BB1.4 THE BLUNT EDGE-->Lexington Sunk in wild multi-CV battle

[n01487477]

Ships:
1. The loss of 14 DD's is hurting me as is the loss of 5 APD's.
2. At least the MSW's respawn!

Dry Dock and repairs:
Most are running well above capacity. but my system of having some large pools for repair of SS's and TT's, with other ports prioritized to capital ships is working fine...

Basically I use Nagasaki as a port for AP's and AK's, then move them to Fukuoka when they reach 10 sys. Some of the smaller ports for SS's and the rest for Capital ships, with less damaged ships returning to Shanghai and Hong Kong, when they are about 4-5 sys damage.

In 4 days I get about 25 AR's, so I'll distribute these and hope for a few percent increase in efficiency.

Right now, 1 CV "Kaga" is returning to port, to replace "Hiryu", which I just repaired.
More than 10 sys damage:
11 DD's, 6 CA's, 1 CV, 2 BB's - to be repaired this month.

[n01487477]

Planes:

Have to check more closely, but will update the numbers here shortly, otherwise my DB is helping in this matter ...

[n01487477]

Email about his movement into IndoChina ... I'm arguing he needs to pay PP's, to attack ...
Having thought about it, I think you should pay PP. I know this is a great inconvenience, but I say so for the following reasons.
1. I can't move troops from China, to IndoChina without paying PP.
2. You could attack with unlimited troops, walking all the way around Indochina in short time. Then use PP, to attack Malaya etc. By making you use PP's this limits that.
3. From a Chinese perspective, going into Indochina, while Japanese troops are still on the Mainland, needs some PP to justify this action.
4. Both bases are assigned to the Southern Area command, and under our rules, that was a PP.
5. In the end you have the advantage, more troops,planes,bombs&ships ... give me a bit of a chance ok it's a bit of an excuse!
6. Vietnamese reserves were called up ... this is not Chinese territory. They are not welcome

What do others think?

[n01487477]

Due to irreconcilable differences, this AAR is finished, as is the game.

I just want to say thanks to my opponent, he is a strong thinking player, worthy of being played. I hope that one day we might do battle again.

Thanks to those who have commented and those that have enjoyed the read.

[kellyc]

Damn and I was following this one closely too. I really like the work you did with the utility, very interesting and very helpful from the Japanese standpoint.

Any chance you're willing to pass that along? Getting ready for a pbem game with big b's mod on Andrew's extended map.


Kelly

[n01487477]

After a hiatus in the war, I'm back with a new opponent GIANT59NY, he's willing to take over the mantle and let loose with the considerable forces Grognerd left him intact. THANKS GIANT. I need a WITP fix !

I'll have to get used to a different play style now, and maybe this will force some different objectives, especially as Giant read my AAR, before the game was halted.

I'm guessing he has 5 or 6 CV's in the Pacific or maybe going to India, and I'm not sure about the British CV's, but soon enough I'll find out.

A few days away from a major victory, but my boys are floating in a large ocean at present and anything can happen....

Action 31/5/42: Saw a change in bombing stategy immediately, some TT near Cox's Bazaar were ravaged, need to offload that TF soon, or a whole DIV will be wiped out.

Also stopped work on my DB, and taken up paper folding ... yeah right !

Actually am working closely with another guy, not sure if I should name him, should ask really...on a tracker that will do all the stuff you've seen in my DB as well as some really great features he is exploring... am very excited about this product and it's potential to really help both players regarding plane production, groups, economics (this is an enhancement of my DB), ship repairs, ships sunk, pilot experience, device tracking and LCU's ... everything you could want and more !!! watch this space.

[floydg]

ORIGINAL: n01487477
Also stopped work on my DB, and taken up paper folding ... yeah right !

Actually am working closely with another guy, not sure if I should name him, should ask really...on a tracker that will do all the stuff you've seen in my DB as well as some really great features he is exploring... am very excited about this product and it's potential to really help both players regarding plane production, groups, economics (this is an enhancement of my DB), ship repairs, ships sunk, pilot experience, device tracking and LCU's ... everything you could want and more !!! watch this space.

