Tocaff vs bigred

[tocaff]

Blah, blah, blah

[bigred]

I am surprised at the interest in our game. I appriciate and enjoy all the technical, historical comments... But we all need to leave the personal opinions off the AAR.

[:-]

[Ike99]

Non issue

[bigred]

Before the reset, over a 4 turn period, the Combined US Naval/Marine air really hammered the KB air arm, as well as some good ships. 180 F4F's were used in the first 2 days of the fight and obtained air supremacy w/o the help of the one 24xF4U sqn. On day three the 24xF4U was committed to the carrier Hornet as a reinforcement unit because of attrition among the F4F units.
The next two days of air combat resulted in VF214 getting 81 kills. I was surprised by the result. This unit literally broke the back of the IJA LBA. At this point I realized the power of the f4u and did not feel to bad about the reset, because from Todd's point of view he never expected to see that High a quality unit on my fleet carriers.
So now here I am 3 game weeks later. 6mar43. 20% of my carrier fighter streght is in the F4U, which is arriving at a rate of 60 planes per month. The total number of on board fighters is a secret until after the next allied push. I suspect the Japs will not find the situation any easier this time around. Todd said something about paper zero's. HURRAH.

[decaro]

What scenario was this again? In all the controversy, I've lost track of what you're playing.

[tocaff]

BR & I are playing scenario 19 and being 1943 it's clobber the Japanese time.  I go through the motions of a turn doing little more than trying to keep bases supplied so that BR's LBA can crush the base again and again.  We all know the lack of value the Japanese fighters have vs the Allied LBA (except for the Hudsons).

[decaro]

Didn't Hudsons becoms passenger planes afte the war? Towards the end I think they were used for recon.

[tocaff]

Hudsons were known, if I remember correctly, as Elektras (sp?) prior to the war.  Yes they were passenger planes.
Now back to business

March 11, 1943

The situation continues to deteriorate as the ferocity of the bombings continues unabated.  WOW, fancy linguistics!  The area commanders frantically have been communicating with Tokyo and the Imperial HQ has issued the following command.  Effective immediately all commands will make preparations for the execution of Battle Plan #123143.  HQ has extensively studied the situation in the area and planned for such an eventuality as is occurring.  This plan virtually assures the triumph of our glorious Imperial Forces over the lapdogs of FDR.

BANZAI!  BANZAI!  BANZAI!


Any officers failing to comply with these orders will be afforded the opportunity to die for their Emporer immediately.

[tocaff]

March 15, 1943

Here comes the expected Allied invasion of Irau.  It doesn't look like a large invasion fleet, but it's so heavily escorted that the IJN might not even sortie.  With this kind of pace I would expect to see an April invasion of Guadalcanal and Tulagi.  The biggest problem lately has been the weather closing down Japanese air ops while the Allies continue to fly and bomb.  HQ is still wondering why Dugout Doug isn't putting soldies ashore in PNG as the Solomons will be a bloody affair and the sharks will feast.

[bigred]

In their dreams(nightmares), the IJN has visions of Marine124 sqn shooting down 81 planes. That is what I call a spanking. Tocaff has set his bombers to attack w/o any escort. So Japan is cherry picking/looking for no CAP TF's. Betty's found a mark at Nevea as all my Cap was sent forward to cover the fleet.

Every mistake I make he picks off another ship. Intel of a previous move requires an adjustment. Was playing tired last night and dont remember if I put CAP over my fast trans that will land at Irua today. Could have made another mistake.

[tocaff]

There are now Allied troops ashore at Irau, a large contingent of ships and the sky is black with Allied planes.  It's a good thing that the Japanese have activated BP#123143, translation 12/31/43 (end of the game).  After a few more turns I'll post my monthly update.  Each sinking or damaging of an Allied ship, especially DDs and merchantmen, are looked upon happily at this point in the game.  I don't care how stong the Allied fleet is, if you can't get the troops there and keep 'em supplied things will be tough at best and with fewer DDs my subs might be able to do something and live to tell about it.

[tocaff]

Our game has again been delayed as I'm trying (again) to find a work around the loading bug that's hit me a # of times.  Frustrating as hell and I've got to walk away from it for a while or the computer might fly out of the window.  These are very busy turns and there's lots to do so imagine spending the time to issue all of the needed commands and then try to load a TF only to get additional ships and units involved.  DRAT!  It must be an Allied plot!

