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

[Canoerebel]

Nearly everybody who has followed this AAR knew the war was over in late '42 even though two-plus years of fighting remained.  There were two major errors made on the part of Japan:

1)  Strategic:  Failing to adequately prepare for the defense of the DEI.
2)  Operational:  Failing to anticipate Q-Ball's move on Timor (paired with taking the bait of Q-Ball's mock invasion in CenPac while he was actually moving on Timor).

Not only did Q-Ball get an amazing headstart in the DEI, the entire area was essentially vacant so that Q-Ball was able to steadily advance all the way to the doorstep of Mindanao.  That's a vast chunk of territory that was essentially unguarded.  Many of the biggest bases taken by Q-Ball have been vacant or lightly garrisoned.  I don't think he's gotten bogged down in a single major land battle to this point.

There have been a number of clashes in the DEI that could have slowed Q-Ball had they gone the other way - the carrier clash near Ambon being one instance.  But the odds were that Cuttlefish would make mistakes because he was reacting under emergency conditions - having to do everything possible to slow the Allies.  "Haste makes mistakes."

Cuttlefish is a good player and has made some good stands, but all has been in vain since late 1942.

Q-Ball has taken some lumps, but because of his grand strategic victory in the DEI they are insignificant.

This game pits two very good players who are also gentlemen, so it's great fun to watch.

[Q-Ball]

Thanks Canoe, and that's probably about right. As soon as I got into the DEI it was trouble for the Empire, but I seem to be constantly moving JUST ahead of the Japanese ability to build bases. The few stacks I have run into, Menado and Mindinao, I have bypassed and bombed; no reason to slug it out with the IJA if you don't have to.

The key I think has been moving fast, prepping ahead, and keeping the logistical tail flowing, by that meaning base troops, SeaBees, AV support, supplies, fuel, etc. I spend alot of time forming convoys and moving various stuff to the DEI, then forward. I also constantly close major bases to move the support forward; Koepang nowadays is very quiet with a small garrison, and several former major bases like Waingapu and Maumere are completely empty. I need the base troops elsewhere. All ground troops are constantly prepping for targets ahead; I am already prepping for Luzon, and will probably start someone soon on Okinawa.

It's not over, as Cuttlefish still has assets, particularly the IJN surface fleet, which is still mostly there. He has lost 3 BBs and some CAs, but for the most part it's intact, and I have alot of BBs lost or under repair. Obviously as far as Carrier power, the game is over: I have only lost 3 CVEs and HERMES permanently.

I wonder how long it will take for him to have fuel shortages. If the gas runs out completely in Japan, he'll have to throw in the towel. I suspect though he has a large stockpile.

[Canoerebel]

Your situation is very different from mine even though our strategies were essentially identical.  I'm one year ahead of you in game terms, but I haven't gotten as far as you.  So, what happened to slow me down?  Here's the main differences:
 
1.  My opponent and I played a match in WitP in which my main vector of attack was through the DEI.  So he was alert to the possibility I might do so again.  He therefore acted prudently to build and strongly garrison a large network of bases.
2.  Even so, I nearly got the jump on him.  As I was advancing into the DEI he was scrambling to take empty Dutch bases and to occupy important bases like Lautem and Morotai.  Had I been able to move even two weeks earlier, I think I would've been in much better shape.
3.  I couldn't move quicker because I lost several major carrier battles and was at a decided carrier disadvantage throughout '43 and into early '44.  Bad, bad me (or good, good opponent...or both).
4.  The impact of Scenario Two may have contributed a little - I think the Japanese get four more infantry divisions, more destroyers, and a little bit of a bump in pilot quality or numbers or something.
5.  I have avoided much of the pilot training micromanagement routine while my opponent has vigorously pursued it (I think).  This may account for the terrible record of Allied dive bombers and torpedo bombers in the game to date.
 
I'm having a blast comparing our two games because they are so utterly different.

[Grfin Zeppelin]

Well you just easened his fuel problem Very nice AARs indeed, from both of you. I realy realy enjoyed it.

