ORIGINAL: GreyJoy
We do have an alt limit at 20k feet and we agreed that city bombing was allowed since 1941
.......... 
In that case, pull back to the Rockies and wait for A-bombs... [;)]
Good luck!
The Power of Inexperience / GreyJoy(A)-Rader(J)
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
RE: Disaster at Colombo
.......... In that case, pull back to the Rockies and wait for A-bombs... [;)]
Good luck!
RE: Disaster at Colombo
ORIGINAL: ADB123
ORIGINAL: GreyJoy
We do have an alt limit at 20k feet and we agreed that city bombing was allowed since 1941
In that case, pull back to the Rockies and wait for A-bombs... [;)]
Good luck!
Why do you say so? I find - and Rader agrees with me - that the "race to go higher" that affects games without this HR pretty ruins the game. it becomes very unrealistic...in RL fighters, especially during the first years of war, didn't fight higher than 5/6k meters...
At least with this rule fights will become pretty even in terms of altitude.
For what concerns strategic bombing, Rader told me since the beginning he was going to bomb the hell out of China supply source because he believes that if left alone the chinese become a problem for Japan during the second half of war.
I was aware of that and it was up to me to decide to defend Chinese skies or not. I chose not to because i felt i didn't have the means to counter the hordes of Zeros he was sending there.
RE: Disaster at Colombo
ORIGINAL: GreyJoy
ORIGINAL: ADB123
ORIGINAL: GreyJoy
We do have an alt limit at 20k feet and we agreed that city bombing was allowed since 1941
In that case, pull back to the Rockies and wait for A-bombs... [;)]
Good luck!
Why do you say so? I find - and Rader agrees with me - that the "race to go higher" that affects games without this HR pretty ruins the game. it becomes very unrealistic...in RL fighters, especially during the first years of war, didn't fight higher than 5/6k meters...
At least with this rule fights will become pretty even in terms of altitude.
For what concerns strategic bombing, Rader told me since the beginning he was going to bomb the hell out of China supply source because he believes that if left alone the chinese become a problem for Japan during the second half of war.
I was aware of that and it was up to me to decide to defend Chinese skies or not. I chose not to because i felt i didn't have the means to counter the hordes of Zeros he was sending there.
You've negated the value of the only first line fighters that you have in 1942 - the P-38 and the Hurricane IIc. This means that your opponent can Sweep you out of the skies for more than a year.
Combine this the ability of the Japanese to bomb HI into the Stone Age and you've given away China. You may as well just pull out anything useful and forget about it.
My opponents and I are using any altitude we like in our pbems (I have both an Allied and a Japanese pbem going), and we find a good balance of strategy and tactics that works for us. It certainly hasn't ruined the games for us.
Good luck -
RE: Disaster at Colombo
ORIGINAL: ADB123
ORIGINAL: GreyJoy
ORIGINAL: ADB123
In that case, pull back to the Rockies and wait for A-bombs... [;)]
Good luck!
Why do you say so? I find - and Rader agrees with me - that the "race to go higher" that affects games without this HR pretty ruins the game. it becomes very unrealistic...in RL fighters, especially during the first years of war, didn't fight higher than 5/6k meters...
At least with this rule fights will become pretty even in terms of altitude.
For what concerns strategic bombing, Rader told me since the beginning he was going to bomb the hell out of China supply source because he believes that if left alone the chinese become a problem for Japan during the second half of war.
I was aware of that and it was up to me to decide to defend Chinese skies or not. I chose not to because i felt i didn't have the means to counter the hordes of Zeros he was sending there.
You've negated the value of the only first line fighters that you have in 1942 - the P-38 and the Hurricane IIc. This means that your opponent can Sweep you out of the skies for more than a year.
Combine this the ability of the Japanese to bomb HI into the Stone Age and you've given away China. You may as well just pull out anything useful and forget about it.
My opponents and I are using any altitude we like in our pbems (I have both an Allied and a Japanese pbem going), and we find a good balance of strategy and tactics that works for us. It certainly hasn't ruined the games for us.
Good luck -
But at the same altitude (say 20k) my hurricanes won't be able to fight his zeros?...i was hoping they could[&:].
