The Sun In My Eyes - EOS from the Allied Perspective

[goodboyladdie]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

I quit my game with John 3rd due to more errors with Allied production (did want to start another game). I think I will stay with just 2 PBEMs and try to learn how to play the "Dark Side" until AE comes out.

Some observations:
The range of LBA has increased considerably while fighter's has not. Be careful with your ships as more than Nell/Betty can reach across the China Sea.
You have at least one B-17 E/F that carries 1000 lb AP bombs.  A B-17D upgrades to this, but in my game it did not get the 1000 lb AP (stayed with the 500lb GP).  I hope this was fixed.
I would start sending your damaged subs to Java as soon as float damage gets below 40 as the Allied damage control should allow them to make it.
I know that flak is your friend (at least on land) for the time being. Don't know about who is right or wrong on the increased effectiveness of flak.

I hope this is your last restart. [:D]

Thanks for the hints Michael. The flak debate should be solved 1943. If improved fighter/fighter-bomber/dive-bomber/torpedo-bomber planes cannot attack below 12000 ft (as they must because of release heights) without suffering 75% losses then flak is too powerful. IRL this would have meant no squadron staying in action more than a week before having to be withdrawn to be reconstituted.

[goodboyladdie]

Just a quick summary to cover the rest of the map. I'll post more detail as things start to happen in each area. Units are on the move in India. I am trying to make sure all port hexes have at least a brigade dug in, with mobile reserves inland. I have the RAF base force at Aden on the way to Addu to start building a base. Ships are on the move everywhere. The short legs of RHS cruisers is a joke to be honest. I have many surface tfs on the way to Kuching and Brunei. I hope to get in and out without getting hurt, but I really want to get in the way of his Borneo operations. I do not want him to be able to dominate the Java Sea or Palembang. Most Aviation support units are on their way back to Singapore. At least one AVG squadron will be on it's way there as soon as it's ready to move. I have always played two days turns and am still getting used to how slow everything happens with one day turns. Indomitable is due very shortly. I'll post a screenie when she turns up. I am using Force Z at Kuching. I am hoping that I won't regret it as I really want POW, Repulse and Exeter as Indomitable's AA escorts.

I aim to hold Burma for as long as possible with what is there, but maintain forces to defend India. I have learned the importance of strategic balance and hope not to get caught leaning too far forward. In China I am moving on Ichang, and Nanchang. I am also planning to be a pain in the bum in the Shanghai area. I have long range bomber units deployed near the coast on Naval Attack/Search to try to inderdict Mike's Sea Lines Of Communication. Soviet planes are restricted to recon. PTs will be activated to protect Soviet Harbors and a small number of subs will be sortied, but they will never move further than two hexes from shore. Naval Search is restricted in range to forestall any bombing incident. CAP will be up and training missions peformed where necessary. I use 90% training settings as a rule, not that more than a handful of pilots ever seem to fly.

[goodboyladdie]

The first up date of the day. Mike moved his CVs East last turn to try to catch my CVs if I went for his forces at Midway. They are now heading back West. I am in two minds as to whether to sortie everything that can move. There is some seperation from the hunters, he has even shorter legs than me and fighting off air attacks from PH on his way past will slow him slightly. I had most of the moves at PH programmed but had an error while trying to save so may have to do them all over again...

Midway has lost all it's forts in a shock attack, but the coastal artillery and the minefield laid by USS Argonaut caused some damage to the invasion tf. Argonaut was attacked and has 5 sys damage from 3 near misses. Even one of my fleet boats got in on the act and torpedoed an AK. Johnston fell this turn, which is another reason to move ships now. Every fighter squadron at PH has at least 16 pilots and every bomber squadron is at full strength. Mike is concerned about flak losses, so may not want to hit PH or the AF. My ships will be sreading out to many destinations in order to try to escape his pursuing tfs if he has been decisive and got everything on Naval Attack. The fact that my CVs are now off his radar may help him with his decision so their escape (for now) may not be a total blessing...

[goodboyladdie]

Here is the PI sitrep. He has the CVE KB making a speed run to hit my escaping ships near Tarakan again. I will not panic this time as this tf seems to run out of sorties quickly. I am moving damaged ships to Bataan to hide them from the Manila onslaught. I am hopeful that they'll sort their float damage so that I can move them on. I am evacuating most sircraft from Luzon. Two P-40E squadrons have gone to Cagayan with escort orders so hopefuly the B-17Ds there will attack Mike's CVEs. The AP B-17Es are at Soerabaya and have stood up on Naval Attack just in case. DD Edsall was hit by a torp from I-53 off Balikpapan. The sub was slightly damaged by her consorts. Edsall has damage of 42/77/19 and willhopefully disband in Balikpapan this turn.

