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Post subject: New campaign + Battle Action Report
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OPERATION FLINTLOCK:
Background: Not until the big convoy had passed the Hawaiian Islands was its’ destination revealed to all hands – Attack of the Marshall Islands, Kwajalein, and the twin islands of Roi – Namur.
Operation Flintlock is the most important operation of the Pacific War to date; Operation Flintlock was the first offensive strike against the enemy to secure a base for future operations. The US strategy in the Pacific thus far has been largely to keep the Japanese from expanding their gains, to keep them out of Australia, and to secure a flank in the South Pacific and to protect convoy lanes to reinforce Australia, New Zealand and New Guinea. The invasion of the Marshalls was to be the spearhead of a larger knockout blow in the Central Pacific that would eventually to bring Japan to its knees.
The attack of the Kwajalein Atoll was recognized as the pivotal point in the defense system of the Marshall Islands. The command of the whole area was exercised from it. It was also the distribution point on which reinforcements were gathered and sent out to other atolls. The atoll contained the world’s largest landlocked lagoon and a naval base with fueling and repair facilities which would play a large part in US plans for future operations. It was 2,439 miles back to Pearl Harbor; the atoll would become the US forward operating base to bring the attack to the Emperor of Japan.
The main striking arm in the Central Pacific was the US 5th Fleet, commanded by Admiral Ray Spruance. 5th Fleet consisted of 6 heavy, 5 light, and 8 escort aircraft carriers. Additionally, the fleet possessed 12 battleships, 9 heavy and 5 light cruisers. 56 destroyers rounded out the fleet’s considerable combat power.
The Task Force for the Kwajalein operation was the 5th Fleet's – 5th Amphibious Force, commanded by Admiral Turner. Admiral Turner controlled the transport ships, cargo vessels, landing craft, and landing ship docks. He also commanded the destroyers, escort carriers, cruisers, and battleships that would directly support the assault.
Intent on stopping the US was Rear Admiral Akiyama, in command of the defenses of the Marshalls and headquartered on Kwajalein. Admiral Akiyama concentrated his forces on three islands of the vast 85 island atoll: Kwajalein, Roi and Namur. Two battalions of SNLF were well entrenched in each island. Type 92 machinegun nests with interlocking fields of fire laced each island. The areas not covered by machine guns were covered by Type 89 mortar crews. Though Admiral Akiyama was promised an entire Amphibious Brigade with Type 94 and 97 tanks to reinforce the Marshalls, they were diverted to the blood bath at Tarawa.
As D-day for the Marshalls approached, attacks on Japanese airfields on the islands accelerated. The Japanese had 110 operational planes in the Marshalls on 25 January, but ULTRA intelligence reports pinpointed their location. In a single strike on 29 January, Admiral Spruance’s air wings destroyed or damaged ninety-two enemy planes.
Scenario Description: On the morning of January 31st, 1944 the Japanese Task Force under Admiral Akiyama must stop the US from breaching Japan’s outer defensive ring and capture Japan’s forward operating base in the Kwajalein Atoll or cause significant damage to the Allied surface force. Admiral Turner, Commanding 5th Amphibious force, must subdue the shore batteries, screen the landing force and engage Admiral Akiyama’s 4th Fleet and capture the 3 key islands of the Marshalls.
Allied Commander: Vice Admiral Turner
250 point fleet
+ 6 SS Jeremiah O’Brien’s / LST’s each with one Marine Battalion loaded on each
Axis Commander: Rear Admiral Akiyama
200 point fleet
On each of the 3 Marshall Islands the INJ has one shore battery (use the 5th Yokosuka SNLF shore battery card and stats from the Guadalcanal campaign) and 2 SNLF Infantry Battalions.
Victory Conditions: Victory is determined after play ends under the following two conditions:
1. After three turns of play, Japanese ships may move off the edge of the map and ‘retreat’. Ships moving this way are considered out of combat for this scenario but not destroyed for the purposes of tallying points. If all Japanese ships are removed from play, the game ends with a bonus 10 victory points for the Allies.
2. If any Japanese forces still hold an Island at the end of the game The IJN player is awarded 75 victory points.
At the end of play, each side tallies victory points equal to the point value of all opposing units destroyed. The player with the highest number of points is the victor.
Campaign Instructions: This is the first in a series of scenarios designed to historically recreate the naval combat actions in the Pacific. As such, ships that are sunk in this first part of this scenario are not available for the remainder of the campaign within the historical fleet limitations. Example: if during this scenario the IJN player looses the Yamato Battleship and one Akitsuki-class Destroyer, for the next scenario, only the Musashi is available but there are still 11 more Akitsuki-class Destroyers for use in the campaign.
Special Rules:
• Place 3 Islands randomly in the center of the playing area. These represent Kwajalein, Roi and Namur.
• All Axis submarines start off “hidden”. Hidden submarines are patrolling in “silent mode” and can not been seen on the playing surface area until detected. To detect an Axis submarine an Allied destroyer, destroyer escort, or a long range reconnaissance aircraft (like a PBY) must pass over, occupy a same grid (on a die roll of 3+), or be adjacent to (on a die roll of 6) the Axis submarine.
• During the first turn, the Axis player automatically wins initiative.
• Use the 5th Yokosuka SNLF shore battery card and stats from the Guadalcanal campaign on each of the 3 Islands.
• Island shore batteries must be neutralized before amphibious assault can occur.
• Land Infantry combat is resolved using Risk rules.
o Variation 1: When a tie is rolled, instead of the defender automatically winning – reroll the combat engagement.
o Variation 2: instead of using Risk rules, use AAM rules.
Battle Report: The Marshall Islands 8°43′N 167°44′E8.717°N 167.733°E.
