February 1, 1942: Bring me my Bow of Burning Gold...




The Japanese juggernaut continues its path of destruction through the Pacific. Singapore, Manila, and Bataan are now in dire straits. Port Moresby is under heavy air attack and is barely hanging on with the help of a few decimated squadrons of P-40s and P-39s. The USN is holding its ground, but that is also coming at a severe cost. The IJN/A shows no signs of slowing, despite a few minor defeats inflicted upon them. The next two months will surely tell if we can hold the Port Moresby-Luganville-Pago-Pago line or if we must retreat to a more southerly defensive line.

Significant Events:

1) Midway

The IJN/IJA staged a massive thrust towards Midway that was narrowly parried only by the narrowest of margins. Our Intel division ferreted out information that a invasion fleet was enroute. CVs Enterprise, Yorktown, Saratoga, and Lexington were waiting by Midway when they arrived, but luck was not on our side. The invasion fleet was escorted by a CV and CVL carrying nearly 100 fighters. As a result, they had little with which to attack, but plenty to repulse our attack. Aircraft losses on both sides were terribly severe, exceeding 90% in some cases. The invasion fleet was decimated, but their CVs remained unscathed while the Enterprise took two torpedoes into her side. Both sides retired after three days of fighting, with the Big E heading to dry dock for about a month.

2) Midway 2

The IJN/IJA returned a few weeks later and managed to land a short regiment and some support troops at Midway. Our remaining CVs (minus Enterprise) repulsed the attack, bolstered by Marine dive-bomber and fighter squadrons as the organic squadrons were still recovering. Again, no joy on the IJN CVs, but we smashed their invasion fleet and took no ship losses. The Marines at Midway easily repulsed the assault, with the IJN/A taking very heavy casualties.

3) Battle of Lae Bay

A combined TF of AUS/RN/USN surface vessels caught the IJN unloading at Lae and destroyed most of a division as well as several support ships and tons of equipment. This should hopefully slow their advance across New Guinea. We're also hoping this will delay the arrival of air units as well, thus helping relieve Port Moresby.






Intel:

Very little to report. The lines are not yet stabilizing, but appear to be headed in that direction. Most disturbing is the sighting of a German U-Cruiser near Manila. The bolstering of the IJN by the Kriegsmarine is a most unwelcome surprise.




Plans:

Operation Burning Bow--
Elimination of Canton and Baker Islands as viable air bases. With the arrival of several BBs from the West Coast as well as the nearly repaired Arizona, we now have the ability to shell advance enemy airfields. Two squadrons of BBs will depart in early February and destroy potential air bases at Canton and Baker Islands. This is will also give us some ability to gain the initiative in the Central Pacific and begin preparation for the invasion of Canton Island.


Logistics:

With the capture of Canton Island, a new port was chosen to serve as a hub for the supply of AUS and Noumea: Pago-Pago. Pago-Pago has recieved reinforcements and two engineer battalions to reinforce defense and expand the harbor and airfield. The first vessels bearing supplies and fuel have already arrived and victualing is underway.

Superb read TheOx! I'm curious to know how you organize turns. What I mean is it is such a huge game, so many things to keep track of...how do you do that? Do you go through the bases one by one and then determine what to do with each? Do you go through the task forces one by one? How do you keep tabs on things and organize your turns?

I suppose you have an overall plan, aside from kicking Japs butt and somehow winning the war by simply dragging it on for long enough. Will you follow the US general historic war plan, or do some things differently? Are you planning to have a campaign of island hopping, or will you bypass much of that?

You don't have to spill all the beans, and not within a week or two after Pearl Harbor, but it would be nice to get a bit of an idea to compare plans with results.

Yes, I've always been quite keen to see someone actually focus on a Central Pacific drive in an AE campaign. I Don't actually recall it ever being done.

Of course, the problem with that strategy is that it is reliant on decent Amphibious shipping like AKAs and APAS, which you don't get in numbers until 43.

Well, you get a feel for the hot spots and check those first. I actually keep a notebook on my desk to jot down important convoys, attacks being planned with assigned assets, etc. This helps me keep an eye on everything and avoid nasty surprises, but that doesn't stop them from happening though! The AI is very well done and they will surprise you from time to time.



My goal right now is survive the advance with Port Moresby, AUS, Midway, and my US-AUS supply line intact. Things are pretty hairy right now, as you'll find out in the Feb '42 edition!

As for the future, I do plan on a CenPac strategy, that is to say I do not foresee muddling in the DEI or South Pacific save for the neutralization of Eastern New Guinea. This is not to say I will be attacking every little island (ie Wake), just those that offer strategic advantage. I will not be sitting on my hands until I get overwhelming force in '43-'44. Rest assured I will be taking the offense, gambling within reason, and taking the fight to the enemy in 42.

As I heard it, one also has to keep track of harbor and oil refinery capacities (how much processed fule, or crude oil, to deliver where). That sounds like a terrible lot of micromanagement...?

That is correct. It is a handfull to get one's arms around but there are tools which allow the player to keep tabs on this stuff. You still have to learn those tools which is what I'm doing now myself and the reason for my question to the thread author. I wouldn't say it is too much micromanagment, I'd say it is just a very deep game. It is a simulation of you being an operational staff officer. I find the logistics myself fascinating and with just this game am awed by the real people who did and do this sort of thing.

Interesting...this sounds like a good idea and will try this myself. So far I've only been using the in game tools but it just isn't enough. Love the game though...so deep.

Excellent. Thanks for doing this AAR.

Will be eagerly awaiting follow-on posts.

Should have one more before Christmas and New Years then you may have to wait a week or 2! Don't fear though, I will be playing a bit in the meantime...