Ambon: The Japanese are reinforcing - either via fast transport or air. Part of an infantry regiment has joined the beleaugered defenders. Barring some major moves quick, though, I think it will be too late. The two Aussie brigades at Saumlaki should arrive in no more than three days. Also, the Allied troops already at Ambon whiped out disruption after three days of rest. The Allies will send a CA/CL force to Ambon to protect the transports. Of course, Miller may have some moves of his own in mind.
CR, this one makes me think you need to be very careful, and, as always, try to be in his shoes, not in your own.
It may be that any moves you make to expand west--to "broaden the shoulders" as was said so well recently--will meet stiff resistance, while you going north or NE will be "allowed." To the west and you soon threaten both Soerbaja and Balikpapan, and he can't allow that. I think he'll throw the kitchen sink at Ambon, and then the next western target, and the next. Not to say you shouldn't do it, but don't do it on the cheap. OTOH, if he can channel you north from your last thrust (and the big battle) you move into his strength--Palau, Marianas, and the PI, where he has fuel, LBA, and repair sites. He knows he can't stop you, so it's to his advantage to "let" you come to him where he's strong. If you can go west, his oil/fuel dies sooner. If he can make you go north, he can bleed you longer/better.
Just a feeling I have, but anywhere he hustles to scramble to reinforce from now on, I would expect the initial scramble to have a haymaker cocked behind it if you press on.
Bullwinkle, you're instincts are accurate as you'll see in a moment (P.S. Thanks for posting and I'm glad you're hanging around here).
DEI: The KB sortied from Palau and moved towards Ambon, but not without trouble. One sub put a TT into CVE Taiho and another scored against a DD. A bit further west, Searaven put 4 TT into CL Kashii (Japanese cruisers have really taken some hits lately). The KB ended the two-day turn near Ternate - on a course that threatens Ambon.
Ambon: I don't know whether the KB is escorting transports, but I assume so. The Allied transports carrying reinforcements from Saumlaki didn't get very far, so I'm recalling them until the coast is clear. I am, however, increasing LRCAP and sending two fairly stout DD TFs to Ambon. LBA will continue to hit the airfield and ground troops. The Allied attack here came off at 1:2, but dropped forts to two. I'm going to try a shock attack tomorrow - one last opportunity before the Japanese reinforcements arrive - assuming that's what's up.
Milne Bay: The presence of the KB in near Ternate clears the way to hit Milne Bay. The invasion force leaves tonight - 800 AV 100% prepped, two fast BBs, and four CVEs. The defense is about 12k strong - Miller has been evacuating, so I hope this is one of those operations that is easier than allowed for. The best Allied troop transports (APA) are employed, permitting fast ingress and egress, but I sure feel nervous using them. I'd like to get this base (which secures the major Allied LOC from Noumea to Townsville to Darwin), extract the big infantry division and get it and the transports back to Darwin. D-Day should be in three days. (The airfields at PM and Milne are 100% inoperable, so I don't expect much opposition).
Rangoon: No sign of movement by the IJN as the Allies continue to gather nearby.
Battle Damaged CV and BB: All of the battle damaged capital ships will have arrived at Sydney by tomorrow. The shipyard there can handle the two CVLs. In a few days Saratoga, Bunker Hill, Constellation, Prince of Wales, North Carolina, Indiana, and escorting DDs leave for the West Coast.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
The end to your pilot micromanagement woes - if your opponent agrees:
Assuming Allied Air groups arrive as reinforcements when they are available for deployment and operational, not at some date prior to that to conduct advanced / operational training. And the allied pilot pool should trained pilots by 1943 (as defined by the game as 50+ by the way). Then you with Miller permission's can edit your game data base of the Allied (and Japanese) basic pilot skill. The change would become active next time you load the game.
As for the Japanese - I would also edit up the skill of their limited pool pilots especially for 1942.
Very interesting tug-of-war developing in the Ambon region.
