"The Better Team" - Allied Perspective

[ny59giants]

This will be an ALLIED players only AAR - No John 3rd nor Q-Ball zone!!

I have once more jumped into the breach for another game. I responded before another player on John's current AAR to play my first 2x2 game. Right now, we are still getting the "computer challenged" Japanese players to get the latest version (1.5) of Big B's mod installed. I think John has done so (minor miracle [:D]), but I have been PM his partner, Q-Ball (Brad) about installing AB extended map.

On "our" side, I am still in negotiations with Wolfpack (Paul) about who is going to manage various parts of the Allied war machine. We have a basic HR contract making its rounds for all of us to agree with before starting. I will post it once it is completed.

Stay Tuned!!

[ny59giants]

Looks like I'm doing the American (North, Central, South, Southwest, PI, and Nz Commands) and Paul gets the rest. We will discuss strategies here mainly, unless super secrecy is needed.

I just spent 1 1/2 hours getting WITP Tracker installed for John 3rd via long distance. Hopefully, he can keep his economy from crashing here. [:D] We did two installs - the first was for his game against Dan.

It's Sunday night and my NY Giants are on TV. [&o] Thus, time to open up a cold one and enjoy the game. More details tomorrow.

[ny59giants]

HOUSE RULES – Big B’s 2x2

Non-historical 1st turn: The Japanese "may" move LCU's from their historical start positions to "major" bases throughout the Pacific (Truk, Kwajalein, Palau, Saigon, Camranh Bay, Formosa, Home Islands, etc.) From there they can be sent on turn 2 to invade where ever.

Multiple port attacks allowed on turn 1, but must be based on a CV/CVL/CVE. Thus, KB & mini-KB may be used in combinations non-historical.

450 planes total in one hex from CV/CVL/CVE's. No Allied "death stars" in late war stages, nor the KB plus "death star" by mid-42 when they get more CV's.

ASW TFs cannot exceed 7 ships

(AF size x 50) + 10% = AF capacity. Thus, a size 5AF can have 250 planes + (250 x 10%) = 275 planes

PT Boats may not be included in TFs with other ships (exception: when transferring between bases - using the extra ships as portable fuel sources. PT TF may have a max of 6 ships in it 1 PT TF for a port size 0 to 4; 2 PT TF for a port size 5 to 8; and 3 PT TF for a port size 9 and 10.

No creating Barges/PT at bases smaller than size 3.

No Allied CV Capable air units on CV's until 1/44 - designed to keep Marine Fighter groups off CV's

Allied player may only give orders to Allied warships (not AK/AP) already at sea on turn 1

No units of the Kwangtung HQ, Indian HQ, and China HQ may be moved out of the area without first paying the applicable PP costs (Land or Air units)

No 4e level-bombing below 10,000' when set for naval attack. B-29's are not allowed to be set on naval attack.

A player may place 1,000 mines for every Port factor above zero (Port 0—1,000, Port 1—2,000, Port 9—10,000 mines).

Invasions only on base or dot hexes.

Cadre evacuations allowed.

No Japanese LCU naval invasions north of Tavoy until Singapore falls.

"Be realistic" with cutting off troops for surrender. A whole Btn would be sufficient to cut off a unit, but a few squads = no.

Sub evac = ok. Sub invasion = not ok.

No "shock with pursuit" attacks except if conducted by an armored unit.

Play a "gentleman's game". If you think it might be gamey, it probably is, so don't do it.

[n01487477]

Michael,
So who is going to control what or has that yet to be negotiated ?

[ny59giants]

Michael,
So who is going to control what or has that yet to be negotiated ?

Did you miss the 2nd post??

[n01487477]

Sorry ... getting to late and making a nuisance of myself ... off to bed.

[USSAmerica]

Subscribed. 
 
Good luck, Michael and Paul!  I'll be wishing John and Brad good luck as well, but I am an Allied Fanboy.  [;)][:D]

[vettim89]

Cannot beleive you accepted the no marine fighter squadrons on CV's HR without a concommitant rule limiting Japanese carrier air wing manipulation. So you guys are willing to accetp a KB with 250 Kates with no ability to augment your CAP????????

