ALLIED ONLY: aztez (A) vs erstad (J) ...2nd ROUND

[aztez]

Smeulders: The unit you are refering to Chinese Tactical Airforce HQ stationed currently at Kweiyang.


Aleutians (october 25th - 26th 1942)


The allied submarine commanders launched couple of very brave assaults.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Umnak Island at 170,52

Japanese Ships
DD Isokaze
CA Tone
CS Chitose
CS Nisshin
DD Arare
DD Asanagi
DD Usugumo
DD Yamakaze

Allied Ships
SS Grayling



SS Grayling launches 6 torpedoes at DD Isokaze
Grayling diving deep ....
DD Asanagi fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Usugumo fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Yamakaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Yamakaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Yamakaze attacking submerged sub ....
DD Yamakaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Yamakaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Yamakaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Yamakaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Umnak Island at 170,52

Japanese Ships
CV Soryu
CA Tone
CS Chitose
CS Nisshin
DD Arare
DD Asanagi
DD Usugumo
DD Yamakaze

Allied Ships
SS Grayling



SS Grayling launches 4 torpedoes at CV Soryu
DD Asanagi fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Usugumo fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Yamakaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Yamakaze attacking submerged sub ....
DD Yamakaze is out of ASW ammo
DD Yamakaze is out of ASW ammo
DD Yamakaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Yamakaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Yamakaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Yamakaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Umnak Island at 169,51

Japanese Ships
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Kamikaze

Allied Ships
SS S-30



SS S-30 launches 4 torpedoes at DD Tokitsukaze
S-30 bottoming out ....
DD Kamikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Kamikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Kamikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Kamikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Kamikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Umnak Island at 170,52

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage
CA Furutaka
CL Tatsuta
CL Kitakami
CL Kashima
CS Chiyoda
DD Shiranui
DD Karukaya
DD Asagao
DD Kuretake

Allied Ships
SS Grayling



SS Grayling launches 6 torpedoes at CV Zuikaku
DD Karukaya fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Asagao fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Kuretake fails to find sub and abandons search
Escort abandons search for sub


...hmmmm, SS Grayling did some awesome job indeed. I don't know whether this is FOW but even seeing this was nice indeed! If CV Zuikaku was hit than she will be out for longtime and most likely will sunk. Damn, and the captain launched few torpedoes againts CV Soryu too!

I looked at the combat replay and did not see her putting up any CAP againts out lba bombers so she is most likely severely hit.

CL Sendai and Destroyer sunk 2 allied xAKL's unloading at Cold Bay.

Japanese submarine SS I-36 was sunk near Anchorage by our ASW TF.

The ground combats were heavy at Dutch Harbour. Keep in mind that this is just the front door but the US troops really carry an punch when prepared.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Dutch Harbor (171,50)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 54702 troops, 370 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 1941

Defending force 14897 troops, 239 guns, 340 vehicles, Assault Value = 250

Japanese adjusted assault: 1026

Allied adjusted defense: 561

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 4)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 3

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
5893 casualties reported
Squads: 32 destroyed, 416 disabled
Non Combat: 18 destroyed, 442 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 45 disabled
Guns lost 4 (0 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
1732 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 101 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 223 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Vehicles lost 38 (3 destroyed, 35 disabled)


Assaulting units:
53rd Division
52nd/C Division
65th Brigade
Yokosuka 5th SNLF
4th Division
63rd Naval Guard Unit
64th Infantry Group
Kure 5th SNLF
54th Div /3
2nd Area Army

Defending units:
58th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
138th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
2/250th Coastal Artillery Battalion
North Pacific
209th Field Artillery Battalion
103rd USN Base Force
501st Coast AA Regiment
503rd Coast AA Regiment
813th Engineer Aviation Battalion
165th Field Artillery Battalion

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Dutch Harbor (171,50)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 49219 troops, 370 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 1565

Defending force 13285 troops, 242 guns, 344 vehicles, Assault Value = 155

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 295

Allied adjusted defense: 115

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), disruption(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
3586 casualties reported
Squads: 84 destroyed, 102 disabled
Non Combat: 76 destroyed, 66 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 16 (14 destroyed, 2 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
1648 casualties reported
Squads: 17 destroyed, 47 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 203 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Vehicles lost 87 (7 destroyed, 80 disabled)