31 JAN 1944 Before Morning Nautical Twilight (BMNT).
Darkness…..Surface Action
Emperor, I present to you, the sword of Admiral Akiyama who took his life today in accordance with the code of the bushido.
Pre-dawn naval bombardment by the US fleet effectively destroyed our shore batteries. One of our submarines was spotted in the shallows by an America PBY aircraft and depth-charged. Our battleships were no match for the American battleship firepower. His Majesty’s battleship Yamashiro was caught in a full broadside by the American Heavy Battleship USS Washington. Yamashiro’s #2 powder magazine exploded by one of the Washington’s 16” armor piercing rounds, setting off a disastrous chain reaction below decks, resulting in her sinking. Our cruiser escort screens port and starboard of our battle fleet engaged time and again with the American cruisers to no avail. The sea was so thick with long-lance torpedoes I could have walked from ship to ship with out getting my feet wet. Yet very few of or warheads actually detonated. I most humbly request that a full investigation at the Kure navy station torpedo warehouse for faulty or sabotaged warheads. Some success was obtained as his Majesty’s Battleship Fuso screened the force and withstood the might of the American navy while firing on American cruisers. IJAF also achieved some success in eliminating the America destroyer fleet. This was accomplished at a terrible cost as the American advanced fighters ripped through our squadrons as a Samurai’s blade. I must also humbly request that a full investigation of the Narita bomb factory for faulty or sabotaged bomb fuses. Our D3a dive bombers littered the decks of American ships without scoring major hits. As our forces withdrew, the Americans held Kwajalein and Roi. We lost communications with the island commander at Namur. The valiant commander of Imperial submarine I-20 covered our withdrawal.
Signals dispatch signed:
ADM Yoshimi Nishida
New Commander, 4th Fleet
Summary:
US Navy loss:
1 x CA USS Baltimore
1 x CL USS Boise
3 x DD USS Fletcher, USS Cassin Young, USS Kidd
1 x PBY Squadron
1 x TBD Devastator Squadron
3 x LST
5 x Marine Battalions
IJN loss:
2 x BB Yamashiro, Fuso
2 x CA Nachi, Myoko
4 x CL Jintsu, Sendai, Naka, Haguro
4 x DD Akitsuki, Fuyutsuki, Hanatsuki, Kiyosuki.
1 x SS I-19
2x A6M2 (Zeke) Squardrons
2 x B5N2 (Kate) Squadrons
1 x G4M (Betty) Squadron
4 x SNLF Battalions
Last edited by RANGERDANE on Wed May 27, 2009 12:16 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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 Sat May 23, 2009 7:06 pm |
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Muahahaha!
AHF Silver-Rated Trader
Posts: 1493
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Hmmm....very interesting. I will have to try this out. How much have you play tested this? Is it well balanced?
_________________
-Greyh
Trade List: Greyh's WAS Trade List
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| Tue May 26, 2009 5:53 pm |
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Posts: 98
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It's a fun Scenario.
As I said in my battle report - "The sea was so thick with long-lance torpedoes I could have walked from ship to ship with out getting my feet wet" I rolled 36 long-lance torpedoes and only one hit.......so if you roll better then I do....It will be an even more enjoyable game.
Having to conduct island assaults adds a great dimension to the game. and a good use of the "bombardment" Special Ability. |
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| Wed May 27, 2009 12:10 pm |
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Muahahaha!
AHF Silver-Rated Trader
Posts: 1493
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Ok. Getting ready to play test and came accross a couple of questions:
1. are there year restrictions?
2. are allied forces restricted to US units only?
3. at what point do marines assault the island (ie begginning of turn, after movement, end of turn)?
4. when randomly placing islands in center of map, I assume you mean center row?
This looks fun and we are preparing our fleets now!
_________________
-Greyh
Trade List: Greyh's WAS Trade List
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| Thu May 28, 2009 12:43 pm |
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Posts: 98
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Post subject:
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A:
1. In actuality the battle happened in 1944, however we played with ships through 1943. Your option.
2. No, but we did play with IJN and US pure fleets.
3. Marines arrive one turn and assault at the end of the next sea movement phase (time to disembark). Ground combat was resolved upon ground assault.
4. no, actually no island was on the center row. Two were on one side (left and right side - one row back) the third island was centered (one row back) from the center row. |
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| Thu May 28, 2009 4:25 pm |
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Muahahaha!
AHF Silver-Rated Trader
Posts: 1493
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Ok. Just finished playtesting this battle, and what a battle it was! Allies brought no less than 3 fleet carriers with Saratoga, Enterprise and Yorktown along with a deadly assortment of Catalinas, Avengers, Hellcats, Dauntless...needless to say the sky was filled with allied aircraft. The carries only brought two Atlantas and a Hoel as surface support.
On the other hand...Japan went with the opposite side of the coin bringing both Yamato and Musashi with Shoho and a couple of Zekes!
Japan won, with the Damaged and Retreating Musashi as thier only survivor. For thier efforts though, Saratoga and Enterprise are on the bottom of the ocean!
A couple of questions came up in play:
1. Can the allies retreat? We assumed based on the scenario they could not (otherwise the carriers very well may have pulled out earlier before being destroyed)
2. Can Japan retreat off of ANY map edge? I assumed yes and in fact retreated off the allied map edge. if this was done wrong, it is doubtful the Musashi would have survived to retreat.
Alot of fun. Looking forward to the second battle!
_________________
-Greyh
Trade List: Greyh's WAS Trade List
+13 On AH Trade Boards
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| Sun Jun 14, 2009 10:55 pm |
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Muahahaha!
AHF Silver-Rated Trader
Posts: 1493
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| Sun Jun 14, 2009 10:59 pm |
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