GreasyLake Vs Vettim89, The Japan side

[GreasyLake]

Quick update before the weekend. Talked about score and Tim is 4K points ahead. But only a ration of 1:1.13 or so. Auto victory is definitely hard against a human is my conclusion.

Carriers passing N of Borneo in South China sea heading to refuel at Batavia. Looked at tracker and noticed BB Heie is upgradeable to AArating of over 1000. Thought about docking at Singapore or Soerabaja but the air and enemy carrier threat is too great. Will backtrack to Manila with BB Heie the level 7 damage CV and any other upgradeable ships (I think the CA's have reached one). The CVE ACTF and another with 2 CV's will continue on heading through the straits into the IO. There are two rep TF following.

Today I considered gathering 4-6 Div and counter invading Padang (Really long shot at best). Or fortifying Soerabaja land - southern Borneo. I think I have settled on Southern Philippines. I can land new Divisions and trans the Ind Bde's farther out on the front lines from Davao/Tarakan/Jolo. 3 new Div arrived on Home islands and I should have the PP to change (8K now).

4-6 Turns ago I turned my mass of troops around in N China. I was trying to march up the dirt roads westof the next objective. Taking too long and wearing them out. Right now I am bombarding the hex and the defenders are only 2K plus AV. I can get 5K there to attack. Would prefer 5 to 1 odds but I should do OK just take longer. Not sure of the name of the place but I am after the city hex farther North with resources, manpower, and heavy industry. Too far to walk everyone out
anyplace else!

Tracker noted oil is short at Bangkok, Saigon, Camranh Bay. Will try to sneak some in. Home islands only short Resources 1-2 hundred in a few spots. More coming in. Surprised how much I am still getting home without using Padang. Even barely snuck some out of Cam Rahn Bay, AK's 1/3 loaded. Got them to Manila to unload but decided to fill them out and send home. Another 40K for me, if I can get through the subbies.

Last note, short TB's. B7A is out but too few. Lots of older DB still. Air losses are over double what the Allies are so far. Tens of thousands or something. Will be rebuilding some kinda airforce, maybe!!!

[GreasyLake]

Without using Palembang that is

[GreasyLake]

Some screenies for Tim before the next turn My Carriers.

[GreasyLake]

The next base to fall??? Or will the forts help me hold. LBA has started pounding HARD.

[GreasyLake]

Troops at base. Still trying to fly in more, however he has put up a LRCAP that is intercepting now.

[GreasyLake]

View of Navy

[GreasyLake]

Most exp Fighter units

[GreasyLake]

Wish I could fill out all of these right now!

[GreasyLake]

The one area where I am still on the offensive.

[ny59giants]

It looks like your supply of highly experienced pilots are running out too quick. Beating your head against those Hellcats is not helping matters either.  You are getting to the point that you have to focus on getting as much oil and resources you can back to the home islands from underneath his LBA.

[GreasyLake]

Good advice NY. Just got hit by B-25's out of Padang, that brought the point home. Still getting resources from Tarakan for the time being.

I do not plan on launching any types of attacks against carrier CAP for the duration if I can help it.

[GreasyLake]

Carriers stuck in Indian Ocean. Cannot bring back through straits with US carriers close by south Borneo. One repln TF with fuel there with them (TF1). CV Aso in Tokyo 1115 AAA. 5in rockets! Hope they work. Next carrier 15 days out. The air groups are in the 50's exp.

Mounted an air attack from Kendari 3-4 days ago. Not big enough to hit anything. Was trying to hit the unescorted convoys at Makassar. Flew in 2 Kami groups that were at airbases within 9 hexes so they would not have to wait a day to attack. Also the most exp fighter unit from Balikpapan. Two attacks made it through the CAP but no hits on ships. (datails prob in Vettims AAR). The airfield is now wrecked again from 3 days of 4e bomber attacks. There are now 80+ P-38 flying out of Makassar so I pretty much lost that chance. Might have been better off to take 2-3 days to load up the base more before launching strikes but recon is daily so who knows.

Units in China finally making it back down the trails to Sian and moving up the good roads north. Moving FB to Sian to attack and thus train up.

Cannot believe how much freedom of movement Allies have anywhere. Do not remember KB putting up that good of CAP. Is this what Tim put up with the first year of gametime?

Trying to move fighter units with under 50 exp back farther to train up. too many P-38 around. Getting hard to place them. All bases full of air units but all units low exp.

Tarakan down to 300 resource. A TK convoy coming in to suck up the oil prior to heavy bombing. 3-4 convoys due in to Japan in the next week with raw materials. Not much left anywhere except Saigon and Bangkok which are no-go zones due to LBA.

