US Naval War College Communications (Allied only)

[herwin]

December 13/14 1941

This turn smarts!

KB catches and sinks CL Marblehead, Parrott, and Thanet. On the other hand, the air strike against Balikpapan sinks two dinghies.

Invasion at Davao.

Assault of Hong Kong repulsed.

Naga captured.

[herwin]

ORIGINAL: herwin

December 13/14 1941

This turn smarts!

KB catches and sinks CL Marblehead, Parrott, and Thanet. On the other hand, the air strike against Balikpapan sinks two dinghies.

Invasion at Davao.

Assault of Hong Kong repulsed.

Naga captured.

Wish me luck. I have a massive SAG at Batavia (2 capital ships, about 6 cruisers, about eighteen destroyers). I'm predicting the KB will be passing north of Soerabaya this next turn, and I want to hit it at night.

[herwin]

The KB held back. A pity... Some damage due to airstrikes.

December 14/15 1941

Nagara hit by search.

Loss of some warships near Balipapan.

Landings at Davao and Jolo. Victoria Point, Davao, and Shortlands captured.

Johore Maru torpedoed.

[sprior]

The KB held back.

Sneaky Japs. But it would have been fun to watch.

[herwin]

ORIGINAL: sprior

The KB held back.

Sneaky Japs. But it would have been fun to watch.

Perhaps I need to put the boot in.

I just got the Japanese turn. The damage to my SAG was superficial, and the KB is only six hexes away. Yee-haw!

[herwin]

I need some help planning this out. The screen shot shows the SAG--there are ten more undamaged destroyers hidden on a second page. Note all damage is superficial. The KB is five hexes to the east. My goal is to maximise the chance of a successful surface engagement. The KB has three real options--head west (as planned), retreat back, or swing to the east (which is currently empty of targets). If the KB retreats or swings to the east, that's acceptable as long as I'm not a target for her Kates. I suspect the KB is a bit low on ammunition, having hit Manila three times, Davao, Tarakan, and Balikpapan.

[witpqs]

In addition to my comments in your other thread (answering your questions), I think you should make at least one or two additional surface combat TF's.

1) The game engine seems to dislike big TF's during surface combat.

2) Also, some smaller TF's might harry KB and slow it down. With fewer ops points available, the big boys would have an easier time catching it.

3) A couple of smaller TF's could cover additional ground, perhaps slowing KB if they encounter it, and give the big TF time to use the React setting to zero in on it.

[offenseman]

I can only imagine the horror for the IJ player if POW and Repulse get a shot at surface action against KB.  

[herwin]

ORIGINAL: offenseman

I can only imagine the horror for the IJ player if POW and Repulse get a shot at surface action against KB.  

It usually happens in my campaigns.

[Jaroen]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

In addition to my comments in your other thread (answering your questions), I think you should make at least one or two additional surface combat TF's.

1) The game engine seems to dislike big TF's during surface combat.

2) Also, some smaller TF's might harry KB and slow it down. With fewer ops points available, the big boys would have an easier time catching it.

3) A couple of smaller TF's could cover additional ground, perhaps slowing KB if they encounter it, and give the big TF time to use the React setting to zero in on it.

That's some really good information witpqs!
And it seems to have worked!!! Well done Harry.

Asking some extra information from witpqs, I'm really syphoning all the info I can get from the experts, how would you have countered the threat by that STF being the Japanese? I think I'd have formed a screen of small scouting TF's and have moved my CVTF to the south trying to maintain in air strike range of the allied forces. But do you have any recommendations?

[herwin]

ORIGINAL: Jaroen

ORIGINAL: witpqs

In addition to my comments in your other thread (answering your questions), I think you should make at least one or two additional surface combat TF's.

1) The game engine seems to dislike big TF's during surface combat.

2) Also, some smaller TF's might harry KB and slow it down. With fewer ops points available, the big boys would have an easier time catching it.

3) A couple of smaller TF's could cover additional ground, perhaps slowing KB if they encounter it, and give the big TF time to use the React setting to zero in on it.

That's some really good information witpqs!
And it seems to have worked!!! Well done Harry.

Asking some extra information from witpqs, I'm really syphoning all the info I can get from the experts, how would you have countered the threat by that STF being the Japanese? I think I'd have formed a screen of small scouting TF's and have moved my CVTF to the south trying to maintain in air strike range of the allied forces. But do you have any recommendations?

Historically, both sides often detached gunships from their screens and sent them hunting in the no-man's land between the CVTFs. That would probably have preserved the Japanese carriers. Despite that, the KB was simply under-escorted.