Glad to see this game has started back up.

And for the record, the collaborator is... me. [:)] The hope is that this program will be a bean-counting WitP micro-manager's dream come true. Or something like that.

Floyd

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: floydg

ORIGINAL: n01487477
Also stopped work on my DB, and taken up paper folding ... yeah right !

Actually am working closely with another guy, not sure if I should name him, should ask really...on a tracker that will do all the stuff you've seen in my DB as well as some really great features he is exploring... am very excited about this product and it's potential to really help both players regarding plane production, groups, economics (this is an enhancement of my DB), ship repairs, ships sunk, pilot experience, device tracking and LCU's ... everything you could want and more !!! watch this space.

Glad to see this game has started back up.

And for the record, the collaborator is... me. [:)] The hope is that this program will be a bean-counting WitP micro-manager's dream come true. Or something like that.

Floyd

great to hear about that programm. For me as just a dumb user, could you make that little programme working by just a double click onto it to install it somewhere and nothing more to do? I was dumb enough that I wasn´t able to get WITP decoder running...[&:]

[n01487477]

1/6 ~ 2/6/42: TT ravaged at Cox's bazaar.

Not able to go up against his considerable airforce, is leaving me very open to ship attack ... especially as my only open airfield nearby is Akyab, and that is level 3, so I can only stack 170 planes there ...

Chittagong, is getting a Special Base force soon, but the airfield is obliterated anyway.

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17 <--- what a waste, if I fly LRCap, I should have 100 + planes in the future !

Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 25
Kittyhawk IA x 23
Wellington III x 79
Beaufort I x 24
Beaufort V-IX x 22
Curtis H81-3A x 35
P-38E/F Lightning x 54
B-17E Fortress x 8
LB-30 Liberator x 23
Hurricane IIb x 71

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 20 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk IA: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
Curtis H81-3A: 3 destroyed, 3 damaged
P-38E/F Lightning: 6 damaged
Hurricane IIb: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Tazan Maru, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Tenzan Maru, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AP Yoshinogawa Maru, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Wa 19
AP Taganoura Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AP Teiryu Maru, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Tamashima Maru, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Shintohoku Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AP Ueizuru Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AP Tatuharu Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Toyo Maru #2, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Taiho Maru, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Tsuiba Maru, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
MSW W.2, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Misago Maru #11, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Wa 2

Philippines: Shock attacked at Manila and finally got 1-1, but took heavy losses (5000+ casualties), will have to decide whether to withdraw some troops again, to reinforce ... but those US forces must be on their last legs surely ? I've been there since the first month ...

India: Lastly, on the road to Dacca, came up against 3 tank regiments, 4-1 shock attack ensued and they scurried back to Dacca.

[n01487477]

3/6/42: Air Inferiority

I feel like Ricky Hatton, taking a beating, with no way to respond...
A quick summary of air operations:
1. 200 planes attack airfields at Chittagong
2. 200 planes attack TT's Cox's Bazaar
3. 200 planes attack TT off the coast of Cox's

Airfield closed, all TT's destroyed, "never in IJN history has so much been sacrificed by so many ... " Churchillianesque ...

I didn't even bother sending LRcap this turn, I need those planes later when the diaspora comes, after he realises I'm attacking his soft rear underbelly, At Colombo and Western India.

My forces have been slowly creeping into position and I think in the next 4-5 days, they will land and then the war for India will be finally in the balance ...

Nandi, Fiji, also will gain some reinforcements shortly, although I'm thinking of tasking that TF, to Suva, to divide his forces...

In for a penny, in for a pound ...

[n01487477]

6/6/42: Colombo D-Day Approaches.

Today, Colombo's airforce went from light green to dark, and I was spotted off the coast ... see pics ...