Anyway, being this my first pbem i don't know the real outcomes of our HRs...i accepted what rader proposed me (he's more exp than me) and, reading others AARs, the rules he asked for seemed balanced to me...
well, i think we'll see what will happen!
China is already lost in my mind since the end of december 41 (when it became clear i wasn't able to hold my flanks against his tanks...)
thanks for your support and suggestions mate[&o]
RE: Disaster at Colombo
As far as I have seen, the house rules you have favor the Japanese. This is not good when a game is between a fairly inexperienced Allied player and a very good and experienced Japanese player. I have a game where we are not using any house rule for aircraft altitude and things are just fine. I have another where we are using 2nd best maneuver band as the maximum altitude and things are fine. I would never use a set altitude, it completely takes away the fact that aircraft got better as the war went on. You will really be hard pressed to use the advantages of the P-47, P-51 and late Spitfire marks.
RE: Disaster at Colombo
ORIGINAL: Nomad
As far as I have seen, the house rules you have favor the Japanese. This is not good when a game is between a fairly inexperienced Allied player and a very good and experienced Japanese player. I have a game where we are not using any house rule for aircraft altitude and things are just fine. I have another where we are using 2nd best maneuver band as the maximum altitude and things are fine. I would never use a set altitude, it completely takes away the fact that aircraft got better as the war went on. You will really be hard pressed to use the advantages of the P-47, P-51 and late Spitfire marks.
oh...so you suggest me to ask for a change in HRs?...2nd best altitude? Is that fair for the japs? I would not like to appear a stupid-little-whining-girl to Rader's eyes asking for a change when the game is already started...especially if this change are against japs...
RE: Disaster at Colombo
ORIGINAL: GreyJoy
ORIGINAL: Nomad
As far as I have seen, the house rules you have favor the Japanese. This is not good when a game is between a fairly inexperienced Allied player and a very good and experienced Japanese player. I have a game where we are not using any house rule for aircraft altitude and things are just fine. I have another where we are using 2nd best maneuver band as the maximum altitude and things are fine. I would never use a set altitude, it completely takes away the fact that aircraft got better as the war went on. You will really be hard pressed to use the advantages of the P-47, P-51 and late Spitfire marks.
oh...so you suggest me to ask for a change in HRs?...2nd best altitude? Is that fair for the japs? I would not like to appear a stupid-little-whining-girl to Rader's eyes asking for a change when the game is already started...especially if this change are against japs...
You've been snookered... live with it.
Don't bother with your Fighters until you start to get much better planes - preferably starting with the P-47 in 1943.
Use the best fighters you currently have at their best altitudes - If You Absolutely Need To.
Use your crummy fighters (everything but P-38s and Hurricanes) for training only.
Build up you 4E forces and go after your opponent's bomber bases. (Don't waste 4Es on anti-ship)
Use your 2Es for anti-sub warfare, and any torpedo 2Es for anti-ship warfare.
Don't let any good LCUs get trapped on Island Bases - fight on Continents. Remember - your opponent has a limited number of LCUs - the more bases he takes, the more he becomes spread out. You want him to be thin everywhere starting in mid-1943.
DON'T try big fancy invasions in 1942. So what if you capture some atoll somewhere. What are you going to do with it then? Your opponent can use it for target practice and wipe out your CVs with the KB if you try to defend it.
Focus on India and Australia first. (BUT - Don't leave Hawaii totally stripped.)
Build ALL of your Forts in the Soviet Union to their Max. Your opponent invaded Siberia once, he may want to try it again.
Keep these things in mind when you are considering the "defence" of the DEI:
- The Dutch troops are garbage and will always be
- Always ask yourself - can you defend ANY position or base in the DEI against 3 to 5 GOOD Japanese Infantry Divisions, with the KB hanging nearby?
- Will British, Indian, American or Australian troops help you if they are in Java or Sumatra and your opponent is landing in India, southeastern Oz, the Hawaiian Islands, or Prince George?
Most importantly - DON'T try to "win" the War in 1942. Plan now for how you will start to come back in 1943, 1944 and 1945. (There were very good reasons why the Allies weren't doing major counterattacks in the first half of 1942, and why they were in the far South Pacific in the second half of 1942 even after sinking 4 Japanese Fleet CVs.)
