Hunting the Hibiki: Q-Ball (Allies) v Cuttlefish (Japan)

[Q-Ball]

Combat Report, April 28, 1943

OUCH! Remember when I said the IJN CVs would probably strike tommorow? Why didn't I put more CAP up? WHY? [:-]

Well, I paid for that mistake. Waves of Japanese Carrier Planes punched through my paltry LRCAP of 30-ish planes, and did a number on the ships offshore at Tarakan. Even worse, I really didn't need to keep those BBs there in retrospect. It was stupid.

If I'm lucky, I'll only lose Pennsylvania, but even so I will be seriously short of BBs now for most of 1943, as this kind of damage will take awhile. THIS REALLY HURTS!

I don't care about CL Richmond, and the damage to HMS Revenge is no big deal, since she has to withdraw anyway.

THAT was a Japanese Victory for sure, hard to call it a "Battle" when it was really just a slaughter.

I'll be double-pissed if I don't take Tarakan now, but I have really put myself in a pickle.

Attached is the damage report. I see Cuttlefish posted on his AAR, so you can probably read all about it over there as well.

[Canoerebel]

I feel your pain.  My list of lost BBs is lengthy.  Best of luck getting those ships to port and out of harm's way.

The weird thing about AE is that combat TFs seem to perform better without BBs.  I've noticed that as an Allied player and I think Miller would confirm as a Japanese player.  In our game, CA/CL/DD TFs generally rip apart TFs with BBs.  So...who needs 'em! (though they do make good torpedo sponges in carrier TFs).

[Q-Ball]

I guess that's a silver lining, but this is a game-changer in 1943 anyway. All of these BBs should be off the board through 1943 at least. Bummer about Pennsylvania, she just finished repairing Pearl Harbor damage only a couple months ago!

Here is the status of all my BBs:

In Service, No Damage:
Prince of Wales, South Dakota, Massachussetts,Washington,North Carolina,Nevada,Royal Soveriegn,Ramillies,Resolution. The 3 R-Class ships all JUST finished repairs, and are steaming to reinforce.

Damaged:
Repulse, West Virginia are operational, but each have 10 points of Major Float.
Colorado, Indiana are undergoing repair, and due for completion in 50 days each
Tennessee is still 6 months from full repair of the damage from Pearl Harbor!

SUNK: Arizona, Oklahoma,California,Pennsylvania. The first three went down at Pearl Harbor in Dec, 1941.

The rest you can see on the screen above, and are definitely DAMAGED!

[Chickenboy]

Well, that certainly qualifies for the beeg fight I proposed.  Apparently, he had a difference of opinion with you regarding your choice of destinations.

ETA: You may want to think about getting them further south than Balikpapan. He may be able to range over Borneo with LBA or cut off the Western corner and strike from the vicinity of Billiton. Any ARs or ARDs in theatre?

[Canoerebel]

Q-Ball, you're of course suffering a bit from the shock of a swift and destructive blow, but you'll regain your equilibrium momentarily if not already. I just read the LONG list of BBs you have in theater - believe me, you are in GREAT shape. If you're down to just one or two for months at a time and it has you down, give me a shout and I'll tell you how the Allies can operate for months with just BB Royal Sovereign in the DEI.

P.S. Keep up the great work.

[CaptBeefheart]

Wow, exciting AAR. Good to see some fight left in the IJN.

I agree with Canorebel in that BBs aren't all that great anyway. Besides, you've still got quite a few. I would take it in stride--you're almost in position to put the final nail on the Empire's coffin and it's only April 1943.

Cheers,
CC

[Canoerebel]

Q-Ball, are you keeping an AAR in your other game (the one in which you are the evil Japanese leader)?  It would be very interesting to see how you implement in that game the things you've learned in this one.  So, if you aren't, please do!

[Q-Ball]

I just updated the other AAR, maybe I'll revive it for good, on defending the Empire. Not sure how applicable it is, it's been a crazy game with alot of blood all around; certainly alot more than this game.

Combat Report, April 29-May2, 1943

The last few days have featured some good, some bad. First, the bad news:

Tarakan: Not only did I suffer alot of damage to BBs, the forces I landed were insufficient; successive 1-3 attacks with no fort drops! I failed to include any tanks or an HQ, which could tip the balance. DOH! Nothing is worse than stranding a bunch of guys. Now what?

Well, we need to reinforce. A Japanese surface TF visited Tarakan, but I had moved everything back by then. Still, the IJN is likely to contest another landing.

I have 1 Tank Bn 100% prepped for Tarakan (I forgot to bring it); I think if I get that, plus an HQ there I can tip the balance. I don't have any other troops prepped, so putting a unit there with no prep is probably not a good idea. I am prepping a Brigade to land at the base just south, which is (1) sps port and (2) Sps airbase. I probably should have just landed there in the first place, but I think landing there now is a good idea.

It will probably take a month or so to straighten this one out. Obviously, this is a pretty botched operation.

