Post by Toyama on Apr 10, 2017 18:35:27 GMT
Operation Watchtower (The Guadalcanal Campaign)
7 August 1942 - 9 February 1943
Guadalcanal is part of the Solomon Islands, which lie to the north-eastern approaches of Australia. Though it is a humid and jungle-covered tropical island, its position made it strategically important for both sides in the Pacific War. With the island in control, the Japanese could cut off the sea route between Australia and America.
Japanese troops had landed on Guadalcanal on July 6, 1942, and had begun constructing an airfield at Lunga plantation, probably the only point on the island that could sustain an airfield.
The head of all US naval forces, Admiral Ernest King, wanted a full-scale attack on Guadalcanal to off-set this threat. Despite the Roosevelt–Churchill directive that gave the European war zone priority, the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff in Washington gave the go-ahead for the first American offensive campaign since Pearl Harbour in December 1941.
On August 7th, the Americans started their attack on Guadalcanal. Up to that date, the amphibious force was the most powerful ever assembled. Three carriers gave air support (the ‘Saratoga’, the ‘Wasp’ and the ‘Enterprise’) guarded by the battleship USS North Carolina and 24 other support ships. Five cruisers from America and Australia guarded the actual landing craft that gathered off of Tenaru on Guadalcanal.
At dawn, 10,000 US soldiers landed at Guadalcanal, fresh from military training and armed with bolt action M1903 Springfield rifles and a meager 10-day supply of ammunition.
Battle report
For this game, Pendragon had dusted off his copy of Axis & Allies – Guadalcanal: the boardgame and brought it to my place.
(this is it. One of the best in the series, they say)
While giving me an introduction to the game, Pen set up the American forces; the Japanese forces were placed to populate the Solomons by yours truly.
After setting up, it was clear that the Japanese got a headstart in terrain, while the US were given an advantage in resources (bombers, ships). The Japanese would have a difficult job holding on to the terrain, as their forces were wide-spread.
(just a few minutes in the game. Victory tracks both at 0)
The decision to abandon the outmost possessions and consolidate on the more defendable islands was easily made by the Japanese commander. Seeing an opportunity, the US quickly kicked the Japanese token force from the nearest island (Guadalcanal, actually) and started building their first airfield. In the mean time, Japan kept up with the Allied construction progress by building an airfield in Bougainville.
While both sides constructed a second airfield as well, the American forces pushed into the archipel, determined to wipe more islands clean of Japanese soldiers.
(US capture of Malaita)
Several small skirmishes were being fought, with the Allied forces emerging victorious. On the other hand, the Japanese managed to stall the Allied advance long enough to deny them the capture of many more islands. As a consequence, the American growth in force remained limited.
(American overview of the Solomons, august 1942)
A daring Japanese naval counterattack in the Slot put a large part of both forces in combat. Luck of the dice rolls favoured the Japanese, almost destroying the local Allied flotilla, while leaving the few remaining Imperial ships in control of that part of the sea.
In retaliation, the Americans sent a major bombing raid targeting Japanese destroyers, which were approaching in order to reinforce the outposts at New Georgia. Although the raid was a success, with all Imperial ships sunk - men and mice - , the amount of crashed bombers cost the Americans their air supremacy.
(US failes to capture New Georgia, although abandoned by Japan)
From now on, the Japanese felt free to adept more aggressive tactics. Their first target was the allied battleship. Only lightly opposed, freshly flown-in Japanese bombers dropped their load on the battleship's deck, while adjacent land-based artillery finished the job. With the battleship disappearing beneath the waves, Japan took the lead in victory points.
For the remainder of the game, the US tried to regain the upper hand. The Japanese appeared to be a tough and determined force, resisting all attempts to be dislodged from the islands. In possession of a larger part of the archipel, the Japanese easily replaced any losses, while the Allied forces slowly whittled away in the battle of attrition. In the end, the Empire of Japan had convincingly secured its foothold on the Solomons.
An Axis victory!