Good luck -
RE: Disaster at Colombo
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 05,06 42
Strong air bombing at Batavia, Manila and Chungking. Batavia is almost out of ready troops...entire units are disabled by the long and fierce siege posed by the japs during the last 2 weeks....
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Batavia (49,98)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 33553 troops, 473 guns, 456 vehicles, Assault Value = 1104
Defending force 15797 troops, 342 guns, 124 vehicles, Assault Value = 221
Japanese adjusted assault: 313
Allied adjusted defense: 241
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
1576 casualties reported
Squads: 24 destroyed, 53 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 49 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 25 disabled
Allied ground losses:
2315 casualties reported
Squads: 124 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 167 destroyed, 73 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 5 disabled
Vehicles lost 65 (63 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Assaulting units:
114th Infantry Regiment
16th Naval Guard Unit
146th Infantry Regiment
23rd Ind. Engineer Regiment
11th Infantry Regiment
I./124th Infantry Battalion
8th Tank Regiment
91st Nav Gd /1
5th Recon Regiment
55th Infantry Regiment
1st Tank Regiment
143rd Infantry Regiment
15th Naval Guard Unit
42nd Infantry Regiment
Yokosuka 2nd SNLF
21st Infantry Regiment
12th Engineer Regiment
5th Engineer Regiment
41st Infantry Regiment
Sasebo 3rd SNLF /1
II./124th Infantry Battalion
15th Ind. Engr Rgt /2
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
25th Army /2
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
5th Mortar Battalion
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
3rd Mortar Battalion
5th Field Artillery Regiment
6th JNAF Coy
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
18th JAAF Base Force
21st JAAF AF Bn /1
Defending units:
1st Regt Cavalerie
4th KNIL Regiment
2nd KNIL Regiment
1st KNIL Regiment
Batavia Coastal Gun Battalion
Mobiele Eenheid Battalion
Tjilatjap KNIL Battalion
6th KNIL Regiment
Loemafjang Base Force
Commandement Marine
Soerabaja Base Force
ABDA
MLD
ML-KNIL
1st KNIL AA Battalion
Merak Base Force
Batavia Base Force
KNIL Army Command
3rd KNIL AA Battalion
Tjilitap Base Force
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At Singa the Japs are just land bombing...with mixed results. Supply situation is good as long as the japs don't start to air bomb my citadel...
Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 1042 troops, 127 guns, 24 vehicles, Assault Value = 2027
Defending force 46324 troops, 514 guns, 302 vehicles, Assault Value = 1279
Japanese ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
24 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
47th Infantry Regiment
48th Engineer Regiment
4th Division
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
15th Guards Regiment
21st Division
14th Guards Regiment
33rd Division
17th Indpt Guards Regiment
Yokosuka 2nd SNLF /3
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
Southern Army
92nd JAAF AF Bn
48th Field Artillery Regiment
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion
55th Mountain Gun Regiment
96th JAAF AF Bn
Defending units:
1st Malay Battalion
2nd Loyal Battalion
8th Indian Brigade
1st Hyderabad Battalion
6th Indian Brigade
2nd Malay Battalion
FMSV Brigade
27th Australian Brigade
28th Gurkha Brigade
3/16th Punjab Battalion
1st Manchester Battalion
3rd Cavalry Regiment
5/2nd Punjab Battalion
15th Indian Brigade
3rd SSVF Battalion
1st Mysore Battalion
2nd Argylls Battalion
2nd Gordons Battalion
22nd Australian Brigade
SSVF Brigade
2/17 Dogra Battalion
Singapore Fortress
22nd Indian Bde /1
137/155th Field Regiment
III Indian Corps
24th NZ Pioneer Coy
1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
111th RAF Base Force
2nd HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
1st Indian Heavy AA Regiment
272/273rd Bty 80th AT Gun Regiment
30 Battery/3 HAA
109th RAF Base Force
224 Group RAF
AHQ Far East
11 Battery/3 HAA
29 Battery/3 HAA
3rd ISF Base Force
Malayan Air Wing
109th RN Base Force
Singapore Base Force
2/215th Bty 80th AT Gun Regiment
Malaya Army
2nd ISF Base Force
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
112th RAF Base Force
223 Group RAF
110th RAF Base Force
5th Field Regiment
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Port Hedland (57,129) Northern Oz
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 368 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 18
Defending force 290 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4
Japanese adjusted assault: 4
Allied adjusted defense: 5
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 0)
Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), leaders(-), preparation(-)
Attacker: shock(+), supply(-)
Japanese ground losses:
22 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
Miura Det /2
Kimura Det /5
Defending units:
Port Hedland RAN Base Force
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Colombo at 27,48...that was close!!!!...japs' subs activity keep on rising in the Bengal bay
Japanese Ships
SS I-158
Allied Ships
DD Peary
CA Dorsetshire
CL Dauntless
CL Durban
CL Dragon
CL Emerald
DD Norman
DD Pillsbury
SS I-158 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Peary
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Colombo at 27,48
Japanese Ships
SS I-158, hits 1
Allied Ships
DD Napier
DD Tjerk Hiddes
DD Jupiter
SS I-158 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Napier
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong air bombing at Batavia, Manila and Chungking. Batavia is almost out of ready troops...entire units are disabled by the long and fierce siege posed by the japs during the last 2 weeks....
