Against the Wind: Cuttlefish (Japan) vs. Q-Ball (Allies)

[FOW]

Re KB leaving stealth mode.

Perhaps for the first turn just putting the BB/CA float planes on Nav Search might have been a better idea. With the improved FOW a Jake sighting could have been misinterpretted as a Glen or just 'Float plane'.
Would have given you some 'eyes' but may have just preserved to protect the KBs identity.

[ny59giants]

Are you going to use any of your paras in taking southern Sumatra?? If not, what are your plans for them??

[Capt. Harlock]

I really want to take Palembang as intact as possible. It has been my observation in WITP that facilities take much less damage when the defending garrison surrenders than when they are forced to retreat. I’m not positive this is actually the case but I’m going on the assumption that it is.

My understanding is that the biggest factor is whether or not there are engineer units present. They're considered to be as adept at demolition as they are at construction (note their ability to reduce forts). If you can identify engineer units outside of Palembang it might be wise to try and prevent them from getting to the hex.

[Cuttlefish]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Are you going to use any of your paras in taking southern Sumatra?? If not, what are your plans for them??

The First Raiding Regiment has been busy in the Celebes; the Second Raiding Regiment is currently en route to Singapore and I do plan to use them in the Sumatra campaign. I haven't yet employed the smaller para units yet.

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

My understanding is that the biggest factor is whether or not there are engineer units present. They're considered to be as adept at demolition as they are at construction (note their ability to reduce forts). If you can identify engineer units outside of Palembang it might be wise to try and prevent them from getting to the hex.

Hm, good point. I don't know if there are any engineers outside of Palembang but if there are I certainly don't want to force them there. Then again, I would be willing to bet that Q-Ball has already moved every engineer there that he could.

[Cuttlefish]

[font="Arial"]These naval airmen, bold fellows, always on for an adventurous attack…[/font]
- Sir Ian Hamilton: Diary entry, Gallipoli, 8 July 1915

---

2/22/1942 - 2/23/1942

Kido Butai is now right in what I judge to be the most likely path his carriers would take, east to the Aleutians and then southeast to Pearl Harbor. But so far they have found nothing but empty sea. An Alf did scout a submarine near French Frigate Shoals. If it was spotted the report Q-Ball saw probably said something about a float plane shadowing Task Force X at such and such coordinates. He sees a lot of reports of that sort and would probably interpret that as a Glen (as FOW suggested). Unless he’s paranoid. Then again, you aren’t paranoid if they’re really out to get you. And I’m out to get him. He might suspect something.

It’s been eight turns since he launched his attack in the Sea of Okhotsk. The direct path from his launch site to Pearl is 82 hexes. His carrier TFs have a move of 13 (9/4) with no engine damage, so call it 12 right now. That would put them back in Pearl in seven turns, which would mean I have already missed them. However, carrier task forces rarely execute their full move (at least mine don’t). At a more plausible average of 10 hexes a turn they would be back in Pearl in nine turns. I might have missed them, I suppose. Anything slower than this, or a more roundabout return path, means his carriers will be along any time.

I’ll give it two or three turns. What do I do if his carriers don’t show? It would be nuts to descend on Pearl Harbor a second time to try and catch them in port, of course.

Totally nuts.

Japan Marches On: in Burma the 112th Brigade is advancing down the good road from Mandalay to Lashio, kicking aside a small force as it goes. The 33rd Division is heading for Myitkyina but the roads are not as good so the going is slower.

The Japanese capture Bintan, the small island just off Singapore. Zamboanga on Mindanao is taken, netting a couple of thousand prisoners, and Japanese forces have arrived at Cagayan, the last Allied bastion on the island. The Koepang invasion force is finally nearing Timor.

The 53rd Division is being withdrawn from Port Moresby to Rabaul, where it will continue prepping for Luganville. The 144th Regiment is taking its place. In China the siege of Kanhsien continues.

That Sinking Feeling: British destroyers sink I-162 near Bombay; this is the first Japanese submarine lost. Nells out of Singapore sank an AMc at Batavia.

