Cap'n Geezer and Adm Kid Vs. The SpaceChickens

[Alfred]

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve

Thanks for the tips guys! I definately won't put that plan into action! How about I do it as a squadron? As soon as a squadron reaches a certain skill level, I switch it over en masse? Say from escort to sweep? Then when everyone hits a certain standard, they "graduate" and I send in some veterans who are "not quite up to standards"?

Yep, that is basically what I do. Don't forget to alter the training altitude as appropriate for the new training mission.

I don't mind the micro management so I actually regularly look into my training squadrons to see which are the quick learners and cull them out of the squadron rather than waiting for the slow learners to catch up and then culling all.[:)] That way I also notice the inactive pilots.

Alfred

[Grollub]

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve

Thanks for the tips guys! I definately won't put that plan into action! How about I do it as a squadron? As soon as a squadron reaches a certain skill level, I switch it over en masse? Say from escort to sweep? Then when everyone hits a certain standard, they "graduate" and I send in some veterans who are "not quite up to standards"?

Note; AFAIK, training Sweep & Escort both give "Air" skills, in other words no difference.

I'll give you two examples from one of my (testing) non-PBEM games;

In the pic below you can see one of my USMC F Sqns that is close to graduation. When I started their training, I set them to train Sweep, 90%, 10k. When I do my "round trip" around the training sqns, I look if any of the fighter sqns have gained the "Air" skill on its front screen (meaning that their avg air skill is at least 61). If they do, I then switch their training to Airfield attack, 90% at 100 feet. This trains them in the Strafing skill (a "secondary" skill which I happen to like [;)]) as well as continuing building on their Defense skills. Then, the next time I do my checking round, if the Sqn have gained the "strafing" skill (61+) on the front screen, I then switch it back to the same as the first training scheme (Train Sweep, 90%, 10k). Thereafter, when I check on them, I have to go into the pilot screen to check if the have reached my standards, that is ~70 in both Air & Defense. As you can see from the pic, they are very close to that. When they later reach those standards, I send all the pilots to the general reserve, fill upp with new green (replacement) pilots and start the process again. The reason why I do this switching around from the first training scheme, to another and back again, is because in the beginning of the war it's hard to wait for the pilots to reach those ~70 skills. Then I can at least train them to 61+, which is my lowest limit for sending out pilots. Any pilot with lower skills than that against crack Jap pilots is just a waste of both the pilot and the aircraft.

[Grollub]

Example #2 below. Thought I would show you one really specialized sqn as well. The pic shows one (of four) of my RAAF ASW sqns.

As you can see, they have trained quite a lot. But then again, they are doing quite a good number on the Jap subs, especially since those LR Hudsons have airborne radars to find them as well. [:D]

The search skill is there just to find regular TFs. ASW, of course, to find subs. Low Naval bombing to be able to hit them. The Defense skill came naturally when they trained those other skills and also helps them to survive if any LR CAP shows up.

I use these specialized sqns in the settings 40% ASW & 20% Train (& Range 10). With that 20% training, they gain some ASW point now and then.

To keep these sqns filled up with quality pilots as they take ops losses, I also have two RAAF bomber sqns that are training those same skills, but equipped with Wirraways instead.

[Grollub]

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve

Thanks for the tips guys! I definately won't put that plan into action! How about I do it as a squadron? As soon as a squadron reaches a certain skill level, I switch it over en masse? Say from escort to sweep? Then when everyone hits a certain standard, they "graduate" and I send in some veterans who are "not quite up to standards"?

Oh, you can (of course) cull the reserve pool for "veterans" and train them up to standards as well. You don't have to start out with total newbies every time.

Just beware, if you handpick those guys (with the request veteran button), try to get pilots that have roughly the same experience level. When training pilots, the pilots with the lowest experience trains the most, thus gaining skills faster than a more experienced pilot. That means that you could have a really high-EXP pilot never gaining points on their skills, if he has vastly more experienced than the other pilots in the sqn.

ETA: You can see this phenomena just by looking at the sqn leader in the post above. Obviously, he already thought he knew everything there was to learn, and so didn't pick up the trained skills very well. [;)]

[AW1Steve]

[:D]Wow! I've certainly learned a lot in the last couple of posts! [&o][&o][&o] You guys are great! [&o][&o][&o]



Now who can tell me the secret of training ships crews? [&:]

[Alfred]

Grollub,

I do almost exactly the same as you. Two points I will mention for the benefit of the Good Guys so that they understand fully from where you and I are basing our advice on.