Subs!: I-155, a.k.a. the HIJMS Bane of My Existance, sank CVE Sangamon off Donggla! This is the same sub that has damaged Enterprise twice, and also sent Wasp to the yards for 3 months. This is the first clean sinking though by that sub. OUCH! Thankfully, I have more CVEs coming, looking at the reinforcement queue they REALLY start rolling out in 1944.

And now the good news.........
BBs: All the damaged BBs safely made Makassar; we will spend a couple turns pumping out, then move them to the US West Coast (except Revenge, which will be withdrawn). They are pretty much done for the DEI campaign; by the time they are repaired, 1944, I can use them to support a landing on Wake Is., which is somewhere in my plans to open a supply route to the Mariannas.

Bandjermasin: With the IJN CVs in the South China Sea, and short 75 planes, plus the surface groups there, the time was ripe for a quick landing on Bandjermasin. I expected no naval resistance because they were occupied at Tarakan, and I had suppressed Soerbaya.

I landed 2 Regts from APAs in just a turn, and one 9-1 attack captured the place! BAM! That was too easy.

Taking this base does open some possibilities up the other coast of Borneo. We'll see what the next moves are, but looks like either way, I am committed to clearing Borneo.

[Q-Ball]

Combat Report, May 3, 1943

Not much happened today, but posting a map of the latest at Bandjermisan.

Combined Fleet is gathering at Singpore. There is a CV TF transiting north of Mindanao toward the west; didn't know he pulled CVs from the area, maybe they were raiding?

[Q-Ball]

Combat Report, May 4-8, 1943

Next Steps: I have usually been trying to move fast, and not let the grass grow under our feet; or the IJA, whatever. From playing the Japanese side, I know that the IJA expands rapidly in the late 1943, and into 1944, with numerous new brigades, some divisions, and lots of new troops. I want to keep pushing, to keep the IJA from setting up shop. Given this, I am organizing a couple shoestring advances, to keep the pressure on.

Sampit: A brigade is loading shortly for Sampit; this one Australian Bde is prepped. Follow-on will consist of some base forces. I am keeping the TF small, I am using APAs which unload fast, but I don't want to lose 10 in one turn, so I am keeping them separated. They are like GOLD!

Tanjenbasor or whatever that base is south of Tarakan: It's a small base just south of Tarakan; since we are stalled there, I am landing 2 Bns, plus base troops to build an airbase.

Combined Fleet appears to be at Singapore, so I can make a couple quick moves to keep the ball moving forward. All troops are now re-prepping for further spots north and northeast.

As tough as it is to keep moving, it's even tougher on the Japanese to keep up, that is what I am hoping anyway. This is one thing you learn playing the Empire; not to be reckless, but to be moving at a barely-controlled fast pace, where you are JUST barely keeping it together, but moving FAST. SPEED is king!

[Q-Ball]

Latest Map of Borneo

[Q-Ball]

Combat Report, May 10-16, 1943

Imperial Plot: I haven't posted in awhile, due to a large amount of work. I work for a Japanese company; could it be that, in order to save the Empire, Imperial Headquarters ordered the Allied commander to be assigned an urgent project to distract from the war?

If so, it worked!

Sampit Falls: Sampit falls to a 12-1 attack. I needed to send in a few tanks, but that tipped the balance; the garrison, a single SNLF unit, fled into the jungle.

A convoy will be unloading base troops and engineers tommorow. The next stop is Ketapang; I don't have alot of troops prepped for Ketapang, but a move there will surely trigger a large naval battle. I expect reinforcements to be sent there ASAP.

Tarakan: The base south of Tarakan is now level 2 airbase. Reinforcements land tommorow at Tarakan; that should tip it over to the Allied side, with luck. Paras are prepped for Tawau, just up the coast, so I should have these three bases shortly.

Tawau is key, because, by my calculations, I can airsearch with PBYs all the way to the coast of Vietnam from there. If I have airsearch over South China Sea, I can vector a wolfpack of subs on any large convoys. That's the plan, anyway. I am already switching my main sub base to Balikpapan, which has plenty of fuel, and is close to the action.

Sub Wars: This has been the only significant action the last few days, other than the capture of Sampit. I sank 2 TKs, and some AKs, I seem to be averaging almost a ship a day. If I can implement that South China Sea wolfpack, I expect to be able to ratch it up more.

Map Question: Do you guys like the maps WITH airsearch showing, or without?

[CapAndGown]

Maps with air search are good. I should do that too, I suppose. What are you searching with? Just patrol planes? Or do you set a percentage of your bombers to search as well?

[Smeulders]

You seem to be searching far out as well, does this translate into high op-losses ? It seems like air search further out that about 12 hexes has a real impact on those.

[witpqs]

I'm finding that ops losses are manageable with long-range searches. The real culprits for ops losses seem to be:

- Low experience
- Small airfields
- high fatigue (I use no higher than 50% search)

[Smeulders]

Interesting, the small airfields are probably the biggest culprits for the early war at the allied side then, as they are regularly flying from nearly undeveloped bases. Good patrol plane pilots are probably worth a lot too then, the early war ones have decent exp, but if you need to get them from the replacement pools ... 