I have cancelled the Legaspi operation as he has put too many troops ashore. The troops will return to Manila. The gunboats escaping from HK have taken a pounding and one has been sunk so far. HK had forts reduced to 4 by a 4 to 1 attack. The planes have been evacuated in case HK falls early. I have moved troops into Canton to relieve pressure and am bombarding in Wuhan and Nanchang. I have set up an air ambush at Wuhan. I'll post details of the units next turn if I have time.

[goodboyladdie]

Shore batteries and Dutch sub laid mines have caused Mike damage at Brunei and Kuching. The Dutch T-IVA Torpedo-Bombers have been effective at both locations. I have multiple Surface Combat tfs approaching both locations. They should arrive this turn.

Sinagpore saw more air attacks with losses about even (but light). Manila and Clark were hit hard again. CL Kashima has been hit by B-17s at Legaspi (2 hits). Hudsons from Balikpapan also hit an AK at Brunei with 3 bombs from 12000 ft.

[ny59giants]

With Manila, Singapore, and Soerabaja all at port level 9, you can mine a lot and cause him some headaches. [:D]
 
For you ships at Pearl, if they can do at least 10 knots or more at full speed, then send them out in a variety of paths to try to get some safely to the WC.  The longer you wait, the less likely you will get another chance as he will tighten the noose around you.

[goodboyladdie]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

With Manila, Singapore, and Soerabaja all at port level 9, you can mine a lot and cause him some headaches. [:D]

For you ships at Pearl, if they can do at least 10 knots or more at full speed, then send them out in a variety of paths to try to get some safely to the WC.  The longer you wait, the less likely you will get another chance as he will tighten the noose around you.

Hi the other Michael

Thanks very much for taking an interest in this AAR. It is much appreciated.

Mike knows I am a mine fanboy, which is why he went for my subs I think. Last time I don't think he knew what he wanted to do at PH which created an opportunity to escape with very few ships damaged. This time he has done a good job as many ships are damaged. I have sent out any ship that will not sink on the way. There are multiple tfs of various sizes going to various destinations. I am sending out oilers to meet them to top up tanks to allow them to maintain full speed as long as possible. 3 damaged BBs have sortied. Two are very slow, but I thought I'd take the chance. If this develops into a long siege I'll scuttle the ones that could not make it out. Until then they are a good way of attracting air strikes into my AAA. If he goes for the escaping ships he would have to split his CVs up and spread them out to have a chance of hoovering up more than a few. If he did that Enterprise might come into play if a smaller CV tf came within range on her way back to SF. Lady Lex is on her way to try to catch a tf which shows up as 2 CAs on their way to the same destination (Canton Island). There is a small invasion tf at Tarawa that I might be able to catch too. I have a CA on the way there.

Very best regards

Carl

[USSAmerica]

Hi Carl,  I'm glad you guys have been able to get started again.  This mod looks interesting, so I'll be keeping an eye on your AAR.  (The AAR is interesting, too. [;)])  Best of luck!

[goodboyladdie]

Hi Mike

Thanks for the kind words. With the Allied replacement pilot experience levels and uber flak I think I am going to have to really watch that I do not forget the Matrix no swearing policy... [:D]

[goodboyladdie]

I do not have the turn yet, but do have the reports and the movie. CL Tenryu and MSW W.15 & W.16 were sunk along with AP Aki Maru. The two (actually four) PCs were left on fire. The rest of the transports got away. The Western part of the ambush did not happen. In the past Brunei and Wake have been areas where my tfs have stalled at a certain point and never got there. I am hoping it is not happening again. Amiral Laurent had an explanation and a work around I think, but I cannot remember what it was.

As you can see I have not yet had the time to complete my ship art swapping. I have done about 20% of the Allies and about 15% of the Japanese ships.

[goodboyladdie]

Of the two options Dixie sent for the Thai Navy cruisers (River Monitors I think) I have gone for the slightly smaller CL as there are two of those and only one CA and they share a bitmap.

[goodboyladdie]

The situation in Hawaii:

His CVs have disappeared. There is a danger they went south in which case Lex is in danger, but I suspect they are heading East to help out in the DEI after Force Z's attack at Kuching. I could be wrong, but I get the feeling Mike is not that interested in Hawaii. The exodus continues, just in case, but short range tfs are reduced to mission speed. The 4th USMC Def Bn is being airlifted to Lahaina. Some elements are going by LCVP and two small AKs have turned back to PH to give some in theatre sealift capability. A BB which has experienced an increase of 5 in flood damage to 15 has also turned back noe the immediate danger has passed. BB Oklahoma has cleared her flood damge and is sailing. An escort will meet her on the way. Hopefully she is routed between subs until then. B-17s are to hit Johnston AF to restrict Mike's ability to quickly build it up. Midway has fallen.