[Venividivici10044]

PRICELESS!!!!

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball (post 902)

What Next?: We should probably count our lucky stars, cut our losses, and go home. Live to fight another day. Not take any risks, and keep the fleet intact. After all, we don't want to do anything TOO dangerous.

One problem though: We are the freakin' Navy! Are we going to take this? NO! There is only one thing left to do: ATTACK!

Q-Ball, Nice Victory; you and Cuttlefish are A-plus! My thinking though...it was over when the Hibiki went down!

[Q-Ball]

Combat Report, June 30-July 1, 1943:

Thanks everyone for nice comments! Glad to see there are readers out there.

The Empire got a couple licks in the last couple days...one was a straight-up kill, another due to my supidity.

WASP sunk!: The biggest news: I-33 sinks WASP off Tarakan! This CV has been a torp magnet the whole game, and finally succumbed. The first torp separated her from the pack, and 3 more hits following sent her down.

The reality is that this isn't a big deal. I am beginning to get some CVs as reinforcements. For the next few days I'll be down to LEX,ESSEX, and VICTORIOUS, but HORNET and ENTERPRISE are finishing repairs, and several new ones are coming online. YORKTOWN needs a month or so of yard time as well.

That was my first fleet Carrier lost during the war (I don't count HMS HERMES as a fleet carrier).

Waypoints are your Friend: I accidently sent a large convoy right off Lunga; Bettys found it, and sank 7 transports. I can't tell if I lost a land unit, I had at least 8 unnits on there including AIR HQs, Aviation Units, and 2 Marine Regts. OUCH! That was pretty stupid on my part.

San Jose: I am loading an invasion force for San Jose, on the island of Panay. Panay appears unoccupied, and can be developed into 3 large airbases. I will use this island to control the Phillipine arichipelago, and provide a springboard for Luzon.

The major airbases right now in the archipelago appear to be Tacloban and Legaspi, both size-7.

[Canoerebel]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

Wapoints are your Friend: I accidently sent a large convoy right off Lunga; Bettys found it, and sank 7 transports. I can't tell if I lost a land unit, I had at least 8 unnits on there including AIR HQs, Aviation Units, and 2 Marine Regts. OUCH! That was pretty stupid on my part.

Sometime during 1943 in my game a juicy Allied transport TF wandered off course and slid right by enemy-held Milne Bay and Port Moresby. Japanee LBA savaged the TF. My opponent couldn't figure out what it was doing there - I explained that I had lost track of it (the TF was moving from the West Coast to Townsville and took a short cut apparently). But I think my opponent wondered if it was some kind of strange invasion or diversion effort.

So perhaps Cuttlefish will think you were about to invade Lunga.

[Q-Ball]

Combat Report, July 2-5, 1943:

Saturday Morning, and I had time to do some AE housekeeping. I usually spend 10-15 minutes on a turn, but every so often an hour or two to check everything on the map. Those "LONG" turns I usually:
-Check/Re-Set all Subs on Patrol, set new Patrols
-Check/Re-think all land unit Preps
-Move transports around to where they are needed
-Create large convoys on the US West Coast of whatever arrived lately that is useful, and move it forward

Among other things, I discovered that the garrison of Nome, AK, has been starving more months! They are almost gone! Can't they have sent a letter or something?

DEI: Been quiet lately, as I am building bases at Puerto Princesa and Jesselton. We will land a division on Panay shortly to establish bases there, and a landing tommorow at Pontianak. Another landing is planned at Talaud Island. Most of these are just tightening the noose around sealanes.

Other than that, the only other plan is a raid on Singapore. There are alot of ships in the harbor under Air cover, so I plan a 3-day 4E and CV raid on the port, to clear that out once and for all. I hope to drive Japanese shipping out of the South China Sea altogether, which will cut more OIL/FUEL shipments.

OPERATION PINNACLE: See map below; I am planning a major invasion of Burma, this time using all unrestricted units. I have been prepping and positioning forces, and will be ready for jump-off in a couple weeks. The objective is the capture of the Upper Irriwaddy valley, specifically MAGWE. Magwe is still a source of Oil/Fuel for Cuttlefish via Singapore or Cam Ranh, so this is high on my list to shut down, and part of our grand strategy of cutting FUEL/OIL to Japan.