Ambon in the Air: The KB slipped up close to Ambon to cover troops and supplies unloading there. Over two days, scores of Allied 4EB and SBD sortied escorted by my most experienced pilots in the best aircraft - P38H, P-47D, and F4U1 among them. The Allies came out on the short end - losing 150 aicraft to about 40. However, Allied 4EB are still able to fight their way through and bang up the airfield.
Ambon at Sea: Lots of ships in confined quarters with subs - especially Allied subs - scoring. Single TTs were put into a Japanese CVL and into CV Akagi (also, CVE Taiyo was torpedoed about six days ago). A number of AKs have been hit. The Allies lost a DD and a few AKs. SBDs from Morotai hit a few more AKs.
Ambon on the Land: The back-to-back Allied shock attacks on the 21st and 22nd were very unusual. The first came off at 1:3, dropped forts to one, but cost the Allies far more casualties. But the Allies came back the next day, didn't drop forts, but inflicted far more casualties on the Japanese. The Japanese are landing a new division here, so the battle will escalate.
Give and then Take: After the first two days I nearly committed several Allied DD TFs, but finally decided to withdraw and leave the battle to subs and 4EB for now. The deciding factor was my belief that this battle will turn into a meatgrinder in favor of the Allies - 4EB should be able to keep the base closed and prevent the IJA from rebuilding forts; and the Allies can get reinforcements in under cover of LRCAP from Boela, a level six airbase. In fact, as soon as the KB leaves the first reinforcements will come in. A second wave will be formed from the troops currently landing at Milne Bay. This little campaign has already cost the Japanese.
Milne Bay: These landings are going well - 800 AV ashore facing about 90 AV - what's left of 25th Division and a few other units (Miller was evacuating Milne Bay). This base should fall in a day or two. The transports will remain at Milne and re-embark the big U.S. Cavalry Division and 185th Regiment, which will immediately begin prepping for Ambon. I'll leave behind perhaps 100 AV, two engineer units, and about 50 base force capacity. This base provides welcome security for the transport traffic heading from SoPac to Darwin.
Burma: Allied troops still advancing on Rangoon/Pegu. No sign of movement by the IJA garrisons.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
Give and then Take: After the first two days I nearly committed several Allied DD TFs, but finally decided to withdraw and leave the battle to subs and 4EB for now. The deciding factor was my belief that this battle will turn into a meatgrinder in favor of the Allies - 4EB should be able to keep the base closed and prevent the IJA from rebuilding forts; and the Allies can get reinforcements in under cover of LRCAP from Boela, a level six airbase. In fact, as soon as the KB leaves the first reinforcements will come in. A second wave will be formed from the troops currently landing at Milne Bay. This little campaign has already cost the Japanese.
Good move. [:)]
One of the reasons for Allied superiority is the flexibility to chose which service(s) can bear the best results without too much attrition.
Sometimes I have a hard time accepting this and it nearly always has negative effects:
You will gain the advantage of numbers in every service. Not just air, but naval units, submarines, ground troops, type variation, technology, supplies.
The art is to decide which combination of forces suits your goal the most in a certain area and inflicts casualties with losses you can handle (or where the Japanese
player has the hardest time to react to the threat - like submarines).
You don´t always need to fight the air attrition war, there are many other ways.
11/25/43 and 11/26/43
Ambon: Status quote here - the KB remains on station as transports unload. Miller also brought along a bunch of CMs to increase the mine level. No major air/sea clashes over these two days. I've formed six new PT TFs at Boela to move out and see if they can interdict the carrier TFs. Also, a fast DD TF from Saulaki will try a jab at the transports at Ambon. Miller is trying to keep the airfield open and I'm trying to shut it down. Right now it's a close thing, but eventually I think the Allies will prevail when the KB moves off. I have ships loaded with troops and supplies (with plenty of minesweepers) ready to move to Ambon as soon as the KB vacates.
