Like you say, it boils down to some famous last words...
"It seemed like a good idea at the time..."
We'll see. My armies and my LBA are intact. My fleet is oblitterated, but I managed to hide behind my LBA for 11 months, maybe I can eek out another 11 monhts. I do start to get Corsairs and other toys on the near horizon. It'll be worth playing on, just to see those boys live up to their hype.
In the meantime, I can live vicariously thru any victories Aztez may throw at Dave (I've got a game vs. Dave too, if you hadn't picked up on that)...
-F-
"It is obvious that you have greatly over-estimated my regard for your opinion." - Me
Allied Ships
AK Delawarean, Bomb hits 8, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Montanan, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Honolulan, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AK Oklahoman, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Indianan, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AK Oregonian, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Patna, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Floridian, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Rampur, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Texan, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK Louisianan, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Brisbane at 46,114
Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 52
B5N Kate x 34
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
TK Merula, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
TK Iris, Bomb hits 11, on fire, heavy damage
TK Angelina, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
TK Manvantara, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
TK Semiramis, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
TK Talang Akar, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 49,116
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 91
Allied aircraft
Beaufort V-IX x 6
B-17E Fortress x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed, 18 damaged
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Brisbane at 46,114
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 84
D3A Val x 72
B5N Kate x 138
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 3 damaged
Allied Ships
AK Illinoian, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AK Louisianan, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Montanan, Bomb hits 8, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Texan, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AK Floridian, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
Those ships were at Brisbane harbour. No significant losses and thankfully I moved my US Cruiser TF to Sydney for their upgrades.
It seems he has his eyes set on Southern Pacific.
If I had an decent Fighters and enough aviation units than this propably would have been a nasty for him.... but that is a big IF [:D]
I have decieded to partly contest his air campaign at China.
Day Air attack on Kunming , at 39,33
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 19
Ki-46-II Dinah x 3
Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vb x 10
P-40B Tomahawk x 3
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 5 destroyed, 9 damaged
Dave has kept cruising along the Australian Coastline. KB has actually struck againts Brisbane and Rockhampton so far. He has sunk punch of an allied transport ships and couple of Tankers too.
His LBA struck againts Alice Springs and Cooktown. (He has bombed resource centers here)
Since there is nothing to stop this (Not enough Aviation units and most of my fighters are Brewsters/Wirraways/Kittyhawks) I have ordered 2 big TF to start their journey towards West Coast. These ships will try to reach the SF via New Zealand. Hopefully they will make it or he will have an field day againts these ships.
It seems that Johnston Island does not have a proper garrison so I have decieded to retake the base soon. Some US troops are preparing for this small scale offensive at Pearl Harbour.
I'am still moving some ships and units to North Pacific. Hopefully I can take few of those enemy held bases back.
Allied Ships
AK Montanes, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Ipswitch, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Lematang, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK Empire Peri, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Cameron, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AP Van Rees, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Johanne Justesen, Bomb hits 1, on fire
TK Pleiodon, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Demodocus, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
AK Mobile City, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Camphuys, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
29 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Airbase hits 12
Runway hits 37
Port supply hits 1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Brisbane , at 46,114
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 95
D3A Val x 100
B5N Kate x 67
Allied Ships
AK Empire Lightning, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK Belawan, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Eagle, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK Steel Age, Torpedo hits 1
SS KXIV, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
TK Manvantara, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
AK Legazpi, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Peri, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Beatrice, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Compagnia Filipinas, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Empire Liberty, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Silksworth, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Wawa, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Ormiston, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 76
Port hits 4
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 1
That is quite an carnage! As you can see the lack of aviation units and fighters are taking their toll. On the bright side those 200 ships I sent away from Oz are going to be safe since they are way past NZ and heading towards West Coast.
RAF launched againts Mandalay in Burma.
Day Air attack on Mandalay , at 33,30
Japanese aircraft
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 30
Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 20
F-5A Lightning x 5
B-25C Mitchell x 58
B-17E Fortress x 33
IL-4c x 12
In Aleutians allied troops are loading for a small scale invasion of Amchitka Island.
In Pearl Harbour 1 RCT and 1 Base Force unit are loading too. They will recapture the Johnston Island since Dave has not build it up.
As you can see this game in still ongoing... and things will start to heat up eventually. Only thing I'am skeptical is the CenPac/South Pacific offensive. Those atolls can be quite devastating in Witp ground combat system.
Things are pretty much the same as they were in previous update.
Japanese naval forces are still harrashing Brisbane, Cooktown and Rockhampton. It seems that he has bulk of his BB's and CV's conducting these raids.
Dave has not made anymore offensives in this game but I guess it is not too far fetched to think he has something planned for Oz!!!
What can you expect from allied side at the beginning of 1943...
a) Preparations are ongoing for amphibitous assault againts Canton Island. I'am moving more ships into position and soon I will start deploying ground units which will take this offesive. One thing for certain this will be one hell of an invasion. (Allied CV's and BB's will be involved.)
b) I will soon start slowly progressing towards Burma. Dave does not have many units currently at Myithkina.
c) Allied LBA bombers will start taking more active role in things to come.
Since Dave has played an excellent game that means I will have an uphill battle on my hands.
You have time to come back from jaws of defeat now !! [8D]
"To meaningless French Idealism, Liberty, Fraternity and Equality...we answer with German Realism, Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery" -Prince von Bülov, 1870-
The lose of all those AK's will not hurt now, but by within a year you will probably miss them when the Allies have their own "Death Star" running through the Pacific. I'm thankful to hear about your shortage of Aviation support when it comes to my own strategy decisions. I make taking out the three ISF's from Malaya a priority and also the big Dutch and PI based Aviation Rgt.
