back to the area around Saigon and southern China.
**** For the record: The newly appointed commander of this area is being dispatched to the area as we speak. The "former" commander has taken his life to atone for his failure.
Commander Southern Pacific forces:
Sir, we had dispatched ships, a small landing force and submarine forces to both stop allied landings on Lae, as well as attempt to push back allied land-based air on Guadalcanal. We were partially successful. We were able to inflict casualties on both the Allied surface fleet and a few of their air elements. We also sank their Lae landing forces. However, we were unable to drive the Allied air forces from their forward bases and thus lost surface covering fleet to a day/night battle.
Commander Marshalls forces :
All quiet here. We chased off a few Allied scout ships. No carrier activity in this sector, although we will remain on highest alert.
Japanese Island forces had similar reports but there were no Allied ship activity sighted.
Commander Dutch Harbor:
Sir, we will fight to the last man, but supplies are getting low. We have a few pounds of rice and fish we can catch (when the weather gets above freezing). We still await the promised supply ship as well as additional ammunition to help drive off the invasion fleet. We are right now sitting in our bunkers watching the allied forces deploy in the seas below. Not sure how much longer we can survive.
***** A few hours after this report was filed, Allied invasion forces came ashore and took the island. Brave ground forces fought to the last man, and allied deaths were high but the island fell.
Commander Marianas area:
Victory over the Allied invasion forces -- Allied attempts to invade IJN owned Manila and/or Saipan resulted in loss of all hands to the accurate carrier bombers. Surprisingly, Allied troops were sacrificed in the face of superior IJN forces.
Commander Nippon Mandate:
Reports are still coming in on what might be the pivotal battle of the war. Massive Allied carrier and land-based air forces along with a large surface fleet converged on Samoa. Our forces dispatched land-based air, a small landing force and a few surface scratch forces to defend our base. Our air forces continued to pound the allied forces. Although our landing forces were taken out of the fight early, the remaining forces sent carrier after to carrier to the bottom or created massive damage to remaining Allied forces. At last report, although our air forces are badly battered, they continue to press attacks.
***** The air commander is being awarded a posthumous medal after he led raid after raid against the Allied carrier, finally sinking the Montrey by crashing his plane directly into the forward fore-deck setting off a fire in the fuel bunker.
Further updates will be coming. Continue to stress to front line troops that their Emperor and the entire nation is holding it's breath. These next few months will determine the survival of our great nation.
USN Report: I deployed to maximize my threat and to allow me an effective response no matter how the IJN set up their raiders, NLF, and raiders. In the end, I was a bit surprised by the IJN commitment to the South Pacific -- which isn't as critical in a Samoa game. In the end, the IJN lost everything in the area (including the I-Boat ;-); however ,Bob did accomplish his main mission -- keeping Lae in IJN hands when the I-Boat single-handedly sunk the Marines after a night action on the first round.
The most shocking result was probably Indonesia where my 3 CVs downed his two LBA without loss (one CV was disabled to Australia). I was surprised to get the chance at Indonesia at all -- let alone one where the odds favored me.
The win in Indo was a good thing too -- considering the result in the "Nippon" Mandate. The initial day round saw the NLF disabled with one damage while one LBA was shot down. With only one CV and one CVL removed, I figured I had the edge. However, the second round saw three CVs leave (two disabled and one with maximum damage) while the USN did only 3 damage to IJN LBA. That left the battle as a toss-up. Round three saw a USN LBA shot down along with the last two CVs departing (one sunk and one disabled). In return? A few more non-killing damage points on the LBA. The fourth round saw the IJN lose a CA and take damage on the other for no USN losses. I then withdrew rather than seeing my LBA shot down for nothing -- in fact, I'd rather have all those damaged LBA on Turn 7 (hoping they'll be easy to get rid of and won't be around for Turn 8).
A mixed turn, all-in-all, but one that leaves me able to threaten everywhere on Turn 7. The IJN's edge? The ocean is cut in two -- so that he'll only have to deal with half of the USN fleet on each half (which the IJN lfeet is certainly still capable of doing). The PoC is still pretty decent for the IJN too...
Now that many IJN players will strike into the Indian Ocean on Turn 7 (to draw USN units to the edge and stir up a fight in an otherwise useless area), I've gotten in the habit of putting an Allied flag there on Turn 6!
Japanese Islands (3) Aleutian Islands (1) None
Marianas Islands (2)
Marshalls Islands (1)
U.S. Mandate (2)
North Pacific Ocean (1)
Central Pacific Ocean (0)
Indonesia (1)
South Pacific Ocean (1)
Hawaiian Islands (3)
Coral Sea (2)
Indian Ocean (0)
Bay of Bengal (1)
USN converts Dutch Harbor by invasion.
USN gains 2 PoC to decrease the total IJN lead to 26 PoC.
Turn 7
USN Report: Average results do not seem common in this game! Last turn I lost a battle in the Mandate that should have been a victory but also easily won in Indonesia where it should have been a tough fight!