[Canoerebel]

Good luck, guys!  You face worthy opponents, but all people of good character pull for the Allies!

[Mike Solli]

Heh! [:'(]

[Wolfpack_MatrixForum]

1.5 hours to install WITP Tracker!!!! We could only wish John was that slow when it comes to WITP! [:'(]

It took me all of a few min.

I see my job is to slow the Japanese as much as possible to delay future moves. Extract as many cadres from Malaysia and prepare a mobile defense of India. Delay and defend in the DEI as well. Try to fortify the resource centers and make them fight for them. Hopefully get some damage when they are taken. Send the dutch and british subs out on the attack. Michael may I have some American subs from the PI for evacuations?


So thats my general overview. Your thoughts Michael?

Wolfpack(Paul)

[Mike Solli]

This is going to be lots of fun.  
 
It's a blast to see both sides scheme. [:D]

[ny59giants]

The first area to discuss is the Philippines

I "try" to evac the following to Darwin and/or Perth"
192 Tank & 194 Tank - the Allies need all the armor they can get for the eventual counteroffensive in '43.
4th Marine Rgt - their Marines!![&o]
Asiatic Naval HQ - ends up at Sydney. I wish the Allies had more naval HQs!
14 PS Eng Rgt - my motto early in the war is "build forts and then build more forts." [:D]
1 AA Rgt - LBA killers
PAF Aviation - The one thing every game as the Allies I have to deal with through most of '42 is the shortage of Aviation Support. This has always been priority #1 in the SRA for me, evac BF and Aviation Support.

I will try to get out some fragments by AK/AP knowing that some may not make it. The rest get out by sub evac. I follow Feinder's method of using my American fleet subs to lay mines until sys damage gets into the mid-teens and then switch them over to evac missions until sys damage hit 50.

I will send the following to you (Paul-Wolfpack) probably in the first month: (Change command to SE Asia) I will send the P-40s to Australia (Change to SW Pac)
30 BS 16 x B-17
14 BS 16 x B-17
93 BS 16 x B-17
28 BS 24 x B-18 (Bolo)
34 FS 24 x P-35A
6 FS 24 x P-26A
VP-101 12 x PBY Catalina
VP-102 12 x PBY Catalina

I will try to evac the following LCU to China:
803 EAB, 200 AA, 112 USAAF BF, 109 USAAF BF

When I played Empires Ablaze against Damian before Nemo took over, I used patrol planes to do major transport/evac. The max range of PBYs is 12 hexes. The exact distance from Bataan to Pakhoi, China!! Please hold this base in the SW corner of China. [;)]

I will eventually give you control over the 7 Perch Class subs (Fuel= 11,000 & Cargo=36) at Manila. I usually send mine to India to reinforce the British/Dutch. If you need more we can do so.

From the Philippine Islands I will try to get out part of 2 Philippine Divisions to Darwin for rebuilding as we get 21 rifle squads per month as replacements. A division can be rebuilt in less than one year.

[ny59giants]

The following are just suggestions, since they lie in your area of control. However, I have played enough PBEM games for the first 6 months or less to have some of this down pat. [:D]

CHINA
There are 9 Chinese divisions assigned to SE Asia that I imagine you will send towards Mandalay. There are 6 more army corp just south of Kunming/Tsuyung area. We will need to spend Political Points (PP) to change their commands. Please let me know if some or any of them are going to Burma/India. I like to send extra as there is more supply in India to rebuild with and I like to ensure that any invasion of India is met with some "legal aliens." [:D]

During my phone call with John last night, I don't think they will be very aggressive in China as he has learned from Dan (Canoerebel) that non-static Chinese LCU can be hazardous to your health. I sometimes go after Nanchang from day 1 as a way to gain experience and prevent transfer of LCUs out of theater.

BURMA:
I like to use AKs to transport the BF at Tavoy and Victoria Point to Port Blair. Why?? Some of the short legged fighters cannot make it to Burma/India if both of these bases are captured. I would send 2 AKs from Chittagong to each base in single ship TF at full speed. Up through Sumatra to the northern base, over to Port Blair, and then Rangoon or Akyab.