[Alikchi2]

I’ll give it two or three turns. What do I do if his carriers don’t show? It would be nuts to descend on Pearl Harbor a second time to try and catch them in port, of course.

Totally nuts.

*rubs hands together gleefully* [:D]

You loading up for Java?

[Cuttlefish]

[font="Arial"]You will usually find that the enemy has three courses open to him, and of these he will adopt the fourth.[/font]
- Helmuth von Moltke (the elder)

---

2/24/42 – 2/25/42

It is an interesting thing that many of you who have been following my efforts to catch Q-Ball’s carriers and bring them to righteous justice probably know a heck of a lot more about my chances for success than I do. I can picture you out there either following tensely as Q-Ball sails into a trap or else shaking your heads and saying to yourselves “Nice try, Cuttlefishy, but his carriers aren’t there.”

Well, the trap has been sprung. Unfortunately, I set a bear trap and caught a mouse in it. Two xAKs and PC Tiger blundered into KB’s radius and were promptly sunk. Q-Ball may be a little startled that there are Japanese carriers near Pearl but that’s all the satisfaction I get. Game over, better luck next time. I think it was a worthy try, though. KB will drop back below French Frigate Shoals now and refuel from the waiting oilers.

One thing I really like about AE is that my carriers sent out a grand total of 17 Vals to deal with the three ships. I have seen this several times, where the strike package is appropriate to the target. In WITP I’d have launched 120 bombers and the last 100 would have milled around unable to locate the target.

Japan Marches On: in China Kanhsien fell to the first attack. Japanese troops have landed at Koepang and will attack next turn. At Singapore troops are now boarding their transports to begin the invasion of Java and Sumatra.

Q-Ball spotted the build-up of transports and sent some bombers, Dutch bombers and B-17s, there in hopes that I had neglected to CAP Singapore. I had CAP and he lost a fair number of bombers for almost no return (minor damage to a PC and a bounce off a heavy cruiser). Still, I expect to take some grief from his air force during this operation. Mini-KB is now at Singapore and will go along to provide some protection. A battleship force will also sortie.

Boise is still out there somewhere. I hope battleships will be enough.

[Ketza]

I was hoping you would catch them pesky allied buggers.

[british exil]

Really exciting!

I am following both AAR's. I am not a WitP AE player (addict) yet. But have already ordered the Shattered Sword, to get a real feel for the Pacific Side of the game.

Carry on with good work. Hard to say which side I favour, but is till great reading nevertheless.

Mathew

[ckammp]

AH, the fortunes of war!
I really thought you had him. Still, a risky but brilliant plan nearly worked.
A rare treat this is, to have two such cunning and dangerous opponents square off.
Definetly a "must-read" AAR.
Good luck, and good hunting!

[vlcz]

I can picture you out there either following tensely as Q-Ball sails into a trap or else shaking your heads and saying to yourselves “Nice try, Cuttlefishy, but his carriers aren’t there.”

You can be sure you are both producing a GREAT serial for us all, access to both HQ plans and develoments.....almost as seeing "Midway" film withouth knowing the end...

[Panther Bait]

Well at least you probably gave him a "check your shorts" moment if nothing else. [:)]
 
Mike

[Capt. Harlock]

It is an interesting thing that many of you who have been following my efforts to catch Q-Ball’s carriers and bring them to righteous justice probably know a heck of a lot more about my chances for success than I do. I can picture you out there either following tensely as Q-Ball sails into a trap or else shaking your heads and saying to yourselves “Nice try, Cuttlefishy, but his carriers aren’t there.”

It has indeed been interesting and more than a bit suspenseful.

Once again, we owe you for a fascinating read.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: Cuttlefish

[font="Arial"]You will usually find that the enemy has three courses open to him, and of these he will adopt the fourth.[/font]
- Helmuth von Moltke (the elder)

---

2/24/42 – 2/25/42

It is an interesting thing that many of you who have been following my efforts to catch Q-Ball’s carriers and bring them to righteous justice probably know a heck of a lot more about my chances for success than I do. I can picture you out there either following tensely as Q-Ball sails into a trap or else shaking your heads and saying to yourselves “Nice try, Cuttlefishy, but his carriers aren’t there.”

