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Keep the carrier fleet and battleships together to focus AA power and fight together.

3 (60%)

Divide the carriers and BB's into individual task forces to better avoid detection.

2 (40%)

Total Members Voted: 5

[Erkki]

By the way, look at Oi's weapons. Thats 40(!) torpedo tubes! That ship is wasted hunting submarines. If you can catch the invasion fleet at anchor, during the night phase, it has the potential to do some real massive damage. 

In my game the Oi got CL Durban with the first volley at 18,000ft. It might be weakly armoured and lack guns, but the torps are excellent. Even a single hit will most likely kill anything that isnt a BB, Long Lance is very powerful. Japs have advantage in night time too, much better IR and optics.

[Deadmeat1471]

By the way, look at Oi's weapons. Thats 40(!) torpedo tubes! That ship is wasted hunting submarines. If you can catch the invasion fleet at anchor, during the night phase, it has the potential to do some real massive damage. 

In my game the Oi got CL Durban with the first volley at 18,000ft. It might be weakly armoured and lack guns, but the torps are excellent. Even a single hit will most likely kill anything that isnt a BB, Long Lance is very powerful. Japs have advantage in night time too, much better IR and optics.

Yeah I love those, it's really just providing patrol duties at Saipan until the supplys arrive. Oi will play a larger role when the main fleet arrives, I have no intention of sending her in alone! Also she's supported by a Destroyer(for ASW).
I promise, once the main fleet arrives, Oi will torpedo some yanks

*I mainly want her AA guns incase some bombers bomb a convoy.

[Erkki]

Have you considered splitting up the KB? If they run in the range of the main body of american CV force, they'll most likely be toasted with little chance to hit back anyways. Split up, they could at least provide LRCAP for the islands, maybe even hit the landing fleets if the american main force is known to be far enough?

[Deadmeat1471]

25th May 1944

Report
Two submarine attacks reported off the coast of Saipan, a small supply ship, the Daihachiyko Maru was heavily damaged after 3 torpedo hits. The patrol boat Kohauku Maru went after the subs, damaging one.  Both Daihachiyko Maru and Noshiro Maru sunk from the hits.
Another allied sub was reported hit a mine off the coast, sustaining heavy damage.



26th May 1944

-Got reinforcements of two groups of heavy bombers, they have started intensive training in naval bombing also. Every little will help.

Report

The Cruiser Oi arrives at Saipan and patrols the coast.

Have you considered splitting up the KB? If they run in the range of the main body of american CV force, they'll most likely be toasted with little chance to hit back anyways. Split up, they could at least provide LRCAP for the islands, maybe even hit the landing fleets if the american main force is known to be far enough?

A good idea, I'll think on it. I was planning the opposite, concentrate KB and the battleships so they can (maybe) hold their own. Dividing sounds like a good idea though.

[Zrk2]

I would keep BBs and CVs together to provide each other support. Did you hit Pearl Harbour?

[Deadmeat1471]

If the 'Seperate' tactic is voted for, this is how I foresee the plan unfolding.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

*This can only be done when the Carriers and Battleships arrive.

I would keep BBs and CVs together to provide each other support. Did you hit Pearl Harbour?

This is 1944, it assumes Pearl harbor has already happened. So no I haven't.

[Deadmeat1471]

Side note - The Submarine I-8 has spotted an American light carrier. four submarines are moving north past the Marshall Islands to intercept, I-8 is avoiding contact alone.

[Deadmeat1471]

27 May 1944

Report

Wake Island is hit by an air raid. A fuel depot explodes.

28 May 1944

The light carrier has passed I-8 and is moving towards Saipan. The other subs are attempting to intercept the group.

Report

Around 5 attacks were made by American subs on transport ships outside Saipan. The Macassar Maru was sunk and another ship, Koshu Maru is in Saipan dockyard fighting fires.

The submarine RO-64 has been damaged by patrol planes, it is damaged and sailing for Truk.

Submarines spot a light carrier task force at Eniwetok.

Wake Island was hit by another large air raid.

