The Fleet the Gods Forgot: ALLIED Perspective

[Q-Ball]

Canoerebel is pretty much right, Sir Robin is a guaranteed path to victory, but also not politically realistic.

It can't be done on this engine, but I think WITP and/or AE would be much more interesting if locations VP's were awarded PER DAY or periodically depending on who occupies it. As it stands, the Japs can conquer anything they want, but if it's not held in 1945, which chances are it won't be, then it doesn't count for anything. That would also encourage the Allies to hang in longer, and make the end-game mean more, because you aren't just trying to advance, you are trying to beat a timetable.

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

Canoerebel is pretty much right, Sir Robin is a guaranteed path to victory, but also not politically realistic.

It can't be done on this engine, but I think WITP and/or AE would be much more interesting if locations VP's were awarded PER DAY or periodically depending on who occupies it. As it stands, the Japs can conquer anything they want, but if it's not held in 1945, which chances are it won't be, then it doesn't count for anything. That would also encourage the Allies to hang in longer, and make the end-game mean more, because you aren't just trying to advance, you are trying to beat a timetable.

is there a way that doesn´t lead to a guaranteed Allied victory? Well, yes, you can play the AI... When I play the Allied I never do a total Sir Robin, I always try to hit somewhere hard if the Japanese think they can do everything at once. When playing the Japanese, I just love to see the Allied retreating everywhere with everything. So you can take everything without losses and then, when there´s no way to retreat further, still do major damage to the Allied forces. A full Sir Robin like it is usually done by the Allied is their first big mistake IMO and not the real guaranteed path to victory. But like I´ve said, what has to happen that there isn´t a full Allied victory?

[John 3rd]

What I am saying is that I am going to fight for the DEI. I will not be suicidal about it. My plans are to do it the way I would if I was planning on a long-term game.

The problem with Sir Robin is what Christian just mentioned. It is a specious argument that by running away I will win in 1945. That is a load of Hooey! [8|] The Allied player will win no matter what. This is the reality so why not fight? Every battle costs the Japanese something they cannot afford to lose. I would state that the path to victory in 1945 is to FIGHT...FIGHT...FIGHT in 1941/1942.

Ken and I should get far enough along to compare losses with the real war. At that point we shall see a bit of truth in one position or the other...

[John 3rd]

The reinforcement, supply, and fuel convoys are loading and beginning to move. This is my initial layout for defense near Pearl:

[John 3rd]

Operations in the Philippine area is detailed here. Always looking for a counter-punch, I hope I might surprise the Japanese by moving and hitting Aparri in 2 days.

[Capt. Harlock]

hanks for this demonstration... you have made me feel good about my Force Z action with Ambassador. I think my cruiser force was virtually identical to the one you went up against and funny thing... Mogami was lost in both actions (yes Ambassador if you are reading and your intel didn't pick up on it Mogami fell victim of POW in our game) Choice of landing zones may have made some difference though as I went for the Khota Bharu landing site in our game.

In the final wash up of it all I considered the protection of the transports to be the whole reason for having the cruiser force there... it was their job to protect those transports.... if Force Z can't smash through to them they can't say they have achieved the goal of their mission.

But John's Force Z DID in fact smash through to the transports -- and seems to have gotten away with it. I know there's no scientific basis for the statement, but some people are just plain luckier than others...[:D]

[John 3rd]

Thank You Captain.  You are correct.  Force Z sank the one CA, crippled another, and damaged the remaining pair.  The TF then moved intot he transports and mauled the heck out of them before retiring.  IF everything goes as planned tomorrow Prince of Wales will be at Soerabaja and Repulse will be disband in Batavia pumping out her Torpedo hit.

This alone is a far better job then what they historically DIDN't accomplish!

[Radio]

We'll thats the advantage of steaming away from Japanese airpower instead of into its teeth I suppose. Was there a landing at Kuching on Dec 8th '41 that Force Z could have gone after instead of heading north up the malay peninsula (I didn't think there was but I dont know that much about the pacific war).

In my (only) Pbem I went after a Kuching landing with PoW and Repulse on Dec 7th too, but I did something wrong and they only ended up halfway there the next morning. I lost my nerve on the 8th and rather than attack a potentially operational air field they ran for Sorry Badger.

[Hornblower]

New AAR to read at the office with my morning coffee!!! Good luck should be interesting to see how a tried and tested IJ player uses that knowledge as the Allies.. 

[Ambassador]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
I detest Sir Robin defense so this will be a bloody AAR. I consider the Fleet that starts in the DEI to be expendable just as the author of the book I entitled the AAR for did. There will be a strong effort to fight the Japanese juggernaut every step of the way.

This is said because I know just how delicate the Japanese Assault truly is. EVERY loss inflicted on the Japanese in Dec 41--April 42 is crippling to the Empire and cannot be replaced while I will get ZILLIONS of everything for what I lose. Does this mean I will foolishly sacrifice my ships and aircraft in futile, suicidal attacks? NO! Just means that this will be an interesting ride...

Very interesting, I'm doing the same against Steve, as he already has had the opportunity of telling. I'm sorry my use of Force Z has not been as successful as yours, but I would any day exchange a BB for a CA that early in game - even moreso as the Allied end up getting more BBs than IJN will have BB+CA total. Especially if some DDs are thrown to the bottom at the same time...

Good luck, I'll be following this one closely.[;)]

[John 3rd]

I lost the first half of this report and will have to retype it....

AVG
With no seaward landing at Malaya, I move 4 Brigades forward to defend Alor Star.  Good Forts and ground will help hold this for a while.  To cover these troops I move 2 Squardons of AVG into the area.  They will stage an ambush tomorrow over the hex and see what sort of mischief they can cause the Oscars and bombers hitting this base.  Might be FUN!  [:'(]

US CVs
The Enterprise and Lexington have moved past Tarawa and are heading for Tulagi.  Maybe they can hit any early invasions in this region as they pass towards Darwin. 

