Second AE Tournement

[Chickenboy]

Our CV engagements were pretty even. I had some luck on the Allied side. Lexington was operating in an independent TF in the same hex as Yorktown. Weather reports indicated she was ducking into a rain squall. She was able to launch her full complement of strike aircraft, but was undetected. Nice! [8D] Lexington was untouched by the day's events.

Yorktown went down the next morning from sustained damage.

I usually will have my CV escort set to either 40% or 50% CAP prior to a carrier battle; 20-30% CAP if I'm in transit from point to point and don't want to jack up pilot fatigue.

A tidbit for the Allied player(s) with this scenario: If you engage the IJ carriers within 'divert' range of Port Moresby, a number of your DBs and fighters will divert there if unable to land back on the carrier(s). It's better than having them divert back to-say-Townsville or Cairns. Consider this when determining where you're going to pick a fight. In my game, these DBs and fighters performed excellent work over the next two days, smashing a number of amphibious troopships as well is IJN CAs and DDs.

ORIGINAL: Blind Sniper

The most important day was 08/05 in both games for CVs engagements, me as Japanese:

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 99,136

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 60 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 32
B5N2 Kate x 16 (only 16) [:(]
D3A1 Val x 35



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 6


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CA Chester
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
DD Morris
DD Worden, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Perkins



Aircraft Attacking:
16 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
16 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
1 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
6 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VF-5 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 45 minutes
VF-2 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Yorktown


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Morning Air attack on TF, near Deboyne Islands at 102,136

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 3
A6M2 Zero x 13



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 24
SBD-3 Dauntless x 66
TBD-1 Devastator x 24


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
TBD-1 Devastator: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires
DD Yugure
CA Myoko, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Shiratsuyu, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Ariake, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Shigure
CA Aoba, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires



Aircraft Attacking:
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
12 x TBD-1 Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
13 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
12 x TBD-1 Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
5 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
9 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
EIII-1 Chutai with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
EIII-2 Chutai with A5M4 Claude (0 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Shoho
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Shokaku
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Myoko
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Shiratsuyu
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Zuikaku


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Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 99,136

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 19 (the other ones)



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged


Allied Ships
CV Yorktown, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
CA Chester
DD Worden, on fire



Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
VF-5 with F4F-3 Wildcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 18000 and 21000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
VF-2 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 23000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Deboyne Islands at 102,136

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes


Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 17


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Haguro
DD Yugure
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage



Aircraft Attacking:
11 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Zuikaku
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Shokaku



Aircraft Attacking:
3 x A-20A Havoc bombing from 6000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Deboyne Islands at 102,136

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes


Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 32


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Yugure, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Ariake, and is sunk



Aircraft Attacking:
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
15 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
9 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Zuikaku
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Yugure
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Shokaku

I don't know why but no way to find the Lexington aircarrier.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Blind Sniper
Lesson learned.
You sent a lonely DD against my amphibious TF with the following outcome:
practically no backfire, my fault don't protect it.

Heh. The "Ride of the Sims" succeeded beyond any of my wildest expectations. I had hoped they'd ding a few transports before getting plastered. I was also hoping for some xAK collisions whilest they frantically avoided the sole DD. They get a Presidential Unit Citation for that night action. [&o]

I'm not sure why CLYubari was so ineffective in defending the transports. I mostly wanted to delay the transports or make them use up movement "points" manuevering to avoid contact to keep them out of Port Moresby just one more day.

In the meantime, I had 2 large CA / CL / DD SCTFs manuevering to the North of Cairns, ready to scoot in to Port Moresby the following day. When the remnants of your Amphibious TF showed up the following morning, they were put to the sword by one of these TFs. DBs operating from PM also put a beating on some other combatants that had just left the area.

I felt comfortable doing these surface actions because your escort carrier fleet had been removed from the fight by this point. Furthermore, your still substantial CA / CL / DD surface combatants were out of position Southwest of Gilli Gilli in the Coral Sea. I think they were hunting my damaged CVTF, but left the Amphibious troopships dangerously exposed.

6. Reset your sub patrol zones daily. Send 'em where the action is and have them patrol a tight zone where cripples are likely to emerge. Once there's a stream of cripples heading to a couple obvious ports (e.g., several escort TFs in a line heading towards Townsville or Noumea), reorder their patrol zones to a line outside of these harbors.

Right, your sunk a lot of ships, I believe my SS never hit something...
About tight zone, how many hexes among boundaries? Do you use the "linger" option?
[/quote]

I would make a 'triangle' of just three hexes-one atop the other two hexes to make a tight patrol pattern in a high traffic zone. I use the 'patrol' function exclusively with reaction set to 1.

Those Glen-equipped IJN subs are useful for spotting too. I staggered them throughout the middle of the Coral Sea to pick up your TFs where they may be beyond naval patrol aircraft range. There were at least two days that I spotted most of your large TFs squarely in the middle of the Coral Sea just with Glens. Thus armed with this foreknowledge, I could make some determinations about my movement plans.