The main components are:
From Akyab: Several UK Bdes, 18th UK Div, 39th Ind Div, plus most of my Indian Tank Bdes. They will attack Prome and Magwe; the column toward Magwe is mostly the 18th Div.
Lashio: I have spent the past year carefully building the NCAC forces, the non-restricted Chinese troops under Stillwell. They are ready; 2 Large Chinese Corps, almost full-strength, and fully supplied. I sent the 7th Indian Div, plus a Light Tank unit, to support this attack, and give them a little firepower.
Taung GYI: There is a single base force here. I plan to drop all the Chindits right on it at the right time; this, plus the move on Magwe, will threaten to cut off Mandalay/Shwebo, and I hope force him to just abandon it.

Once I have Magwe/Rangoon, not sure what next. I don't know what I would gain invading Siam, since I already have shipping and airpower over the South China Sea. I might be better off just pulling everyone out, and sailing around to the Phillpines. We'll see.

China: We are planning an offensive in China. The main objective is just to get Chinese Troops to the Coast. If I land US Troops on the Chinese Coast, I will need to commit too many US Divisions to just base defense, given all the Japanese troops in China. But if I can get several Chinese Corps to the coast, I can use THEM to protect the airbases, and they will be stronger by having full supplies.

One offensive will be toward Pakhoi/Kwangchung or whatever that French town is; this area is not well garrisoned, and should fall easily. Another leg will attack toward Kukong; this will be much tougher, though I would love to break through and get to Amoy/Soochow and all those places, which are much more important.

[Q-Ball]

Combat Report, July 6-11, 1943

Port Raids in the South China Sea: With the Palawan passage opened, I sent my CVs into the South China Sea to look for Tankers. I recon Singapore every day, and I have noticed a reduction in the number of ships lately.

I raided the Port of Singapore on the 8th via 4Es from Ketapang and Billiton. Over 60 bombers hit the harbor, sinking a couple tankers, a DD, and other smaller craft. That emptied the docks, and the remaining ships are anchored in TFs in the harbor.

A raid on Manila on the 10th sank 5 smaller ships and damaged Sub; mostly I just want to close these ports to shipping.

The CV TF found 2 convoys off Vietnam, wiping out both; about 14 total xAKs and some escorts, nothing important.

The point of all of this? I am clearing the South China Sea of shipping. Once I do that, he can't get any fuel out. Already, it's a pretty tight gauntlett along the Vietnamese coast, subs and bombers everywhere.

I think Cuttlefish is giving up on Fuel shipments. If he can't get to Singapore, he can't get any of the fuel in the DEI. He still has access to Burmese Oil via Cam Ranh, but I am going to be shutting that down at the source within a month or so. At that point, I count about 225 Oil in Manchuria, Taiwan, and Japan. We'll see how far he can get on that production; hopefull not far.

How long can Cuttlefish last without Fuel? Time will tell, but as of now, July 1943, fuel is basically done. He probably doesn't need to build many merchant ships anymore, and might just bag trying to build CVs, all of which would funnel HI into aircraft production which should be the priority.

I have just about accomplished Strategic Objective #1: Cut Fuel/Oil shipments from DEI to Japan.

[ny59giants]

When Japan takes Singapore early in the war, I have seen the AI pull supplies and fuel from Saigon and/or Camrahn Bay if there are lots of troops and ships there. That being said, I wonder if CF would put a large number of ships in Vietnam at Hanoi that the AI would pull up fuel from Singapore or anywhere between there and Hanoi. If I was him, I would try this to see if he can get more fuel out of this area.

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

When Japan takes Singapore early in the war, I have seen the AI pull supplies and fuel from Saigon and/or Camrahn Bay if there are lots of troops and ships there. That being said, I wonder if CF would put a large number of ships in Vietnam at Hanoi that the AI would pull up fuel from Singapore or anywhere between there and Hanoi. If I was him, I would try this to see if he can get more fuel out of this area.