Well, the trap has been sprung. Unfortunately, I set a bear trap and caught a mouse in it. Two xAKs and PC Tiger blundered into KB’s radius and were promptly sunk. Q-Ball may be a little startled that there are Japanese carriers near Pearl but that’s all the satisfaction I get. Game over, better luck next time. I think it was a worthy try, though. KB will drop back below French Frigate Shoals now and refuel from the waiting oilers.

One thing I really like about AE is that my carriers sent out a grand total of 17 Vals to deal with the three ships. I have seen this several times, where the strike package is appropriate to the target. In WITP I’d have launched 120 bombers and the last 100 would have milled around unable to locate the target.

Japan Marches On: in China Kanhsien fell to the first attack. Japanese troops have landed at Koepang and will attack next turn. At Singapore troops are now boarding their transports to begin the invasion of Java and Sumatra.

Q-Ball spotted the build-up of transports and sent some bombers, Dutch bombers and B-17s, there in hopes that I had neglected to CAP Singapore. I had CAP and he lost a fair number of bombers for almost no return (minor damage to a PC and a bounce off a heavy cruiser). Still, I expect to take some grief from his air force during this operation. Mini-KB is now at Singapore and will go along to provide some protection. A battleship force will also sortie.

Boise is still out there somewhere. I hope battleships will be enough.

Well, as an Allied Fanboy, I have learned one critical lesson from this AAR. Unless, you know where KB is, you have to always assume that they are moving to intercept and act accordingly. That tidbit is worth the price of admission.

[Cuttlefish]

ORIGINAL: crsutton

Well, as an Allied Fanboy, I have learned one critical lesson from this AAR. Unless, you know where KB is, you have to always assume that they are moving to intercept and act accordingly. That tidbit is worth the price of admission.

Remember: if you can see KB, KB can see you. If you can't see KB, your ships may only have seconds to live.

[Cuttlefish]

[font="Arial"]As for those cowardly captains of yours, hang them up, for, by God! they deserve it.[/font]
- Commodore M. du Casse: letter to Admiral John Benbow, RN, 22 August 1702. Two of the “cowardly captains” were in fact shot.

---

2/26/1942 – 3/3/1942

The invasion of Java and Sumatra went like clockwork except for one thing; the Java portion of the invasion force refused to leave Singapore. I tried for three days to get them to budge, ordering them to proceed directly, to proceed indirectly, to follow a surface TF. No go. So I am unloading the TF in order to dissolve it and try again.

Which is too bad, because everyone ran the gauntlet and got home safely otherwise, and now I have to send ships into harm’s way again. Oosthaven and Benkoelen fell easily and troops have already begun advancing towards Palembang. My task forces came under heavy air attack, as expected, but Zeros and flak cost the enemy about 25 planes and no hits were scored. The scariest moment was when some 20 bombers broke through and attacked my light carriers, but Zuiho and the others all escaped.

As my ships approached they detected some transports fleeing the area. Nells from Singapore attacked and sank DE Jumna and put two torpedoes each into AP West Point and AP Wakefield.

China: troops are advancing from Kanhsien to Kukong. The presence of the AVG has forced me to briefly suspend air operations in the area. I’ve consolidated some of my fighter units and upgraded them, however, so I will resume operations starting next turn and see what happens. The Nates actually did pretty well, considering; at least they weren’t mowed down in droves.

Luzon: Japanese troops have arrived in Bataan after a little time off to rest and reset their planning target. After one turn of bombardment they have been ordered to attack and if the condition of the units I saw is any indication this battle may be a short one.

DEI: Koepang fell after a two-day battle and Lautem has also been seized. The surviving troops are being herded towards Dili where they will be rounded up. A combination of landings and paradrops is about to take place near Makassar, which will be isolated and seized overland.

Burma: 33rd Division is on its way to Myitkyina. Two infantry regiments are moving into Lashio. Lashio has a dozen defending units of unknown composition or strength, so two regiments might not be enough. More troops are on the way north and can be committed if needed.