1. You gain your straffing skill increases from "Airfield" training @ 100 feet. I instead achieve that skill improvement by undertaking "Sweep" training @ 100 feet. For me it minimises the chances of misreading/overlooking what the purpose is the unit is actually for. The key point is this. If "Sweep" training is conducted at 10k feet, one improves A2A not straffing skill. Whereas if the "Sweep" training is conducted at 100 feet, it is the straffing skill and not A2A which is improved. Of course both will also improve the defence skill. The key determinant is therefore the altitude at which the training is conducted (hence the point I made about altitude in post #81).

2. You train your ASW units for low level naval bombing. I presume that is because you do your ASW at <6000 feet. If the Good Guys are running their ASW or Naval Search at 6k or above, then they will need normal naval bombing skill increases. Yes, it is quite important to conduct Naval Attack training in addition to search/ASW training. Not only does the enemy have to be found, the pilots also need the commensurate skill to actually hit the target.

BTW, your earlier observation based on annecdote that the rate of training might be affected by a shortage of airframes, is also one that has caught my eye. However I still find the rate of improvement to be satisfactory even with understrength squadrons.

Alfred

[Grollub]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

Grollub,

I do almost exactly the same as you. Two points I will mention for the benefit of the Good Guys so that they understand fully from where you and I are basing our advice on.

1. You gain your straffing skill increases from "Airfield" training @ 100 feet. I instead achieve that skill improvement by undertaking "Sweep" training @ 100 feet. For me it minimises the chances of misreading/overlooking what the purpose is the unit is actually for. The key point is this. If "Sweep" training is conducted at 10k feet, one improves A2A not straffing skill. Whereas if the "Sweep" training is conducted at 100 feet, it is the straffing skill and not A2A which is improved. Of course both will also improve the defence skill. The key determinant is therefore the altitude at which the training is conducted (hence the point I made about altitude in post #81).

2. You train your ASW units for low level naval bombing. I presume that is because you do your ASW at <6000 feet. If the Good Guys are running their ASW or Naval Search at 6k or above, then they will need normal naval bombing skill increases. Yes, it is quite important to conduct Naval Attack training in addition to search/ASW training. Not only does the enemy have to be found, the pilots also need the commensurate skill to actually hit the target.

BTW, your earlier observation based on annecdote that the rate of training might be affected by a shortage of airframes, is also one that has caught my eye. However I still find the rate of improvement to be satisfactory even with understrength squadrons.

Alfred

<Noted: No need to change to Airfield attack, just leave on Sweep and change the altitude as always>

Good to know! You just saved me a click everytime I change their training. [:D]

... and yes, I use my ASW Sqn's at 5k and so use the LowNav skill [:)]

[USSAmerica]

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve

Thanks for the tips guys! I definately won't put that plan into action! How about I do it as a squadron? As soon as a squadron reaches a certain skill level, I switch it over en masse? Say from escort to sweep? Then when everyone hits a certain standard, they "graduate" and I send in some veterans who are "not quite up to standards"?

I've already done this with a couple of the Wirraway training squadrons. Their Ground Bombing skill average is good, but experience and defense still need work, so I've switched them over to Naval Attack training to let that grow as a "side benefit" while continuing to improve the experience and defense.

[USSAmerica]

Wow, even more good training tips!&nbsp; Thanks, guys! &nbsp;[8D]

[AW1Steve]

ORIGINAL: USS America

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve

Thanks for the tips guys! I definately won't put that plan into action! How about I do it as a squadron? As soon as a squadron reaches a certain skill level, I switch it over en masse? Say from escort to sweep? Then when everyone hits a certain standard, they "graduate" and I send in some veterans who are "not quite up to standards"?

I've already done this with a couple of the Wirraway training squadrons. Their Ground Bombing skill average is good, but experience and defense still need work, so I've switched them over to Naval Attack training to let that grow as a "side benefit" while continuing to improve the experience and defense.

