The Full Campaign - Lodrik (J) vs. JochenHeiden (A)

[BananaConvention]

Judgment day has come for the defenders of the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines. You can probably do the math in your head on how this is going to go. It's not going to be pretty, regardless.

In the Bay of Bengal, the heat is turned up. We have Lodrik's supposedly battered and beaten Kido Butai fragment still operating with impunity in the center of the Bay, with a surface combat task force of unknown composition within a day's sailing away in support. Lodrik's subs are still alive and well off the coast of Ceylon and we are struggling to find a solution to them.

In the South Pacific, the Kido Butai has retreated from view, but there is a lot of activity in the port of Rabaul, suggesting another invasion force is forming. Also, Noumea is effectively blockaded by Japanese subs. We need to come up with a workable solution quickly to re-open the sea lanes to New Caledonia or our position there could be threatened by invasion.

We also have a nice Tracker display showing the current situation of the Victory Points for this campaign to-date. Don't miss it!

https://youtu.be/VC63BIYEBjI

[BananaConvention]

In terms of action, this one is pretty mild. I'll never say NO to a quiet turn, but I feel something is brewing...

Lodrik's carrier task force remains in the Bay of Bengal and is as menacing as ever. It's like a knife in our back that we can't remove. I don't have ships capable of challenging them, and to send my land based bombers after him right now would be suicidal because escort couldn't follow. For now, our supply runs to Rangoon from Calcutta are on an indefinite hold until we can resolve this issue.

In the Dutch East Indies, Japanese troops have arrived in Batavia. It remains to be seen if it was a good or bad idea to move our troops in there. They're now cut off and on their own against a far more numerous opponent. Let's see how long they can hold out. If they do half as well as the fearless Marines on Luganville, they could be proud of themselves.

Finally, there's still no sign of Lodrik's Kido Butai forces in the Solomons. Where have they gone, and when will they return? It's race against time to get in what we can before the carriers return to continue their rampage of the South Pacific. Is the calm before the storm?

https://youtu.be/Vg6v0H1HeDU

[BananaConvention]

The moment you've all be waiting for has arrived. The carriers Saratoga, Lexington, Yorktown and Enterprise, commanded by Rear Admiral Raymond Spruance, have appeared and immediately engaged in battle. The Japanese forces we engaged were caught completely by surprise, checkmated, and dealt a serious blow. So much smoke obscures the targets we can't even get a good bomb damage assessment.

It's been a long road, with a lot of secrecy, disinformation and deceit, but we got our carriers exactly where they needed to go, just in the nick of time. Watch the combat with me, and listen to my analysis of the after-action reports to see how we did. You won't be disappointed by this one!

https://youtu.be/Ifw-CppskzI

[BananaConvention]

Today is the day we learn if we were successful in blocking the retreat of the IJN carriers and heavy cruisers critically damaged yesterday, or if they were able to escape. Your guess is as good as mine!

Elsewhere on the map, we suffer a number of setbacks on land which were quite frankly not surprising but saddening nonetheless. Take a look at this turn with me and let's take stock of the situation as it stands now and decide what to do now.

https://youtu.be/EeuUIPIzoKM

[BBfanboy]

About the carrier strikes in the IO: I suggest you look at the weather map for that turn. I also saw considerable shipping around Singapore which (if you don't have firm contact with it elsewhere) could signal KB charging to the rescue ...

[BananaConvention]

About the carrier strikes in the IO: I suggest you look at the weather map for that turn. I also saw considerable shipping around Singapore which (if you don't have firm contact with it elsewhere) could signal KB charging to the rescue ...

We do have some decent naval search around Singapore right now. I still believe the KB is down near Truk. He doesn't have the assets now to cover both AORs so he would be abandoning SOPAC to do this, and it'll take him possibly two weeks to relocate. We should have time to do what we need to do there.

[BananaConvention]

In a stroke of genius, guts and luck, Lodrik launched a retaliatory strike against our forces in the Bay of Bengal and achieved complete and utter surprise, dealing us a massive blow and putting us on our back foot. A powerful ship was lost outright, and an even more powerful one is being kept afloat with chewing gum and mattresses. This was a terrible day and it is calling into question our effectiveness in India. Lodrik may be down, but he's definitely not out!

Elsewhere, more setbacks on Java as Lodrik's invading hordes capture another base, leaving us with only Fortress Bandoeng as the last bastion on the island.

It's not ALL bad news though (just mostly). The Kido Butai has not returned to the South Pacific for now. Are they just waiting for another opportunity, or did Lodrik decide to commit them to the Indian Ocean? Either way, it's buying us time and allowing us to gather our wits out there and come up with a possible counter-attack in the near future.

https://youtu.be/t-6rwcLXex4

[BananaConvention]

Today's the day we learn if the Enterprise is going to survive the day or of Lodrik's surface forces catch up and finish the job.