My patrols were designed with Turn 8 in mind (trying to keep the IJN out of as many areas as possible so that I'll be able to bring most of my fleet to the expected battle in the Japanese Islands). Most used the traditional CA/CV approach (or surface/air where LBA was possible) which does leave an opening for IJN agression -- but usually at too high a price to pay on Turn 7.
The IJN deploy with the main focus of keeping Saigon and Singapose in Japanese hands while threatening key bases with NLF and controlling (or denying the USN control of) the Japanese Islands and the Marianas.
Probably mistakenly, I go for Indonesia and take the challenge in the Marianas and Japanese Islands.
The IJN NLF in the South Pacific and U.S. Mandate are rebuffed (the latter making next turn MUCH easier)!
In the Japanese Islands, the fight is long with the USN CVs dominating their IJN counterparts at day but the IJN prevailing on the surface in many more night actions. In the final round, the USN patrolling CVL is dispatched by IJN surface forces who also lose their last patroller.
In the Marianas, the USN takes a CV loss but quickly removes the IJN forces.
In Indonesia, the initial day action is brutally effective for the IJN who remove most of the USN CVs. However, the Marine makes it through to the Philippines successfully (and thanks to the Marianas forces it isn't flipped back over due to isolation)! The second round is night which keeps hope alive for the Allies as the IJN CVs are all sunk. However, in the third round, the last USN CV is removed -- leaving a sole, damaged IJN LBA triumphant! Fortunately, the remainder of the USN fleet (including the disabled CV) can base in the Philippines!
Indonesia (3) Aleutian Islands (1) Japanese Islands
North Pacific Ocean (1)
Central Pacific Ocean (0)
South Pacific Ocean (1)
Marshall Islands (1)
Hawaiian Islands (3)
U.S. Mandate (2)
Coral Sea (2)
Bay of Bengal (1)
Marianas Islands
Indian Ocean
USN converts the Philippines by invasion.
USN gains 9 PoC to decrease the total IJN lead to 17 PoC.
Letter Home: Father, this will be the final letter from your devoted son.
We have been training to fly land based planes. These planes are very different than the ones we fly years ago. These planes (divine wind) will be your salvation. Even as I write, American ships steam towards our beloved shores. I must do my part to protect you father.
Each one of us has been trained to spot and destroy enemy carriers. However, instead of a bomb to drop, we are the bomb. We will pilot our craft into the "belly of the enemy" and drive him from our shores.
Here are my nail clippings. Keep them as a memory of your son. Honor me as I know try to honor you and our family.
Be brave father, they may be tough days ahead but know I fought for what I belived and did not regret this last act. If I am successful, I will not see you or mother in this life. If I am not, our life as we know it will cease to exist anyway.
Wish me a swift flight and the power of the sun.......
Your son,
Yuotaka Sako
Later: Father, it has been 3 days and we still have seen no action.
The weather has kept our planes grounded and the enemy (cowards that they are...) only shell our shores at night.
Our patched and weary crews sail out to meet the enemy and have even damaged or sunk a few Battleships. The enemy carriers however stay far out to sea.
Our time will come, but for now, the enemy has yet to feel our iron fist and explosive belly.
Still your son..
Yuotaka Sako
USN Report: With my luck against LBA being quite variable (dramtically successful on Turn 6 and utterly futile in most other big battles), this turn was far from a certain USN win...
Bob deployed everything to the Japanese Islands except a single CV during the patrol phase. This was probably an error -- since his ships could not hope to add any more weight to the patrol than what his LBA would provide. And, had they remained as raiders, I would have been forced to back up my own patrols in other areas more strongly -- possibly taking vital units away from the Japanese Islands battle.
Fortunately, since the IJN needed to come up with a 5 PoC swing to win the game, the IJN either had to win the Japanese Islands outright or deny me control there while coming up with two PoC elsewhere. The lone IJN CV raider made it such that the latter was no longer a possibility. In fact, I made certain to leave two areas (worth one PoC each) "vulnerable" to a CV raid -- knowing that the IJN couldn't take advantage of both -- but, at the same time, trying to get that last CV out of the Japanese Islands. This worked -- making my chance at the Japanese Islands slightly better.
Of course, as it turned out, with a pure night action in the first round (hence the second Yuotaka Sako letter home) in the Japanese Islands, it probably wouldn't have mattered. All the IJN CVs in the Japanese Islands were removed before they could have any effect. The two days that followed were sufficient to removed the four IJN LBA (with low USN casualties). That prompted an IJN surrender.
The IJN effort in the Marianas also went awry as the USN LBA sank both IJN NLF before they could reach the Philippines.
The Japanese Islands battle should have been much closer. Luck made it an easy victory in a tough game! Bob's a fun opponent and his comments made this a very enjoyable match!
None Japanese Islands (3) Central Pacific Ocean
Aleutian Islands (1)
North Pacific Ocean (1)
Marianas Islands (1)
Indonesia (1)
South Pacific Ocean (1)
Marshall Islands (1)
Hawaiian Islands (3)
U.S. Mandate (2)
Coral Sea (2)
Bay of Bengal (1)
Indian Ocean
USN gains 17 PoC to decrease the total IJN lead
to 0 PoC.
USN wins by 4.5 PoC
after applying the 4.5 PoC bid.