WOW! "Deadly whirlygig's!" [:D] Keep that up and I'll show you my "Killer SNJ's" and "Terrifing Texan" AT-6's! (The Whirly-gig's American cousins).[:D]

[AW1Steve]

[:D]A bump! so that those Dastardly Chickens aren't on top![:D]

[USSAmerica]

March 25/26, 1942

&nbsp; The Japs came for Wyndham last turn and Darwin this turn.&nbsp; I’ve finally managed to get some subs in front of them and the invaders are also now in range of planes at Darwin.&nbsp; Several hits by subs and several more by planes, including a couple of torpedoes from Albacores and Vildebeests put some troops in the drink.&nbsp; The Japs got a couple of BB’s into range to bombard Darwin, killing some B-17’s and other planes on the ground, but they also got their first taste of the Darwin CD guns.&nbsp; CL Oi was with the 2 BB’s and was hit 4 times, including at least one 9.2” shell.&nbsp; Then the transports moved into Darwin.&nbsp; My Dutch PT’s engaged the big Amphib TF while they were unloading and scored a bunch of torp hits on several different transports, while losing 4 of 9 PT’s.&nbsp; At least that’s what happened while watching the replay.&nbsp; [8|]&nbsp; Steve saw the same thing on his end, but the combat report .txt file shows the Jap transports getting underway and evading combat.&nbsp; From what I can tell in the actual turn, the report.txt is accurate, as all 9 PT’s are still present, just outside the Darwin hex.&nbsp; How disappointing.&nbsp; [:(]&nbsp; We are going to need to raise this synch issue with the Chickens and see if we can determine where things went astray.&nbsp; I’ve noticed very small synch issues before, but very rarely.&nbsp; Now, this one is pretty significant, so it’s time to flush the bug out.&nbsp;

&nbsp; Back to the war, and the CD’s unleashed their full fury on the Amphib TF.&nbsp; Many, many ships were hit, with several transports looking like they are going under and maybe a DD.&nbsp; CA Atago which is leading the TF took at least one 9.2” hit that penetrated her armor.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I count 11 transports taking hits to one degree or another.&nbsp; Just as I was preparing to celebrate the good shooting of the CD guns, an Alpha Strike hit Darwin from the unspotted KB, lurking somewhere off to the NNE.&nbsp; The flak at Darwin gave a good account of themselves with the Daily Losses panel in the turn indicating 4 Kates and 30 Vals lost to Flak.&nbsp; They shot up the AF pretty good and killed some more B-17’s on the ground, but that doesn’t seem like too bad of a trade to me.&nbsp;

&nbsp; The LYB’s brought 3 SNLF’s and a bunch of Engineers to Wyndham, capturing it easily.&nbsp; The auto bombardment triggered by the amphib landing at Darwin indicated the LYB’s might have wanted to bring more friends to the party.&nbsp; The 65th Bde is there, and parts of 9 artillery units have landed.&nbsp; Either they have a bunch of additional troops inbound on follow up TF’s, or Steve’s idea for deception at Darwin worked and the Chickens expected the 65th Bde to be enough firepower to do the job.&nbsp; I am sure they didn’t expect to be facing 2 Aussie Divisions and the Brit 18th Division, along with some additional infantry, armor, and artillery.&nbsp; I’m ordering an all out Shock Attack for tomorrow to try to drive the “visitors” back into the drink.&nbsp; I’ve also banged together an additional 24 PT boats at Darwin, with good, aggressive CO’s, and ordered them to light up the night.&nbsp; [;)]

&nbsp; We’ve given the Japs a couple of bloody noses so far in this fight, and a good reverse at Wake, trading Yorktown for 3 CVL’s and 2 BB’s, but tomorrow could be the first time one of their advances is actually stopped and thrown back.&nbsp; If they have made any future plans that counted on them controlling Darwin, they will have to scrap their timetable and redirect some significant forces to Darwin, or else come up with completely new plans. [:)]

[AW1Steve]

The B-17's did ok for themselves, they score a few hits (even got one on Fuso). Frankly I think this whole things a diversion. No one plans an invasion as half-@$$ed as this one if they are serious. Since they retook Wake to satisfy honor, they've done nothing in the CentPac or SoPac.They haven't even scouted agressively, nor patroled heavily with their subs, outside of the occasional patrol outside of PH. And I get the impression that they are pulling troops out of the PI (they still haven't taken Bataan) and have ignored all the other pockets including a sizable one at Cayaguan. Since they haven't tried all that hard at Darwin, those troops have got to be going somewhere else. Since they really can't come up with that much more sealift (without further starving the HI) my guess is that the troops will show up somewhere in the CBI. They can't swim, or fly so that leaves walking or taking the train. [:)]

[Grollub]

ORIGINAL: USS America

March 25/26, 1942

  We are going to need to raise this synch issue with the Chickens and see if we can determine where things went astray. I’ve noticed very small synch issues before, but very rarely. Now, this one is pretty significant, so it’s time to flush the bug out.