[Deadmeat1471]

May 30 1944

Submarine RO-63 has been attacked by destroyers off the coast of Eniwetok, but is afloat.

The patrol boat Kohuku Maru has attacked an American sub, damaging it.

Troops and supplies are being unloaded at Saipan.
Heavy defence guns are still being ferried in by plane from Iwo Jima.

My fighter-bomber group are working their asses off training at naval bombing missions.

The Koshu Maru is still afire, teams are working to put it out.

[Deadmeat1471]

My subs following that light carrier have found the main American carrier groups, they are only one or two turns away from bombing range of Saipan!!!

[Knave]

My subs following that light carrier have found the main American carrier groups, they are only one or two turns away from bombing range of Saipan!!!

 
That doesn't sound good!

[Deadmeat1471]

May 30 1944

The submarine screen are moving forward to attempt an attack on the carrier group. All fighters have been given orders to make air patrols to intercept the carrier aircraft. We are so gonna die.

[Deadmeat1471]

Oh and I recalled Oi to Peleilu to avoid being torpedoed into the ocean before the main fleet arrives.

[Deadmeat1471]

Report

PB Kohuku Maru depth charges and heavily damages an American sub. It is probably sunk.

Koshu Maru sinks in Saipan's harbor they couldn't put those fires out.
Dive bombers are trying to sink some of my subs, but fail.

31 May

SS RO-36 attempt to torpedo a battleship and misses. It is lightly damaged in the process.
RO-43 is sunk by the carrier escorts after suffering 36(wtf?) depth charge hits.

Patrol boat Kohoku Maru is engaged by 4 destroyers and a light carrier, the carrier group runs away. Huzzah for Kohoku.

60 dive bombers attempt to bomb a supply convoy on its way back to Peleilu.... and absolutely demolish it. Not a single transport remains afloat, but no supplies or troops were lost as it was the return trip. 5 of our fighters were also destroyed trying to defend the convoy.

A carrier air group attempts to bomb PB Kohuku, 14 fighters launch to intercept. After a dogfight we lost 2 Zero fighters and destroyed 3 american dive bombers and torpedo bombers, 1 damaged.
Kohuku was hit by a torpedo and set afire, it is heavily damaged.

200 american planes raid Guam 45 of our fighters try to defend the airfield. We lost 8 Zero fighters in the dogfight and over 10 on the airfield. 9 were damaged. We destroyed 5 dive bombers and damaged some more.

The runway took 103 bomb hits.

A second and third bombing run were tried, much smaller, we destroyed 20 torpedo bombers and lost no fighters.
Tinian airfield was bombed, but 20 Zero's defended the airspace and destroyed an American bomber.

About 6 zeros were damaged on landing after the days fighting.

The tally for the days fighting is at:

8 Jap small transport ships destroyed.
30 Japanese aircraft lost.
28 American aircraft lost.
Today we had 3 operational losses (crashed planes etc)
The Americans had 12.

Today I mark as a success. we held off the Americans. But Guam airfield is pretty damaged.

[Deadmeat1471]

1 June

PB Kohuku is hit by a torpedo from a submarine and is further damaged.

SS RO-68 is heavily damaged after being depth charged by the CV escorts.

Raid on Saipan

Over 300 hundred planes attacked Saipan.
We managed to get 90 planes in the air to defend it. After a prolonged and massive dogfight we lost 18 fighters and destroyed 15 American aircraft, damaging twice that number.
Three damaged submarines were sunk in the harbor by dive bombers.
The runway sustained 63 hits and was damaged.

A small raid attacked guam and was fended off, 2 bombs hitting Guam's airfield.

Several of our subs engaged the carrier fleet but scored no hits.

Day 2's tally
3 subs lost, 1 transport.
We lost 36 fighters. 7 of these were lost from crashing on the runway. A few more were damaged on landing.
Japanese aircrews work desperately on Guam's airfield, trying to repair the runways.

Kohuku Maru also succumbed to its wounds.

The yanks are gaining air superiority. We need to repair the airfields to maintain an effective defence.


Two pilots from my group didn't return the planes are reported missing.