Milne Bay: My desire to get in and get out quickly won't be entirely realized. The first Allied attack came off at 1:2 (despite raw AVs of 700 to 90), didn't touch six forts, but did claim 729 casualties to 230. That's a good indication that by sheer weight of numbers the base should fall fairly soon. We'll try a deliberate attack tomorrow. Frances bombers sortied from Rangoon, but the CVE-provided CAP handled them readily. All empty transports leave for Townsville tonight. Some will return to cart off the surplus units once the base is taken.
Rangoon: All units are now advancing into Rangoon and Pegu, respectively. Miller doesn't show any signs of wavering. I'll know in about four days whether the Allies have a chance of accomplishing anything here. If the Allies could take Pegu it would isolate Rangoon.
IJN Cruisers: I think the recent battles have really taken a toll on Japanese cruisers. Confirmed losses have been high, and recently some of the cruisers Miller prefers to use for combat TFs have been sighted in carrier TFs. If cruisers are in short supply it will be hard for Miller to successfully oppose Allied CA/CL TFs.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
Ambon: The PT TFs tangled with a Japanese carrier TF, putting three TTs into CV Kaga, which later in the day took two 1,000 pounders from SBD. I think Kaga is finished and, if so, that helps balance the carrier situation a bit. During Miller's operation to reinforce Ambon Allied subs and PT boats have put those three TT into Kaga, one into Akagi, one into a CVL, and one into a CVE. Miller did deposit two units - one an Army division - at Ambon bumping the garrison all the way up to about 35k troops. It will take the Allies some time and effort to take this island after coming oh so close a few weeks ago (dropping forts from 4 to 1). The Allies seem to be getting the better of the Japanese in keeping the airfield torn up - important for air superiority but also to prevent the Japanese from rebuilding forts.
Eastern DEI: With the KB on the way back to Palau, the Allies will move. Reinforcing engineers and supplies are heading to Alor (west of Lautem); minesweepers, troop transports, and combat TFs are heading to Ambon, and troop transports and combat TFs are heading to Manikwari. All these TFs were loaded and at sea, so they should arrive within two or three days.
Milne Bay: Back-to-back deliberate attacks dropped forts from six to four and cost the Japanese 3x casualties. The first attack came off at 2:1. I expect Milne to fall to the Allies within three days.
Damaged Capital Ships: The Allied TF with damaged capital ships arrived at Auckland. Next stop is Christmas Island (or, if "temporarly flotation device" failures become a problem, Pago Pago). Here are the stats on the damaged big ships: Saratoga (5 12 7), Bunker Hill (0 2 1), Constellation (12 15 22), Washington (4 11 0), Indiana (28 8 3), and Prince of Wales (23 11 26). None of them are really hard hit.
Burma: All troops have arrived at Rangoon and Pegu, respectively, and will try probing bombardments tomorrow. I am disappointed that this move in force on Pegu didn't "scare" Miller into thinking his Rangoon garrison was threatened with isolation. He's either so strong he isn't concerned or (far less likely) he's already evacuated sizeable cadres from all the units at Rangoon.
Edit: Forgot to mention that the DD TF from Saumlaki caught a Japanese transport convoy at Ambon, sinking six xAK, two E, and one PG.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
Normally I wont risk moving a ship with major flot damage and sizeable sys damage, like Indianna and PoW. Could you have them lay over in Aukland on pierside repair to get the sys damage down a bit?
Also have you considered the repair yard at CapeTown (can't recall it's size right now with no game here at work).
Sorry to hark back to the pilot exp saga, but I find some people get confused between experience and skill levels. Miller might be saying he has high exp pilots but is he really referring to their air skill ? At game start most pilots have high exp - they are career pilots and veterans. Replacements have no such luxury of years of life experience.