Assaulting units:
63rd Naval Guard Unit
53rd Division
65th Brigade
Yokosuka 5th SNLF
4th Division
Kure 5th SNLF
64th Infantry Group
52nd/C Division
54th Div /3
2nd Area Army

Defending units:
138th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
58th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
2/250th Coastal Artillery Battalion
501st Coast AA Regiment
503rd Coast AA Regiment
103rd USN Base Force
813th Engineer Aviation Battalion
209th Field Artillery Battalion
North Pacific
165th Field Artillery Battalion

....we lost some fortification levels but put up an good fight! I feel confident that the "puck " will stop at Dutch Harbour. I have much stronger forces with a lot of airpower supporting my units nearer to Alaska.

KB did not launch any offensive raids but few Zero's were downed by our lba aircraft while protecting his army units fighting at Dutch Harbour.

All in all good turn and just maybe we sunk CV Zuikaku. Allthough game intel shows BB Yamashiro as sunken ship. (I think that is FOW though)

[aztez]

China (october 25th - 26th 1942)


The push towards Kweiyang continued but chinese infantry units stopped the juggernaught with heavy casualties inflicted.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at 75,50

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 114161 troops, 896 guns, 777 vehicles, Assault Value = 4361

Defending force 58841 troops, 410 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2071

Japanese adjusted assault: 1423

Allied adjusted defense: 2857

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
5782 casualties reported
Squads: 18 destroyed, 397 disabled
Non Combat: 19 destroyed, 552 disabled
Engineers: 27 destroyed, 96 disabled
Vehicles lost 204 (9 destroyed, 195 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
5607 casualties reported
Squads: 25 destroyed, 372 disabled
Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 393 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 23 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)


Assaulting units:
26th Engineer Regiment
110th Division
37th Division
13th Tank Regiment
35th Division
51st Recon Regiment
12th Indpt Infantry Regiment
26th Recon Regiment
6th Division
13th Ind.Mixed Brigade
8th Armored Car Co
13th Indpt Infantry Regiment
17th Ind.Mixed Brigade
28th Engineer Regiment
26th RGC Temp. Division
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
12th Tank Regiment
11th Indpt Infantry Regiment
14th RGC Temp. Division
10th Tank Regiment
8th Recon Regiment
41st Division
40th Division
58th Infantry Brigade
5th Armored Car Co
13th/C Division
North China Area Army
12th Army
8th Ind. Engineer Regiment
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
5th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion

Defending units:
14th Chinese Corps
64th Chinese Corps
52nd Chinese/B Corps
92nd Chinese Corps
55th Prov Chinese Division
40th Chinese Corps
85th Chinese Corps
76th Chinese Corps
52nd Chinese/C Corps
72nd Chinese Corps
53rd Chinese Corps
16th Chinese Corps
79th Chinese/A Corps
2nd Prov Chinese/B Corps
11th Group Army
9th Group Army
4th War Area
35th Group Army


...now that is how we want these chinese peasants to duel it out. Nearly 6000 casualties inflicted and quite a few units actually destroyed too!

[aztez]

Just to let you know Dave will be out of town starting tomorrow and wohn't be back until Saturday.
 
He will propably do one turn before he leaves so expect an update tomorrow night.
 
In the meantime here is an story of SS Grayling.
 
She did have an quite an impressive history it seems: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Grayling_(SS-209)
 
Now I'am off to bed since got an early wake up for work tomorrow.

[Yamato_Blitzer]

Looks like he himself is in danger of being encircled in China....amazing turn around too

[aztez]

Dave has left out of town. He did send me an email saying that the new combat replay file contains a lot of action.

That should be the case since I predict the following:
 
a) Chinese airforce should be at full swing and most likely more ground combat reported here.
b) I have set quite a few fighters flying LRCAP over Cox's Bazar where I have tank unit assaulting. I expect him try to do some lba bombings.
c) Aleutians should see a lot of action. More submarines plus I have 2 separate DD TF's doing hit and run missions againts Umnak Island area. These ships have some lba fighter cover.
 