[Blind Sniper]

Our CV engagements were pretty even.

Ehm...no...I wouldn't say even [;)]

my hits as Japanese:
Bomb: 4
Torpedo: 2
Lexington no spotted

your as Japanese:
Bomb: 12
Torpedo: 5

my hits as Allied:
Bomb: 10
Torpedo: 0
no afternoon attacks.

your as Allied:
Bomb: 35
Torpedo: 0
Afternoon attack:
Bomb: 20 all against CVs but one (DD)

I had some luck on the Allied side

Yes, I think you have been more lucky than me too, but it hasn't been a game changer anyway.
You won because you played better and I'm glad to read this post battle discussion [:)]

I usually will have my CV escort set to either 40% or 50% CAP

Also in the Allied game? Reading the report seems that very few Wildcats were in CAP duty.

In my game, these DBs and fighters performed excellent work over the next two days, smashing a number of amphibious troopships as well is IJN CAs and DDs.

Too much for my taste

I mostly wanted to delay the transports or make them use up movement "points" manuevering to avoid contact to keep them out of Port Moresby just one more day.

Ok.

I think they were hunting my damaged CVTF, but left the Amphibious troopships dangerously exposed.

Yes, I hoped to find a hole in your ships deployment. Anyhow it was already clear the winner.
Just trying crazy moves. [8|]

I would make a 'triangle' of just three hexes-one atop the other two hexes to make a tight patrol pattern in a high traffic zone. I use the 'patrol' function exclusively with reaction set to 1.

Thanks for sharing.

Those Glen-equipped IJN subs are useful for spotting too. I staggered them throughout the middle of the Coral Sea to pick up your TFs where they may be beyond naval patrol aircraft range. There were at least two days that I spotted most of your large TFs squarely in the middle of the Coral Sea just with Glens. Thus armed with this foreknowledge, I could make some determinations about my movement plans.

Well played!

[Cap Mandrake]

Fabertong and I are still going. Massive carnage. I think we will end up with 9 out of 10 carriers sunk in both games, maybe 10/10.

Updates at tm.asp?m=2746897&mpage=3

[offenseman]

Raverdave and I are finished with our two games and Dave is the victor.  Here is the breakdown.
In my game as Japan, it was a mixed bag of results, I took PM and Lunga but lost the CVs and Shoho, along with other ships.  I found but did not hit the USN CVs.  I thought flak was especially strong in that game.  The point total ended up being,

Offenseman as IJN 1826 
Dave as Allies        2122

Allies win by          296

In the Game as Allies it was also a mixed result as I lost the CVs, but sank the vast majority of the amphibs while they were at sea. A landing at PM did not take place at all. The point total ended up being,

Offenseman as Allies 1300
Dave as IJ        1166

Allies win by          134 although the game called that a draw.

Point total for both games were
RaverDave- 3288
Offenseman- 3126

A gap of 162 points.

Good luck in the next round Dave!  Hope you go all the way.   [&o]

The tourney itself was fun and I'd do it again.  That said, I think it would be best performed using special scenarios created for tournament use. I'd like to build one or more of those and have a lot of ideas of what to do BUT am an editor idiot and have been thwarted in my efforts to get anything worked out at all. THAT has been much worse for my ego than the result of my battles vs. Dave. lol
If anyone would be willing to coach me a bit on editor usage, I'd still like to tackle a specific tournament scenario(s).  Volunteers please PM me.

Canoerebel- this tournament idea is really great!  [&o]  Not only is it fun to participate in, it is also useful for some of us to get to know and be known by other forum members. Lurkers, or new players might be more likely to join something like this and perhaps through it find an opponent for a PBEM that they otherwise would not due to their new or lurking nature.  The benefits go beyond the enjoyment of playing.
Given all that, I hearby award you the Emperor's Award for Brilliance.  The prize is in the mail....[8D]

One more thing.  It might be appropriate to title the award for the winner the Nagato Award.  Nagato of course, was the only BB left standing for Imperial Japan at the end of the war. The sole survivor as it were.

[CuriousWordsmith]

I am interested.

[Captain Cruft]

Just FYI I am working on a "tournament style" scenario.

Tentatively entitled "Face Off", it is set in 1944 and the map covers the area between Palau and Hawaii. The protagonists are the IJN vs. the USN/USMC.

Hopefully it should be ready in a month or so.

[fabertong]

Cap Mandrake will be going through in our match.......

With me as allies.........I won the CV battle...just.......but lost 3 CAs to his subs........Marc used his Cruisers well and hunted down my damaged ships. He failed to take PM......due the troops lost to damaged transports in the CV engagement......but took Efate and Luganville! Marc admitted his origional plan was take Nomea....and now having done the maths it is a good way to score a victory. I edged this game by a handfull of points.

