The First Team: Take Two!

[John 3rd]

The Allies have had massive communication issues this weekend and we haven't got a turn in since Friday morning.  We shall see if one arrives tonight.

[Q-Ball]

I am glad John is keeping track of sub kills; a nice way to see what results we are getting. John's right about warships, kills as Japan are few and far between.

What is everyone else's experience? In my PBEM's as Japan, I have never sunk a warship that wasnt' already damaged or crippled bigger than a DD. UNTIL, just this month; I sank a CVE (Dec '44), with 2 torp hits. Mostly, though, any sub attack on a group of Allied warships is more dangerous to the sub than the Allies. That's my experience. Same for everyone else?

As Japan, I have lost a few bigger ships outright to subs, including a CV (Amagi), 2 CVLs, 2 CVEs, and a CL or two.

[John 3rd]

We finally get a turn in this evening and not too much happens.  I notice as Recon missions pass by that the number of Fighters over Kodiak jumps from 25 Wildcats and 27 P-40 to 81 Wildcats and 23 P-40.  I think it is safe to assume there are now at least 3 US CV present and perhaps 4.  This raises the ante quite a bit so we'll see what happens.

Unmak has 50 Zero (CAP 30%), 18 Helen, and 27 Kate ready for attack at range 5. 

Amchitka has 63 Zero and 110 Betty set for Range 11 attack.

Could be interesting...

[Rainer79]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

Mostly, though, any sub attack on a group of Allied warships is more dangerous to the sub than the Allies. That's my experience. Same for everyone else?

At least for me. Allied DDs seem to use ASROC from the start of the game and it only gets worse.

[frank1970]

Hm, don´t know.
Against the AI I loose lots of DDs near Brisbane to Japanese subs.

[John 3rd]

We have internet Gremlins at work again.  I sent the turn to the Allies last night and they didn't get it so I just resent it...

Spent the last two hours on the Phone speaking to Paul for the first time.  We had a terrific chat about each other's lives.  The conversation simply reinforced my view of the comraderie and good spirit that pervades so many of the Forum's players and contributors.  Paul and I have been playing against each other for four years and this was our first actual one-on-one phone conversation.  He is a good man who has been highly supportive throughout the nightmare of the last two years.  Cannot ask for more then that!

We are waiting for the Judge's Ruling today and will make firm plans based upon that.

I think the ASW Rules are going to be different in AE and that can only help.  It is nice to see that the IJN SS Force has had some success but I am in total agreeance regarding the issues of the ASW Model.  Work can be done there still.  Looks like aerial ASW will be weakened and that should be a good thing as well.

[John 3rd]

One of the biggest problems playing Japan at this time in the war is knowing when to rush into a fight and knowing when to be calculated.  Brad and I WANT to rush north and fight the American Fleet but know doing so is dangerous.  This is a comment made by Brad earlier today:

They are no doubt going to be bringing in reinforcements.  Probably too late to deploy KB, though hate to keep putting off needed refits.  Most of them really need the repair at this point.  The airgroups are 100% upgraded though.  There is 1/2 of a Daitai at Osaka, you can use that, though the intention was to break it up for replacements shortly, as it's already understrength (from filling out CV units).

My immediate thinking is always ATTACK, however, this day makes me think otherwise.  If we wait just a few days our CV total goes from 6 CV to 6 CV and 3 CVL and if we wait a week after that (10 Days) our total leaps to 8 CV, 4 CVL, and 4 CVE.  Patience is the answer and each day that we wait the Sys Dam on the Fleet drops as well as the chance of upgrades initiating rises.  All this can only help. 

Until we are ready one can only watch and hope for a strong showing by our LBA.  We should have our first Sentai of Tojo deployed within 3 days and our second Sentai will be just a few days behind that.  Assault Value at Cold Bay is nearly 300 now and Forts have been rising 10% a day. 

If Paul moves quickly with his CVs and a full Inf Div then the position at Cold Bay will be quite serious. 

If he waits 2-3 days we will be stronger and able to do a bit more.

If he waits 4-6 days then our Fighters will be set to truly bloody his nose.

Robert E. Lee made a study of understanding his opponents and taking risks accordingly.  I'm reading Landscape Turned Red:  Antietam by Sears at the moment and Lee's understanding of McClellan was nothing short of amazing. 

What, thus, is my read of Paul?  I think we have 2-3 days before an American move...

[Q-Ball]

There is still alot of risk for them without KB around. I would pull all the Zeros from Cold Bay, and replace with Tojos; however, have Zeros on 100% Escort with Bettys at Umnak. Getting a good Betty strike is hit or miss, but if the strike has a strong escort, and launches 50-60% of the bombers, that could be very bad for the USN.

I think they are about to bring USN CV's within Betty range, with no way to hit the base the Bettys are on. That isn't a good idea if you are the Allies. We'll see how this developes.

[John 3rd]

That is what I plan to do.  Place Tojos at Cold Bay and maximize the Zero Escort for Bettys at Amchitka.  The planes at Umnak (AF-2/65) are Zeros with a Daitai of Kates and some Helens set to Range 5.  Amchitka's Zeros are set to Escort ONLY.  In theory this could mean about 64 Zero escorting over 100 Betty--IN THEORY.  Will be bloody and FUN to watch!

Course the Allies could LRCAP a Transport TF from the CVs but that would be highly costly to and we could kill troops in troopships...

[John 3rd]

We lost our Motion and are given no chance to Appeal.  The die now is cast and I only have one option left. 
 
Thanks for the support gang!
 
Will still do a few turns between now and next Monday and then I will be off the Forum for a while.
 
Thanks Again.
John
 

[MrPlow9]

Good luck my friend, we are all with you.

[Cuttlefish]

Crud. I'm really sorry to hear that, John. Hang in there.

[John 3rd]

The Support has been great and you guys have kept me fairly sane throughout the last two years of life.

CF---Your work on that magnificent AAR has been a true joy to read and I know you will see it through to its logical and dramatic conclusion.  It is a work of art that I wish could be published!  Bon Chance.

I still hope to get in a turn a day until Tuesday and that will be that.  Have asked my Arch-Conspirator (and unpaid Therapist) Michael to take over at that point in time.  I HATE to leave on the Eve of battle! 

[veji1]

Good luck John.

[Rainer79]

Sorry to hear that. Good luck.

[Coach Z]

Best of Luck, I too have enjoyed reading your posts.

[cantona2]

Good luck John

[Canoerebel]

Crud, John.  They've really backed you into a corner.  Wish you had better options available, but the "sytem" has really fixed you good.  Good luck!

[Panther Bait]

Good luck John.  The forum won't be the same until you return.
 
Mike
 

[ny59giants]

I recieved the email from Admiral Cochran-san and since I didn't have any turns in my inbox, I went to Andrew's website to download the extended map files. I use my slightly modified mod of Big B's and it RHS level 6 maps for my two PBEMs. Since I got a new computer a few weeks ago, I lost all my old stuff. I used Spooky's website to download the files, but found out it downloads at dial up speed (over 45 minutes).  I'm awaiting a reply from John and Brad, but I will try to bring honor and glory to the Emperor.
 
BANZAI!! [:D]
Admiral Benoit-san