... I will run the turn when I get home and post details later on tonigh. These are just my speculations on what to be expected.
 
Yamato_Blitzer: Lets just say that I wohn't sell my skin cheaply.
 
I might try an encirclement move around Kweiyang but 1st we need to stabilize this push forward. There should be additional units maybe around 500av reaching the hex before he had an chance to launch anykind of an ground assault.
 
We shall see what happens. My main armies are still in central & northern china. I doubt he knows this at the moment though.

[aztez]

Aleutians (october 27th - 28th 1942)


A lot of action around the Aleutian Islands.

SS S-30 hit xAK Sanura Maru near Umnak Island. The transport ship is believed to be sunk.

US Destroyers managed to engage the enemy fleet in couple surface combat battles.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Cold Bay at 174,49, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CV Kaga, Shell hits 4
CV Hiryu
CV Soryu
CV Akagi
CS Nisshin
CS Chitose, Shell hits 2
CA Tone, Shell hits 1
DD Yukikaze
DD Isokaze
DD Arare, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Kasumi, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
DD Yamakaze, Shell hits 2
DD Usugumo
DD Asanagi

Allied Ships
DD Smith
DD Reid, Shell hits 1
DD Flusser
DD Tucker, Shell hits 1
DD Cassin, Shell hits 4, heavy fires
DD Phelps, Shell hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Sanak Island at 173,50, Range 26,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku
CV Zuikaku
CV Hiyo
CS Chiyoda
CA Takao
CA Furutaka
CL Kashima
CL Kitakami
CL Tenryu
CL Tatsuta
DD Shiranui
DD Nenohi
DD Yayoi
DD Kuretake
DD Asagao
DD Karukaya

Allied Ships
DD Tucker

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Sanak Island at 173,50, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku
CV Zuikaku
CV Hiyo
CS Chiyoda
CA Takao
CA Furutaka
CL Kashima
CL Kitakami, Shell hits 2
CL Tenryu
CL Tatsuta
DD Shiranui
DD Nenohi
DD Yayoi
DD Kuretake
DD Asagao
DD Karukaya

Allied Ships
DD Reid


...too bad that KB managed to launch naval strikes againts our destroyer TF's earlier so the 2nd wave was depleted.

Here is the summary of KB operations near Dutch Harbour.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Dutch Harbor at 172,52

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
B5N2 Kate x 25



Allied aircraft
P-38E Lightning x 3


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 14 damaged


Allied Ships
DD Smith
DD Reid, on fire
DD Phelps, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Nagai Island at 177,48

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 51 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
B5N2 Kate x 31
D3A1 Val x 10



Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 10
F4F-4 Wildcat x 11


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 5 destroyed, 8 damaged
D3A1 Val: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged


Allied Ships
DD Brooks, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DD Farenholt
DD Lardner
DD Lansdowne

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Cold Bay at 174,49

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10
B5N2 Kate x 19
D3A1 Val x 34



Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 2


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
D3A1 Val: 4 damaged


Allied Ships
DD Tucker, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Cassin, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Nagai Island at 177,48

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 13 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D3A1 Val x 11



Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 6
F4F-4 Wildcat x 6


Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 5 destroyed, 1 damaged


Allied Ships
DD Lardner
DD Lansdowne



Aircraft Attacking:
1 x D3A1 Val releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
1 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Dutch Harbor at 172,52

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
B5N2 Kate x 15
D3A1 Val x 18



Allied aircraft
P-38E Lightning x 2


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
D3A1 Val: 5 damaged


Allied Ships
DD Flusser, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DD Reid
DD Smith

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Nagai Island at 177,48

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 51 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
B5N2 Kate x 57
D3A1 Val x 40



Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 6
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 9 damaged
D3A1 Val: 9 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40K Warhawk: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
DD Farenholt, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Lansdowne

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Nagai Island at 177,48

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 17 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 17



Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 6
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 9 destroyed


It seems some of our destroyers managed to withdraw towards our lba umbrella. I have noway of confirming this since I wohn't get the actual turn file until late Saturday or Sunday.