With me as the Japanese.....I tried the 'hammerblow' stategy...massing everything I had and making strieght for PM......not exactly subtle....but I had hoped it might split his airstikes.......Marc closed with my TFs and this time I lost the CV battle.....his aircraft ignored the Transports......and sank All three of my carriers.......and badly damaged 3 CAs......Marc lost Yorktown........and Lady Lex was badly damaged.....but she excaped through my myriad os subs......Marc then intercepted my Transports with a massed CA group.......and did enough damage to stop any chance of taking PM. Also his SBD from the lost CVs....operating from PM....cost my a couple more CA.....an overwhealming victory for Marc.

It was great fun to play in round one of the tourney.....and a pleasure to play my old nemesis....Mandrake.......I wish him the best for the rest of the Tourney....

Also......Chickenboy's advice about getting the Allied CVs near PM....so their airgroups land at PM is a good one for the Allies......just watch your flanks.....you might find Mandrake at Nomea!

[fabertong]

ORIGINAL: fabertong

Cap Mandrake will be going through in our match.......

With me as allies.........I won the CV battle...just.......but lost 3 CAs to his subs........Marc used his Cruisers well and hunted down my damaged ships. He failed to take PM......due the troops lost to damaged transports in the CV engagement......but took Efate and Luganville! Marc admitted his origional plan was take Nomea....and now having done the maths it is a good way to score a victory. I edged this game by a handfull of points.

With me as the Japanese.....I tried the 'hammerblow' stategy...massing everything I had and making strieght for PM......not exactly subtle....but I had hoped it might split his airstikes.......Marc closed with my TFs and this time I lost the CV battle.....his aircraft ignored the Transports......and sank All three of my carriers.......and badly damaged 3 CAs......Marc lost Yorktown........and Lady Lex was badly damaged.....but she excaped through my myriad os subs......Marc then intercepted my Transports with a massed CA group.......and did enough damage to stop any chance of taking PM. Also his SBD from the lost CVs....operating from PM....cost my a couple more CA.....an overwhealming victory for Marc.

It was great fun to play in round one of the tourney.....and a pleasure to play my old nemesis....Mandrake.......I wish him the best for the rest of the Tourney....

Also......Chickenboy's advice about getting the Allied CVs near PM....so their airgroups land at PM is a good one for the Allies......just watch your flanks.....you might find Mandrake at Nomea!

In time honoured fashion please ignore the numorous spelling errors, typos and general mis-use of the English langauge.

[Raverdave]

Great....but to be a good tournament the game also needs to be short...and your map looks rather big.

But at least you have got the ball rolling which is good to see.

[Captain Cruft]

I was thinking somewhere between 50-100 turns. There is no production and minimal logistics, so processing times ought to be relatively short.

[Cap Mandrake]

Good summary by Admiral Fabertong. I would add that Coral Sea is surprisingly fun because of the compressed schedule and small forces.
There is also very little "sneaking up" [:)] When the carriers are gone it is a fun surface fight too.

Well played by Admiral Fabertong. Heap big luck involved.

[Lanconic]

as in tilting at the lists of Ashby?

[Chickenboy]

One more turn on both of my games and I'll be ready to post final scores, ships sunk, etc.

[Chickenboy]

Final turns run from both games. Score breakdown as follows:

Game 1: (May 14th score as seen by Allies-may be some FOW)
Blind Sniper (Japan): 517
Chickenboy (Allies): 2286

Blind Sniper may elect to post screenshots / ships sunk lists from this game under separate cover.

Game 2:
Chickenboy (Japan): 2817
Blind Sniper (Allies): 1552

Screenshot for Game two attached.

I'd like to thank Blind Sniper (Ale) for a very nice match and his perserverance in seeing this through. I had some luck in Game 1 especially, so that really helped there.

[Chickenboy]

Canoerebel,

I think this should conclude all games from the first bracket. Do you have pairings for follow-up matches here?

[Canoerebel]

Round Two Pairings:

1. Scott1964
vs.
2. Chickenboy

3. Raverdave
vs.
4. CapMandrake

Congrats to the winners of Round One, thanks to all for participating, and thanks to all for making it a low-maintenance tournament where "seldom a discouraging word was heard."

Round Two can begin today. Thousand-Mile War scenario. You guys can tweak the time-limit if you so desire. I think three or four weeks would be acceptable if you guys wish to do it that way.

[Blind Sniper]

My congrats to Andre especially because I have learned a lot from him.

Good luck!  [:)]

Thanks to Canoerebel too!

[Raverdave]

Cool....PM sent to CapMandrake.

[Raverdave]

Cap(Wo)mandrake and I are orf and running, and both of us have AARs running.    Out of interest what scen will the third round be playing?....Oh wait just found out...the Marianas Campaign ! Super[8D]