[decaro]

Is the loading issue w/Fast Transports? I had similar glitchs as the IJN in our other game, but the problems were spurious.

[RGIJN]

Hey Todd,

maybe try this: when you find a FT TF still empty the turn after you ordered something to load up, just hit the "LOAD TROOPS" button again (you should see kinda status "LOADING" for the particular units), DO NOT change any units or load orders - just hit the "DONE" button. You should get returned to the TF screen again, with your cargo right on board!
This often works to me.
Apart from that, I got used to save one or two times during a critical turn and do routine orders prior to special orders (business before pleasure). This occasionaly saved me from conniption...

Ralf

[tocaff]

Thanks guys, but it's not fast trans.  It's trans period.  I formed all transports, of all types into TF and then formed 1 to load and it worked.  Time, patience and beer got it done.  I hope that the is a fix in CF and WITP AE.

[tocaff]

March 19, 1943

Though the Allies have landed troops on Irau the issue is iffy for both sides.  Will the Allies throw more into the fray as the IJA, IJN and mines conspire to make this a costly operation.  The IJN threw some of it's BBs into the fight and there were surface battles, one of which finished off the Hornet, that seemed to go the Japanese way.  The meat grinder has begun and now we await the first side to scream uncle. 

Allied loses to date as reported from the front to Tokyo are starting to grow again as things are heating up.

CV   5
CA   7
CL   4
DD  48
PG   4
APD  8
DMS  2
DM   1
MSW 11
AO  7
SS 13
PT 43
SC 14
TK  2
AP&AK 36
Aircraft lost to all causes-2718
VP scoreline 14375/7307 

I still say that the VP situation at this point in time is subject to rapid change depending on what happens to the Japanese held bases and ship loses in the fight over them.  We will see what we will see.  More as something happens....

[bigred]

Alot of damage on both sides. I can't tell who is winning.

[bigred]

Taffy 3 was again engaged by the Yamato and Mitsu Battlegroup. Commanded by the grandfather of Senator John McCain, Admiral McCain positioned his destroyers in a perfect screening action to save the day. 20 miles away over the horizon the Hornet met her fate to this same IJN TF later in the night. The Essex is damaged probably for the rest of the game.
Battle reports indicate a magazine hit on the carrier Hiyru, as well as hits on the Shokaku. The jap Carrier TF was last seen withdrawing to the northwest of Lunga. The Yamato BF was also reported moving NW just south of the slot past Lunga. The IJN can sit on Irau, but will be eating alot of SBD from Nevea. His choice.

[bigred]

Finding the fastest way to offload the troops becomes the agenda as the IJN surface fleet continues to sortie.  In the second wave I used ap/ak to drop one regiment and the transport tf was nailed by Jap LBA.  I had intially used the lci/lcu/lst/lcvp units as barge traffic.  Looks like all these units will be needed up front to move the offensive along.  Is the load rate for lst's faster than an ap? 
    Tocaff is trying to stop this  invasion by fleet placement.  He is swapping ships for time.  Nevea marine air is doing a number on the IJN w/ 8 reported hits on the Kirishima.  I have not seen the jap carrier fleet except for a sub report of some units steaming to the north Shortland.  He is sending his cripples to truk.  Thought about chaseing them w/ my cve's, but my invasion fleet would have been uncovered.  Had to let it go.
 
Probably will lose by points.  I stll need to see the end game to get a feel for allied power and see the tactics used to stop the Allied push.  I like this game so much I bought a laptop in Detroit while at my cousin's wedding. I will need the laptop anyway for my cruise this summer.  Maybe I will get lucky w/this new computer and sink at least one of Todd's big carriers.  He has really protected his points.  

[tocaff]

I haven't protected anything actually.  I've sortied with CVTFs and surface combat TFs (containing BBs) at great risk because of BR's surface fleet and LBA.  He's right though about me trying to buy time.  I'm also trying to bleed him as much as possible.  Imagine if Irau is this tough what the 'Canal will be like?  I'm still wondering if he'll open with an attack on GG or PM.  I have no idea how BR's lift capabilities are at present, though it's got to be less than he'd like and tough to invade and supply with the mounting loses.  Mines certainly don't stop invasions, but they do take their toll and Irau's defensive fields are nothing compared to what's next.

The game is a tough fight and BR has learned quickly from earlier mistakes.  His buying the laptop is a testiment to how riveting this game really is for us.