Good to hear from you Michael.

He probably can get the Fuel out of Singers; I thought of that, and we're going to shut that down if we can, by the following:

1. Capture Magwe. That will stop any OIL production on Southeast Asian Mainland
2. He can still shuttle fuel from Medan to Singapore. So, that is why I am:
a. Raiding Singapore Harbor. A force of 2 Australian CAs just sank 20 little ships in the harbor, and bombers are going to hit the port tommorow. The idea is to eliminate anything floating, and
b. Occasional CV raids. I just raiding Medan with my CVs, accross the Malayan peninsula. All they found was a pair of SCs.

I can't do anything about what is already stockpiled in Singapore, but that will probably be a limited supply. I think he already took it all out when all the ships fled earlier, as the xAKs I did find had fuel cargoes (which is why they sank so easily).

[Heeward]

If you still have a few Dutch stranglers left spend a turn and use your flying boats to pick them up. They will rebuild over time and can provide minor garrison support for very small PP cost.

[Q-Ball]

Combat Report, July 12-15, 1943:

Action off San Jose a few days back: A BB TF came out of nowhere centered on KONGO, and tangled with my ships off San Jose; NEVADA took some damage, but we drove them off. Can't remember if I mentioned that.

Pausing for Breath: We have made alot of progress the last few months, and we need to stop a bit and let the base construction catch up; specifically, I need big airbases before I can land on the big one: LUZON.

A clash on Luzon is probably inevitable, and obvious to Cuttlefish. To support a major landing, I need LBA. Lately I have been advancing slightly ahead of my LBA in the interest of Speed, but I need fully-developed airbases before atacking Luzon. So, a 1-month pause is in order while I build those.

3 bases are being built on Panay. Busuanga will be occupied tommorow. I also need to begin moving troops in bulk closer to Luzon, and building 3-4 ports as departure points. At the moment, I plan to assemble and load invasion fleets at Jesselton, Puerto Princesa, and Tarakan. Units are already prepping, but it will take awhile to sort them into groups, and drop them at their assembly port.

So, the next month or so will feature alot of Allied convoy moves, but not much in terms of action. That's OK

Carriers: The other reason for pause is that I need more than 2 fleet CVs to support all this. Help is on the way though: 3 Brand New CVs are headed for the DEI, plus 3 CVLs, and ENTERPRISE and HORNET have completed repairs and are also headed for the DEI. That's alot of new power! Not to mention a half-dozen CVEs are also on the way. That should be plenty.

[Canoerebel]

If Cuttlefish could read that part of your AAR about the Allied carriers on the way to the DEI he would be sick to his stomach.

[Capt. Harlock]

A BB TF came out of nowhere centered on KONGO, and tangled with my ships off San Jose; NEVADA took some damage, but we drove them off. Can't remember if I mentioned that.

Nope, you didn't, but Cuttlefish did in his AAR. I remember you mentioned Nevada as one of the few active battlewagons you had left. Now she's off to the repair yards as well. How are the modern American 16-inchers coming along?

[Q-Ball]

BB situation from Memory (might be a bit off):

Under Repair, US West Coast: 5 TOTAL: Maryland, Idaho, Mississippi,New Mexico, Tennessee (TN is STILL repairing from Pearl Harbor!)
Repaired, In Transit to War Zone: COLORADO, INDIANA
Damaged, moving to Yard: Prince of Wales, Nevada (PoW is OK, save for a busted turret, so it will be a quick trip)
In DEI: Royal Sovereign, South Dakota, Washington, Massachusetts, North Carolina, West Virginia

As you can see, I am still a bit short in the war zone. The Japanese have lost 2 KONGOS and FUSO; another Kongo just ate some shells, and ISE also ate a couple torps, so there are probably 7 IJN BBs operational at the most. I would like to have a larger margin, but I can't complain much. I need to CVs to help neutralize the BBs, or at least finish off any cripples in the event of a battle.