The 'minimalist approach' to pilot training which I believe you are adopting will turn out higher skill levels, but maybe at the expense of being one dimensional pilots, skilled in air or bombing or search etc. Your references to experience of about 40 after months of training is correct if you are referring to pilot Experience (that only goes up very slowly). Being at school will give you the skills but not the experience - that comes from the 'real life world of hard knocks' (and as a dev once mentioned requires front line action to raise appreciably).
Just some thoughts.....
Some great moves these last few turns, that's a lot of damage for the limited naval forces you employed. It's an interesting situation that is developing now, what are your plans if even more Japanese reinforcements find there way to Ambon ?
FOW: I wrote down the damage levels of my ships so that I can monitor them each turn. If problems develop there are several big ports on the route home well-situated for diversion - Suva, Pago Pago, Christmas Island, and Pearl Harbor. As for pilot training, I'm the poster-child for people who are having a hard time wrapping their heads around the different pilot-experience categories. I have routinely conused experience with the different skills. I'm starting to get a better handle on things.
Smeulders: I feel good about the developments around Ambon and I wonder if Miller will become increasingly reluctant to commit the KB to those confined waters? Ambon has become our Guadalcanal. I have a feeling Miller won't try another KB-covered reinforcement mission, but I do expect smaller TFs and air transport. It will take a big reinforcement from the Allies to wrest control of the base from 35k Japanese. I don't mind, though, becuase I'd like Miller to keep fighting over Ambon because it's in territory either controlled by the Allies or at least heavily guarded by the Allies. In the short term, the Allies will continue the bombing campaign to keep the airfield closed and to prevent rebuilding of forts. In the medium term I think the Allies will try to take Namlea, which is currently garrisoned by just 6k troops. Namlea can be built to the same size as Ambon (4 port/6 airfield) and would effectively neutralize the base, allow the Allies to begin projecting power forward, and probably persuade Miller that reinforcing Ambon isn't viable long term.
DEI: With the KB back at Paula the Allies moved forward immediately, making reinforcing landings at Manikwari and at Ambon. I expect Miller to strike with combat ships - most likely at Manikwari. I was pleasantly suprised that the minesweepers and transports didn't encounter minefields at Ambon. The 4EB and Japanese CAP continue to war over Ambon, with things going the way of the Allies as best I can tell.
Milne Bay: Two more deliberate attacks further erode the Japanese defenses, dropping forts to 2, coming in at 2:1 and 3:1, and inflicting 1000 to 200 casualties. Milne should fall tomorrow. The "permanent" garrison will be about 100 AV, enough base force to handle 50 aicraft, and two engineer units to build this up to a size 6 port. At some point later the Allies may move toward Lae or Lunga/Shortlands, but not any time soon. Most importantly, though, Allied control of Milne lessens the risk of IJN raiders hitting Townsville and Noumea.
Burma: Interesting face off at Rangoon and Pegu. At Rangoon, the Japanese have 1100 AV while the Allies have 1700. With urban terrain and big forts, I don't believe the Allies can accomplish anything by attacking except to harm themselves. At Pegu, however, the Japanese have just 282 AV (two regiments) facing 1400 Allied AV (unfortunately, though, more than half the Allied AV is low experience Chinese divisions). The Allies will try a deliberate attack and will look at reinforcing this base. There is certainly a chance the Allies can threaten Pegu, so I think Miller will siphon off a unit or two from Rangoon.
Balancing Strengths and Weaknesses: The Allied high command is wrestling with the situation in the DEI and forward as we head into 1944. Taking bases occupied by 25K or more troops is very hard, especially if those troops are behind four or more forts. It may make more sense to bypass bases when alternative bases can be taken that can be built to similar size, and when Japansese control of said base doesn't pose an inordinate threat. In the short term, I think it's prudent to take most of the big eastern DEI bases as they pose a threat to Allied security - so I think the Allies will move on Kendari, Ternate, and Manado. After that, however, it may be possible to avoid Davao, Tarakan, etc. in favor of nearby bases that will be easier to take. Part of my thinking is that there's still some tough fighting to take place in the next few months so that the Allies need to move carefully. Eventually, however, the Allies should "break the backs" of the foes, so that ever-increasing Allied strength and steadily diminishing Japanese strength permits the Allies to move faster and leave a few Japanese bases behind.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
If you're not already committed to returning and you have supplies in Auckland, why don't you put POW on Critical pier repair in Auckland, and send an ASW guard to meet her there. I would think AUckland could do about as well as anywhere on getting the SYS damage down on one ship.
