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Turn 1
The Tennessee escaped from Pearl with 5 damage while the California and Maryland each escaped with 4 damage. The 7th AF and the New Orleans escaped undamaged. In Indonesia, both British ships and the LBA were sunk. On the whole, a slightly better than average raid for the USN.
Two CVs (Group Z) showed up in the Central Pacific while one CV ended up in the Hawaiians. The I-Boat wiffed. In the CPO, the initial exchange saw both IJN CVLs (Hosho and Ryujo) sunk in exchange for the Hornet. In the pursuit, the USN sank three IJN CAs during daylight actions (a 118 and two 107s). The fourth round of pursuit comes up night. The Yorktown and one CA are sunk for no IJN losses. The remaining USN CA is disabled.
On the whole, the turn goes to the IJN -- though the USN will have a good edge on the surface.
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)
Indian Ocean (0)
Bay of Bengal (1)
Hawaiian Islands
IJN gains the standard 7
PoC.
IJN Comments: I make my typical Turn 2 patrols (threatening all three home areas). It's especially effective when there's no threat to Indonesia.
Joe's LBA placement (heavy in the Coral Sea) causes me to abandon that area and focus on the other home areas. I also send the NLF to the Hawaiians (since New Hebrides could be saved by the flags in Coral and Mandate).
In fact, Joe does respond by trying to save the Mandate. Joe's move is very successful -- sinking both CA in the Coral Sea while sinking all three CV in the Mandate for no loss! However, the move concedes a huge number of bases to the IJN and virtually assures me of the "Full Applebaum."
Japanese Islands (3) North Pacific Ocean (1)
Aleutian Islands (0)
Central Pacific Ocean (1)
Marianas Islands (2)
Indonesia (3)
South Pacific Ocean (2)
Marshall Islands (1)
Hawaiian Islands (2)
U.S. Mandate (2)
Coral Sea (2)
Indian Ocean (0)
Bay of Bengal (1)
IJN converts Attu, Midway, Singapore, the Philippines, and Lae
by isolation; Johnston Island and Dutch Harbor by invasion.
IJN gains 8 PoC to raise the total lead to 15 PoC.
IJN Comments: I was so successful in converting bases last turn that my poor NLF at Japan has nothing to invade! It'll simply re-base for next turn.
My main thrust this turn is attrition of USN CVs plus the capture of Pearl Harbor -- while will be harder since I'm missingthree of my big CVs! The need for LBA in the conversion means I'll abandon Indonesia to the British -- even though it means a fight there next turn. Fortunately, two of the 0272 Brit CVs will go away between now and then!
The extra LBA in the Hawaiians lets me conduct one "adventure" into the U.S Mandate looking for CV attrition and another into Coral Sea looking for PoC (and looking to make life tough on the USN)!
The battles are obscene! In the Hawaiians, the first two rounds knock out every air unit except for a single wounded LBA on each side. Shokaku, Hiryu, and Junyo are sunk -- severly damaging my CV force. The other two are disabled. It takes seven more rounds to end the fight. Fortunately, the IJN wins and converts Pearl -- otherwise, my damaged CV force and the Indo sacrifice would make life almost impossible for the IJN.
In the other battles, the Zuiho is sunk after a futile day action in the Coral Sea but the IJN manages to deny control to the USN. In the Mandate, no CVs are lost but both sides lose some surface ships before the USN drives the IJN away. The net surface losses for the turn are 1 BC and 2 CA lost by the IJN to 2 CA for the USN.
I achieved my main objective but didn't get any attrition of USN CVs. The lack of CVs in the Hawaiians also meant that all the Turn 3 reinforcements get away to help the USN in future turns. That will make the next 2-3 turns very challenging.
Japanese Islands (3) Indonesia (1) Aleutian Islands
North Pacific Ocean (1)
Central Pacific Ocean (1)
Marianas Islands (2)
South Pacific Ocean (2)
Marshall Islands (1)
Hawaiian Islands (2)
U.S. Mandate (2)
Indian Ocean (0)
Bay of Bengal (1)
Coral Sea
IJN converts Pearl Harbor by isolation.
