Splashing the Divebomber

[marky]

pbbbt

in my day we didnt spend 5 hours writing lol

in the good old days a CR was enuff reading [:D]


these new fangled Narratives are Fun to READ, but not to write[:D]

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

You are wrong about being hard to write, actually the writing process is helpful. I have my turn open in the background while I am writing my next post in an editor - I don't want to time-out. The process of writing actually helps me organize both my thoughts and the way I do turns. By writing as I do my turn, I force myself to do things sequentially and in a logical order. It actually makes me be a better player because I now catch things I might have forgotten to do before.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

Other than three sinking AP’s loaded with 55th Div in the Bay of Reef Dweller’s Paradise, and a Jap sub getting hammered outside of Yanam, there is not much to report. One of the two tank units heading to Hyderabad has arrived this turn, and the other should be there next. Madras’ reinforcements are in place. Several turns ago I sent two Aviation Regiments and two base forces southward from Karachi towards both Hyderabad and Madras, are still several days away. An Aviation regiment loaded on AP’s with AK’s full of supplies is approaching Colombo, and will soon be able to fly heavy bombers in the case of Madras’ fall. I still have no idea where the disappearing Jap unit on the roads in India has gone to, but decent forces have arrived. Now that my C-47’s are working in Ledo, transfer of troops from China is going very rapidly. Another Div will be ready to head towards the Indian front next turn. A China div is heading towards Hyderabad from Calcutta. I believe the India has been stabilized and I should be able to work on evicting the Japs. I bombarded Yanam this turn and had some 2E’s hit it. My intention is to wear out supplies available to the Japs, and roll them up. My troops from Myit have sent the SNLF retreating towards Mandalay and I am pursuing. My subs in the Bay appear to be worthless with troops aboard, so they are now going to Changsa to unload.

2E’s from Dacca bombed some Jap troops on the trails in North Burma, and discovered two of the three are fragments from a Jap Division, and I assume the third is from the same div. Obviously they are up to no good, but marching those trails will take a long time so I have plenty of time to route some incoming Chinese troops that way. I won’t lose any sleep over them since they will be awfully hungry if they are marching north.

China remains static although I had one of my units retreat after entering a Jap hex. Oh well.

I am starting to believe that Dive might be running supplies and/or troops into Yanam by transport plane. Un fortunately the P-40E's based in Madras right now do not have the range to LR CAP Yanam, P-40B's do. I will either swap out fighters at Madras or send the B's to Hyderabad to provide the CAP. Maybe I can catch a few.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

Dive’s offensive in the DEI has begun with big landings at Amboina, and I am not sure what to make of it other than a standard invasion plan. Nothing surprising here so far.

In India, Dive’s attack unit has appeared just southeast of Hyderabad surprisingly enough. I had really figured on Madras, but it makes no difference to me really as I have dispatched an Indian INF unit to take the crossroads from Madras. Hopefully that unit, a tank unit I believe, will be cut off from supply. A bombardment TF has been dispatched from Madras to further smack the enemy port. Speaking of which, I am dispatching the P-40B’s to Hyderabad to cover Yanam for LR CAP. Maybe I will catch some Jap transport planes there.
Another Chinese Div has been transported to the Indian theater and has been dispatched to Jamshedpur to roll back the para unit west of there. At the rate the Chinese are coming into theater I will be soon be confident of stifling any more invasions. All of my units heading to Hyderabad and Madras have arrived, and within a few days the new ENG units will be on location also.

My troops on the RR west of Myit now have two units to the west of them. Cursor intelligence shows not too many troops, but I am wary. I stopped my movement westward and set to defend. We will see what develops as I have set a bomber unit in Dacca to hit them for recce.

In China I just noticed a lot of Japs threatening the crossroads between Hengchow and Changsha so I have sent some local reinforcements to the crossroads. They will be there quickly. Yenen, where the Japs have inexplicably retreated, I have begun a local counterattack trying to kick some Japs out of their hexes. If I can “retreat them” it sucks supply and strength out of his troops, so therefore I am doing it.

