1000 mile war - liberating the Aleutians

[Energisteron]

Obviously, will contain #SPOILERS# !!!!!!

Moved here from general discussion as it's become an AAR.

So, let's go back to the beginning:-

OK, I'm taking on the task of liberating the Aleutians. I have 2 calendar months to capture Attu and Kiska with quite limited resources.

First off, it's apparent this is very much a secondary operation; the two Japanese held islands are worth just 20pts apiece to me, and 40pts to them. So, as per my orders, taking just one will be a failure all round. Lose too many aircraft or ships, especially loaded transports would be hard to take!

It seems I've got what I've got for the duration of the campaign and I get nothing else. So what have I got?

Well, Dutch Harbor is my primary base. It's well developed and has good supplies of fuel and supplies.

It has plentiful groups of US land-based aircraft (3 Liberator, 2 Mitchell, 2 Catalina, and 1 Lightening fighter group; the Canadians chip in with 2 Kittyhawks, and 1 Ventura). I have NO CVs at all. The first thing I notice is that Attu is 18 hexes distant and the Liberators' radius is 17 hexes. Pushing out to 18 may increase operational attrition. Kiska however is well within range.

I have 3 decent Infantry Rgts with Engineers, AAA and 1 Artillery Btn in support. These are already slated for ops against either Attu or Kiska with approximately 50 prep pts in hand. So o I stick with this distribution or not?

So far, not so bad, but naval assets seem somewhat limited. As mentioned no CVs of any kind, but at least the ships I do have have absolutely no damage at all. I have 6 SS, 2 CA, 4 CL, and 13 DD plus a few auxiliary vessels. I'm intrigued by the AVDs (aircraft tender destroyers) of which I have 3. I'm not sure what their capabilities are tbh!

But what concerns me greatly is my available transport capacity; just 2 AP transports, each capable of loading 1500 troop load, and 3000 supplies. Nothing else has any troop carrying capacity! I have no LS or LC. Making a dummy TF indicates that the Rgt already rostered for Kiska can just about be squeezed aboard, although it exceeds carrying capacity. Not sure if these means a few guys get left behind?

My only other base is Adak which is in a fairly rudimentary state despite being effectively in the frontline. Its airstrip is grade 2, there's a basic defence force including AAA, and its short of supply and fuel. Not good! Despite this though it has 3 groups of Warhawks, and 1 of US Venturas.

The enemy holds the two island objectives plus a distant base, Paramushiro-jima, 17 hexes from Attu and 22 hexes from Kishka.

What do I know about them? There's no indication of the presence of any enemy aircraft, or naval capabilities and no info on fortification level. See screenshot. Kishka: Seemingly a small force with 25 guns - including AAA? If anywhere near accurate I'd expect a full regiment to deal with this outpost.
Attu: These estimates seem suspiciously low!
Para (abbr.): Looks to be marginally superior to Dutch Harbor. No idea what naval units may be around there!

[Energisteron]

At this point Deathifier acting as my Staff Officer intervened and pointed out some useful tips and more importantly pointed out that I do actually get reinforcements! Deathifier, with your permission, I'd like to paste your comments up here?

So, in addition to the first assessment above, I get in excess of 4 Infantry Rgt between 2 and 5 weeks from the start. That's quite perturbing! Maybe resistance is expected to be stronger than I expected?

Indeed I do eventually get a CVE after 15 days and it is accompanied by BBs and CAs. Wow! This is getting heavy! Plus more transport and escorts.

Also, a fair number of air groups arrive. The Canadians double their effort at Dutch Harbor, and the US adds Catalinas and Venturas.

But all these reinforcements arrive over quite a long period, in the main 2-6 weeks (and I've set-up with the +/-15 day arrival option), and it's all supposed to be achieved by day 61.

Plan A

PLan A below. Cannot embed in post for some reason.

Plan A below. It won't let me embed for some reason?

So, to planning.

ALEUTIANS PLANNING

Primary Objective: Retake Attu and Kiska at minimal cost while attempting to prevent enemy withdrawal (or reinforcement)

Secondary Objective: Inflict maximum casualties on enemy air and naval units as opportunity presents

Strategic assessment: Two island objectives seem to be lightly held with potential intervention only coming from a distant base (17 and 22 hexes away). The US primary base is similarly distant from the further objective (18 hexes) but the nearer objective is well within range of US land-based bombers (14 hexes). Three Rgts of infantry are available for the invasions, with an equivalent force to follow-up after about a month. Naval escorts are adequate. Sea lift capability is barely enough, but will improve in about a month. Supplies and fuel are plentiful at Dutch Harbor, but stretched at our forward base, Adak which has limited port and air capacity.

