The Sun In My Eyes - EOS from the Allied Perspective

[goodboyladdie]

This is a closed thread (sorry Mike).

I will be posting occasional snap shots from the Allied side of RHS-EOS, which is a JFB version of RHS.

The story so far: 1EyedJacks is playing the Japs. In our tester game I tried to fight at PH and although it hurt him, it hurt me more. After much deliberation I decided that the only way to go at PH was to do a Sir Robin. There is no surprise in our game due to the build up of forces in Kwajalein. Admiral Kimmel sent all vessels with more than 20% damage to the West Coast, organised in medium sized tfs. They were mostly caught and destroyed by the KB. Before the AF were closed due to damage an air strike was flown which damaged Kaga. US planes were easily blown out of the air by his CAP and the massive AAA advantage the Japs enjoy in this mod. Forget the stock altitude settings - you really need to be at 12000 ft for anything without 4E and 9000ft for 4E. You get a small number of hits, but at least you live to build experience, which as you can see below, is very necessary in this mod...

[goodboyladdie]

The influx of inexperienced pilots makes your starting squadrons look like this:







In our tester game the USN CV squadrons got through and did damage, but took 75% losses from AAA and because of the low experience levels of new pilots, were effectively useless until they could be retrained. New Jap pilots come in at around the 70 mark, so there is a big imbalance and they get more of them than in stock/other mods.

[goodboyladdie]

Continuing the story, the Lexington and Enterprise tfs were given orders to rendevous in defence of Midway. Lex got there first and smacked up his invasion tf a little. I then had them run North with the Big E taking over the next day. I figured that with a general scramble away from PH and some tempting CVs within range, as well as the PH AF to continue to suppress, Mike would be tempted to try to do too much and it would give more of my ships escaping PH a chance. A couple of DD tfs were four strong and every vessel of CL and above had one escort. Every tf was give a different route/destination and left at full speed to take advantage of any indecision on Mike's part. The plan was to have the ships spread out over a massive area so that he was unable to find/strike any more than a small proportion. It worked and almost the whole Pacific Fleet is now safe on the West Coast.

The CVs are hugging the coast of Alaska on their way to SF, but the KB disappeared in the Northern Pacific, so may be in a position to cut me off. I have started to swap out the ship art - here is an example: (note the poor AAA figure - I'll post some Jap stuff for comparison at some point)

[goodboyladdie]

Another issue. For some reason the Cruisers have had their legs shortened. I had the bizarre situation on the high speed run from PH, of long legged Treaty cruisers designed for long range Commerce protection having to top up their tanks from their escorts - a bit of a departure from RL...

[goodboyladdie]

As Mike's CVs disappeared (KB North and mini KB to the West) the AF at PH is now back in action and taking a toll of his landing tfs in the area. I am almost out of PTs as they have been used to attrite his forces in at Laihana.

Jap subs are deadly in this mod and I am losing ASW assets left right and centre. His ASW is very good too. I'll post some examples of damage at some point.

I was able to fight in the PI. He has only just broken out of the Northern landing beaches and has had to make more effort to suppress Clark. I think we are on turn 6 and I am having to evacuate Clark's AF this turn due to increasing losses. Singapore is relatively unscathed. My Buffs are taking the bulk of casualties, as expected, but the air battles are pretty even so far. His AAA values on the newer cruisers and his capital ships are in the range of 1000 plus for a CA, up to 6000 for some BBs. I get nowhere near them as a rule and it costs a lot of planes if dive or torpedo bombing attacks are used. I can only hope my AAA values get a similar leap when my vessels upgrade. The strength of my land based AAA has meant that Mike has been very wary of hitting my AF. The KB only did two strikes at PH and it cost them 40 plus Vals. As I understand it, it is airframe production that is making him shy at the start, as he has plenty of good pilots and can replace them with good pilots (grrrr).

Mike gave me a fright when his CVE KB came West after all the ships escaping from Manila. Luckily he seemed to run out of sorties after one day, because there was nothing I could do to stop him and was resigned to heavy losses. I will cover this area in more detail later...

[goodboyladdie]

One more for now. The tale of the tape so far. The bulk of my aircraft losses were at Clark for the second day running - time to leave!

[goodboyladdie]

The scuttlebut from the Sub Fleet is that there is something wrong with the latest torpedoes. S-boats and B-Boats are on their way to PH to replace the more modern fleet boats. In the meantime, the latter boats are using up the small stock of Mk10 mines available at PH. A supply convoy is due in January which will hopefully be bringing more...

A mission to reinforce PH is under way. Light forces and submarines are, for now, the only vessels able to operate from Hawaii.

