Winter 1946

[joegrundman]

Operation Bezumiye

Red Army paratroopers accompanied by very heavy air support and air cover make an airdrop in mountains around Sapporo



the units then proceeded to engage japanese positions, using close air support to make up for the lack of heavy equipment and armour

Attack = 1m3, 3AAF = 4
defense = 1-2, DM 2+1(mountains)+1(vs paratroopers alone)=4

The attack is at 1:1

the Russians roll a 4! An Ex-1 result. The russians succeed with the loss of 3 AAF and are now in control of Sapporo

[joegrundman]

Battle of the Marianas

4 combined allied Task Forces sail from the Bismarcks for Guam, joining up with two American task forces near Truk, before heading on to assault Guam and the Japanese Naval base there.

The Japanese Admiral, ordered to make a last ditch do or die attempt orders all forces to intervene.

The battle takes place close to Guam itself, with the Japanese opting to strike just before the Allies began to deploy ground forces.

Round 1.

Neither side playing a strategic card, Japan intercepts with forces from Okinawa needing a 18 on 8 dice (4 for invasion, +1 in invasion hex, +3 for search AAS), succeeding with 4,4,4,3,3,2,3,5=28

Search round 1

Japan has 7 dice(3 search AAS, 4 TFs)
US has 6 dice (6 Ts)

Japan rolls 2,2,3,3,4,5,5, revealing that US CG2 has 3 carriers, CG3 has 3 carriers, CG 5 has no carriers

US rolls 1,2,3,4,4,6, revealing no less than 5 carriers in TF4

A new weapon



Japanese kamikazes, lots of them, head in for CG2

The American combat patrol tries to shoot them down. 4 NAS engage kamikazes at +1, rolling 7, mod 8 = 2/2

10 Kamikazes face the air defenses at level 5 rolling 7 again, a 2/1 result

7 Kamikazes get through - targets are assigned randomly

Kamikaze 1 targets the CV4 Bogue
Kam 2 targets the light ships
kam 3 targets the CV4 Breton
Kam 4 targets the BB4 Massachusettes
Kam 5 targets the CV4 Constellation
Kam 6 targets the BB4 Washington
Kam 7 targets the BB4 Massachusettes

Each Kamikaze attacks as 3 NAS, with a +1 mod, +2 for carriers

vs the Bogue rolls a 10! mod 13, 4 hits! The Bogue is sunk!
vs the lights rolls 12! 4 hits! A CA 2 and DD1 are sunk, a CA2 is damaged
vs the Breton rolls a 8! mod 11, 3 hits, the Breton is damaged!
2 kamikazes vs the Massachusettes rolls 8, mod 9 = 5 hits! the BB4 Massachusettes is sunk!
vs the Constellation rolls 10! mod 13, 4 hits! The Constellation is also critically damaged
vs the Washington rolls 6, mod 7, 2hits - no damage

An entire Task Force neutralized by Kamikazes




Hidden Strike

US CG1 makes a hidden strike against Japanese CG4 catching them badly by surprise with a 6. No defensive air is available to stop the 8 NAS. the guns of the japanese fire on the american planes rolling a 3, shooting down 1 NAS. 7 NAS fly in to attack

2 NAS target the CV3 Amagi, 2 vs the CV3 Taiho, 1 vs the CV2 Junyo, 1 vs the CV2 Ryuho and 1 vs the CV2 Hiyo

vs the Amagi at +3 mod rolls 9, mod 12 = 3 hits! The Amagi is burning catastrophically
vs the Taiho at +3 rolls 7, mod 10 = 2 hits! The Taiho is damaged!
vs Junyo = 5 mod 8 = 1 hit, the Junyo is damaged
vs Hiyo = 11 mod 14 = 2 hits, the Hiyo is sinking
vs Ryuho = 12 mod 15! = 2 hits, the Ryuho is sinking

[joegrundman]

Combat Groups 2 engage

Japanese TF 4 vs the savaged US TF2

The BB4 Washington fires first on a large force of light ships, rolling a 12! DD3 fall to the superlative gunnery of the Washington!

DD13 fire back and roll 4! only 2 hits! The BB4 Washington shrugs off the damage and continues with vengeance!

Combat Groups 3 engage

Japanese TF2 attacks the US TF4

7 NAS fly out from the US Task Force and identify a rag-tag force of badly maneuvering ships that should have been sent back for repair

Nevertheless they have 1 Air cover.