(with 15 VPs, the Army of the Greater Japanese Empire reigns in the Solomons)
Epilogue
US landings on Guadalcanal met with great initial success. The outnumbered Japanese defenders were quickly overwhelmed, and the airfield under construction (which would be named Henderson’s Field) was captured.
Between August and November 1942, the Japanese, who were taken aback by the speed and strength of the Allied offensive, made several attempts to recapture the airfield. They used fast ships to ferry reinforcements and supplies to the island by night, so avoiding Allied air attack from Henderson’s Field. These nightly deliveries were known to the Allies as the ‘Tokyo Express’.
The struggle for the island culminated in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal: the decisive moment in the Guadalcanal Campaign and a key turning point in the Pacific War. Between 12 and 15 November 1942, the Japanese staged a last ditch attempt to recapture the airfield, organizing a transport convoy to ferry 7,000 troops to Guadalcanal, and sending several warships to shell the airfield. US forces, having learnt of Japanese plans, sent their own naval forces to intercept them. Although the US suffered more losses than the Japanese, they succeeded in turning back Japanese warships send to attack the airfield. Air attacks carried out by Allied aircraft also managed to sink a great number of Japanese troop transports, preventing the bulk of the Japanese troops and equipment from reaching Guadalcanal.
Although the Japanese did not finish evacuating their forces until February 1943, the Allies effectively won their victory in December 1942, when the Japanese abandoned any further attempt to recapture Guadalcanal.
The World War II Battle of Guadalcanal was the first major offensive and a decisive victory for the Allies in the Pacific theater. The American victory at Guadalcanal ensured that Australia was safe from a Japanese invasion while the sea route from Australia to America was also protected. The role played by the US 1st Marine Division and its commander, Vandegrift, have gone down in Marine Corps history.
Perhaps as important as the military victory for the Allies was the psychological victory. On a level playing field, the Allies had beaten Japan's best land, air, and naval forces. After Guadalcanal, Allied personnel regarded the Japanese military with much less fear and awe than previously. In addition, the Allies viewed the eventual outcome of the Pacific War with greatly increased optimism.
7 August 1942 - 9 February 1943
Guadalcanal is part of the Solomon Islands, which lie to the north-eastern approaches of Australia. Though it is a humid and jungle-covered tropical island, its position made it strategically important for both sides in the Pacific War. With the island in control, the Japanese could cut off the sea route between Australia and America.
Japanese troops had landed on Guadalcanal on July 6, 1942, and had begun constructing an airfield at Lunga plantation, probably the only point on the island that could sustain an airfield.
The head of all US naval forces, Admiral Ernest King, wanted a full-scale attack on Guadalcanal to off-set this threat. Despite the Roosevelt–Churchill directive that gave the European war zone priority, the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff in Washington gave the go-ahead for the first American offensive campaign since Pearl Harbour in December 1941.
On August 7th, the Americans started their attack on Guadalcanal. Up to that date, the amphibious force was the most powerful ever assembled. Three carriers gave air support (the ‘Saratoga’, the ‘Wasp’ and the ‘Enterprise’) guarded by the battleship USS North Carolina and 24 other support ships. Five cruisers from America and Australia guarded the actual landing craft that gathered off of Tenaru on Guadalcanal.
At dawn, 10,000 US soldiers landed at Guadalcanal, fresh from military training and armed with bolt action M1903 Springfield rifles and a meager 10-day supply of ammunition.
Battle report
For this game, Pendragon had dusted off his copy of Axis & Allies – Guadalcanal: the boardgame and brought it to my place.
(this is it. One of the best in the series, they say)
While giving me an introduction to the game, Pen set up the American forces; the Japanese forces were placed to populate the Solomons by yours truly.
After setting up, it was clear that the Japanese got a headstart in terrain, while the US were given an advantage in resources (bombers, ships). The Japanese would have a difficult job holding on to the terrain, as their forces were wide-spread.
