Notes from a Small Island

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crsutton
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RE: Notes from a Small Island

Post by crsutton »

When it comes to killing subs I find that "hits" themselves tend to vary and are not really much of a threat to a sub. The only thing that really kills them are the occasional penetrating DC hit. So you have to watch the replay to know for sure. My rule of thumb is that a RO type sub will only survive a single penetrating hit about 30% of the time. A big Japanese sub will survive one hit most all of the time but will usually sink if it takes two penetrating hits. An American fleet sub can take two penetrating hits and usually always survive but three will generally sink it. Not sure about bomb hits. Have not really looked at them except to know that one bomb hit on an American sub is usually not fatal.
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RE: Notes from a Small Island

Post by Canoerebel »

Erik has more than 400,000 troops in the Kuriles, from Etorofu to Paramushiro. Most of the islands have garrisons in excess of 50k, with Paramushiro the strongest at 80+k.

I have in excess of 750,000 troops on Sikhalin Island. Armies are fully prepped for the Kuriles from Uruppu Jima north. Some of the invasions may achieve 2:1 local superiority. The key will be to take the first island. That will break the enemy lock-hold. In the process, there's a good chance Erik will attack, giving both sides another crack at achieving an important victory.

Bombardment TFs, local air superiority, and sub/ASW skirmishing will be important. I'll always be sweating clever ruses to lure Death Star into disadvantageous reactions.

It should be interesting and tense. I'm fortunate that Erik's CV, BB, CA, CL, DD and sub forces have been materially reduced.
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RE: Notes from a Small Island

Post by Lokasenna »

Keep in mind that by no means do you need all of the islands. When I did it, I focused on the ones that could rapidly become bases for 4Es to keep the other airfields unusable for Japan.

Garrisons of 50K troops are probably about 800-1200 AV, depending on the composition of supporting troops vs. combat units. I'd guess right around 1K AV. I'm basing this on paying a lot of attention in my own Japanese games to what my troop levels are on particular islands when they come under recon, and comparing to the AV that I planned to have there.
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RE: Notes from a Small Island

Post by Canoerebel »

10/8/44

Shikuka: Here's a look at Paramushiro, the most heavily garrisoned of the Kuriles, as an example.


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RE: Notes from a Small Island

Post by Canoerebel »

10/8/44

Shikuka: Some of the units at Shikuka prepped for Paramushiro. There's 2700 AV, prepped 100%, including one of the big combat engineer units and an Amphib Force HQ.

Erik might have as much as three divisions (probably two and other a mix of other things). So I'd have rougly 2x force. If the navy and air corps can keep enemy ships and aircraft at bay, the Allies should be able to employ bombardment TFs frequently.



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RE: Notes from a Small Island

Post by Canoerebel »

10/8/44

Shikuka: Shimishura is the least-defended Kurile.

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RE: Notes from a Small Island

Post by Canoerebel »

10/8/44

Shikuka: The Shimishura amphibious force is probably about 2x the defenders. No amphibious force HQ; no combat engineers.

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RE: Notes from a Small Island

Post by HansBolter »

No combat engineers, but those organic to the divisions?

When hitting a target I know will have high forts I like to include at least one independent combat engineer. Two are better as you can rotate and rest them.
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RE: Notes from a Small Island

Post by BBfanboy »

Well if you are escorting a gaggle of amphibs to a Kurile invasion, you should perhaps bring your empty xAKs/TKs along to pass through the Kuriles and head home while you have air superiority and ASW coverage in the area.
With these empties back to the WC, you can consider poking the Empire somewhere else to spread his focus.
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RE: Notes from a Small Island

Post by Canoerebel »

Each of us prefers to have our ducks in a row for an invasion - HQ, combat engineers, arty, armor, infantry - the more the better. Most of the time, some things get done less than optimally due to scarcity or mistakes or miscalculations.

In this case, I planned and allocated resources for six Kuriles. Some were deemed higher priority and more likely than others. Those got the extra goodies first, including combat engineers and amphibious force HQs. Shimishura was the last to get targeted and therefore didn't get some of those goodies. But forces allocated for the primary targets are considerable.
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RE: Notes from a Small Island

Post by Canoerebel »

10/9/44

Shikuka: Quiet broke out in the North Pacific today, a rarity. No sub interactions, so surface interactions, and most of the sweeps/bomber missions were socked in by weather.

But the fun part of the turn was unloading supplies and reinforcements at Shikuka. From 1.25 million supply to nearly 3 million in a single turn.

The fuel must have a lower priority, because the tankers an AOs unloaded only minimal amounts.