Tomorrow, I've ordered some bombardment and unfortunately have to use my CV's to suppress the Colombo airforce, I'm a little miffed ... spent ages trying to avoid detection, these Brits and Yanks sure can see well ! Pity all our boys need specs to see, the control stick!

TT's are 2 days away, and that is when the real fun begins. I have about 100K troops ready to unload at a few ports and make life fun for the Brits drinking their brews...

Near Fiji, escorting a TT, another of my ACTF 's were spotted and CV Hiyo sustained 34 sys damage from one bomb on the flight deck, no flooding, but pissed by the lack of CAP flying and engaging!

Tomorrow is a new day and I'll be positive about that for now...

[n01487477]

Two day update coming ... but just want to show Burma/India region ... 5 Units North of my units East of Dacca, and 10 units at Dacca .. but this was just a ploy to draw in some troops from other regions ...
7/6/42... An immense day of attack and counter attack, around Colombo and Fiji, sat for what seemed like an hour watching the cut and thrust... a day like this only comes around once in a while.

let me explain in my next post... with pics...

[n01487477]

7~8/6/42 -- FIJI AREA

Yesterday, saw repeated attacks on my small KB, near Fiji and my TT force. I had originally decided to reinforce troops at Nandi, but having seen 1 unit skirt the permiter from Suva to Nandi, I thought I'd take a chance and go for a less defended Suva ...

Took some brutal Coastal gun fire and the air attacks were annoying, plus the 5-10 SS's he has lurking in the depths, but overall my objective is still in sight, and maybe by some small miracle I can snatch victory from the jaws of defeat!

Haven't decided whether to offload all before attacking, but it seems like the most sensible move, Suva is probably going to be tough anyway.

[n01487477]

7~8/6/42 -- COLOMBO REGION!

Not sure if I want to release a real good recon of my ships at this point, but I will show CV Akagi, hit by "LB-30 set on Naval Attack with 20% on search" on the 7/6, according to my esteemed opponent. Said it earlier in this AAR, but this type of attack is pretty effective sometimes and catches your enemies forces off guard ... damn this time it happened to me!

On the 7th it had 32 sys 3 float 8 fires
on the 8th ... well you can see below. Too far from Port Blair, I'm going to hope for a quick victory at Colombo, an DDock it until the fires subside, hopefully...



Suffice to say, my troops landed at Colombo, some resistance, but I'm confident of a quick victory, although I see 1 Unit moving toward Colombo, so we will see, Akagi depends on a quick V.

Other landing will follow and I'll let you know where and when shortly, things are fluid at present and it depends on where he has forces. Would Love to take some big fish soon though!

Neglected to say, BB Yashimoro was sunk today, after 5 torpedos shredded her like a aluminum can...

[n01487477]

9/6/42: Overall objectives ...

Force unloaded at Colombo, will attack next turn. CV Akagi detatched and sent limping home...

TF113, will unload next turn, these forces will be split, one north one west...

TF48, may undergo large Air attack soon, but want to keep him thinking.

[n01487477]

23/6/42 : Been busy ... but here is what has transpired ...

Naval assets
CV Akagi survived and is on it way back to Japan for a long stint of repairs, although I got lucky with minimal float and fire damage.

On the 8th I detached 3 CV's and have sent them full speed (groan - sys dam is rising) toward Fiji ... I have a feeling that a counter attack is coming and small KB just weren't enough to cover it. They are nearing the area now, and I'm hoping they will get there in time.

I also have one division in bound for Suva, but have not decided yet if I want to waste more troops/AP's/Escorts on what will eventually be a useless pursuit of glory.

Another ACTF is heading north with the aim of cutting supplies and troops coming from Aden. Success last turn with some AK's sunk, but I'm still wondering where are his British CV's/warships ???

India: captured Colombo and Trimcomalee fairly easily, and also have Mangalore, Mannagudi, Trivandrum, although I'm now too late to take Madras, I'm going to harass his forces North & see if I can make his life a bit difficult... I can't take and hold India, I know this now, but I'm having fun, at great expense, mind you, splitting his attack.