Overall Plan: There will be two plans, the final choice will depend on latest intelligence at Day 15.

Plan A: Make simultaneous landings at both objectives. Attack at Kiska to be supported by aircraft alone. Attack at Attu to be supported by naval bombardment. Transports to return with reinforcements as soon as possible to ensure capture of at least one objective. Aircraft to be moved up to captured airstrip once repaired. Air support against second objective will then become available.

Plan B: A full Rgt assault on Kiska with preliminary air bombardment, and naval bombardment during landing. Meanwhile isolate Attu from reinforcement or retirement. Send second Rgt to assault Attu once Kiska secured, with a third as floating reserve. Move land-based bombers forward if feasible to assist against Attu.

[Jorge_Stanbury]

" the Rgt already rostered for Kiska can just about be squeezed aboard, although it exceeds carrying capacity. Not sure if these means a few guys get left behind? "

Yes, it means that some of its devices will be left behind. If you are looking for transporting it, then you might need to do 2 trips, it will recombine automatically when all detachments are in the same base


A good suggestion when starting any game is to check your leaders' skill, you really want your combat LCUs and key ships (like those 2 APs) to have good leaders, even if that means paying PP to change the worst ones



What do I know about them?
Do you have naval search capability? 1st priority should be to make Adak a naval seach base, so that you know, more or less, if the enemy is moving ships in/ out the area, you should never send naval assets on waters that has not been searched. Naval search, as any other mission, will consume supply, so it is important that you start moving supply from Dutch Harbor into Adak
A good naval search base has plenty of supplies, air support, an air HQ and fighters doing CAP
ideally you have patrol aircraft (PBYs), but notice that level bombers can also do it, if they are trained in "naval search"
you should also setup search arcs, as the enemy is coming from the west, thus a full 360 degree search is not necessary

[Energisteron]

Jorge, thanks for advice

Plan B

[GetAssista]

50 prep and 2 months time means you can afford to invade with 100 prep near the end of the scenario. 100 prep is adviceable because it significantly decreases disembark losses and disruption and makes LCUs fight better afterwards.

Check intelligence screen (button with "i" in the top row) and look into Airgroup/ground reinforcement and ship availability queues (right column of links). You have a lot of material coming in the next month. Before that you need to understand what are Japan's forces in the region, do some recon/search, and build up and secure forward airfield in Adak which is crucial to your success given no carrier air to speak of.

Edit: also, since you would be relying on land based air mostly exclusively, pilot quality is top priority. And extensive training is out of question with only 2 months and limited airgroups. Check what kind of reserve pilots you have for your fighters and bombers (both naval and ground attack) and make necessary replacements

[Energisteron]

Agreed, GetAssista

Day 1: Apr 15

I've sent 4 subs to watch the 3 enemy bases.

Adak has been set to expand. All air training ramped up to 50% except 1 fighter group placed at 40% CAP and 40% Escort training. The medium bombers are training for airfield attack - they can reach Kiska easily, and Attu is just in range.

Dutch Harbor also set to expand. All ground units continue unchanged with training objectives already assigned. Only subs given orders. All other naval units at ease. Catalinas (1 group) set for naval search. Small CAP provided by 1 Canadian fighter group. Remainder of air continue training.

[Energisteron]

So Day 1 was nice and quiet with no losses.

No contacts except for at Attu and Kiska. About 8 fighters spotted at Kiska airfield. Subs underway to patrol zones.

Day 2 was thundery but again we had no attritional losses.

Weather so bad over Kiska that we learned nothing new. Weather improved over Attu and about 21 fighters were spotted. One was definitely a Zero. But it was Signals Intelligence that paid dividends! See Screenshot.

There looks to be decent AAA on both target islands, but nothing too intimidating as regards ground force combat troops.

Our forward base at Adak is screaming for fuel and supplies by now so perhaps I should send them a few bits and pieces!

[Energisteron]

Day 3 - Apr 17

Search pattern unchanged. Filling up an xAK (Cargo mission) and an AO (Tanker mission) - I hope it can do that! - with Adak in mind.

Another quiet day, weather hindered search, but still no losses. One or possibly 2 enemy subs spotted in area of Dutch Harbor. No more useful information.

Day 4 - Apr 18

Loading supplies and fuel continues. Sub3 on station at Kiska. Subs 2 and 4 reach their patrol zones by day's end. Foul weather continues - no sightings.

Day 5 - Apr 19

The Oiler and Cargo ship are given 2 of my slower DDs each and sent by a route just north of the Aleutian island chain. A fighter group from Dutch Harbor is to provide CAP till out of range, then aircraft from Adak will take over. Enemy sub activity had seemed to be to the south.