I found out how much I needed them in my first large game against the AI which started in May 42 by mid-43 when thee was not enough Aviation support to go around.
Unless you get a sizeable SC TF or a CV TF near Canton early in the war, Canton falls because the BF has no AV. I usaully try to get the 161 RCT there, but sometimes it doesn't make it. I hope you can take it back, but if KB is within a few days steaming, it could get nasty. [X(]
Eherm, as you can see Sardaukar I think Dave achieved an autovictory over me [8|][:(] ...but we have agreed to continue despite these autovictory levels! Hopefully I can put up an fight in forthcoming year! The Canton island would be a good start [:-]
Yes, I highly recommend to evacuate some fragments of those Aviation units to Oz! They are precious and I doubt Dave could raid Oz coasts as freely IF I would have enough support for my airforce. Another thing is to move at least few squadrons of fighters to Oz! That is a must if your opponent has not blockaded the whole South Pacific.
There is not much option but to go for it at Canton!!! I will bet my money that KB will be there and so will be his main Battleships!!! [8|] ...BUT I do not have any options left since he has played extremely well. IF I can take the Canton Island than I could build it up to level 5 airfield and that means LBA cover for next invasions.
To be honest I think I need a lot of luck to pull this one off! I will wait for CV Essex which is due to arrive within two weeks time at San Francisco.
The estimate for this offensive is the end of January 1943.... maybe earlier or maybe a little bit later!
isn't that the exact date of Raver's spanking at the exact same place....
[:D][:D] ...Indeed it is!!! ...but when you look at the map than there just isn't many bases I could start my comeback!!! Dave has 8 units at Baker Island too so and only level 4 airfield possible.
Only other place I see is the Upolu region but that would require huge invasion force too and since the closest place I have is Christmas Island than the suprise aspect would be totally lost.
I do not have a good feeling on this forthcoming operation either [8|] ....8 units propably behind level 9 fortifications + KB/BB's in the area just does not sound good but my options are limited... unfortunately.
Don't forget to flood the approaches to Canton with about 15 or more subs to slow down any reinforcements and make KB's movement in support more hazardous. [:D]
I don't know where all your subs are, but it takes time to get them back to Pearl and get their sys damage down to 0 or close.
Don't forget to flood the approaches to Canton with about 15 or more subs to slow down any reinforcements and make KB's movement in support more hazardous. [:D]
I don't know where all your subs are, but it takes time to get them back to Pearl and get their sys damage down to 0 or close.
[:D] ...I forgot to mention but this has actually been done...[:D] There are a lot of submarines in nearby Canton Island soon! Actually 2/3 of whole US submarine fleet are enroute to their designated patrol locations.
That was quite an battle at Chungking. I think Dave might have some plans in this theatre.
I have moved those squadrons from Chungking to more safer bases. AVG P40B's and 1 Squadron of P38's are now moved into Chungking since I will not let him have this airsuperiority without an fight.
The end result was that both lost about 80 aircraft! [:-]
The bad news for me is that my Spitfire pools are pretty much depleted. I'am trying to rotate my squadrons here in order to repulse the enemy assault waves. Time will tell whether I can achieve this objective.
The second bad news is that I do NOT like what I see in Southern Pacific. Atolls guarded with 8 units behind level 9 fortifications. Also no LBA support is possible for me!!! [8|] I might even cancel the Canton Island operation all together!
...IF I want to use my LBA's in offensive way than only way seems to be via Aleutians. I looked there last turn with a thought. It seems Kiska and surrounding bases can be built up to level 5 airfields. IF I choose to go there I would a mutually supporting bases for my LBA's and that means trouble for Japanese side.
I could redirect the troops I have planning for Canton Island to Aleutians area. It seems that Dave does not have significant garrisons present there. Also KB and main BB fleets seems to be preparing for the allied comeback in the Southern Pacific.
It is actually 50/50 chance.... Canton Island and than island hopping or a big push through Northern Pacific where the weather will be a enemy itself! [&:]
Hm. I'm not really sure what he's doing at Chungking. On paper, Chungking is nearly impossible to take, even undersupplied, it's just to many guys to try an kill.
I wonder if he's deliberately attriting your pools of quality aircraft? First blush, seems odd for Japan to attrit the Allies (expect the other way around). But considering that you've already commented that your Spit pools, maybe others, were running low, it might be that he's just trying to drain your first quality aircraft. Dave is a training freak after all. His does have an uncanny ability to replace even 150 lost pilots. Whereas production may allow him to actually out-produce you in quality airframes (not sure tho).
Othere than that, I have no idea. Like I said, Chungking is nearly impossible to take, if you just dig in (at least, that is appearent from the AARs where it has been tried).
-F-
"It is obvious that you have greatly over-estimated my regard for your opinion." - Me
I would suggest that he is trying to attrit your quality aircraft. I did the same in Burma ( at Rangoon). I did it at a very unfavourable loss ratio but when I went into India it paid off in terms of much lower losses.
However unless Dave is making a move on something very important soon where this lack of pilots and airframes will play in your favour this sort of attrition isn't really, IMO, beneficial to the japanese.
John Dillworth: "I had GreyJoy check my spelling and he said it was fine."
Well, that's that settled then.
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