The ANZAC Force will rendezvous with the CVs and pick up a few DDs for screening.

[ny59giants]

Malaya - Kuala Lumpur and the hex due east (mtn hex - 3x combat bonus) are a good second line of defense before you fully pull back to Singapore. Kuala Lumpur has a sizable Resouce center there, so a vigorous defense may damage it. No sense in giving him free supply for the upcoming siege. [:D]

[John 3rd]

OK.  Re-Typing some of the report I lost earlier.

December 10, 1942

2nd Battle of Kuching
Thinking that Force Z had mauled the Japanese Screening Force enough, I try to slip a pair of British CLs into the waters around Kuching.  Unfortunately, CLs Durban and Dragon run into CA Chokai (one of my favorite Japanese ships) and 4 DD.  Surprisingly the British do pretty well.  They gain surprise and then there are gunnery rounds at 5K, 6K, 6K, and 6K before the TF break off.  The CLs have just enough armor to deflect the DDs 5" shells and that helps a lot.  For the cost of a Long Lance crippling Dragon, the Japanese lose Shinonome and have 2 DD seriously damaged.  Barring bad weather, I expect to lose the Dragon.

RESULT:  1 CL (probably) for 1 Japanese DD and 2 more crippled=Draw.

Jolo, Laoag, and San Fernando fall to the Japs.

I deploy the Philippine Army forward into Baguio and Lingayen and move enough infantry to hold Legaspi if a landing occurs there.

The ships moving east from the Philippines don't get touched and are even spotted this turn.  Interesting...

[John 3rd]

This didn't net as many planes as I hoped but the exchange rate was excellent:





At the moment there is only one unit attacking Alor Star and another advancing into Kota Bharu. Should hold against each attack. Will; however, be on the lookout for a Mersing or--even--Johore Bharu landing in the rear.

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
December 12, 1941

Two more Japanese DDs sink from the 1st and 2nd Battle of Kuching raising DD losses to three at this point.  Might be able to bag another so we'll see.  I have high hopes for Mikuma sinking.  She is disbanded in Kuching right now and I have absolute fiath in Japanese Damage Control!  [:-]

Force Z
Repulse will have to return to Trincomalee for repairs.  She is Sys 28 and Flot is down to 13.  Will be pumped dry next turn and I will move her with a DDout to Christmas Island then on to Trin.  Disappointing!  I really like that fast BC.

PoW looks good at Soerabaja.  She repaired a SYS Dam point (12) last turn and as soon as a CL reaches port next turn I will move the BB out. 

Japanese CV
Not sure where to move Prince at the moment.  I made the comment to Ken that he was taking extraordinary risks with his CVs:  bold, brassy and fearless.  They reminded me of how I like to use them to which he replied "it should seem familar as I have read your First Team AAR!"  How about that?  How do I defeat my own tactics?  Like this question!

I will fallback with the STF and not be as aggressive while concentrating my airpower into two groupings:
1.   The Swordfish, Vildebeest, Hudson, and 2 Squadrons of the AVG will anchor the left at Batavia.  If his CVL/CVE move back close to Singakawang I will move ALL of them there and try to get off a coordinated strike.

2.  CVL Ryuho is operating by herself near Amboina.  I move 2 Squadrons of Hudasons there with the Dutch Torpedo Bombers, and a Squadron of P-40 pulled from the Philippines.  They will try to take a crack at the CVL from there.

3.  CarDiv2 is refueling right now just south of Davao.  Where they move will only bring bad news...

US CVs
Two turns will see a large concentration of shipping at Tulagi.  Ent TF, Lex TF, and the ANZAC Cruisers will all meet and I will reorganize them.  If there is no sign of Japanese movement towards Rabaul I will then move the CVs to Port Moresby where they will refuel and move for Darwin.  The hope is to launch a coordinated strike from these CVs against a portion of the Japanese carriers.  It'll be dicey but fun with a real chance to hurt the Japs early.

USS Saratoga gets new orders when about 3 days from PH.

Aleutians
The Japanese begin landing at Attu this day with a CD unit and large Aviation Regiment.  What they don't know is that BB Colorado and 6 DD is one days from Dutch Harbor right now.  The BB will refuel and steam over to attack the shipping.  To provide Saratoga a decent screen I sortie 1 CA, 3 CL, and 8 DD from Pearl with orders to rendevous at DH.  Might be able to do something up here since all Japanese airpower is way down South.  Certainly could put a crimp into his plans.

Units Identified:
Philippines  48th ID and 65th Brig

Malaya  18th ID at Kota Bharu and 5th ID at Alor Star with Imperial Guards two hexes north of Singaora.

Air Combat
My fighters are holding their own at Singapore and Manila right now.  The Japanese have shown no inclination to mass their Zeros and cause serious losses yet.  

[2ndACR]

BAH.......load up 2nd Marine div and sail for the HI........early 42 and he sees you invading the HI will cause some panic.......Once you know where KB is and all his air power is ties up, all you have to do is sneak in and then pounce.

[John 3rd]

I LIKE IT!  I shall prepare a Home Islands Invasion RIGHT NOW!  Gotta start prepping.  Anybody got a map of Hokkaido?
 

[Capt. Harlock]

This didn't net as many planes as I hoped but the exchange rate was excellent:

And they weren't even using P-40's. You've got to make sure those pilots can escape from Malaya . . .[:D]

[John 3rd]

You have that right Sir!  The AVG WILL survive to wreak havoc for the next 4 years.  Perhaps I should say 3 months since that is when I plan to invade Hokkaido...

[John 3rd]

This might be an interesting picture regarding the Thundering Herd.