1000 mile war - liberating the Aleutians

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Energisteron
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RE: 1000 mile war - liberating the Aleutians

Post by Energisteron »

Day 45 - May 28

And the action goes on and on!

During the afternoon Sub I-2 encounters DM Sicard and the heavily damaged DMS Perry which is still on fire. Four torpedoes are fired at DM Sicard but miss and in the depth charge counterattack SS I-2 is slightly damaged but can maintain her patrol.

Chasing back towards Attu, our Surface Combat TF intercepts the enemy Transport TF now comprising the undamaged APA J.Franklin Bell and 2xDD Escorts. The enemy TF is totally destroyed although both our Destroyers are damaged.

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Energisteron
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RE: 1000 mile war - liberating the Aleutians

Post by Energisteron »

Day 45 - May 28

Later still, our Surface Combat TF meets another small enemy Transport TF near Attu. However, with hardly any ammunition the TF Commander successfully evades combat and heads for Paramushiro-jima. Bettys from Attu then attack the same enemy TF now 40 NM east of Attu Island but score no hits.

This has been the busiest day of the operation by far.

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Bif1961
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RE: 1000 mile war - liberating the Aleutians

Post by Bif1961 »

Looks like the AI leads with it's chin, holding back the capitol ships and sacrificing the amphibious TFs?
Energisteron
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RE: 1000 mile war - liberating the Aleutians

Post by Energisteron »

Hi Bif1961

Yes, I regret to write that the AI seems sadly lacking in tactical planning in this game at least. Perhaps it just rolled some bad dice at the start for a set of global variables? Does this game system use fixsd global variables?

Before I pronounce either the tactical AI or this scenario's AI plans as utterly useless, there is one startling possibility to consider. Remember my experience when TF reacted off map?

I asked where were the Allied Capital Ships. Let's hope they didn't get deflected off map early on because if so this has not been anything like a realistic or fair contest. I'm so near the end now so I'll finish it anyway but will check the final screen!

Even at this late stage if a couple of enemy big ships had been nearby when my TF went north nearly out of ammo and had intercepted then most likely it would have been my Cruisers that were left battered and burning!
Energisteron
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RE: 1000 mile war - liberating the Aleutians

Post by Energisteron »

Day 46 - May 29

After all that activity we need to reorganise.

Our Subs have suffered badly although they have provided good intelligence and quite surprisingly all have survived for now at least. Three need to be extricated and decommissioned at Paramushiro-jima. That must be about 6 Subs we've had put out of action so far. We recently received a couple of reserve Subs back at P-jima so they can be sent out as replacements.

The Surface Combat TF must retire to replenish leaving the island bases naked for the moment. However, trying to get two jobs done at once we load up the Air HQ at P-jima into 4xAPD for transfer to Attu which will now become our primary airbase with 18xBettys armed with torpedoes. As Escort we provide an additional 2xDD and the excellent CA Tone which deploys 5 aircraft.

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Energisteron
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RE: 1000 mile war - liberating the Aleutians

Post by Energisteron »

Day 46 - May 29

Before it can leave the scene, SS I-5 is again in action when located by DD Farragut and Aylwin, and it suffers further damage and is in a critical state. The previously accompanying xAP Perida is nowhere to be seen.

Bettys from Attu then harass these two enemy Destroyers all day without scoring any hits but we do lose 1xBetty to flak and a couple are damaged. Where has xAP Perida disappeared to?

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Energisteron
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RE: 1000 mile war - liberating the Aleutians

Post by Energisteron »

Day 46 - May 29

The failed Betty attacks are represented here and these resulted in the loss of 1xBetty by flak and two damaged.

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Bif1961
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RE: 1000 mile war - liberating the Aleutians

Post by Bif1961 »

DDs are hard to hit with bombs but you probably don't have a torpedo capable HQ at Attu.
Energisteron
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RE: 1000 mile war - liberating the Aleutians

Post by Energisteron »

Hi Bif

I have now! The Air HQ arrived and unloaded at Attu this next turn. [;)]
Energisteron
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RE: 1000 mile war - liberating the Aleutians

Post by Energisteron »

Day 47 - May 30

The Fast Transport TF nears Attu with the vital Air HQ aboard. It is expected to arrive and discharge during today. The newly established HQ will facilitate the employment of 18xBettys with torpedoes!

The Surface Combat TF (2xCA 2xCL 2xDD) that has done such good service nears P-jima to replenish and repair. One of its DDs won't be going back to sea. A replacement Surface Combat TF is forming ready to take its place.

The 3xSS, badly damaged by enemy action and no longer fit for purpose, begin to head west for home and safety.

The Supply TF has finally completed unloading after several interruptions due to the proximity of the enemy, and another Freighter is loading up at P-jima ready for the next supply run.