[goodboyladdie]

You get a lot of PPs in this mod. The understrength and inexperienced 40th Division, with some Engineers are on their way to begin building up Suva. Some B-17s are being flown out to Australia via Canton Island to start the build up of the new South West Pacific command (the extra range comes in quite handy). The second and third lines of defence are being planned and built all over the map, even as the first line is yet to be tested...







We have a house rule on reasonable stacking limts for small islands and atolls. Fiji and New Caledonia are large so can be really beefed up. The most I can fit on Canton will be an RCT, a base force and an artillery unit. Once the base gets above size 4 I could add another RCT I think. The 161st RCT is on it's way to SF to await shipment.

[goodboyladdie]

This unit was a nice surprise in China. Most are very poor, but a few are good. They were used successfuly as a LRCAP ambush unit for two days. I had an experienced pursuit squadron equipped with French Potez 63 light bombers. They caused no damage as bombers so I converted them to P-66s. However, this was an error as P-66s are still rd. I will use the good squadron as an opeval unit (as this is modelled), but the other units I have inadvertently done this with (including P-400s) will be kept on training until the planes actually become available. The exception for the P-400 will be PH where one pursuit squadron is being re-equipped from crated examples on the dock through necessity. I have 'fessed up to my opponent...

[Mistmatz]

Good luck for your game goodboyladdie!
I am at day 7 or so against Okami and we will have to restart soon due to the allied plane-not-appearing-thingy, but I wasn't as brave as you were, so we play RHSCVO. Do you play with the latest version that fixes the plane issue for the allies?

[goodboyladdie]

Hi Mistmatz

Erm... No. We are playing version 7.78723. Which units have the problem? I don't think I will get my LCUs in New Orleans in this version, but I was willing to do without. If there is an air unit issue as well, Mike and I may have to reconsider...

I was hoping to avoid restarting, because I have done both possible openings at PH and would have nothing new to befuddle and confuse Mike.

[goodboyladdie]

It looks like a restart may be called for, I'm afraid. From what I have read 24 Allied planes are not produced. With the Japs getting their better planes earlier I do not think it is playable in it's present form. I bet the Wirraway is unaffected! I will talk to Mike to see whether we will bother with another RHS try...

[goodboyladdie]

This is the list of the planes affected:

095 F4U Corsair-NF
098 F6F-5N Hellcat-NF
099 TBF/TBM-3-NF
110 B-17G
113 B-24J
119 B-29/32
122 C-54/R5D
124 C-87/LB-30
131 F7/PB4Y-1P
153 P-70A Havoc NF
155 PBM-Mariner
158 PB2Y-3
159 PB4Y-1
163 PV-1/B-34 Ventura
164 PV-1/ Ventura NF
165 JPM-1 Mars
167 Anson 1
177 Catalina/PBY/PBV
194 Liberator IV/B-24E
211 Ventura V
219 PBJ-1J Mitchell
243 PV-2 Harpoon
248 TBF/TBM-1 Avenger
249 TBF/ TBM-3 Avenger


I have already seen some of this. I have not had any Anson or PB2Y replacements yet. I am not sure that the C-87 is produced - I seem to have a reasonable pool of those which normally means that it is not actually in production or is a limited run. The PB2Y should be in production, but I am not sure about the Anson.

Mike and I are considering our options, but if I did not receive the above planes it would not be worth playing, I think you'll agree...

[cantona2]

Hope it doesnt mean the end of your game.

[goodboyladdie]

No. Just a restart. We have played this first week twice now, so we are just looking at how we can vary it to allow us both some new surprises. At the moment it looks like a conventional surprise strike by the KB on PH (or where ever Mike wants), with no PH invasions for two days. Midway and Johnston are legitimate targets. I will only be able to move LCUs in China on turn 0. Tfs at sea will be free to move as well I'd guess, but I will confirm this. I will start a little housekeeping on turn 0, as some LCUs start preparing for odd bases, but within reason I want to get some fast early turns in to catch up.

I am about to download the upgraded files. Third time lucky...

edit: I am allowed to move tfs at sea. I am not allowed to move any subs on turn 0 except for Argonaut, O19 and O20.

[cantona2]

So which version is that then?
 

[goodboyladdie]

7.891 I think (if I can ever find the files...)

[cantona2]

Good luck GBL

[goodboyladdie]

Thanks mate. I shall need it...

[goodboyladdie]

While I wait for information on the files to turn up I'll post a few bits from the Jap side. This is the replacement screen. Have I got the right one? Where are the Thais and the Vichy French?







As you can see, it's impossible to wear the Japs down (damn JFBs!)