Incident free day. Weather still bad. No losses. No further intelligence gained. A fresh CL arrives at Dutch Harbor.

Day 6 - Apr 20

All 4 subs on station. Cargo being unloaded at Adak. Oil not far behind. Weather continues poor. No incidents or losses.

[Energisteron]

Day 7 - Apr 21

Weather masking just about everything. Considering stopping Naval Search till it improves as it's seeing nothing. But amazingly still no aircraft lost.

Cargo and Oil being unloaded at Adak (with difficulty due to port size 2 being limited to 12k tons shipping).

Signal interception indicates Maizuru 3rd SNLF located on Kiska. Not sure how much of a threat that unit would be?

Day 8 - Apr 22

Catalina group stood down from search. 2nd Catalina group of only 6 aircraft given same search pattern. Don't expect to see much.

Indeed, nothing to report.

Day 9 - Apr 23

Subs have spotted absolutely no naval or supply vessels in the vicinity of Kiska or Attu. They've not been troubled by aircraft either. Unloading at Adak is painfully slow and continues.

[Energisteron]

Day 10 - Apr 24

Something interesting lands on my desk! Signal intelligence has detected a detachment of tanks, and a Mountain Gun Rgt on Attu, and an Engineer Cpy on Kiska. Could Kiska really be that lightly defended?



A fresh CA arrives for service at Dutch Harbor. With bad weather severely hampering air operations I've decided its time to have a poke at Kiska. I send out a bombardment TF consisting of 2 CA, 2CL, and 4 fast DDs. I'll let the TF Commander decide how to use his 8 catapult planes. He wisely doesn't risk them in bad weather.

However, a brief respite in the heavy overcast permits identification of 38 fighters at Kiska airstrip, and at least 3 SSX (midget subs!) in Kiska port. On Attu it seems there's 32 emplaced guns, and probably about 500 troops.

We'll see what the snap bombardment of Kiska turns up. Meanwhile I'll dispatch a couple more DD to catch up and go ahead of the bombardment group.

I must say that it's looking very much that Plan B will be selected.

[Kull]

This brings back memories! My first AAR also involved the 1000 Mile War, albeit from the other side. Just stopped by to offer some encouragement in your journey up the learning cliff - frustrations are inevitable, but it's all worth it!

One thing you should follow up on (if you haven't done so already) is to make sure you are using the latest AI files from Andy Mac. The base game still uses AI files from 2010, and there have been significant improvements along the way. No changes to Aleutians since 2012, so probably not worth restarting this AAR, but you should update before launching any other scenarios.

[Deathifier]

ORIGINAL: Energisteron
At this point Deathifier acting as my Staff Officer intervened and pointed out some useful tips and more importantly pointed out that I do actually get reinforcements! Deathifier, with your permission, I'd like to paste your comments up here?

You can though I don't think it's necessary as you've already referenced the key part, the reinforcements.

ORIGINAL: Energisteron
Signal interception indicates Maizuru 3rd SNLF located on Kiska. Not sure how much of a threat that unit would be?

SNLF units are small.
The Maizuru 3rd SNLF is a regular full size SNLF unit, so around 60-70 AV.

On it's own, facing up against one of your regiments, without any combat modifiers or outside influence, your regiment would probably win.
However Kiska is marked as a swamp (use the '1' hotkey to toggle the terrain type on and off) which gives it 3x defence plus any other possible bonuses from fortifications, HQ's, differences in preparation, leaders and so on.

It may also not be alone and even support units (engineering, AA, and such) present do add a little bit of AV when defending.

A lone regiment might have a hard time making progress unless you inflict damage on the enemy beforehand.
On the upside since it is a small unit any damage you do inflict is going to represent a large portion of it's combat capability.

- Deathifier

[Energisteron]

Thanks for the input, Deathifier and Kull

Day 11 - Apr 25

Additional 2x DD sent out as above. No other changes today. Bad weather continues. No further data on enemy.

Day 12 - Apr 26

2x DD ASW TF meet Bombardment TF and go ahead to conduct ASW sweep at Kiska. Tanker completed unloading and vacates dockside so hopefully cargo can be unloaded quicker. Nil else of note today.

Day 13 - Apr 27

Time to relieve some aircrews. At Adak, 2 Warhawk groups conducting CAP and LRCAP of Supply TF are stood down. Third group takeover these duties (10k ft). At Dutch Harbor (DH), larger group of Catalinas, whose pilots are well rested and of good morale, rostered for Recon (instead of Naval Search), and second smaller group stood down. Recon altitude reduced to 3k ft from 6k ft.