In China, a disappointing revelation now puts us back in the unenviable position of having to abandon our oil producing cities.

In Java, we find out that Lodrik is ready to repel boarders!

https://youtu.be/Fl6nkRYvZYI

[BananaConvention]

It wasn't the best Valentine's Day.

The Enterprise is struggling to stay afloat amidst a sea of enemy submarines. There are a lot of moving parts to the task forces I put together to get it home, and I can only hope I did it all right. Many button clicks can go amiss in this game.

On a happier note, our ASW aircraft did absolutely WORK this turn and were dropping bombs on Lodrik's subs left and right. If we're lucky, a couple of those things will sink.

Lodrik is sending yet another task force INTO the Bay of Bengal which seems like suicide at this point. How far into the Bay will be push?

Lastly, the waters of the Coral Sea are quiet and there's still no sign of Kido Butai. Where have they gone off to?

https://youtu.be/Rte_P3zYt2I

[BananaConvention]

So the Enterprise is gone and it's not coming back. Now what do we do?

Priority one is getting the remaining carriers back to safety, and in this turn we will attempt to do it. There are many threats in our way, such as the sub blockade, and the enemy task forth near Port Blair. Will we get the rest of the carriers into Colombo unscathed or do we have more damage and loss to endure?

In China, we will determine this turn what's up with Lodrik's troops moving around Sian. Hopefully we will get some clarity as to what's coming our way, so we can make a more informed decision as to next steps there.

In Java, Lodrik's conquests continue It's only a matter of time until our Dutch troops are completely bottled up at Bandoeng.

Finally, a new threat emerges in the Solomon Sea, worrying close to Port Moresby. Could this be the start of a move towards taking the base from us, or some sort of feint? Watch the video and be the judge for yourself!

https://youtu.be/oQrjMKW0VaI

[BananaConvention]

Lodrik's carriers are floating around the Solomon Sea, and they've made offensive moves today. However, we don't know exactly what their full intensions are. As a precaution, we are beefing up our fighter presence all over just in case this is a diversionary attack.

In Northern China, Lodrik's intensions are becoming more clear as it pertains to Sian. He's definitely going for it, and he's wisely choosing the eastern approach, which is very difficult for us to defend against. It won't be long before we have to pick up and move to safer positions further, after near two months of dogged defense of the city and its surroundings.

On Java, Lodrik has reduced our remaining possessions to the mountains of Bandung, and time will tell how long we can hold out there before the inevitable happens.

Finally, the Bay of Bengal is once again quiet, but for how long? While we have strong suspicions of what we actually sank, we have no proof. We will try to get moving what we can again, but we will proceed cautiously.

https://youtu.be/s0pUMGgcSSA

[BananaConvention]

Can't say I didn't warn you!

My SIGINT a few turns ago warned of a potential attack by the Japanese 2nd Raiding Regiment, a paratrooper unit. Sure enough, they launched their attack exactly where they said they would!

In the Coral Sea, Lodrik's carriers push deeper towards our possessions, but their exact mission set remains uncertain. I do have some theories though; let me know in the comments if you think I'm right or he has other plans.

Finally, we are waiting for the shoe to drop near Sian in China, but it hasn't... yet. The second I see his death stack inch closer to the city, I'm pulling chocks and getting the heck outta Dodge.

https://youtu.be/jFVgGg8GDEI

[BananaConvention]

It looks we may have outsmarted him today!

The Japanese tried to send more reinforcements to Tarakan via air transport again today, but this time we were ready. The few remaining Dutch Buffalos we have in the theater went aloft and sliced and diced their way through multiple waves of Japanese transport planes, leaving the ground strewn with burning wreckage.

At Luganville, I corrected predicted what Lodrik was up to with his carrier forces. Unfortunately some of our bravest and brightest were lost this day proving my theory. And it leaves us with a new dilema... what do we do about it now?

Finally in China, Lodrik's advance on Sian from the east appears to have stalled for the moment. Why is he stopping? By my calculations he has sufficient power to really ruin our day there. It's his chance to break the China stalemate. So what is he doing? Maybe you can let me know your thoughts about what he's up to because I can't figure it out yet.

https://youtu.be/md3j8SuLIaE

[BananaConvention]

It's the return of the LODRIK DEATH STACK!

In a totally unexpected and shocking move, Lodrik hits us at our strongest point in the lines, hurling hundreds of thousands of Japanese troops against our meager lines. The sheer mass of troops and the casualties were staggering for both sides, and this by far was the absolute largest land battle we've experienced in the campaign to date. Lodrik has really outdone himself with this one.

In other news, my coordinated attack on Lodrik's carriers in the South Pacific fell apart, and nearly a dozen of my previous and irreplaceable 4-engined bombers are now piles of wreckage on the island of Luganville, or at the bottom of the ocean.