The US shoots down an air cover squadron, the Japanese squadron aborting 1 NAS

The US faces the guns at level 4 rolling 7, shooting down 1 NAS

5 NAS close in 2 going for the damaged CV3 Shokaku and 3 for the damaged cruisers

vs the Shokaku rolls 10, sinking the veteran carrier
vs the cruisers rolls 8, getting 3 hits and sinking 3 damaged cruisers

the forces close to gun range, the DD2 target a damaged CA2
BB5 Ohio vs damaged BC3 Kirishima
BB4 Minnesota and BB2 Phillipinies vs damaged BC3 Tokiwa

US DD2 rolls 6, 1 hit! The CA2 is sunk
Japanese CA2 rolls 4, no hits

The Ohio rolls 6 mod 7 = 2 hits, the Kirishima is sunk
The Kirihsima and Tokiwa fire on the Ohio and rolls 12, mod11, 3 hits no damage, but a critical hit roll is made, a 3, no further damage
The Minn and Phil roll 8, 2 hits, the Tokiwa is sunk

Japanese TF2 is destroyed, without loss to the US

combat between groups 4

Japanese TF3 vs US TF9

Japanese TF3 already savaged by the hidden carrier strike falls on the TF9, escorting the marines

3 attack AAS fly in from Guam but are met by 1 CAP

the CAP rolls 4, mod 5, aborting 1 AAS, the AAS rolls 3, mod 2, failing to hurt the CAP

the 2 AAS face the guns of the TF, which roll 10, both AAS are shot down

10 Japanese light factors face 4 American light factors, while 13 US battleship factors target the BC3 Hiei

Japan lights roll 9, mod 10, 4 hits. DD4 sunk
US rolls 9, mod 8, 1 hit, a CA2 is damaged

The Hiei gets 1 hit on the BB5 Wisconsin, the Americans get a crushing 5 hits on the Hiei, destroying it.

Strike on ALLIED CG5

8 NAS fly in from Japanese TF1 and attack the British TF1

The British air defense rolls 12! 2 NAS shot down, but 6 get through and target the veteran British battlehips with 3 targetting the BB3 Ramiles , getting 2 hits and damaging it, and 3 taregtting the BB3 Royal Soverign, getting only 1 hit! a fluffed attack!

End of Round 1

A bloody start to the battle with very heavy losses on both sides

US lost

CVB4 Bogue
CVB4 Constellation
BB4 Massachusettes
DD5
CA2
2 NAS

CVB4 Breton damaged
CA2 damaged


Japan lost
CV3 Amagi
CV3 Shokaku
CVL2 Ryuho
CVL2 Hiyo
BC3 Hiei
BC3 Kirishima
BC3 Tokiwa
DD3
CA8
2 NAS
14 Kamikazes

CVL2 Junyo damaged
CV3 Taiyo damaged
CA2 damaged

[joegrundman]

Combat Round 2

Search dice

Japan 3 TFs + 3 search AAS + 1 round = 7 dice
US = 6 TFs + 1 round = 7 dice

Japan rolls: 1,1,1,2,2,3,3
US rolls: 2,3,5,5,5,6,6

US CG1 has 4 carriers, a BB5 and a BB4 and CA4
US CG2 has 1 carrier
US CG3 has three carriers

Japanese CG1 makes a hidden strike on US CG1.

the surprise level is at +1 for search results and radar. the roll is 6, total level is 7.

The Japanese deployed a new anti-radar weapon that led to the American CAP flying in the wrong direction, no CAP was in position to intercept the Japanese strike force of 7 NAS

the guns of the defense are at level 5 and roll 11! 2 NAS shot down!

5 NAS get through, 2 target the CV3 Essex, 2 the CV3 Enterprise, 1 the CV3 Saratoga

The mod is at +3 for surprise and vs carriers

vs Essex: 6 mod 9: 2 hits the essex is damaged and due to level 7 surprise, has a critical hit roll, which it passes
vs Enterprise: 7, mod 10: 2hits, the enterprise is damaged, fails critical hit and is sunk
vs Saratoga: 5, mod 8, 1 hit, no damage

Combat Groups 2

Mixed British-American TF convoying ground forces encounters Japanese TF 4 - there is no air cover on the japanese force

4 NAS face the defensive guns at level 4 wich roll 6, 1 NAS shot down

2 NAS fly in and 1 targets the CVL2 Chiyoda, and 1 the CVL2 Shoho, at +2 mod and 1 at CVL2 Ryujo at +1

vs Chiyoda rolling 9 mod 11 = 2 hits, ship sunk
vs Shoho rolling 7, mod 9 = 1 hit, the Shoho is damaged

in the battle, Japanese DD13 face a combined force

first the Royal Navy big guns of the BB4 Anson and BB4 Duke of York fire at -1 rolling 6, mod 5, 1 hit, a DD is sunk

Japanese DD6 fire on CA2 at +1, CA2 fires at -1
DD6 fires on Anson

DD6 vs CA2 rolls 9 mod 10, 2hits, the CA2 is sunk
CA2 rolls 5 mod 4, 0 hits
DD6 vs Anson rolls 2 mod 3, 0 hits

vs Rujo rolling 12, mod 13 = 2 hits, the Rujo is sunk

Combat Groups 3 engage

7 NAS from US TF4 fly out to attack, there is no air cover, the Japanese guns fire at level 5 rolling 7, 2 shot down

5 NAS dive in to attack

the group is already badly damaged,

damaged CV3 Taiho, CVL Junyo, CA2

healthy DD8

the 5 NAS fire on the DD8 and roll 5, 3 hits! DD3 sunk!