[Q-Ball]

Airsearch: Good questions! For now, I am using only PBYs, set to 50% Search. I don't go higher than that, and OPS losses seem OK; I have at least 50 extra in the pool. Seems to work.

I don't really have enough PBYs though to cover the Pacific, and the B-24 has a bit more range, so I have been training 2 Bomber Units on NavSearch; they are almost ready, and I calculate from Tarakan they can reach the coast of Vietnam. That will mean EVERY tanker will be under my airsearch, and I'll be able to vector subs onto it. Right now, I pretty much just have to park in sealanes and hope they get run over.

Combat Report, May 18-19, 1943:

Tarakan: I landed reinforcements at Tarakan, including a Battalion of 54 Sherman Tanks. This should hopefully be enough, I attack tommorow.

AMC Worcester: I sent this ship due for withdrawl back to Perth unescorted. Unfortunately, she ran into a sub off Exmouth, and was sunk! I guess I don't have to worry about the withdrawl now.....

[Heeward]

I read Cannonrebel's and your AAR's - both appear to be near the same point. Are you having trouble with medium bombers in naval attack? From prior discussion you are still going toward Mindanao and not Java? Do you believe your land based air power and submarines can shut merchant shipping in the South China Sea?

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: Heeward

I read Cannonrebel's and your AAR's - both appear to be near the same point. Are you having trouble with medium bombers in naval attack? From prior discussion you are still going toward Mindanao and not Java? Do you believe your land based air power and submarines can shut merchant shipping in the South China Sea?

RE: MEDIUM BOMBERS....I haven't used them much at all on Naval attack. The only one I can think of, they sank 2 tankers at Miri with 2 bomb hits, but those were stationary targets. I like the Mediums, because they can sustain a day after day bombing operation better than the 4Es, which have to rest in between.

I am going BOTH directions at the moment; I have the troops, and haven't run into opposition yet, though I have more troops prepped into the Phillipines than I do toward Palembang. Ultimately, I would like to close the South China Sea to Japanese shipping, but I don't think I can do that without landing on Luzon or Vietnam. I can force everything against the Vietnamese coast and flood that area with subs and occasional raiders, but I can't close the door completely without taking Luzon.

Combat Report, May 20-22, 1943

Fall of Tarakan: The reinforcement of Combat Engineers and Shermans did the trick; Tarakan falls after 2 attacks. Simulataneously, 503rd Paras land at Tawau. I have convoys loading up for each base with Seabees and Base Troops. The facilities at Tarakan were pretty trashed, but who cares; the point was to deny them to the Empire.

With this move, I am planning a quick follow-up to Jolo and Sandakan. I have a full division 100% prepped for Jolo (Americal Div.), and another division (2nd marines) prepped for Zamboanga. Sandakan is unoccupied, so a brigade will do. I would like to quickly get to Palawan, which will project airpower into most of the South China Sea.

Sampit: A convoy delivered base troops and stuff to Sampit, making this airbase operational. Ketapang is currently VACANT! I plan to start bombing the airstrip to keep it that way. It's already within SBD range of Sampit, so a convoy is unlikely. An airbase at Ketapang would threaten anything leaving Palembang.

[Q-Ball]

Combat Report, May 23-31, 1943:

It has been several days since I have updated, mostly because work is kicking my butt. I'll pen a few lines right now, because I have a major move in the works: Invasion of Jolo.

Jolo: I am invading Jolo with 15K troops. The airbase is being bombed. We sent fast BBs through Makassar Strait, but they were nailed by Subs (a continuing problem!). I now have 6 BBs in damaged state and needing repair. OUCH!

The invasion fleet is covered by the slow R-Class BBs, plus an RN Cruiser force. All my CVs are also covering, which is basically 4 USN CVs, plus HMS Victorious.

I haven't sighted any IJN warships in awhile, so not sure where they are. They aren't at Singapore, I think Cuttlefish got wise to my constant overflights and isn't basing warships there anymore. All I see are transports.

This invasion is on a bit of shoestring, but so far I have thrown caution to the winds and really pushed forward fast, to keep the Japanese off-balance and not give Cuttlefish time to set up ground defenses.

Other Moves: By moving fast, there are alot of empty bases that are mine for the taking. Recon flights confirm that Ketapang, Tawi Tawi, and Sandakan are empty. All are also now within SBD range, so not much chance of reinforcement. The only large airfield now on Borneo is Kuching.

I also have units prepped for Zamboanga at Balikapapan; they will load and move if Jolo works out.

Subs: I haven't sunk or even seen a transport in a week! This happened 3 months ago and I changed all my patrol routes, and got another spike. I think Cuttlefish is wise to my sub routines. I need more airsearch over the South China Sea to try and spot his convoys; somehow they are getting through.

Looking Ahead: USS Essex is steaming toward the DEI. Hornet and Enterprise will finish repairs in 45 days, at which point I'll be in the midst of the mid-1943 Allied CV explosion: 3 Fleet CVs, and 3 CVLs. That's 9 CV hulls total that will be in the DEI in 3 months or so. WOW!