PS congrats on recovering your balance in the DEI. Fine work!
Now that we have played deeply into the game, I thought I might comment on a variety of issues that have seemed to affect the balance in our game. Bear in mind this is Scenario Two, the Allies are now on the offensive, but the Japanese remain mighty in terms of carriers and the air war.
1. Submarines vs. Capital Ships: With respect to damage or destruction of capital ships, the Japanese had a devastating advantage until recently. IJN subs have sunk at least three Allied BBs and damaged five more. Up through the autumn of '43 the Allies had damaged BB Yamato and that was about it. Over the past month, though, Allied subs have torpedoed Mutsu, sunk CV Hiyo, and damaged CV Akagi, a CVL, and a CVE. IJN subs torpedoed CV Constitution resulting in damage that caused or contributed to her destruction later in the day. Subs success vs. capital ship is a matter of luck and I'd say it's fairly even in the game at this point.
2. Submarines v. merchant shipping: IJN subs have been devastating, especially from mid '42 to mid' 43. The Allies have lost a tremendous number of tankers and transports. Despite the calendar improvements in torpedo quality, Allied subs are lagging badly in damage to Japanese merchant shipping. Even if the Allies go on a tear for the remainder of the war I doubt they'll equal Japan's score. This situation has been affected, no doubt, by player tactics, random luck, and various patches and hot fixes that have addressed the sub wars.
3. ASW vs. subs and vice-versa: Before certain patches, IJN subs wrought terrible havoc on ASW. Those tendencies have been toned down, so Allied subs haven't returned the favor. I think ASW TFs are fairly impotent in the game (at least since some early patches), but Allied combat TFs have been murder on Japanese subs. The IJN has lost a huge number of subs in the game - factors of Miller's aggressive employment of the weapon, Allied combat TF success, and early-war ASW success before patching.
4. Air War: My failure to engage in certain aspects of pilot management are well known, but there are a few aspects of the air war that seem skewed irrespective of pilot training: (1) the Japanese are able to replace massive losses in both aircraft and pilots without missing a beat. In the real war Japan would have been crippled by the losses Miller has suffered, but not in AE. (2) CAP seems too porous against strike aircraft. Overall in the war the Japanese have lost about 1700 more aircraft than the Allies, but the Allies consistently lose any dogfights over Japanese bases and any massive air/carrier TF battles over either fleet. The Japanese also have a far, far better ability to reach out at long distances and really tag Allied shipping - Betty, Nell, and Frances bombers are tough at very long range. Allied bombers are nearly worthless at long range.
5. Artillery: Early in the game artillery was nuclear and absolutely destroyed Chinese troops and prepared positions. The developers have done a commendable job trying to address this problem. Now artillery seems fairly weak against units - at least units in prepared positions with forts of four or more. While I'm on the offensive now and wish my artilllery was more effective, I believe that the game is better by not permitting wholesale slaughter in China. IE, better that artillery be too weak than too strong, IMO.
6. Bombardments: Usually ship bombardments are relatively ineffective, at least against well-fortified positions, but on occasion I'll see one that really plasters an airfield and port. The weak effect can be frustrating, given the awesome effect of BBs in WitP, but it's much closer to reality. Bombardments in the Pacific in WWII might disrupt operations for awhile, but usually casualties and damage to infrastructure were pretty light.