According to an E-mail from Dive, he thinks I have been moving troops all over India by transport A/C and have stymied him accordingly. The truth is I airlifted a few Chinese to Madras for a turn or two in the beginning but suspended that operation when I saw how quickly my troops were moving on the RR. Since then my TR A/C have been occupied in airlifting Chinese to the theater, and when I am done, they will be airlifting supplies into China. Long live Peanut!

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

The bad news is Singapore fell. The good news is all of those fragments sitting in Dacca will begin to grow now so before too long I will have all the aviation support I need in India, and a few more combat units. The waters of the Bay of Reef Dweller’s Paradise were quiet today as a combination of weather and lack of targets kept aircraft on the ground. I am canceling the proposed move to cut the supply lines south of the unit moving on Hyderabad. In retrospect I decided to keep the troops there in case Dive returns with an invasion force to land at Madras. My newly arriving Chinese will be tasked with dealing with the interlopers. West of Myit the new Jap unit that has appeared with the SNLF I retreated is an the 33rd Inf division, a fresh unit as far as I can remember so I am retreating to Myit where I can more easily defend behind fort levels 6 and 100% prep points, not to mention the engineers in the combat units can help strengthen Myit even more. Heavy thunderstorms are predicted again, so my 4E bombers get more rest this turn. Dive just may get it into his head to send that unit outside of Hyderabad all over hell and gone to cause me headaches, but in that event I will shuttle Chinese all over the map to contain an cut off that unit. I hope he does it.
Multiple damaged transports will arrive in Melbourne this turn, too bad Dive doesn’t have subs in the area because he would be having a field day.
Dutch air had a shot at the damaged Kaga but missed, and got shredded by CAP for their trouble. CVE Hosho sunk this turn according to reports and is in the sunk ships list.
Operation Dangling Worm is still coming together as my CV’s make their way south. I will post a screen shot when all are in position.
On the West Coast I noticed San Francisco is empty of damaged ships so it is time to shuttle some damaged BB’s from other ports so I don’t waste the repair points.
My Indian bombardment TF is tasked with hitting the troops on the road to the east of Yanam.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

I have so many transport aircraft flying troops from China that I am getting a new division every two days into India, and in six turns time all available SEAC Chinese will have been transported. I need to think about what I will do after that with all of these transports. Of course many will be put to use flying the Hump for more supply in China, but I believe I will use a number of them at Chungking along with some troops there to use as a quick reaction force. Those transports will be utilized in Northern China to move supplies to the front.
My Chinese divisions in India, from now on called Chindian for brevity, are converging on the occupied zone on the southern coast. Dive has moved his unit south away from Hyderabad and I am pursuing with a tank brigade. Come to think of it he may have moved that unit eastward to slow reinforcements from coming up the road. I hope so, then he will be cutoff.
Apparently bombardment TF’s will not hit troops in coastal hexes that are not bases because my cruiser TF just sat in the coastal hex looking at the Japs. The TF will pummel Yanam again instead.
Surprise of surprises, the weather is predicted to be bad again next turn, so more rest for the bombers in Dacca. My forces on the road to Myit are running pelmel for the city, and some of them are in the same hex with that infantry division. Fortunately they are all 45 miles toward the city so all should be safe next turn.
After I kick Dive out of India, I may try to sneak some Chindians into Myit for a surprise offensive on Mandalay. It is something to think about anyway.
In SF there are a bunch of SW Asia squadrons I am loading up for transport. Now that the PI has fallen, all of those BF’s in Darwin will grow. It is time to send them west.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

This is a two-turn post. I am suspending the game for a couple of days because I am in the middle of finals. I an “older” senior in Mechanical Engineering and hope to graduate (finally) in December, so I will be concentrating on other things the next couple of days. I may do a turn or two during that time, but I will not update the AAR until I am through.