The forces close and 11 heavy factors fire on the DDs rolling 9, 3 hits, DD3 sunk

Japanese DD2 fire on US DD4, rolling 9, 1 hit DD sunk
US DD4 fires on Japanese DD2, rolling 4, 0 hits

Japanese forces are beginning to dwindle after this round, but have orders to fight on until the last ship

[joegrundman]

Combat round 3

Japan has 1 fewer full Combat Group now, 2 TFs, 3 search, 2 rounds =7dice
US 6 TFS, 2 round = 8 dice

Japan rolls 3,4,5,5,6,6,6
US rolls 2,3,3,4,4,5,6,6,

Hidden strike on US CG6

The Japanese catch the out-of-position TF2, the damaged carrier Breton, CA2 and the healthy BB4 Washington

surprise roll is 6, mod 7 again!

The air defense is 3 and rolls 3! 1 NAS shot down
5 NAS target the Washington at +1 and roll 6+1 = 7, 3 hits! The ship is damaged, but passes the critical hit

CG3 engage each other

The Big guns of the Ohio and Minnesota fire on DD2 rolling 11, the DD2 is sunk
the BB2 Phillipines and DD3 get through and target the damaged carrier CV3 Taiho rolling 8! 2 hits! The carrier is sunk!

[joegrundman]

ROund 4

Search: Japan 8 dice, US 8 dice

japan: 1,3,4,4,4,4,5,5
US:1,2,3,3,5,5,5,6

Compulsory combat CG1

5 japanese NAS fly out to attck the allies British TF1, the venerable fleet led by the NElson and Rodney

The British guns roll 9 on level 5 = 2 NAS shot down

3 NAS attack the BB3 Royal Sovereign and roll 8 = 2 hits, the Royal Sovereign, veteran of many battles in the Atlantic and Mediteranean is damaged.

British DD3 fire on Japanese CA4

All British heavies (Nelson, Rodney, Barham, Queen Elizabeth = 14 factors) on the BB5 Musashi(-1 mod)
Musashi and Tosa(9 factors) on the Nelson

British DD3 roll 6, 1 hit, CA2 damaged
Japan CA4 roll 6, DD1 sunk

vs Musashi rolls 5, mod 4, only 2 hits, the Musashi is too tough!
vs Nelson rolls 8, only 2 hits, the old Warhorse is also too tough!

Groups 3

The Mighty BB5 Maine fires on the damaged CVL2 Junyo and gets a7, sinking it. The Alabama and CA4 also sink the damaged CA2

the Japanese fail to do any damage

Hidden strike on Japanese CG2

6 NAS face the guns of the Japanese at level 5, rolling 5, 1 NAS shot down

5 NAS target the DD12, rolling 8, 4 hits, DD4 sunk

[joegrundman]

round 5

Japan rolls 1,2,3,3,3,3,4,5,6
US rolls 1,1,1,2,3 and 4,5,6,6

Japanese make air strike again, this time with 4 AAS and face the british guns which roll a 10, shooting down 2

2 NAS target the BB3 Barham and roll 7, only 1 hit, no damage! The Japanese fleet is running out of punch

6 NAS from US TF4 fly in to attack the Japanese, defended by 2 air cover

the japanese roll 2!, 1 abort result, but the US rolls 5 shooting down 1 air squardon

5 NAS face 1 CAP. The CAP rolls 6, mod 7, 1 NAS shot down
the allies roll 6, mod 5

4 NAS face the guns at level 6 which roll 5, 1 NAS shot down

3 NAS dive in to attack the CV3 Mikasa, rolling 4, mod 6, 2 hits, the carrier is damaged

There is another combat between CG1

Japanese CA2 vs British DD2
Japan rolls 9, 1 hit DD sunk
Britain rolls 12! CA2 sunk

Musashi and Tosa fire on Nelson rolling 8, 2 hits, no damage

British 14 factors fire on Musashi rolling 8, mod 7, 3 hits, no damage

[joegrundman]

Round 6

Counteraair

5 NAS fly out to engage the airbase on Guam, defended with 5 AAS

the attackers roll 8, a 2/4 result
the defenders roll 8, a 2/4 result, but all Japanese Land based air are neutralised for this turn

Japan has 6 dice

and rolls

1,1,2,3,3,4

US has 9 dice and rolls

1,1,1,1,2,2,3...