(just a few minutes in the game. Victory tracks both at 0)
The decision to abandon the outmost possessions and consolidate on the more defendable islands was easily made by the Japanese commander. Seeing an opportunity, the US quickly kicked the Japanese token force from the nearest island (Guadalcanal, actually) and started building their first airfield. In the mean time, Japan kept up with the Allied construction progress by building an airfield in Bougainville.
While both sides constructed a second airfield as well, the American forces pushed into the archipel, determined to wipe more islands clean of Japanese soldiers.
(US capture of Malaita)
Several small skirmishes were being fought, with the Allied forces emerging victorious. On the other hand, the Japanese managed to stall the Allied advance long enough to deny them the capture of many more islands. As a consequence, the American growth in force remained limited.
(American overview of the Solomons, august 1942)
A daring Japanese naval counterattack in the Slot put a large part of both forces in combat. Luck of the dice rolls favoured the Japanese, almost destroying the local Allied flotilla, while leaving the few remaining Imperial ships in control of that part of the sea.
In retaliation, the Americans sent a major bombing raid targeting Japanese destroyers, which were approaching in order to reinforce the outposts at New Georgia. Although the raid was a success, with all Imperial ships sunk - men and mice - , the amount of crashed bombers cost the Americans their air supremacy.
(US failes to capture New Georgia, although abandoned by Japan)
From now on, the Japanese felt free to adept more aggressive tactics. Their first target was the allied battleship. Only lightly opposed, freshly flown-in Japanese bombers dropped their load on the battleship's deck, while adjacent land-based artillery finished the job. With the battleship disappearing beneath the waves, Japan took the lead in victory points.
For the remainder of the game, the US tried to regain the upper hand. The Japanese appeared to be a tough and determined force, resisting all attempts to be dislodged from the islands. In possession of a larger part of the archipel, the Japanese easily replaced any losses, while the Allied forces slowly whittled away in the battle of attrition. In the end, the Empire of Japan had convincingly secured its foothold on the Solomons.
An Axis victory!
(with 15 VPs, the Army of the Greater Japanese Empire reigns in the Solomons)
Epilogue
US landings on Guadalcanal met with great initial success. The outnumbered Japanese defenders were quickly overwhelmed, and the airfield under construction (which would be named Henderson’s Field) was captured.
Between August and November 1942, the Japanese, who were taken aback by the speed and strength of the Allied offensive, made several attempts to recapture the airfield. They used fast ships to ferry reinforcements and supplies to the island by night, so avoiding Allied air attack from Henderson’s Field. These nightly deliveries were known to the Allies as the ‘Tokyo Express’.
The struggle for the island culminated in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal: the decisive moment in the Guadalcanal Campaign and a key turning point in the Pacific War. Between 12 and 15 November 1942, the Japanese staged a last ditch attempt to recapture the airfield, organizing a transport convoy to ferry 7,000 troops to Guadalcanal, and sending several warships to shell the airfield. US forces, having learnt of Japanese plans, sent their own naval forces to intercept them. Although the US suffered more losses than the Japanese, they succeeded in turning back Japanese warships send to attack the airfield. Air attacks carried out by Allied aircraft also managed to sink a great number of Japanese troop transports, preventing the bulk of the Japanese troops and equipment from reaching Guadalcanal.
Although the Japanese did not finish evacuating their forces until February 1943, the Allies effectively won their victory in December 1942, when the Japanese abandoned any further attempt to recapture Guadalcanal.
The World War II Battle of Guadalcanal was the first major offensive and a decisive victory for the Allies in the Pacific theater. The American victory at Guadalcanal ensured that Australia was safe from a Japanese invasion while the sea route from Australia to America was also protected. The role played by the US 1st Marine Division and its commander, Vandegrift, have gone down in Marine Corps history.
Perhaps as important as the military victory for the Allies was the psychological victory. On a level playing field, the Allies had beaten Japan's best land, air, and naval forces. After Guadalcanal, Allied personnel regarded the Japanese military with much less fear and awe than previously. In addition, the Allies viewed the eventual outcome of the Pacific War with greatly increased optimism.