Dive has been hammering Palembang with all the bombers that had been hitting Singapore a few days ago. Two turns ago I meant to fly all intact aircraft out but forgot to do so. I have been a little preoccupied, which is part of the couple days off I need. Last turn I did fly some pathetic remnants to Batavia, and this turn I managed to salvage a Stringbag and a Catalina. The horror….the horror….the horror.
In India my troops are gathering for the big push to kick the Japs out, but it will be a few turns before I can begin to do so.
In China it looks like Dive is up to old tricks and trying to infiltrate my supply lines. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.
I moved a PT TF to Kendari a couple of turns ago, and now see two TF’s bearing down on the base. One is showing a lot of BB’s and CA’s, and the other AK’s and MSW’s. Rather than wait for the big boys, the PT’s are going out to engage the AK’s. Unfortunately the best commander available to them is weak to say the least. It will be a brave death for them anyway.
The weather prediction in India is Precipitation, and my 4E’s are back up to morale in the 90’s. I am tired of wasting the talent so they are going to hit Mandalay. If the weather were better I would hit Rangoon, but I don’t want to risk a partial strike there.
Now it is back to the books time so I will have to leave further updates for a few days. My apologies.

[USSAmerica]

No apologies, Tiger!  Good luck with your finals!

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

Before I begin, I must vent. I have spent the two days nurse-maiding one of the Siddiqui twins (poster children for infanticide) through HIS portion of a joint project. Although he makes a living working with CAD, he apparently must hide well because he doesn’t know his butt from a hole in the ground. After detailing ad nauseum the task at hand, this Dilbert-In-Training would drift from the important work, and spend hours modeling screws for a NON-STRUCTURAL ALUMINUM BOX! What should have been an 8 hour job at most, turned into 36 HOURS! (In retrospect, I should have quietly strangled him, stuffed him in a closet, and taught myself CAD.) And now I await Skillet to complete a 30 minute task of attaching pictures and captions to a small portion of a PowerPoint presentation that I have to finish out. I should be able to get in 4 or 5 turns while I wait. [>:]

You can stop laughing anytime now Jim. He is all yours for the next project.

Anyway, last turn I ordered, or thought I ordered, all of my 4E bombers to attack Mandalay. Only the B-17’s attacked. To my surprise the LB-30’s were still in stand down. It must be a subtle variation of the leader bug! [8|]

Last turn I also tasked my PT TF at Kendari to attack what I thought was an incoming transport TF. It didn’t. Apparently the TF stayed at home and battled a major BB TF, but fortunately it did OK. I lost two PT’s while torpedoing a DD. That is about all I can remember of last turn.

This turn was even odder. After refueling the TF, I split off the one PT that hit 1000 OPS points and sent both TF's after what was definitely an incoming transport TF. As the day dawns, I find the larger of the TF's heading towards Lautern, where I re-based them, the lone PT heading there also out of fuel after an ineffectual attack on the damaged DD. Got to love lousy leaders!

My forces are gathering in India to repel the invaders and shall sally forthwith, or in the next couple of turns anyway. The Jap troops on the trails into northern Burma are apparently the split Guards division, so I am now a little concerned. The next available Chinese head to the bases on the trails. I am going to wait for them to travel to the next hex before I really start bombing the buggers. I want them as far from supply as they can get before I blast them. Perhaps I can catch some air transports in the bargain. Operation Dangling Worm will be all set in two turns, and I hope to catch a nice tasty treat with it. The weather in the theater is relatively mild – overcast, so my 4E’s are going to Rangoon at 20000 feet. I have most attacking the airfield, but a few B-17’s are hitting the port. Hopefully I can hit a damaged ship or three.

Other than this, there isn’t much to do but watch transports sail back and forth.




Hmmmmm. The red font didn't work so well. I will try something more obnoxious next time.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

Rangoon Airfield smashed! Unfortunately I lost 19 heavy bombers in the process. The good thing is I only lost 4 aircrews, so it won’t be too long before I return to Rangoon. All told I count 40 Nates, Oscars and Zeros destroyed either in that attack or scattered here and there. Dive invaded Kendari and attacked this turn, but did not take the base. I figure it won’t take long though. My carriers are in position to cover the Dangling Bait, so let’s see what happens. Next turn my Chindians, British, and Indian troops are going to move on the Japs beginning next turn so this should spur some kind of response from Dive. Fortunately because of the Chindian troops in India, I haven’t had to strip forces from southern India in response. In northern China, Jap troops are converging on the northern road junction, so I am moving my forward two Chinese units back a couple of hexes so they are defending in woods instead of the clear. These units can’t possible stop a Jap offensive, but they certainly can slow Dive down. Other than that I am waiting on P-38's.

