Islands of Destiny: RA 5.0 Japanese Side

[Capt. Harlock]

2. My over confidence at Japanese Night-Fighting was a terrible mistake. KNEW there would be lots of DDs and Allied CAs/CLs with TTs

If you had been fighting USN ships only things would likely have gone better. But British torpedoes work even in 1942 -- and even their CA's have them.

[janh]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
Notes from the two days:

1. Dan has a sizeable American naval presence here. If my count is accurate there are at least 2-3 CA, 4-6 CL/CLAA, and anywhere from 12-18 modern US DDs. Better here then elsewhere I suppose.
2. The same can be said for American Ground Units. Just look above and then add the 41st ID as well as other units seen recently.
3. If I can hold 55,47 with the new ID arriving then it should slow down his assault flowing down the western side of Burma. New reinforcements shall help with this. Have nearly enough PP to buy out another full-strength Manchurian ID and the APs are already gathered to pick it up and move it here.

This Japanese Player is going to total EMCON and the all I will say is that the KB is shifting location. Not that I think anyone would spill the beans but I think it is time to button up on the Fleet's movements for a little while.

OK. Need to do Viperpol's turn...

First off, John, the "disaster" seems half as bad as I expected after your first post... Sure, those 2 BB hurt, no matter how old, and the DDs just as much. Yet Dan might have been moving his British CV and whatever American CV are presently in the theater with a left hook behind the TFs and hitting those CVE as well... That could have been far worse (think of Lew's luck in your other game...), so...to cite the favorite saying of another forum member: time to make lemonade from lemons!

I don't know what is happening over at Dan's AAR, but I don't see anything to make noise about, just a single unlucky dice roll: the weather in the hex. As long as you and Dan enjoy the game, you shouldn't be worried about "high profile" or anything alike. Imagine because of such thoughts both of you played very conservatively and cautiously... you might bore your whole readership to death! I very much enjoy this match, and so it seems do quite a few others here. I wish I could also read Dan's side of the AAR already, but even though I can't he deserves just as much credit for going thru with this fantastic match.

The storms were really bad luck. In such conditions the normal rules of thumb don't apply and I have seen quite a few surprises in such engagements in AE. I am not so sure a modern BB or cruiser with radar would have helped much.
To me it seems now that this is perhaps Dan's major focal point, though the CVs are strangely absent. At least I'd not rule it out. Hopefully your next move with KB will find some big game, with the decks stacked in your favor...

[John 3rd]

Just spent some time updating CR and I's version of RA to incorporate most of what has been discussed in the RA Development Thread over the last page or so of discussion. Nothing major just fixed some ship class stuff ( US 'T' Class SS), extended late-war Allied fighter production (P-40/P-47), and added a small stream of Dutch pilots for units pulled out prior to the end of Java. On the Japanese side not many changes other then making sure the Air Flotillas upgrade correctly and some other minor things. Nothing too exciting here but since we're taking a break I thought this would be the perfect time to keep us up with some of the changes coming in RA 6.0.

[John 3rd]

Janh: THANKS for the thoughts and perspective. Am happy to read it and glad you are enjoying yourself.

Do we have any other 'lurkers' here?

[pws1225]

Oh yea, I've been lurking since the game started but have stayed mostly silent since I follow both AARs. I imagine there are many more like me out there who choose not to offer advice/comments for fear of violating OpSec. But I will add that I'm enjoying the game immensely! And I'm also certain that you get to kick some Dan-butt before this game is over.

[John 3rd]

Lordy knows I am DUE to do exactly that! Nearly every major break that has occurred in this game has gone the Allies way so maybe it is time for some DAI NIPPON!

BANZAI!

[Mundy]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Do we have any other 'lurkers' here?

I have been... happily. I've been cheating and reading both sides, so I don't want to say anything stupid.

Very fun to watch.

Ed-

[JuanG]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Janh: THANKS for the thoughts and perspective. Am happy to read it and glad you are enjoying yourself.

Do we have any other 'lurkers' here?

I occasionally pop in to follow this and a couple of other AARs. I don't tend to do a lot of commenting, because I typically end up taking breaks and playing catch-up by reading a month at a time, which makes it hard to stay on top of things.

[Squamry]

I recently lost a couple of BB in similar circumstances in one of my games. Plenty of LRCAP on the STF involved, but when they end up in escort TF they move much slower and end up with no CAP. I'm not sure how you can protect these TF in the turn they get created. If you LRCAP with no destination set would they potentially cover a new escort TF?

[whippleofd]

Been playing this blood sucking, time sink of a game since SSI's release in '92 and I've been lurking in AAR's for years now. No way I can commit the time to reliably crank out a turn on a predictable schedule, so the AAR's I follow are my only connection to a PBEM while I play the AI.

Whipple

[BigBadWolf]

ORIGINAL: Mundy

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Do we have any other 'lurkers' here?

I have been... happily. I've been cheating and reading both sides, so I don't want to say anything stupid.

Very fun to watch.

Ed-

+1

[Sangeli]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Janh: THANKS for the thoughts and perspective. Am happy to read it and glad you are enjoying yourself.

Do we have any other 'lurkers' here?

Ya I'm an on and off lurker. I don't often post on this board as I save that for another board where there a couple of AARs. But I enjoy reading this AAR so thank you

[erstad]

Do we have any other 'lurkers' here?

Ya, sure, you betcha

[richlove]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Do we have any other 'lurkers' here?

Another lurker here, keeping quiet since I'm reading both sides.

[John 3rd]

Great to know guys. Appreciate you surfacing just so I'm aware.

Who was it just recently that Posted something about 'if he ALL this committed to Burma, what does he have left behind the lines in India?' I have a a strange idea begin to cycle through my cylinders...

What EXACTLY does he have left in India? Could a late-winter/early spring counter-landing be possible while all this firepower is struggling along the jungle and barely passable trails?

Have just about enough PP to buy out an ID. Given now to February I could buy out three more. Could a landing of 4-5 ID and a TK Div do anything at this stage? Just thinking out loud my readers...

[Cpt Sherwood]

If I haven't mentioned it earlier, lurking in both so no advice given to either side. I do NOT want to be the cause of some kind of opsec breach.

[Jellicoe]

Also lurking on both AARs. Part of my education in this amazing game. I am only playing my second game against the AI so reading these AARs just shows me how much I don't yet properly understand, both in terms of game style, strategy and game mechanics!

Thank you for a highly entertaining and educative read so far

[MineSweeper]

Absolutely....great AAR [:)]

[CaptBeefheart]

I am also reading both AARs and enjoying the ride immensely.

Regarding comms between you guys, how about sending one e-mail entitled "Turn," with just the save file attached, and another entitled "Banter," in which you communicate your thoughts on the game. This would allow CR to open the "Banter" e-mail at leisure after he views the movie.

Cheers,
CC

[ny59giants]

What EXACTLY does he have left in India? Could a late-winter/early spring counter-landing be possible while all this firepower is struggling along the jungle and barely passable trails?

Have just about enough PP to buy out an ID. Given now to February I could buy out three more. Could a landing of 4-5 ID and a TK Div do anything at this stage? Just thinking out loud my readers...

We've been there....done that in WITP. Remember ?!? [:-]

Form strategic reserves with fast transports (and air transports) to count land some of his invasion spots.