A "Doh!" moment to report - I forgot to move Robert L. Barnes and Penguin and they were scuttled when Guam fell.

Edit: Two things I forgot before. SigInt reveals that an AA regt is on it's way to Midway. I have two subs there so hopefully one will get lucky. Speaking of lucky subs, for the second turn running USS Trout torpedoed an AK at Midway. 50% of Mike's sub attacks do not result in any hits - he is complaining about a dodgy batch of torpedoes that he bought in Manila [:D]. A convoy (5 10,000 ton 12kt AKs and 6 four stackers) is loading in SF to take 50,000 tons of supplies to PH while the going appears good. If a siege begins they could prove vital. Amongst the supplies will be Mk10 mines. A good stock of mines for USS Argonaut are already present.

[goodboyladdie]

The Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth are at New Orleans. They are not supposed to transit the Panama Canal, but in any case I will not be using them unless there is a vitally important war losing need. They spent most of their time trooping across the Atlantic and it would be extremely gamey to use that massive capacity in the Pacific.

[goodboyladdie]

The first of many shipments of resources to New Orleans. Many more vessels are loading in Australia. An economy is something to get used to...

[goodboyladdie]

The CA missed the Tarawa invasion tf and will sail to join Lady Lex. The "CAs" that were one hex off Canton Island last turn are retreating. I suspect they were minelaying. Lady Lex will attempt to intercept. If my CA encounters the enemy overnight it may help slow them down enough to bring them in range of the CV. There is a danger he has moved his CVs south after Lady Lex so she will not be hanging about if this intercept fails. I have kept reactions set to 0 as I do not want her drawn North. I am disappointed my A-20s at Canton Island have not attacked the enemy tf.

[goodboyladdie]

AV Langley was torpedoed and sunk by Ro-33 as I was trying to sneak her into Bataan. Her 34 aircraft capacity would have come in handy, but her air group (4 Kingfishers at start with a max capacity of 34) was not on board and will come in handy once I have spare planes to flesh it out. Another HK PG was sunk and I had to scuttle the transport group from HK (representing a number of junks). Manila port was hit again and a further vessel sunk. Clark was very heavily hit. All planes have evacuated from Manila. Clark still has various planes under repair.

CL Kashima was hit again at Legaspi but is still not on fire. S-39 torpedoed an AK and an AP at Legaspi.

[goodboyladdie]

As I feared the Boise/Houston tf had "stalled". I am risking a second run at Brunei, by giving orders for Jesselton with Brunei as the base to return to. Hopefully Brunei will not fall this turn and my Cruisers will cause damage when they end up there. There are two surface tfs heading West, North of the PI. I hope to avoid those. Mike's CVE KB has disappeared. Force Z has orders to bombard Kuching, while two RN cruiser groups search the area for the Japanese transports. The Dutch tf had "stalled" and has put into Pontianak to refuel. If the surface tfs do not look like causing trouble I may run them to Brunei as a surface attack force. T-IVAs torpedoed AKs at Brunei and Kuching again this turn. I hope I can keep these good pilots alive long enough to get them into better planes in July. Coastal artillery at Brunei damaged Japanese ships offshore again.

An AK was mined at Batavia - Mike is giving me a taste of my own medicine!

[goodboyladdie]

Kota Bharu fell. The position on the railway lines means that it is very easy to get a large portion of your forces outflanked and cut off so I am withdrawing down the peninsula. Hopefully Mike is not in a position to exploit it quickly as he is heavily commited elsewhere. The 27th Aus Brigade is being withdrawn piecemeal to Trincomalee. Cadres of other units and spare base forces will also be shipped out as they arrive. 22nd Aus Brigade will also be totally withdrawn if possible.

An MLE is on it's way to Batavia to allow faster mining of Northern Java and Sumatra. An AVG squadron has arrived to beef up the CAP at Singapore.

[goodboyladdie]

A sub hit this TK North of Ceylon. It was a surprise! She will sink. I just realised I should have scuttled her to save points. I am hamstrung by a lack of Air Patrol assets in theatre. MSWs from Madras, Trincomalee and Colombo are racing to the scene to try to catch the perpetrator.

[goodboyladdie]

HMS Indomitable has arrived. Her airgroup need more TBs, but there are no more Alabacores available as yet.

In China the Wuhan ambush did not work. Elements of the 34th US Fighter Squadron engaged and they lost one P-35A. The Hawks of my Ace Chinese Squadron and the French Volunteers did not engage. This time the French are sweeping and the Ace Chinese are setting a LRCAP in the hope of better results. The P-35As are stood down as they seem to be in the way.

Mike is using his subs aggressively and is taking quite a toll on my AKs and TKs. There is little I can do at present due to lack of ASW forces and the fact that my ships are dispersed still.