Synch bug? [X(] I thought that one was rooted out?

ETA: Have read the posts in your joint AAR & your post in tech support. No need to answer further.

[USSAmerica]

Could be, Per, or it could be operator error on my end. &nbsp;[:D]

[AW1Steve]

Stop being an operator then! [:-] As you keep reminding me, I AM the operator.[8D] You are the cry-baby.....er TRON! [:D]

[AW1Steve]

An absolutely amazing turn. The PT boats are worth every toothpick that went into them. One gaggle wiped ou a small amphib convoy! Totally amazing! If only half of what we saw was true, the rest being FOW , I'd be delighted. And what the PT's didn't do , the CD's are. They've chewed up everything from a CA down to a PB. How I wish we had been able to mine Darwin! But it's still taking the full force of the KB (he's had a lot of Kates and Vals chewed upon as well), two big BB surface groups and CA/DD TF's. While the LYB's may be able to get a toe hold on OZ , I doubt they'll be able to go very far south. (And I'm still sure this is a diversion, intended to focus us on OZ, while they strike elsewhere. They've done a couple of small land grabs , Ocean and Naru , but as the KB is in Oz I very much doubt they do much in CentPac or SpwPac. I still think they'll go CBI !).

[USSAmerica]

As Steve posted, the combination of subs, PT's, and CD guns around Darwin has been very fun to watch for the last two turns.&nbsp; I probably lost a dozen PT's last turn, but took around 8 transports with me.&nbsp; The Chickens did bring some friends to the party at Darwin on the first day of this turn.&nbsp; Almost the entire 4th and 21st Divisions were able to land in one day.&nbsp; My shock attack went in and surely would have creamed the artillery and 65th Bde if the two divisions had not joined the lines.&nbsp; As it is, the first day's shock attack went pretty well:

Ground combat at Darwin (76,124)
&nbsp;
Allied Shock attack
&nbsp;
Attacking force 46455 troops, 540 guns, 748 vehicles, Assault Value = 1337
&nbsp;
Defending force 32793 troops, 487 guns, 102 vehicles, Assault Value = 1073
&nbsp;
Allied adjusted assault: 1285
&nbsp;
Japanese adjusted defense: 755
&nbsp;
Allied assault odds: 1 to 1
&nbsp;
Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
&nbsp;
Japanese ground losses:
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 2637 casualties reported
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Squads: 6 destroyed, 125 disabled
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 220 disabled
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Engineers: 2 destroyed, 31 disabled
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Allied ground losses:
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 2579 casualties reported
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Squads: 82 destroyed, 218 disabled
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Non Combat: 51 destroyed, 603 disabled
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Engineers: 7 destroyed, 44 disabled
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Vehicles lost 152 (17 destroyed, 135 disabled)
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Assaulting units:
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 54th British Brigade
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 3rd Australian Division
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 2/4 MG Battalion
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Gull Battalion
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Emery Point Fortress
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A/B Battery Heavy Coastal Artillery Regiment
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 53rd British Brigade
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 2/8th Armoured Regiment
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 19th Australian Regiment
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sparrow Battalion
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lark Battalion
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 55th British Brigade
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 2nd Australian Division
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 251st Recce Battalion
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Bataan USN Base Force
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 2nd RAN Base Force
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Clark Field USAAF Base Force
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Australia Command
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Manila USAAF Base Force
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 109th RN Base Force
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 35th Light AA Regiment
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cebu USN Base Force
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Balikpapan Base Force
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 85th British AT Gun Regiment
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 803rd EAB /1
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1 ML-KNIL Aviation
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 6th Heavy AA Regiment
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Celebes Base Force
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Northern Territory
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 2 ML-KNIL Aviation /1
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 48th Light AA Regiment
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Timor Base Force
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cagayan USAAF Base Force /1
&nbsp;
Defending units:
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 65th Brigade
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 4th Ind. Engineer Regiment
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 21st Div /2
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 4th Div /6
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 18th Mountain Gun Regiment
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 3rd Mortar Battalion
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 5th Mortar Battalion
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 56th Field Artillery Regiment
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1st RF Gun Battalion
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