The combat.txt file showed CV Zuikaku putting up CAP fighters so whether or not she is damaged/sunk is questionable. As said the game intel screen showed BB Yamashiro as sunk so only time will tell.

The ground combat at Dutch Harbour is over and japanese have foothold on the base itself.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Dutch Harbor (171,50)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 49096 troops, 369 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 1553

Defending force 11099 troops, 241 guns, 313 vehicles, Assault Value = 110

Japanese adjusted assault: 592

Allied adjusted defense: 119

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Dutch Harbor !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
1636 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 89 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 124 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 16 disabled
Guns lost 5 (0 destroyed, 5 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
15757 casualties reported
Squads: 258 destroyed, 135 disabled
Non Combat: 1330 destroyed, 307 disabled
Engineers: 85 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 543 (539 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 595 (554 destroyed, 41 disabled)
Units destroyed 10


Assaulting units:
53rd Division
4th Division
63rd Naval Guard Unit
64th Infantry Group
Kure 5th SNLF
Yokosuka 5th SNLF
65th Brigade
52nd/C Division
54th Div /3
2nd Area Army

Defending units:
138th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
58th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
2/250th Coastal Artillery Battalion
103rd USN Base Force
503rd Coast AA Regiment
501st Coast AA Regiment
209th Field Artillery Battalion
North Pacific
813th Engineer Aviation Battalion
165th Field Artillery Battalion


...that concludes the business at Dutch Harbour at time being. Dave started landing troops at Cold Bay and he will capture it next turn since I only have an base force defendeding it.

I will withdraw my fighters out of the base. There are fresh squadrons which will take their place and more are enroute.

Allied B17E's managed to break through the CAP againts KB few times but no hits were reported. Several japanese carriers were bombed with these missions. I flew these missions at 15 000 feet.

B24D's bombed enemy troops at Dutch Harbour with minor casualties reported.

The allied ground combat reinforcements have finished unloading at Seward and Kodiak.

Unfortunately the below pic is from last turn since as said I don't have the game file until weekend.

This has been on hell of an battle and I still wonder why is he pushing here but I take these losses any given time.

[aztez]

Pacific (october 27th - 28th 1942)

[aztez]

Now that we have few days "breather" from the action I would like to say thanks to all the readers and persons who have contributed to this "journey".
 
Neverthought to see nearly 60 000 hits when we started off this campaign.
 
It looks like Dave didn't have time to do the turn before  he left so if you anyone has questions on the game I can look things up from the previous turns save.
 
The normal action with regular updates will continue at the weekend.

[cfulbright]

Aztez -

"I don't know whether this is FOW but even seeing this was nice indeed! If CV Zuikaku was hit than she will be out for longtime and most likely will sunk. "

My experience is that FOW is much less foggy when you do surface or sub attacks - probably because the sub can see and hear exactly whether the torpedoes hit and detonated or not.

[Rob Brennan UK]

Aztez -

"I don't know whether this is FOW but even seeing this was nice indeed! If CV Zuikaku was hit than she will be out for longtime and most likely will sunk. "

My experience is that FOW is much less foggy when you do surface or sub attacks - probably because the sub can see and hear exactly whether the torpedoes hit and detonated or not.

And survived to radio the news back [:D]. Aztez you beat me to the Sub link , but heres the commander Lt Olsen , his record does not seem to show any Cv's as kills though http://www.uboat.net/allies/commanders/3167.html


Interesting combat in china , maybe that place will hold after all. how are supplies there not its post patch 2 ?

[Fishbed]

ORIGINAL: aztez

Now that we have few days "breather" from the action I would like to say thanks to all the readers and persons who have contributed to this "journey".

Neverthought to see nearly 60 000 hits when we started off this campaign.

It looks like Dave didn't have time to do the turn before  he left so if you anyone has questions on the game I can look things up from the previous turns save.

The normal action with regular updates will continue at the weekend.

S! keep up the good work mate [8D]

[grisouille_slith]

AZTEZ...

thanks for this very interesting and helpfull AAR...

Could you explain how do you use your subs (Patrol, remain on station...)? It's seem that you have lots of hits with them...

[LoBaron]

Aztez this is one of the first GC AAR´s, you jumped cold water with a not yet completely tweaked early version,
you do great by spicing it up with screenshots and it´s one of the best learning experiences for AE I ever found.