[ny59giants]

Instead of bombing his AF's in Burma, you need to bomb his Resources. They will produce enough supply (or close to it) to keep his troops supplied without forcing him to ship it in. 

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Instead of bombing his AF's in Burma, you need to bomb his Resources. They will produce enough supply (or close to it) to keep his troops supplied without forcing him to ship it in.

Actually I have. The resource levels are quite low in Burma, at least those I can reach, and they aren't increasing.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

Dive was gloating in his email to me about an AK and PG nailed near Baker Is. If that is a big victory for him, fine. These two ships were returning from a supply mission to Suva and were heading to PH. They had accomplished their mission, and then were sunk due to curious convoy routing. I should have caught that, but didn’t. In India, I have one more Chindian Div to move to India, and then will be done with that operation. My 4E Bombers at Dacca are still rebuilding, and will attack again soon. Speaking of India, my troops are moving on the Jap positions now, so hate and discontent will reign in the Jap troops soon. Other than detailing logistics there is nothing else to talk about.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

My Indian offensive begins this turn. A Chindian Division has moved to the hex just to the west of Jamshedpur and is attacking this turn. Shortly behind this unit are a few other Chindian divisions moving up. Yanam will be bombarded by the same cruiser div that has been hammering it for days now, but with the addition of a couple of BB’s. I imagine supply has to be getting low in Yanam so I have been watching for ops losses in transport aircraft for the Japs, and as yet haven’t seen any although I anticipate Dive either flying supplies in or troops out. Once I do, P-40’s will once again be overhead in Yanam. My 4E bombers in Dacca are still standing down repairing losses from the last strike on Rangoon. I have checked my reinforcement schedule and in nine days get significant reinforcements in India and Oz. A convoy from the US has arrived in Sydney with Bolo’s and P-40-B’s. The fighters are being transferred to Darwin via Alice Springs. The bombers await more BF’s in other bases before moving on. B-17’s in Darwin are targeting resources in Bulla this turn. This should annoy Dive somewhat. Now, where are my P-38’s?

[modrow]

"Now a question for you (or any others following both AAR's), I have seen your screen name as a last posting in Dive's AAR. Since you are apparently following both, is there anything you (or anyone else) would like for either of us to add, or do differently? I will copy any appropriate responses to Dive in an e-mail."

Maybe I am a bit late in responding... but first of all, I should let you know that I read both AARs and enjoy them a lot. Nice style.

One of the other things I really like about both AARs is that (at least from time to time) you allow to follow your decision-building process, like above re. the "precious sighting". This is very instructive, as it makes you see how other players think and evaluate the info offered.

Thanks for taking the trouble to write all of this for your fellow-gamers ! [&o]

Hartwig

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

Thank you for the encouragement. It is nice to know there are some out there getting enjoyment from the AAR.

The Dutch showed some spunk today. A large Jap airstrike hit Batavia today. Rising to meet that was about every fighter left in the Dutch inventory. They were slaughtered of course, but managed to down 12 zeros and a handful of bombers. Dutch LBA also managed to bounce some bombs off a couple of CA’s at Palembang. A pretty good showing really. In India, the first attack came off on the para unit to the west of Jamshedpur retreating them to the east. More Chindians are in hot pursuit. From Hyderabad, two tank units, an arty unit, and a Chindian unit are moving southward on Yanam in a pincers. I don’t expect too much difficulty with the Japs. I am going to LR CAP Yanam again because if Dive is ever to see the writing on the wall, this is the turn for it. I expect him to try to fly troops out of India sooner rather than later. I have spotted a TF moving SW from Baker moving somewhat fast than transports, I will keep an eye on them. Just in case, I have “refueled at sea” my CV TF’s from replenishment ships in the hex; they are pretty far away, but could make an intercept in just a few turns. Darwin is turning into quite the fortress with all of the PI refugees filling out. It may have been a mistake using my subs to lift out fragments instead of hitting shipping, but then again should Dive come after northern OZ he fill find things difficult. Anyway, I have subs in repair ports all over the map repairing damage, and will soon begin operations against shipping. I already have a few fleet boats en route to Truk with some mines to drop off before they change mission and head for Japan. In China, Dive’s Jpa hit my militia brigade before they could scamper off. I have the others waiting in woods to slow his advance.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