One mistake on my part turned out to be pretty significant as one of the 3 Brit Bde's of the 18th Division did not pass their rolls and didn't contribute anything to the attack.&nbsp; I REALLY should have combined the 3 Bde's and support unit into the full division, where it would be much tougher in combat.&nbsp; I will correct this mistake next turn.&nbsp;

Day 2 of the turn saw my ground forces at Darwin make another Shock attack, so they must have been still feeling pretty good.&nbsp; The attack was even closer to a 2-1 result this time:

Ground combat at Darwin (76,124)
&nbsp;
Allied Shock attack
&nbsp;
Attacking force 42083 troops, 542 guns, 743 vehicles, Assault Value = 1058
&nbsp;
Defending force 30597 troops, 486 guns, 102 vehicles, Assault Value = 936
&nbsp;
Allied adjusted assault: 865
&nbsp;
Japanese adjusted defense: 476
&nbsp;
Allied assault odds: 1 to 1
&nbsp;
Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
&nbsp;
Japanese ground losses:
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1985 casualties reported
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Squads: 2 destroyed, 111 disabled
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Non Combat: 12 destroyed, 134 disabled
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Engineers: 2 destroyed, 9 disabled
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Vehicles lost 19 (8 destroyed, 11 disabled)
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Allied ground losses:
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 3085 casualties reported
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Squads: 64 destroyed, 202 disabled
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Non Combat: 57 destroyed, 339 disabled
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Engineers: 10 destroyed, 43 disabled
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Guns lost 7 (2 destroyed, 5 disabled)
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Vehicles lost 115 (43 destroyed, 72 disabled)
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Units destroyed 1
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Assaulting units:
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 2/4 MG Battalion
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 53rd British Brigade
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sparrow Battalion
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Gull Battalion
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 2/8th Armoured Regiment
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A/B Battery Heavy Coastal Artillery Regiment
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 55th British Brigade
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 3rd Australian Division
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 2nd Australian Division
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 54th British Brigade
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 19th Australian Regiment
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lark Battalion
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Emery Point Fortress
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 251st Recce Battalion
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 109th RN Base Force
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Northern Territory
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 2nd RAN Base Force
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 48th Light AA Regiment
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 85th British AT Gun Regiment
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1 ML-KNIL Aviation
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Manila USAAF Base Force
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 803rd EAB /1
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Timor Base Force
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cebu USN Base Force
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Australia Command
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 6th Heavy AA Regiment
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Celebes Base Force
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Clark Field USAAF Base Force
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Bataan USN Base Force
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 35th Light AA Regiment
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 2 ML-KNIL Aviation /1
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Balikpapan Base Force
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cagayan USAAF Base Force /1
&nbsp;
Defending units:
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 65th Brigade
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 21st Division
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 4th Division
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 4th Ind. Engineer Regiment
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 3rd Mortar Battalion
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1st RF Gun Battalion
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 56th Field Artillery Regiment
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 5th Mortar Battalion
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 18th Mountain Gun Regiment
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

I took more casualties than they did, but still dished out some good punishment.&nbsp; I also have over 80k supplies at Darwin and another 40k at Katherine.&nbsp; I'm going to keep the pressure on.&nbsp; Deliberate attacks will be ordered next turn (after recombining the 18th Division).&nbsp; I also have an additional Bde and more armor heading up the dirt road from Alice Springs, although they will be over a week getting to Darwin.&nbsp; The 80+ experience 7th Aussie Division is on ships, bound for Perth.&nbsp; They will reach port in about a week and immediately catch the train to Alice Springs.&nbsp; Meanwhile, Steve and I have decided to pull out all the stops and send the 2 Aussie Divisions from the Sydney and Townsville areas immediately to Alice Springs and get them marching.&nbsp; One thing I found curious is the negative modifier the LYB's felt for preparation.&nbsp; Interesting.&nbsp;