Don´t get me wrong, if erstad was less silent and Seydlitz wouldn´t have stopped updating regularily, there probably would be two more
AAR´s of equal size.

Every hit is deserved! [:)]

See you all on sunday guys, I´m off to the Alps now to enjoy some days of skiing. [:D]


Edit: Just re-read my post and wanted to add something: There are already many more great AAR´s (just to name a few
like Fletcher, Q-Ball, Canorebel and more and everyones looking how the renewed PzB/Andy Mac war will turn out).

It´s maybe a matter of where one looks first but also a matter of style. Fletcher for example has a kind of narrative AAR,
I really enjoy his way of posting but its much harder for me to comment on tactics because it feels more like reading a good book
or watching a WWII documentary.

What makes your AAR special is your dedication to answer peoples´ questions and the open, friendly discussion about tactics and strategies!

[Graymane]

ORIGINAL: aztez

Now that we have few days "breather" from the action I would like to say thanks to all the readers and persons who have contributed to this "journey".

Neverthought to see nearly 60 000 hits when we started off this campaign.

It looks like Dave didn't have time to do the turn before  he left so if you anyone has questions on the game I can look things up from the previous turns save.

The normal action with regular updates will continue at the weekend.

Well, you update frequently with just enough details to be interesting and not so many it bogs things down. You also take the time to respond to people, so thank you. It is also a good history of the release of the game up until now with highlighting various problems. I would like, sometime, to hear Dave's side of things, too bad he doesn't do an AAR or at least a summary post or something =)

[Rob Brennan UK]

ORIGINAL: LoBaron

Aztez this is one of the first GC AAR´s, you jumped cold water with a not yet completely tweaked early version,
you do great by spicing it up with screenshots and it´s one of the best learning experiences for AE I ever found.

Don´t get me wrong, if erstad was less silent and Seydlitz wouldn´t have stopped updating regularily, there probably would be two more
AAR´s of equal size.

Every hit is deserved! [:)]

See you all on sunday guys, I´m off to the Alps now to enjoy some days of skiing. [:D]


Edit: Just re-read my post and wanted to add something: There are already many more great AAR´s (just to name a few
like Fletcher, Q-Ball, Canorebel and more and everyones looking how the renewed PzB/Andy Mac war will turn out).

It´s maybe a matter of where one looks first but also a matter of style. Fletcher for example has a kind of narrative AAR,
I really enjoy his way of posting but its much harder for me to comment on tactics because it feels more like reading a good book
or watching a WWII documentary.

What makes your AAR special is your dedication to answer peoples´ questions and the open, friendly discussion about tactics and strategies!

I second every sentiment here bar one .. off skiiing you b%$^%%%D !! no more turns for me then [:D]

[aztez]

cfulbright: Lets hope so. The combat report indicated CV Zuikaku operational but I think this will become clearer soon enough. I don't mind if we sunk one of his Battleships either. Just would like the fact that we hit something "big".

Rob: The captain sounded somewhat enthuastic with his report!

Intresting link regarding cpt. Olsen. He did better with his missions on the AE! These are the kind of history bulletins the game forces you to do. I guess you can say the game itself has an educational effect too.

Maybe! The good thing is that the my main force in China is intact and ready even if he can dislodge us which is not certain either. He will take a lot casualties though before succeeding in that manouvere.

The supply levels are not good (they ought not to be either) but the main change is that instead of supplies just laying around in the base they actually are given to the ground units 1st. Thus meaning you will not see much in "reserve" but you will have much better combat readiness.

Just wished that this would have been the case here from the start.

The skiing is good unless you mixed with "drinks" and avalanches! [:D] ...having said that my skiing skills are non-existant at the moment.

Fishbed: Thanks. I will do my best to give taste of this "war". It is kind of an roller coaster.. happy, sad, angry, amazed... and those all mixed together.

grisouille: Welcome and thank you.

I will give it a shot. I included an pic from one submarine operating near the home islands. This time I think an pic will give an better understanding. (see below)

Basically though...