China: I seem to be forgetting China a bit, but will look at the large movement of forces and see if I can guess what he is up to...

[n01487477]

24/6/42: Another Air disaster ...

2 days ago I lost at a rate of 7:1 against the AVG at Madras, it was a disaster I don't even want to talk about ... today I lost at a rate of 10-1, not against the AVG but Hurricanes...I still don't want to talk about it either...

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 10 destroyed
A6M2 Zero: 15 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 20 destroyed, 10 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk IA: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged
Hurricane IIb: 2 destroyed, 17 damaged

Otherwise have had an email from Giant, telling me to be careful in the South Pacific, (he just spotted small KB)he usually gives fair warning about things, but he doesn't realise I have 3 more CV's steaming into the area ... I hope he doesn't have his full US CV force, but it will be a hell of a battle if I can get into position in time.

[n01487477]

25/6/42: An uneventful day -- but the action is about to hot up I think in the South Pacific ...

As they say, "loose lips sink ships ... " Giant has been giving me strong hints that an operation is afoot ... 3 ACTF's are moving into position in the Sth Pacific, 2 of them raced from India, full speed and are now almost there, got a little lucky with sys damage, and also because I've been rotating these CV's into Dry-dock since the beginning of the war, they are all in the 5-9 sys damage range.

Depending on when he starts moving on Pago Pago, or maybe reinforcing Suva, I could have 2 small CV's, 1 CVL, 2 CVE's in one TF, 1 large CV in another and 2 large CV's in a third (they are a little further out, probably 2 days of steaming full to get there)

It was a gamble, I thought of taking when I moved KB to India, but once I got there, I knew I only had a few days, to split and race toward the Pacific ... I'm hoping the race has been worth it, of course if he moves on Palmyra/Kwajalein I'm totally out of position. There are also a large force of ships in the Aleutians ... hope this isn't it either!!!

[BigBadWolf]

What was your fighters exp over Madras?Just wondering, as those ratios look way out...&nbsp;[&:]

[n01487477]

27/6/42: How many CVE's,CVL's,small CV's does it take to hurt CV Enterprise ?

Answer: ALL OF THEM !!!

BIGBADWOLF: My fighter airgroups in Burma, were all in the 72-80+ range, although some of my pilots in those groups were in the 40's. It was probably those that took most of the punishment, but sweeps and escort, seems to be really harsh in this mod.

Back to the action: Sth Pacific, my first CV to CV action since this little campaign began.
Morning: Search planes spotted 2 CV's and some AP's in 3 different TF's
Afternoon: The American Admiral got his planes away first,attacking with 16 F4F-4 Wildcat, 72 SBD Dauntless, 15 TBD Devastator's & 18 TBF Avenger...
IJN cap consisting of 62 A6M2 Zero's lifted off the decks only too late to stop their remorseless charge ...
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 9 destroyed
SBD Dauntless: 11 destroyed, 23 damaged
TBD Devastator: 5 destroyed, 5 damaged
TBF Avenger: 3 destroyed, 11 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CVE Hosho, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage (I later scuttle)
CV Hiyo, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CVE Taiyo, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CVL Zuiho, Bomb hits 2



IJN attack: Our planes must have passed each other in the sky, as my forces
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
D3A Val x 54
B5N Kate x 91

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 7 destroyed
D3A Val: 11 destroyed, 14 damaged
B5N Kate: 23 destroyed, 28 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Houston
CV Enterprise, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
DD Maury
CA Astoria

CV Enterprise later sinks to the murky depths.

But still the air ratio is wide, a comparision:
American attack: 64IJN V 117 -> 4 V 28 destroyed & he scores hits on everything...damage extensive...and a few months of the war out of service.
IJN attack: 163IJN V 36 -> 41 V 1 destroyed & I sink 1 CV, nothing else hit...