I am not as convinced as Steve is that this action at Darwin is just a diversion.&nbsp; I do agree with him that they are likely planning a major offensive in Burma and/or India.&nbsp; I intercepted a message last turn that the Jap 14th Division is planning for an attack on Calcutta.&nbsp; I don't think the landings at Darwin are intended to start a major push south.&nbsp; I think this is a "standard" denial of service attack for Darwin and the other North Oz bases.&nbsp; Take it away from us to delay a move into the DEI that much longer.&nbsp; I'd be willing to bet that their long term plans call for using the 4th and 21st Divisions somewhere else.&nbsp; If I can keep the pressure on and keep them pinned down in Darwin, that will be a major victory for us, even before I eventually throw them back into the sea.&nbsp;

Elsewhere, the extraction of all the Chinese units able to be reassigned continues to roll along.&nbsp; In a few weeks, there will be 3 understrength Chinese Corps parked at Calcutta, training and drawing on Indian supply sources to fill out.&nbsp; Won't they be a nice surprise if/when the Space Chickens pay a visit to that part of India.&nbsp; [;)]

Back in China, the lack of supply will eventually lose Sian for me.&nbsp; I have a total of 4500 - 5000 AV in, and one hex outside of Sian, but there is only about 8k supply there.&nbsp; The LYB's are pushing around 7 divisions of troops up the road through the woods from the SE of Sian, and they are pushing another 8 divisions worth of troops into Sian directly from the east, across the river.&nbsp; I've ordered about 1k AV to reposition from the wooded defensive hex into the city itself to defend against the shock attack.&nbsp; I'll still have about 1500 AV to defend the line in the woods to the SE and 3400 AV in the city.&nbsp; I also have lvl 5 forts with 69% progress to lvl 6.&nbsp; I won't keep the LYB's out of the city, and eventually will lose it because there is no way to get any real supplies into Sian, but I sure will make them pay to cross the river and take the place.&nbsp;

[Alfred]

Regarding the current situation at Sian. Two observations for you to note and discard if you feel so inclined.

Firstly, my rough rule of thumb in China is that other than at Chungking, Changsha and Sian, no Allied base can support for an extended period of time more than 2-3 Chinese corps deployed within the city limits. As you have noted, from the perspective of feeding them, you currently have too many Chinese either already present within the city limits or soon to enter the city.

Secondly, you seem to be only contemplating a passive defence of Sian. In the long term that promises at best astalemate at Sian, but in reality an Allied defeat is the most likely scenario. Your long term prospects of holding onto Sian will be enhanced if you can undertake a more active rather than a passive defence.

Let me suggest how a more active local defence of Sian might be possible.

Currently there are two Japanese columns converging upon Sian. Column "A" comprises 7 Japanese divisions approaching from the south-east through the forest. Column "B" comprises 8 Japanese divisions from the east but needing to cross the river. Hense column "A" is approximately 3100 AV and column "B" is approximately 3600 AV. Arrayed against these two advancing columns you propose to have 1500 AV in the woods to stop column "A" and 3500 AV within Sian behind level 5-6 forts itself to absorb the auto shock attack of crossing the river.

The 1500 AV you are leaving in the forest might suffice to stop column "A". The terrain bonus alone will double your unadjusted AV but both your eperience and firepower is much weaker than the Japanese so that your adjusted AV after taking casualties into account will probably end much less than that of the Japanese. Much therefore depends on your fortification level in the forest. If you have a level 3 or greater fortification level in the forest, then you probably will be able to hold the line.

On the other hand your proposed 3500 AV behind level 5-6 forts within Sian itself is probably more than you need to absorb the initial shock attack from column "B". With a failed initial shock attack you will have gained several days grace before another shock attack is forthcoming. Against deliberate Japanese attacks, you should hold comfortably until your supply situation deteriorates.

My suggestion for a local active defence at Sian is too retain a single Chinese corps available for mobile operations. Rather than having all your Chinese units in passive positions either in the woods 1 hex to the SE or within the city, have 1 unit outside of those two positions which can enter Sian directly from the east after column "B" has crossed the river. That way you cut off the LOC back to its supply depots of column "B" and put it into a similar predicament as your city defenders. Furthermore, as the AV of the entrenched city defenders will be much greater than that of the single Chinese corps crossing the river, you will not trigger an Allied shock attack.

Alfred

[AW1Steve]

WOW. Thanks Alfred.[&o] That's a lot to think of. And yet another reason I hate playing as China (Thanks again Mike![&o][&o][&o]).[:D]