Pacific: Tabiteuea is now a size 2 airfield. Kido Butai is heading for Yokahama to do some minor engine and system repair, after which it will return to the South Pacific for the New Hebrides/New Caledonia campaign.

Under the Sea: Japanese submarines did heavy damage (and probably sank, but no confirmation yet) to two xAKs north or northwest of Pearl. I suspect these were ships scattering to get away from KB. Q-Balls subs have had a run of bad luck the last week or so, with even the Dutch subs missing or scoring duds.

Training Wheels: In the last few weeks I have received several small (6 or 12 plane) units of Vals, Kates, and Sonias. The pilot’s experience levels are abysmal, so they are busy training. The 6-plane dive-bomber groups are training as dedicated ASW units while the others are training in naval attack. My naval air losses have been light, so overall I have been able to avoid dipping into my trained pilot pool. The army bomber units have taken the brunt of things, but they fly so many sorties that I fill them out with mediocre pilots and they either learn fast or die young.

The situation in Sumatra:

[british exil]

Remember: if you can see KB, KB can see you. If you can't see KB, your ships may only have seconds to live.
Cuttlefish 1942


Really enjoying the AAR as mentioned before.
Love the quotes. I think yours deserves to be used now.[:D]

Mathew

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Cuttlefish

The invasion of Java and Sumatra went like clockwork except for one thing; the Java portion of the invasion force refused to leave Singapore. I tried for three days to get them to budge, ordering them to proceed directly, to proceed indirectly, to follow a surface TF. No go. So I am unloading the TF in order to dissolve it and try again.

There is also a setting for how much tolerance to a threat the TF will have - try "Absolute".

Sometimes when I've had a problem with a TF I create a new one and transfer the ships directly in without unloading (thereby saving time). It hasn't failed yet, although according to Murphy's law it will the first time I suggest it to someone who tries it in a critical situation!

[Cuttlefish]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Sometimes when I've had a problem with a TF I create a new one and transfer the ships directly in without unloading (thereby saving time). It hasn't failed yet, although according to Murphy's law it will the first time I suggest it to someone who tries it in a critical situation!

I bet this would have worked. I'll remember it for next time.

[Cuttlefish]

[font="Arial"]With broken heart and head bowed in sadness but not in shame I report to Your Excellency that today I must arrange terms for the surrender of the fortified islands of Manila Bay…[/font]
- Major General Jonathan Wainwright: last message from Corregidor

---

3/4/42 – 3/6/42

Bataan fell on 5 March, netting around 38,000 prisoners and ending the campaign on Luzon. Some of the troops thus released will be sent to the Pacific while others will help mop up the rest of the Philippines. With Koepang now in Japanese hands and Sumatra rapidly falling there remains only one Allied bastion inside the projected boundaries of the new Empire of Japan: Java.

Q-Ball has hinted, and there have been signs in-game, that he is not going to let Java go without a struggle. This may be disinformation aimed at getting me to use extra resources taking the place but I think it’s entirely possible that he’s brought in extra forces and is trying to turn to Java into a fortress. We will see. I intend to hit the place with a very large sledgehammer either way.

Speaking of which, the forces targeted for Batavia are once again setting sail from Singapore. As before, mini-KB and battleships will be along in support. Their target is Merak on the Sunda Strait. Included in the first wave are two infantry regiments, engineers, and artillery. The 21st Division is set to follow.

Q-Ball has had the Dutch air force bombing the airfield at Oosthaven. No doubt he is puzzled about why there are no Japanese fighters there. There should be, but the aviation support was in the task force that wouldn’t set sail. No doubt there will be a price to pay for this. With luck, though, it will take him a turn to shift his bombers back to naval attack, one turn less that my ships will have to dodge his bombs.

Under the Sea: The Dutch submarines broke their run of bad luck when O23 torpedoed and sank two xAKs involved in the Makassar operation. My ASW forces, for their part, prosecute a lot of contacts but as far as I know have yet to sink anything, though I am sure they have sent a number of Allied subs to the repair yards. They pretty much claim a kill on anything they drop a depth charge close to. If their commanders think this will encourage me to transfer them to an actual SCTF they are sadly mistaken.

Happy Halloween!