[GreasyLake]

OK do not like carriers feeling trapped in IO. Refueled and heading for straits N of Batavia. Loaded up Batavia with fighters and attack AC. Ditto Kuching and nearby bases with any air support. US carriers have AO in their hex so may not leave area soon enough. Will hit full speed when passing straits and head north of Borneo, try to make Manila. I put all the air units on a range of only 5-6 so I hope they will not launch unless the US carriers react. Maybe I will get lucky again and only one group will react, doubt it! If I loose these 3 Carriers I will be down to 2 in Japan with one more coming out this month. Whooeee, at least ther is a chance I will survive.

[Capt. Harlock]

Will hit full speed when passing straits and head north of Borneo, try to make Manila. I put all the air units on a range of only 5-6 so I hope they will not launch unless the US carriers react.

Bugler -- sound the charge!

[GreasyLake]

I am thinking the Repln TF should hide for awhile on the other side of the straits. No use loosing TF1 if the carriers get it. There was an Allied convoy in the area two weeks ago, long gone now. Or my glen boats just cannot detect jack.

Actually I may be lucky to get through the straits without taking bombs from LBA at Padang. But the real selling point is there is an Allied airbase being built on the south shore of Borneo. Everything will be cut-off west of Brunei after that is my thinking.

Every airfield in the Philippines is full, of level 30's-50's aircraft only.

[GreasyLake]

Plan B; If Balikpapan is undamaged (think it is being bombed currently) and all attack aircraft are within 9 range of it, Soerabaja, and Malang, move all aircraft to these bases. Attack carriers with 200-300 aircraft. Should get one or two hits on something. Chase away his carriers or damage them prior to base being functional and having huge CAP. Then Carriers and Repln TF can run like hell for Manila. What happens when I get the next turn will settle it. He may know where my TF are all along. I do not see them displayed during the combat replays so I am hoping that means they have not been spotted.

Once again feel like a chance is there to attack, once again feel I may be greatly disappointed by the results (this has been happening with greater frequency, esp since we hit 1944). Oh well, only a game and my first PBEM.

[GreasyLake]

Made it through the straits after 2 sub attacks. Went hell bent for Kuching area. US carriers showed up approx 2 hexes east of Batavia. Both US and IJN carriers were spotted by aircraft, both were under cloud icons. I tensely waited for doom, no doom. Neither ACTF launched strikes. None of my bases either. So I still have all my AC! Took any base fighters off long range CAP and put back on escort 0 CAP (everybody strike). Now will he pursue north of Borneo? Singapore is empty and damaged currently. Nothing much to attack him on N Borneo. I might be lucky and he withdraws his carriers. I might have to run all the way to Manila.

[Capt. Harlock]

Gotta admit, this makes for pretty tense reading on either side. You'll pardon me if I was hoping for a little more action -- but congratulations on preserving your AC!

[GreasyLake]

Preserving the AC remark was meant for mostly the LBA, IE they did not strike on their own and get slaughtered before the naval action happens.

He caught up with me the next day. Kuching centered south between us after his react moves, all 3 of his carrier TF reacted. I was thinking a good move would of been to go back out through the straits and have him chase me through two minefields at the bases there. Or go SE to attack shipping at Banjarmasin while his CV's are away. Alternate plans always look good when the one I take goes sour.

I did launch strikes before sinking, 100's of strike AC down, nothing penetrated CAP. Maybe I should have put my fighters on escort zero CAP to try and get a hit on the enemy, not going to stop much of 3 CV tf's launching anyway. May be my new plan for the next KB. All range 8 fighters to go with the newer long range strike AC. Never get close enough for him to hit me (good luck with that eh!)

Amagi sank same day, another scuttled, one has 50% power should get hit next turn. Note: Land based Liberators planted a few penetrating 500lb hits on carriers. All my CVE's came through! For now.

Did not keep good notes, Vettim should be posting details tonight. Sent higher exp Betties, Sallies, and fighters to Manado, Weda, and Morotai. Another group of CV + trans covoys a day off abm.. (base that starts with an A, has oil, NE of Darwin).

[GreasyLake]

OMG!!! I have got to be the worst PBEM opponent ever. The Allied carrier TF were in a Borneo coastal hex 5 hexes from over 200 planes at Batavia. For some reason I set all naval attack aircraft on range of 4. I am beating myself up! They even split into 2 groups. A kami group from another base set on range 6 did launch strikes at the single TF group. It only had a CAP of 63 fighters, nothing got through. I am imagining I would have hit something in the 2 TF group closer and in a coastal hex.

Well everything has moved to Malang, Soerabaja, Bali, and Balikpapan. Each base has fighters, exp 50's - 60's. Going to hit something tomorrow!

Not too bad results from Morotai and Monado. Half a dozen torpedo hits on Allied CA's. The Flak was Really heavy. Must be radar and 44 upgrades to AAA. Smaller strikes tomorrow hopefully before the bases get leveled by 4E bombers.