I was on the road and on a trail this afternoon, giving much thought to what's going on, dreaming up nefarious things that Erik might do to me (and things I'm trying to do to him). I had a few ideas to change up the look that should reduce the risk of an unfortunate reaction. (It was here, at Shikuka, that Death Star reacted in June, leading to the scuttling of Essex. Bad memories.)



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RE: Notes from a Small Island

Post by Barb »

Depends on what you consider your priorities are... Is it to open a safe corridor, or to eliminate the biggest threat?

If it is the corridor for supply lines, naval search, sub suppression, CAP for shipping etc, I would go for the quickest way to open the chain. That would mean the least defended base somewhere in East-SouthEast sector.

If you want to clear the Kuriles completely, then go for the bases closer to the Hokkaido - to cut off the rest. Then you will be able to take on them one by one at your pleasure - and at the same time positioning yourself in better position for battles around Hokkaido.

If you want to get eliminate the biggest threat as quickly as possible, then go for the Paramushiro-jima directly. But it probably wont be fast, nor easy, and leaves enemy plenty of options to play around Sakhalin and Kurilles.

IMHO, I would go for opening a path first for your supplies and convoys (somewhere in the middle), then work out toward Paramushiro-jima. By the time you will get to the biggest enemy fort, it may well be without supplies from bombing and bombardments...
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RE: Notes from a Small Island

Post by Canoerebel »

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy
Well if you are escorting a gaggle of amphibs to a Kurile invasion, you should perhaps bring your empty xAKs/TKs along to pass through the Kuriles and head home while you have air superiority and ASW coverage in the area.
With these empties back to the WC, you can consider poking the Empire somewhere else to spread his focus.

DS will escort alot of empty xAKs, TKs and AOs to the Kuriles, most of them associated with the ships coming inbound this time. On its previous excursion from SHikuka to the Kuriles after the first invasion, in June, many empty xAKs and some other ships went home.

I have plenty of transports, including assault shipping, elsewhere to handle amphibious ops. I've been doing alot of infrastructure building, delivering supply and fuel and troops, in preparation for what will come, I hope.


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RE: Notes from a Small Island

Post by Canoerebel »

10/10/44

Shikuka: Tullibe scores two hits on a CM in the second battle sequence of the 10th. The first was Le Triumphant bombarding Perth. I was hoping that recon by bombardment would reveal the identity of the single enemy unit there, but it didn't.

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RE: Notes from a Small Island

Post by Canoerebel »

10/10/44

Shikuka: The first raid of the day on Paramushiro scores well, considering the modest number of bombers. Two or three raids followed, also doing well. No CAP.

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RE: Notes from a Small Island

Post by Canoerebel »

10/10/44

Shikuka: This is the first raid of the day on Shimishura; it too does pretty well. The Liberators are unescorted by this was preceded by a large Corsair sweep that encountered no CAP.

As these raids are taking place, some Allied ships near Marcus Island report encounters with Jake reconnaissance planes. Hmm.

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RE: Notes from a Small Island

Post by Canoerebel »

10/10/44

Shikuka: Ketoi is the day's tertiary target, receiving only modest attention.

The purposes of the Kuriles raids are to suppress airfields and fort building. I try to target enough of the islands to leave some uncertainty in Erik's mind about which might be the most likely Allied target.

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RE: Notes from a Small Island

Post by Canoerebel »

10/10/44

Marcus Island: It appears that the Jakes are flying from Marcus, equipped with 60 kg bombs. Four hits scored on APA Clay and two others on LSI(M) Prince Henry. So Eric knows an invasion force is at his doorstep.

I'd like to take Marcus, but drawing a reaction by KB would be helpful to the Kuriles invasions. I don't know where KB is at the moment; I don't know if Erik is the kind to relish a shot at weaker Allied forces; nor do I know if he knows that I have carriers present.

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RE: Notes from a Small Island

Post by Canoerebel »

10/10/44

Shikuka: Hellcat sweeps from Toyohara cleared out most but not all fighter opposition at Wakkanie. Then some Venturas came in on their first strategic bombing mission of the war.


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RE: Notes from a Small Island

Post by Canoerebel »

10/10/44

Marcus: The second and final Jake raid. I'm nearly certain the aircraft are coming from the island rather than from a CS or CL.

My amphibs are close, so I'm likely to proceed with the invasion tomorrow (had it been detected another day out, I'd probably have scrubbed it).

1st Marine Division, several tank battalions, and a small Aussie combat engineer unit are the heart of the invasion. The initial landing will involved only one RCT of the Marines (the other two available to cycle responsibility, if necessary).

I don't have a bombardment TF. Richelieu TF was present but was detached 10 days ago to rejoin Death Star. The invasion does include several embedded CLs.



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