My only permanent losses to date are 3 BBs sunk at Pearl Harbor (Arizona,Oklahoma, California), plus HMS REPULSE, blown up by NAGATO a month ago.

[Canoerebel]

I think Miller and I have both found that a good CA force can handle a good BB force.  IE, lack of BBs isn't as debilitating as one might think as long as one has enough CAs.

[Capt. Harlock]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

I think Miller and I have both found that a good CA force can handle a good BB force.  IE, lack of BBs isn't as debilitating as one might think as long as one has enough CAs.

From what I'm reading on the AAR's, the CA force can prevent the BB's from getting to merchant ships or delivering a bombardment, but at a heavy cost. Especially, if the BB's are the more modern type with speeds of 26 knots or better, the CA's will be neutralized after the second round of combat.

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

I think Miller and I have both found that a good CA force can handle a good BB force.  IE, lack of BBs isn't as debilitating as one might think as long as one has enough CAs.

From what I'm reading on the AAR's, the CA force can prevent the BB's from getting to merchant ships or delivering a bombardment, but at a heavy cost. Especially, if the BB's are the more modern type with speeds of 26 knots or better, the CA's will be neutralized after the second round of combat.

We'll find out probably, because I am short of BBs, and that's about the only weapon Cuttlefish has. I worry most about the YAMATOS; they are intact, and can annihilate anything I have. The old Yamato v New Jersey debate is meaningless when you don't have New Jersey!

Combat Report, July 16-22, 1943:

Sub Wars: I haven't sunk much lately, mostly because there isn't much to sink. Because the flow of OIL is cut-off, I am re-prioritizing my Subs to only support of the Battle fleet. Commerce raiding is pretty much out, because what commerce there is to raid, AKs around Japan, isn't going to change anything. Cuttlefish has more than enough transports at this point.

So, our subs are going to get out our IJN doctrine books and focus on warship hunting. I will still clog the Taiwan strait ahead of my move on Luzon, but otherwise we'll probably innundate all routes back to Japan looking for warships. Not much else I can do at this point.

Meanwhile, the IJN has been busy in a target-rich environment. 2-3 APAs have gone down, plus a DE off Australia. IJN subs are a nuisance, though I have begun to sink a few with improved ASW.

LITP: This week, and the next 2 weeks are gametime are lots of shifting priorities. I am moving most base elements from Makassar and Balikpapan, which are now emptying out into rear-area bases. Puerto Princesa will be my primary base, along with Brunei, which I am going to build-out to Size-6 port, the biggest one in the region for me. I am moving all groundtroops to 3-4 collection points for the move on Luzon. I am actually short of APs, all of them are busy at the moment moving things; I actually found 20 more AKs to convert, but I am out of those. Note to Allied players: Convert ALOT of AKs to APs, as many as you can. I have plenty of Cargo ships, despite all the moves.

I am also loading up massive supply convoys. I have alot of supplies stored on board ships in forward ports, for rapid deployment.

I am also moving Fuel. Taking Balikpapan helped alot, but I still burn more fuel than Balikpapan makes.

Burma: 65,000 Allied troops, mostly the un-restricted Chinese (NCAC), 7th Indian Div., and a Tank Regt, are moving on Lashio, where the garrison is reported as 27,000. I don't have enough to take it, in other words. I just want to pin enough troops to allow the Indian Corps moving on Magwe to take it, and the large force moving on Prome.

I would like to clear Burma, then lift out everything for other theaters. I am already starting to move the Brits to the DEI: 5th Indian Division is going directly to the Phillipines instead of Burma.

[ny59giants]

Can you have transport TF "follow" sub TF?? I wonder if this will help you if he sends a SC TF at you?? At least you might have a chance to hit a BB before it gets you. Our modern USN always has at least one fast attack sub along and I wonder how it could be done in AE.

Burma - I would push down to Moulmein or a little further to allow you to open up supplies to China again. They could use a couple hundred thousand worth of supply.

How are Beauforts doing in your game?? I loved them in WITP with their torpedoes. Their range now with P-38s should make a deadly combo.