INDIA:
I usually send the American AKs to Aden and/or Bombay to pick up supplies. Then drop off supplies in the DEI or Australia before heading to America. I keep 2 American AKs (with supplies) in India. Why?? To build some of those pesky PT boats if needed. [;)] Any extra AKs that are not needed, I could use. I send the fast APs (18 or higher) to America when they come in as reinforcements. As far as I know, John has NEVER invaded India. I think this might change.

I divide my AKs into two classes. Those with fuel over 12,000 are Oceanic and those below are Coastal. If they can make it from San Fran to Sydney without refueling are Oceanic.

[Canoerebel]

John has invaded Hawaii, Alaska, and Australia in different games, and in another game (with Cap Mandrake) had big plans for New Zealand that fizzled when his carriers got chewed up.  India is about the only thing he hasn't tried yet.  If I was starting a new game with him, that would be my chief concern.  That or perhaps another shot at Hawaii.  The dude is flat aggressive. 

[ny59giants]

SRA: Again, just some suggestions and observations about this area.

I usually send the large AKs (Oceanic) and APs around Australia to America. I use the coastal AK to move things.

Malaya: There are mtn hexes as you retreat SW from Kota Bhura that are helpful (x4 mtn hex bonus) for combat. They can be used to great effect before you get to Singapore. I try to get out the MAF Aviation first (after it goes to India for rebuilding, I end up transporting in across the "hump" to China in late 42). Parts of anything else follow.

Java: I have tried to make my final stand at Soerabaja before (clear hex that is malaria free). However, just next to it is Malang (mtn hex and x4 combat bonus, but it is malaria hex). Many Japanese players think you will go for Soerabaja and start to prep for this base. I like to keep my infantry units there to recover and place engineers (BF) in Malang to build up the forts. You can get up size 6 or 7 forts along with the mtn hex bonus. [:)] I just pull my LCUs from Soerabaja (and the ABDA HQ) to get the supply to move a few days ahead of time. Java will need to have over 20k in supply at a base (Batavia or Soerabaja) before your LBA can take anymore replacements. This mod has the Dutch getting a small amount of most plane types. I ship in supply from Kendari as fast as I can to Soerabaja. I try to evac both Dutch Aviation Rgt before anything else.

Sumatra: I use PP to change command for the BF and Inf at Padang and Benkolen to ship them over to Palembang and/or Java. Let me know about this so we can plan on PP expenditures.

Just one more thing on India. I always ship SE Asia HQ to Calcutta. But I have it prep for Mandalay. It is within the HQ range (9) and it adds to the defense adjusted combat value there.

Next theater - Australia

[Wolfpack_MatrixForum]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have reviewed them and find them very helpful as I have never played this mod before.

As Canoerebel says John is a very aggressive player and we should work to use that against him. I had some success in the burma/malaysia area mid war before I got too cautious.

I think he would still lean towards Alaska/Hawaii/Austrailia as that is where he could leverage his naval power. In any case I would build a defense in depth in India to discourage that.

I will use any subs at my disposal to evac cadres from Malaysia and pull them back to India for rebuild to assist in the defence and possibly the counter attack that starts in 43.

Any experience with Q-Ball? If he takes IJA will we see an increase in action in China? I would expect both to avoid India.

Paul

[Wolfpack_MatrixForum]

Michael,

FYI I have my personal laptop at work everyday and can monitor this forum. I can also do turn work at lunch! So just letting you know I have good coverage from 7am - 9-10pm EST.

Paul

[ny59giants]

Paul,
Which one of us is going to do orders first??  The main reason for that will be the use of Political Points. The first use will be to change those LCUs I want to evac from Luzon by AKs. I will try to make a list of LCUs and their cost today or tomorrow. Of course, that will be subject to change due to Japanese actions. We start with 100 PP and get the same amount per day.
Michael

[ny59giants]

Just finished reading John's recent post on his AAR against Dan. Since I'm his Retired Economics Minister, he should be ready for a strategic bombing campaign that has some insight into his vulnerabilities (don't want to get specific here as Dan can read this AAR and get free intel).

Paul and I will need to do some Psych Warfare 101 planning in the future.

FYI - John stated in a PM that they have the first turn done tonight (which I will believe in once I get it).