1. Set the orders on "Remain on Station". You will need to doublecheck these every once in a while since AI sometimes resets this. This saves fuel also since the sub is not in constant move.

2. I think max reaction range of 3 seems to the "best solution", The subs do react but do not get too far off from their operational areas thus saving fuel. This means that longer operational missions are possible and gives also an chance to rotate these vessels for upgrades.

3. I do not use any automatic patrol routes nor settings. In the important areas but shift them around manually. It might take take 5-20minutes but it is definately worth it.

4. Keep an VERY good eye on the detection levels. You can see this by placing the mouse cursor over the sub and the pop up windows shows this. IF the submarine is detected than time to move it since the detection levels are deadly and you will gain attention on his ASW bombers.

If the pop up window shows that the submarine is not detected and it is in good position than no need to do anything.

That is basically it. There was good discussions earlier on this thread regarding patrol zones, captains and other ideas. These views were written by Seydlitz, Sardaukar.... and other readers. Definately worth it weight on gold.

I also use my submarines on minelaying missions from time to time. Just to keep him on his toes. There has been couple hits reported but noway of telling what kind of damage we have done.

Hope that helps and it is really not that much extra micromanagement.

LoBaron: Yeah, I think we kind of started right of the bat. As said I tried to do battles vs AI but there really is something missing there. Didn't get motivated enough.

I can say that I have learned a lot from the start and if we would start over again than I would do some things very diffrently.

The learning experince comes from the community and it really shows that there really is always something you can improve.

It is good to see this forum section become more active with more an more "old timers" starting their journeys. Basically means that there are stuff to be read from years to come.

I know for an experience that things will be in diffrent magnitude once we close into 1944. Still longways to go but than the allied war becomes a lot more tense and tedious. Already posted few initial plans but they might change or become even bigger.

Personally I would love to read more AAR's and post on them but simply the time available doesn't allow this.

Nothing to worry here though since this thread will see the 1946 and what the map looks like is anyones guess.

Thanks for the kind words.

Sounds like relaxing plan you got the brewring. Allthough I would say that watch out for those avalanches since there seems a lot of snow laying around europe! This winter really is something. At the moment -24c and god knows how much of that white stuff has fallen.

Graymane: I guess that is the problem for all of the AAR starters. You could go into much more details but than you are faced with two problems... a) reallife time and b) everything becomes FOW.

The updates will be even greater detail when the decisive years start. At the moment though no need to report everything on day to day basis unless it is the major event.

I agree that it would be nice if Dave had regular AAR setup ongoing than again I know how much time this game can take and thus his family commitments (along with Cuttlefish PBEM) most likely will prevent this from happening.

He could post a lot of useful data, views, strategies and other stuff if he had the time to do it.

At least he has something to read in 2011!

[aztez]

Lets get show on the road once again.

It was kind of refreshening to have few days off from this game once in a while.

Everything kind of looks new now or at least I have forgetten 1/2 of stuff I was planning to do.


Aleutians (october 29th - 30th 1942)


The enemy forces that landed at Cold Bay easily seized the operational base there.

KB seems to be sailing towards Canada and most likely in hope of sinking some of our transports. Luckily for me those transports are already unloaded and are nowhere near the expected patrol areas of his carriers.

US B24D's launched couple of strikes againts enemy ships around Umnak Island. No hits were reported though.

The SS Gato torpedoed xAK Kurohime Maru near Umnak Island. Other submarine attacks were reported unsuccesfull. The cargo ship is believed to be sunk along with some ground troops.

I have well rested fighter squadrons in place around Aleutians so this will become much much harder for him to advance if he chooses to try to do so.

Here is an pic from last turn showing the current situation.

[aztez]

Pacific (october 31st - november 1st 1942)


There wasn't an single decisive theather last turn but instead it contained several smallers skirmishes around the map.

That is why it was more appropriate to detail the action in overview map.

The bright spot was the stubborn chinese defense near Kweiyand which resulted 1:3 failed offensive launched by IJA. The losses were +7000 japanese and +4000 chinese infantry + armour.

Also US submarines managed to score 3 hits on enemy ships which is always nice to see.

[aztez]

The Intelligence screen november 1942

[aztez]

Allied fighter replacement pools