Tanker (Oiler actually) returning to DH. Supplies continue to be unloaded at Adak.

Naval units around Attu and Kiska report there is light rain only which is definitely an improvement! Back at my bases it's still heavy overcast. I'm going to send in a wave of Liberators (unescorted) to make a challenge and distract from the approaching naval bombardment group. Liberators will make 100% effort against Kiska airstrip at 12k ft.

SS reports being spotted near Kiska. 2x fresh large SS arrive DH. 2x small SS TF sent as reserve screen to west of Attu.

Signals Intelligence reports presence of an Engineer Cpy on Attu. Hardly a surprise!

[GetAssista]

Did you put some of your airgroups on Recon mission over Kiska or Attu? What kind of detection level do these bases show? In GC I have no trouble maintaining good detection in the Aleuteans with recon missions no matter the weather. Not like real life permafog season.
Kiska would be a great target for repeated bombardments from Adak, but you need detection for them to be effective.

[Energisteron]

Hi GetAssista. Yes Recon covering Attu and Kiska.

Day 13 - Apr 27 - Mixed Results!

It seems my naval bombardment of Kiska was a complete surprise. Damage reported way beyond my expectations.

However, contrary to softening up the defences for the airstrike it seems to have woken them up big time.

I experience my first losses. 3x Liberators won't be coming home. And 6 are damaged.

Situation at planning meeting for Day 14 - 28 Apr as below. Also, latest estimates are as many as 6000 troops, 125 guns and 4 AFVs on Kiska! Plan B it is then! In fact we'll lift 2 Rgt Infantry in first wave, but must wait on extra transport. Just received a fresh Infantry Rgt also, bringing total up to 4 Rgt.

I'll chew on this and get on with RL for a couple of days.

[Jorge_Stanbury]

You should always set one of the bombarding cruiser or battleship float plane squadron to: recon-night time-target: Kiska
This will put some float planes in spotter duty, improving your chances to hit something

I also like to have another float plane squadron doing recon-daytime, so that if for some reason the bombardment is postponed to day phase, you still get spotters

Naval bombardment is a very good/ powerful way of attacking an enemy coastal base. It did improve the B-24s odds: those destroyed and damaged Zeros would had probably added losses to your bombers. A human opponent can be surprised, the AI won't ever be surprised, so you should adjust your tactics accordingly.
However, also notice there were midget submarines at Kiska, you were lucky they didn't get into position to shoot. In other words, by doing a naval bombardment you risked getting one of your precious cruisers torpedoed.

It is better to send fighter "sweeps" before bombing. Fighter sweeps will engage CAP in more or less equal conditions. A few days of sweeps + naval bombardment can degrade the enemy's base as to make bombing runs more profitable

[GetAssista]

Feels good to nail those midgets in port

[Energisteron]

Good advice, Jorge

The float planes were to be used at Commander's discretion alone so don't even know if they flew at all. I suspect not.

At night I'd definitely agree and will probably use them in future, however, not sure they'd have lasted long during the day if the heavies took such a pounding? As far as I can see only by using drop-tanks could I get any sort of fighter sweep (Warhawks) over Kiska and they'd be stretched especially given the poor weather. I was reserving that option for the landings themselves.

As regards the midget subs; I had known of their presence and sent a 2xDD ASW TF ahead of the bombardment group to suppress them. Whether they did or the little subs just happened to be in port for the night I don't know.

Great photo, GetAssista, but I've been told I got three!

[Cap Mandrake]

As someone mentioned, the idea is to have your amphibious troops as fully prepped as possible with in-range HQ support (if possible) with good
leaders and the TF CO of the amphibious TF with a good "land rating". You want a somewhat beefy vessel, CA CL or AMC, to be flagship of the TF to absorb shore
fire and you want to suppress the defenders with naval bombardment and air (port) bombardment prior to landing. The scenario designer has probably designed the scenario length to make a close run thing (the whole point so it is
fun). Leave yourself at least a week ashore before game end so you can stage multiple attacks..attack..recover..bombard..attack. If you have APA's and amphibious command ships use them for the most difficult landing.


have fun.

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: Energisteron
As far as I can see only by using drop-tanks could I get any sort of fighter sweep (Warhawks) over Kiska and they'd be stretched especially given the poor weather. I was reserving that option for the landings themselves.

Droptanks + normal range + high altitude sweep for P-40 would work ok as long as decent pilots are in planes. But you have much better sweep planes - Lightnings

ORIGINAL: Energisteron
Great photo, GetAssista, but I've been told I got three!

There's three on the photo, look closer