IJN gains 8 PoC to raise the total lead to 23 PoC.
IJN Comments: The conversion of Guadalcanal (to ensure ownership of the South Pacific next turn) as well as putting a flag on Indonesia are my top objectives this turn. if I can, I'll also prevent the Allies from getting a foothold in the Hawaiians.
The initial round of combat is mixed -- I sink a CA in the Marshalls and a damaged 553 in the Mandate but wiff in the more important Japanese Islands. Against the Marines, I stop the one in Indonesia but the Zuikaku wiffs in the Hawaiian Islands. Of course, I take Guadalcanal without a problem. So it's certain I'll obtain my top two objectives. Now I just have to see if I can do anything in the Hawaiians...
In return, the Kumano was sunk in the Mandate; however, the CAs in the Marshalls, Marianas, and Japanese Islands were simply disabled. The Hermes was ineffective vs. the Indo LBA.
In the Hawaiians, the USN CVs sink both Zuikaku and the NLF while landing on Johnston themselves after the I-Boat wiffs. The IJN stays for a second round in the hopes of removing patrollers at night. It is a night action, but the CA misses while the Yamato only disables a patroller. In return the CA is disabled while the bonus babies sink Yamato. Surface attrition is roughly equal for the turn (though the USN did repair two BBs). However, the IJN position is severely weakened by the Marshalls flag and the Hawaiian debacle (both a flag and a base for the USN). If either portion of the Hawaiian defense team had pulled out their objective, I'd be in OK shape. As it is, the PoC loss will compound my troubles!
North Pacific Ocean (1) Marshall Islands (1) Japanese Islands
Central Pacific Ocean (1)
Indonesia (3)
South Pacific Ocean (2)
Hawaiian Islands (3)
U.S. Mandate (2)
Coral Sea (2)
Indian Ocean (0)
Bay of Bengal (1)
Aleutian Islands
Marianas Islands
IJN converts Guadalcanal by invasion.
USN converts Johnston Island by invasion.
USN gains 2 PoC to decrease the total IJN lead to 21 PoC.
IJN Comments: Establishing a perimter from Indonesia-SPO-Marshalls-CPO was my main (and really only) objective this turn. In order to overcome my PoC deficiency, I needed to shelter some key areas (Marianas and Japanese Islands) on Turn 6 so that my fleet and LBA could concentrate on CPO and Indonesia.
I decided to use LBA to handle the first three areas and the fleet in CPO (primarily because so much of the Allied fleet would have a hard time reaching that area and I could guarantee IJN air equality with just two CVs).
The USN responded as expected -- attacking Marianas, NPO, and Marshalls. The first two are peripheral to my objectives and defended only by CAs. With luck, I managed to extract two of the three CAs. The Indo fight also tilted my way with the disabling of the Hermes.
However, in the Marshalls the battle started off with very encouraging results -- my LBA and the Shoho sank all three USN CVs on the first round! Alas, IJN victory was not to be as both LBA were shot down with multiple hits in return. The Shoho and I-Boat were unable to deny control thereafter.
At this point, I decided to surrender -- there's just no way to score enough PoC to compensate for the low total and high bid. In fact, my calculations showed a VERY close game even if I had managed to win the Marshalls! Without it (and with the bases converting), I can't shelter the PoC in any area (including the Japanese Islands)!
Joe played an excellent game -- taking risks when needed and overcoming a very tough start! Congratulations!
Japanese Islands (3) North Pacific Ocean (1) Aleutian Islands
Central Pacific Ocean (1)
Indonesia (3)
South Pacific Ocean (2)
Marshall Islands (1)
Hawaiian Islands (3)
U.S. Mandate (2)
Coral Sea (2)
Bay of Bengal (1)
Marianas Islands
Indian Ocean
USN converts Pearl Harbor, Kwajalein, and Maloelap by
isolation.
USN gains 1 PoC to decrease the total IJN lead to 20 PoC.
IJN surrenders; Congratulations, Joe!