Overall I would rate this turn as a BAD turn for us. Take a look and tell me if you agree!

https://youtu.be/PL4-0PS0Jrs

[BananaConvention]

Lodrik has definitely found his grove again.

We are dealt another difficult blow on multiple fronts. In China, Lodrik is moving again on Sian and it's time to pull up sticks and move out to higher ground. At Changsha, the daily bombing raids are preventing us from repairing our fortification levels.

In Java, Lodrik attacks with a powerful force, dealing a crippling blow to our men holed up in the mountains of Bandung.

Near Luganville, our subs are pummeled by Japanese escort vessels, sending one running for dear life, and another barely floating. Its survival is now in question.

Finally, Lodrik found our Clemsons taking shelter at Norfolk Island and caused critical damage to one. We don't have of these left due to ABDA Fleet Debacle two months ago, and the loss of even one more will be a hard pill to swallow.

https://youtu.be/dYXYT--ob60

[BananaConvention]

Got 'em!!

My 6th sense was telling me this turn was the time to go all in on the CAP trap action at Tarakan, and boy did it pay off. Our Australian, Kiwi and Dutch Buffalos put on a transport slaughtering clinic over Tarakan. Apparently our opponent had attempted to escort them, but there's no way to escort transports in WitP, so they were hung out to dry and were executed with extreme prejudice.

In the South Pacific, Lodrik's small carrier force between Lord Howe and Norfold Island is still proving to be a nuissance, and we are having to direct traffic in all directions to avoid it. So far, it's cost us one of our priceless Clemson-class destroyers, but I am hoping that'll be the last of the damage inflicted on this go-around.

Finally, as we wait for Lodrik to make another move at Changsha, his forces are maneuvering aggressively for Sian. It's a race against time to get our forces evacuated and moved further north before they're cut off. Can we get out in time?

https://youtu.be/35St8-CbeHk

[BananaConvention]

Just when you thought you heard the last of those dang Japanese subs, they make a reappearance and send your ships to the bottom. Out of sheer complacency, we lose a great ship loaded with troops to a sub . When will I learn?

In the Bay of Bengal, Lodrik is sending a task force seemingly for Port Blair. Is this the invasion of the island our SIGINT has been suggesting was coming?

Finally in China, Lodrik is tightening the noose around Sian and we are in full retreat. At Changsha, Lodrik launches another massive assault on our forces there! Did we hold it again, or was it the massive victory he's been struggling to find in China all these weeks?

Tune in to find out!!

https://youtu.be/AFlb7l683tg

[BananaConvention]

It's the naval surface battle we've been looking for since the campaign began!

Our valiant forces in the Bay of Bengal, lead by HMS Royal Sovereign, have seized the initiative and engaged the enemy landing forces at Port Blair. It was an epic, but lopsided battle you don't want to miss!

To put a cherry on top of the day, our submarines decided to actually do something this turn and we bagged a couple ships with solid torpedo strikes, one of them being quite the haul.

It wasn't all rosey for us today though. We suffer a crippling defeat on Java, and my little CAP trap at Changsha didn't quite work out as intended. Still, I'm happy with this turn and I hope you will be too!

https://youtu.be/-CI73dq1pVs

[BBfanboy]

Did you notice that no troops were lost when you smashed that convoy at Port Blair? That's the Japanese landing bonus - troops unload in one phase, and take no environmental losses even with no prep. But you are mostly through their bonus period which ends April 1st. I am unsure if the supply also unloads so quickly - you may have sunk much of the supply and your Port Blair troops (if more than a BF) might be able to push the SNLF off the island.

That message about TF 3 encountering a minefield means they detected it without hitting a mine at that point, and did not sweep any mines either. The mine hit you heard just before that raised the detection level (ya think!?) and got the escorts checking out the location of the field. I think the follow on message means they sized it up so further mine hits are unlikely. Time to lay some more eggs!

[BananaConvention]

Did you notice that no troops were lost when you smashed that convoy at Port Blair? That's the Japanese landing bonus - troops unload in one phase, and take no environmental losses even with no prep. But you are mostly through their bonus period which ends April 1st. I am unsure if the supply also unloads so quickly - you may have sunk much of the supply and your Port Blair troops (if more than a BF) might be able to push the SNLF off the island.

That message about TF 3 encountering a minefield means they detected it without hitting a mine at that point, and did not sweep any mines either. The mine hit you heard just before that raised the detection level (ya think!?) and got the escorts checking out the location of the field. I think the follow on message means they sized it up so further mine hits are unlikely. Time to lay some more eggs!

Yes sir! I assumed most of the troops got offloaded before my ships got there due to the landing bonus. The size of the SNLF is small enough that the ships could unload quickly. Copy that as well about the minefield message. I had never seen that before. It definitely means I need more mines out there. Time to send Abdiel back in!