7. Forts: Forts are really tough - units behind four or more forts are tough nuts to crack. I like this aspect of the game. It prevents one side from invading and capturing a well-prepared enemy base in a day or two. For instance, in my game an Allied army of 700 AV just invaded a Japanese base held by 90 AV behind six forts. The Allies will take the base, as you'd expect given the numbers, but it will have taken a good ten days or more. This means the Allies have to carefully prepare and plan for invasions that are tough (like Iwo Jima and Peleliu) rather than some of the "presto conquests" we'd see in WitP.
8. Overall Game Balance and Experience: Our experience with Scenario Two is that it is much more balanced than was our match in WitP. We have dealt with certain issues that we felt potentially unbalanced the game and parted with history, but overall this has been an immensely exciting and absorbing experience for both both of us. Before AE was released I was concerned that by reigning in the Japanese a bit it might lose some of the excitement of WitP, but that isn't the case, at least for a Scenario Two match between opponents of roughly equal experience.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
According to Miller it's identical in both scenarios once you get past the opening cadre. He says the Japanese start with a higher quality pilot in Scenario Two, but once they are gone the replacements and the training process are identical to Scenario One.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
K, jus wondering. Thanks to this AAR, I have a lot of idea's about how to play with the allied pilots in my PBEM, which, Singapore is going to fall before New Years, due to the Mersing Gambit. Looks like my war will last well into '46, given the extra couple months worth of fuel/oil he'll get from a rapid conquest of the DEI.
I didn't care for "waste of digital space" of having all those squadrons on the WC that were scheduled to be withdrawn in January, Feb '42... so I disbanded a number of them on Turn 1, and now I'm kinda upset that I could have stocked them with crap pilots and trained the heck out of them, then taken out the pilots and disbanded/withdrawan the squad. oh well.
RE: Air War, I personally have no issue with more planes getting through CAP. I think it's more realistic, in battle it's certainly possible for groups to get through a big CAP, especially in early-war. I like it compared to the WITP Uber-Cap. I think this favors both sides equally.
There is no doubt that the Japanese in AE can exceed historical aircraft production, and man them with acceptable pilots. I like it in game terms, but it's not historical, at least not from the pilot training perspective.
If you wanted it closer to history, I would probably end on-map training althogether, increase the starting EXP of Allied pilots out of the pool into the 60s or 70s, and increase Japanese pilots out of the pool into the 50s. That would produce a divergence in pilot quality. I would still allow pilots to get better through battle experience.
I did the same thing - I was especially "proud" when I found "useless" restricted units that I could withdraw early and earn political points.
Meanwhile, I was reading Q-Ball's AAR where he would talk about Nav-B and Nav-T, scratch my head, and wonder, "What is he talking about? Are we playing the same game?"
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
As far as I know, when you set training, you can set your secondary mission to train in that specific area. I usually have my fighter groups training "Escort" or "Sweep", my heavy bombers training "airfield", my torp planes and any other LBA that will most likely be used against ships, to "naval"...transports to 'transport'...etc.etc.etc. A majority of bombers squadrons, however, train "general" because, well, not sure how I"m going to use those squads yet, and don't want a "Ground Bombing skill @ 99" to be attacking ships when their naval skill is "40" (for example).
But I will interject, that I do not know if this is wad.
ORIGINAL: Q-Ball
RE: Air War, I personally have no issue with more planes getting through CAP. I think it's more realistic, in battle it's certainly possible for groups to get through a big CAP, especially in early-war. I like it compared to the WITP Uber-Cap. I think this favors both sides equally.
I like the fact that there are "bleeders," too, but in many of my combats I'm seeing only a small percentage of Japanese strike aircraft and escorts actually shot down by CAP or fighters. IE, for an incoming raid of 100 aircraft I might see only 5 or 10 shot down, which seems unrealistic. Of couse, some of this may be FOW - perhaps many more of the aircraft are actually being splashed.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
P.S. But I don't mean for this to develop into a debate over the merits of CAP. I'm just making observations about a variety of issues in the game. Overall, the game is offering us a level of balance and excitement that is really remarkable.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