I am sure Dive is crying the blues in his AAR about India. My bombardment TF reinforced with two Brit BB’s blasted the hell out of Yanam, my P-40’s intercepted Tina’s flying in: whether they were pulling out troops, bringing them in, or re-supplying I don’t know. My intel shows zero Tina’s shot down, but c’est la vie. Two armored brigades have moved within one hex of Yanam, and have cut off what I believe is a Jap armored unit. I have set the two brigades to attack Yanam across the river. Cursor intel is showing only one unit there and it just got hammered by bombardment. Maybe I will get a good die roll. A screenshot of the situation is below. My 4E bombers are hitting Mandalay’s resources and oil this turn. From my info, the oil is up to 50 and the resources are up to 22, and last time I hit Mandalay there was no AA to speak of. My last Chindian div from China is now being sent to Myit with an eye to attacking that unit on the rails outside of the town. Before I do attack, I will hit the unit hard with 4E bombers. With Lady Luck smiling on me I can cut off the Guards div on the trails. Speaking of the Guards div, it looks like it has been re-combined so I am concentrating my units at Kohima. If he attacks Imphal, he is welcome to it. With my air superiority in the area it won’t matter, and I can retake it at will.
The enemy TF spotted last turn southwest of Baker has moved one hex closer to Canton. That TF is acting a lot like an Air Combat TF, or a Bombardment TF with a very bashful commander, either way, my CV’s are too far away to get there in one turn, so I am continuing Dangling Bait. I have 5 DD’s at Canton on ASW patrol, and no air cover to speak of, so they are retiring. He has to know they are there because last turn an enemy sub was spotted in the hex, which the DD’s chose to ignore.
Dive didn’t attack Batavia again last turn. Now I am sorry I moved all the air based there to Soerabaja.
Looking at the map I am posting, I just noticed “J”'s near Imphal and Kohima where there should be nothing at all. Too bad I already sent the turn or I would send airstrikes there to check them out. Maybe next turn.
I will not be sending the bombardment TF back to Yanam anytime soon. With the BB's there it might be too much of a temptation for Dive, and I think I have damaged the city enough.

[ny59giants]

Looking at the map I am posting, I just noticed “J”'s near Imphal and Kohima where there should be nothing at all. Too bad I already sent the turn or I would send airstrikes there to check them out. Maybe next turn.

I think the game mechanics will NOT allow you to send airstrikes into a hex with nothing there. [;)] Thus, it is easy to find out if enemy units are in a particular hex. [:D]

[USSAmerica]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Looking at the map I am posting, I just noticed “J”'s near Imphal and Kohima where there should be nothing at all. Too bad I already sent the turn or I would send airstrikes there to check them out. Maybe next turn.

I think the game mechanics will NOT allow you to send airstrikes into a hex with nothing there. [;)] Thus, it is easy to find out if enemy units are in a particular hex. [:D]

Not sure about airstrikes, but Recon missions are not allowed to target hexes outside bases if there are no land units present. [;)]

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

We will see what is in those hexes next turn.

Little to report this turn other than the expected Jap landings at Palembang and one of the few PI bases still in my hands. My bomber raids on Mandalay’s oil and resources were a partial success. Although I targeted both, only the oil was hit, but hit well. Next turn I am going after Moulmein’s resources. As opposed to what I previously thought, these are undamaged to date.

In India my tank units should be crossing the river at Panam, and hopefully it will be mine next turn. My Chinidians continue to advance on the para unit on the road to the west of Jamshedpur.

In northern China, my Hopei militia division should unit in the first woods hex on the road, and hopefully it will be able to slow the advancing tank unit hard on its heels. In central China I relocated one of my C-47 squadrons to Chungking to run supply missions to Homan which is running low on supply.

Next turn should be more eventful.