[herwin]

ORIGINAL: Jaroen

ORIGINAL: witpqs

In addition to my comments in your other thread (answering your questions), I think you should make at least one or two additional surface combat TF's.

1) The game engine seems to dislike big TF's during surface combat.

2) Also, some smaller TF's might harry KB and slow it down. With fewer ops points available, the big boys would have an easier time catching it.

3) A couple of smaller TF's could cover additional ground, perhaps slowing KB if they encounter it, and give the big TF time to use the React setting to zero in on it.

That's some really good information witpqs!
And it seems to have worked!!! Well done Harry.

Asking some extra information from witpqs, I'm really syphoning all the info I can get from the experts, how would you have countered the threat by that STF being the Japanese? I think I'd have formed a screen of small scouting TF's and have moved my CVTF to the south trying to maintain in air strike range of the allied forces. But do you have any recommendations?

My comment posted elsewhere:

'I just checked the hexes the encounters took place at. Oh, my--you were headed in my direction! I was spread into a scouting line, so you encountered one SAG first, it held your attention, and allowed the other two to close on the flanks. Standard USN night tactics starting in 1943. Ever see the segment in Jurassic Park where the game warden gets attacked by a raptor and says: "Clever girl"?

'That was a Soviet tactic in encounter battles...'

So now we know...

[herwin]

Franklin Delano Roosevelt announces a major battle in the Java Sea. The outcome remains in doubt, but many ships on both sides are damaged or sunk, including the Japanese aircraft carrier Zuikaku.

Ship losses include the Zuikaku, Houston and Exeter. Intel reports the Kaga was also sunk. Flight decks for 83 Kates are still operational.

Jolo captured by the Japanese.

[witpqs]

Jaroen,

I agree with Harry. KB had no business being in those confined waters with surface threats about. If it was going to be there it needed to have more surface support available. Even detaching a BB TF as a screen would be inadequate, IMO. Those ships either didn't or barely had radar and it was very easy to slip past each other by say, 1 hex. KB would still have needed strong close-in support.

The confined waters were the most critical factor. The only way to send a carrier force in there with confidence is in company of overwhelming surface forces. Once the enemy threat is gone, scouting could show that the way was clear. Even then a smaller force could get lucky in a night engagement and inflict greatly disproportionate damage.

Sorry for the hijack, Harry! [8D]

[herwin]

We're dropping back to December 12/13. I've learned a lot in the last few turns, and so has Blitzk. I don't know if he intends to try the Java Sea again, but I've hit the KB with a SAG the last two times he tried it, reaching the carriers both times. I'm getting better at pulling it off.

[herwin]

The word from the play testers is that what I'm doing is exactly what they wanted to encourage. JWE indicates they have been breaking down the KB into three CVTFs and a SAG for the last year. Playing the Japanese, that's always what I've done, even in the pre-AE days. Of course, I worked on OSIS Baseline Upgrade.

[herwin]

December 12/13 1941

The KB begins working her way down the coast of Borneo. An airstrike of 279 naval aircraft hits Balikpapan, sinking two small minelayers. The Raptor SAG begins to move into position off Java. The Chinese capture Yichang. An Allied cruiser operating independently sinks two light cargo ships near Mussau. Japanese landings at Guam, Mauban, Naga, and Shortlands. Aitape, Guam, Hollandia, Manus, Tuguegaro, and Wewak fall to Japan. Ryujo, three cruisers, and six destroyers encounter DD Scout near Tarakan. Scout escapes. DD Thanet at Tarakan is bombed.

[herwin]

December 13/14 1941

The KB removes itself to the centre of the Sulu Sea. The open question is whether this is a tactical move that will be followed with a visit to Java Sea as soon as the patch is installed...

The KB hits Jolo and Tarakan.

Amphibious landing at Davao.

Japanese assault on Honk Kong.

Mauban and Naga captured by Japan.

Naval bombardments of Tarakan and Cagayan by light forces.

Allied MTBs challenge Japanese landing forces near Vigan.

[witpqs]

AFAIK from many old developer postings combat 'surprise' is not surprise the conventional sense of the word. DL would play at most only a minor role. If the actions occurs again after the patch and there is a lack of surprise, that most likely would be chance, including any differences in the circumstances (moonlight, weather, etc.)

Maybe you'll get to sink those carriers again!

[herwin]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

AFAIK from many old developer postings combat 'surprise' is not surprise the conventional sense of the word. DL would play at most only a minor role. If the actions occurs again after the patch and there is a lack of surprise, that most likely would be chance, including any differences in the circumstances (moonlight, weather, etc.)

Maybe you'll get to sink those carriers again!

Since I can do it reliably against the AI and so far twice against Blitzk, I'm looking forward to a return visit...

"Clever girl"