All the above takes place without interference from the enemy. However, the AI really steps up its air activity by making four raids, all on Kiska, two at night which have little effect, and two during the day which take significant losses to our CAP. A summary of the action follows:-

Night Raids:-

5xLiberators 6k ft : 1x damaged by flak : no hits on target

4xLiberators 6k ft : none damaged : 1x hit on Runway, 1x hit on Airbase

Daylight Raids:-

21xMitchells escorted by 12xLightnings 15k ft: CAP 12xZeros and 17xRufes : Destroyed 1xZero, 3xRufes, 4xMitchells: Damaged 4xMitchells : no hits on target

9xLiberators unescorted 17k ft : CAP 4xZeros and 2xRufes : Destroyed 1xLiberator : Damaged 1xLiberator, 1xZero, 1xRufe : no hits on target.



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Energisteron
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RE: 1000 mile war - liberating the Aleutians

Post by Energisteron »

Day 47 - May 30

Enemy Air Attacks on Kiska

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Energisteron
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RE: 1000 mile war - liberating the Aleutians

Post by Energisteron »

Day 48 - May 31

All naval plans progress as expected.

Recon detects a large Enemy TF entering Adak base and 3xBettys are dispatched to make an attack. The raid targets DD Bancroft but is met by a CAP of 7xWarhawks and is dispersed with the loss of 1xBetty and another damaged. The raid identifies the enemy TF as 5xDD 2x xAP 2x xAK 2xDMS. Still no sign of their big guns!

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Energisteron
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RE: 1000 mile war - liberating the Aleutians

Post by Energisteron »

Day 49 - Jun 01

Here's the latest plot.

The enemy would seem to be going to make a fifth and final attempt to invade. Will it be Attu again or will it be Kiska this time? Kiska has lain relatively undefended the whole time but has experienced only air attacks. Does the increased severity of enemy air raids on Kiska mean a switch of targets?

As for the possibility of us invading Adak, it seems foolhardy and unnecessary. We would need to deploy at least 2 Infantry Brigades and risk failure on a scale similar to the Allies. Also, we would risk valuable Freighters and Capital Ships including Carriers. So, consolidation and increased pressure through air raids and bombardment of Adak would seem to be the best course of action.



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Energisteron
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RE: 1000 mile war - liberating the Aleutians

Post by Energisteron »

Day 49 - Jun 01

It turns out to be a fairly quiet day. No real action except for an Allied air raid on Kiska by a handful of Venturas overnight. Neither side has any losses.

The Supply TF (1x xAK 2xDD) leaves P-jima for Attu with 6k supplies on board. The 3xSS TF head as a pack towards Adak to try to intercept the large enemy TF there if it leaves.

Energisteron
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RE: 1000 mile war - liberating the Aleutians

Post by Energisteron »

Day 50 - Jun 02

Both sides resort to aerial bombardment with the Allies hitting Kiska to little effect.

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Energisteron
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RE: 1000 mile war - liberating the Aleutians

Post by Energisteron »

Day 50 - Jun 02

Then our Bettys from Attu raid the enemy TF at Adak, but without success. We make 8x Betty sorties, 11x by Zeros, 8x by Oscars, and 4x by Rufes but the Warhawk CAP (23 sorties) proves effective and we lose 4x Bettys and another damaged, plus 2x Zeros destroyed.

There is little else of note although our Supply Convoy continues to Attu and a potential invasion force (1 Brigade, 1 Engineer Battalion) begins to load into a substantial Amphibious TF at P-jima.

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Energisteron
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RE: 1000 mile war - liberating the Aleutians

Post by Energisteron »

Day 51 - Jun 03

We will make an aggressive move against Adak with the Surface Combat TF bombarding and up to 5 Subs intercepting any attempt by the enemy Transport TF to leave Adak. The Bettys will try once more and then be put in reserve to recuperate.

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Energisteron
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RE: 1000 mile war - liberating the Aleutians

Post by Energisteron »

Day 51 - Jun 03

As our Surface and Sub TF move towards Adak Island, suddenly there's Enemy Transport TFs plotted all along the island chain from Umnak to Adak itself. There's CAs CLs DDs APAs AKs, just about everything that can float presumably loaded with 2+ Infantry Regiments and seemingly heading this time for Kiska!

Inevitably, there is contact, lots of contact, and probably a new peak of intensity of activity is reached.

First, SS I-21 spots a large enemy TF comprising APAs and DDs NE of Adak, but the escort DD Edwards prevents an attack although our Sub escapes without damage.

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Energisteron
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RE: 1000 mile war - liberating the Aleutians

Post by Energisteron »

Day 51 - Jun 03

Second, our Surface Combat TF, 3xCA 1xCL 2xDD, intent on bombarding Adak bumps straight into the same Enemy Transport TF, made up of 3xAPA fully loaded with troops and just 3xDD Escort. Visibility is so poor so that our TF is upon the Allied TF before it can evade. What results is nothing short of a massacre. All three Transports are sunk in exchange for minor damage to CA Kumano, and DD Usugumo, but DD Naganami is hit by a torpedo and severely damaged such that it drops out of line and is detached from the TF to attempt to make it home alone.

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Energisteron
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RE: 1000 mile war - liberating the Aleutians

Post by Energisteron »

Day 51 - Jun 03

Third, our TF encounters a massive Enemy Transport TF but the latter manages to evade without a shell being fired.

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