Groups 2 engage

BB4 Anson and Duke of York fire on DD8 rolling 8, 2 hits, DD2 sunk

DD6 fire back rolling 9, 2 hits, no damage

Groups1

US TF4 swings in to support British TF1

2 Japanese NAS face the British guns, which roll 3, 1 NAS shot dfown

1 NAS targets the Barham rolling a 12! 2 hits the ship is damaged, but the Barham fails the critical hit. A lucky torpedo hit it in a critical spot and the ship exploded

3 American NAS face the Japanese CAP

Jap rolls 10! mod 11, a 1/2 result
US rolls 12! the CAP is shot down

the attack is aborted

The Tosa and Musashi fire on the Ohio

Japan rolls 10, 3 hits, no damage on this huge ship

the allies combine up to target the Musashi

Bb5 ohio, bb4 nelson, rodney, minesota, bb2 philippines, bb3 QE and RS, DD4 = 29 factors

allies roll 6, mod 5 = 5 hits

Overwhelmed by such numbers, the proud Musashi eventually capsizes and sinks

The battered shell of the Japanese Navy withdraws, since now all hope of scoring even one more hit is over

This battle was very bloody, but in the end it was a decisive, crushing victory for the allies

US losses:
BB4 Massachusettes
CVB4 Bogue, Constellation
CV3 Enterprise
CA2
DD6
23 NAS

British losses:

BB3 barham
CA2
DD2
1NAS

Japanese losses:
BB5 Musashi
BC3 Kirishima, Tokiwa, Hiei
CV3 Shokaku, Amagi, Taiho
CVL2 Junyo, Hiyo, Chiyoda, Ryujo, Ryuho
CA12
DD18
15 NAS

The IJN is now almost entirely destroyed

If it went in to 1947, Japan could just about field a single decent TF

[joegrundman]

Invasion of Guam

After the withdrawal of the Japanese fleet, the attack continued on Guam




The defense of Guam is 5 factors on a fortified beach = defense 20, 15 vs marines

the attacking force is

2 marines, 2 commonwealth infantry = 4

12 NAS = 4

+12 shore bombardment = 20 total

the attack is at 1:1

The US rolls 3. An Ex result - it's a bloodbath

The allies lose 15 factors, but are ultimately successful

[joegrundman]

Atom Bombs




The US launches raids from marcus to target

Hiroshima, Tokishima, Niigata

The force is 17 bombers, split three ways = 6 for Hiroshima and 6 for Tokishima and 5 for Niigata - they are accompanied by 5 interceptors

2 for Niigata, 2 for Hiroshima, 1 for Tokishima

The 5 Japanese AAF focus their attempts on protecting Niigata

5 AAF +1 for radar, vs 7 attackers:

Japan rolls 11, mod 12 = 4/4. Niigata has been protected for the loss of 4 US factors.

Japan lost 3 AAF in the battle!

The air defenses of Hiroshima roll 7, 1 bomber aborted, the bombers do 6 brps, 5 get through for an additional 15 brps = 21 brps - no firestorm

The city is subjected to atomic attack and destroyed

Tokishima suffers 18 brsp damage and an atomic attack

[joegrundman]

Tokyo Conference - Winter 1946

Tokyo leaders discuss whether the time is right to offer the alllies a surrender:

Japan surrenders if the Japanese resistance drops to 0

+20 - basic Japanese level ============================20
+1 - per pacific front objective under Japanese control
(Okinawa,Truk) = +2 =====22
+1 each for singapore,manila,
dacca, rangoon, calcutta, colombo= +6 =====================28
+1 for each aleutian island ==============0 =============28
+2 india surrenders============+2=====================30
-3 allies control tokyo =0==============================30
-2 each for allies in Kagoshima or Osaka = 0================30
-3 for first japanese hex under allied occupation,
-2 for second, -1 for each thereafter =-3 ===================27
-1 allied control Peking, Mukden, Shanghai, Harbin,
Nanking, Okinawa, Seoul, Canton = -5 ====================22
-3 for first atom bomb on japan, -4 for second, -5 for next and so on = - 18 =4
-1 for each firestorm on japanese city =====================4
-1 for each oil effect = 0===============================4
-1 for each 10 unbuilt ground/army air factors = - 1 ============3

Net change since last turn: -14
Current level: 3

With a surrender level of 3, it is clear that Japan could not survive another turn, but the game ends at winter 1946 in any case.

Congratulations to Japan, he has achieved his best victory level

Overall then this is an axis victory in game terms, but no doubt the defeat of Germany within a historical framework feels like a moral victory, and indeed it is.

Well-played everyone, and i hope you enjoyed the game!