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Batavia (49,98)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 33553 troops, 473 guns, 456 vehicles, Assault Value = 1104
Defending force 15797 troops, 342 guns, 124 vehicles, Assault Value = 221
Japanese adjusted assault: 313
Allied adjusted defense: 241
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
1576 casualties reported
Squads: 24 destroyed, 53 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 49 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 25 disabled
Allied ground losses:
2315 casualties reported
Squads: 124 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 167 destroyed, 73 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 5 disabled
Vehicles lost 65 (63 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Assaulting units:
114th Infantry Regiment
16th Naval Guard Unit
146th Infantry Regiment
23rd Ind. Engineer Regiment
11th Infantry Regiment
I./124th Infantry Battalion
8th Tank Regiment
91st Nav Gd /1
5th Recon Regiment
55th Infantry Regiment
1st Tank Regiment
143rd Infantry Regiment
15th Naval Guard Unit
42nd Infantry Regiment
Yokosuka 2nd SNLF
21st Infantry Regiment
12th Engineer Regiment
5th Engineer Regiment
41st Infantry Regiment
Sasebo 3rd SNLF /1
II./124th Infantry Battalion
15th Ind. Engr Rgt /2
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
25th Army /2
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
5th Mortar Battalion
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
3rd Mortar Battalion
5th Field Artillery Regiment
6th JNAF Coy
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
18th JAAF Base Force
21st JAAF AF Bn /1
Defending units:
1st Regt Cavalerie
4th KNIL Regiment
2nd KNIL Regiment
1st KNIL Regiment
Batavia Coastal Gun Battalion
Mobiele Eenheid Battalion
Tjilatjap KNIL Battalion
6th KNIL Regiment
Loemafjang Base Force
Commandement Marine
Soerabaja Base Force
ABDA
MLD
ML-KNIL
1st KNIL AA Battalion
Merak Base Force
Batavia Base Force
KNIL Army Command
3rd KNIL AA Battalion
Tjilitap Base Force
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At Singa the Japs are just land bombing...with mixed results. Supply situation is good as long as the japs don't start to air bomb my citadel...
Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 1042 troops, 127 guns, 24 vehicles, Assault Value = 2027
Defending force 46324 troops, 514 guns, 302 vehicles, Assault Value = 1279
Japanese ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
24 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
47th Infantry Regiment
48th Engineer Regiment
4th Division
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
15th Guards Regiment
21st Division
14th Guards Regiment
33rd Division
17th Indpt Guards Regiment
Yokosuka 2nd SNLF /3
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
Southern Army
92nd JAAF AF Bn
48th Field Artillery Regiment
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion
55th Mountain Gun Regiment
96th JAAF AF Bn
Defending units:
1st Malay Battalion
2nd Loyal Battalion
8th Indian Brigade
1st Hyderabad Battalion
6th Indian Brigade
2nd Malay Battalion
FMSV Brigade
27th Australian Brigade
28th Gurkha Brigade
3/16th Punjab Battalion
1st Manchester Battalion
3rd Cavalry Regiment
5/2nd Punjab Battalion
15th Indian Brigade
3rd SSVF Battalion
1st Mysore Battalion
2nd Argylls Battalion
2nd Gordons Battalion
22nd Australian Brigade
SSVF Brigade
2/17 Dogra Battalion
Singapore Fortress
22nd Indian Bde /1
137/155th Field Regiment
III Indian Corps
24th NZ Pioneer Coy
1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
111th RAF Base Force
2nd HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
1st Indian Heavy AA Regiment
272/273rd Bty 80th AT Gun Regiment
30 Battery/3 HAA
109th RAF Base Force
224 Group RAF
AHQ Far East
11 Battery/3 HAA
29 Battery/3 HAA
3rd ISF Base Force
Malayan Air Wing
109th RN Base Force
Singapore Base Force
2/215th Bty 80th AT Gun Regiment
Malaya Army
2nd ISF Base Force
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
112th RAF Base Force
223 Group RAF
110th RAF Base Force
5th Field Regiment
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Port Hedland (57,129) Northern Oz
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 368 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 18
Defending force 290 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4
Japanese adjusted assault: 4
Allied adjusted defense: 5
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 0)
Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), leaders(-), preparation(-)
Attacker: shock(+), supply(-)
Japanese ground losses:
22 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
Miura Det /2
Kimura Det /5
Defending units:
Port Hedland RAN Base Force
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Colombo at 27,48...that was close!!!!...japs' subs activity keep on rising in the Bengal bay
Japanese Ships
SS I-158
Allied Ships
DD Peary
CA Dorsetshire
CL Dauntless
CL Durban
CL Dragon
CL Emerald
DD Norman
DD Pillsbury
SS I-158 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Peary
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Colombo at 27,48
Japanese Ships
SS I-158, hits 1
Allied Ships
DD Napier
DD Tjerk Hiddes
DD Jupiter
SS I-158 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Napier
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RE: Disaster at Colombo
ORIGINAL: ADB123
ORIGINAL: GreyJoy
ORIGINAL: Nomad
As far as I have seen, the house rules you have favor the Japanese. This is not good when a game is between a fairly inexperienced Allied player and a very good and experienced Japanese player. I have a game where we are not using any house rule for aircraft altitude and things are just fine. I have another where we are using 2nd best maneuver band as the maximum altitude and things are fine. I would never use a set altitude, it completely takes away the fact that aircraft got better as the war went on. You will really be hard pressed to use the advantages of the P-47, P-51 and late Spitfire marks.
oh...so you suggest me to ask for a change in HRs?...2nd best altitude? Is that fair for the japs? I would not like to appear a stupid-little-whining-girl to Rader's eyes asking for a change when the game is already started...especially if this change are against japs...
You've been snookered... live with it.
Don't bother with your Fighters until you start to get much better planes - preferably starting with the P-47 in 1943.
Use the best fighters you currently have at their best altitudes - If You Absolutely Need To.
Use your crummy fighters (everything but P-38s and Hurricanes) for training only.
Build up you 4E forces and go after your opponent's bomber bases. (Don't waste 4Es on anti-ship)
Use your 2Es for anti-sub warfare, and any torpedo 2Es for anti-ship warfare.
Don't let any good LCUs get trapped on Island Bases - fight on Continents. Remember - your opponent has a limited number of LCUs - the more bases he takes, the more he becomes spread out. You want him to be thin everywhere starting in mid-1943.
DON'T try big fancy invasions in 1942. So what if you capture some atoll somewhere. What are you going to do with it then? Your opponent can use it for target practice and wipe out your CVs with the KB if you try to defend it.
Focus on India and Australia first. (BUT - Don't leave Hawaii totally stripped.)
Build ALL of your Forts in the Soviet Union to their Max. Your opponent invaded Siberia once, he may want to try it again.
Keep these things in mind when you are considering the "defence" of the DEI:
- The Dutch troops are garbage and will always be
- Always ask yourself - can you defend ANY position or base in the DEI against 3 to 5 GOOD Japanese Infantry Divisions, with the KB hanging nearby?
- Will British, Indian, American or Australian troops help you if they are in Java or Sumatra and your opponent is landing in India, southeastern Oz, the Hawaiian Islands, or Prince George?
Most importantly - DON'T try to "win" the War in 1942. Plan now for how you will start to come back in 1943, 1944 and 1945. (There were very good reasons why the Allies weren't doing major counterattacks in the first half of 1942, and why they were in the far South Pacific in the second half of 1942 even after sinking 4 Japanese Fleet CVs.)
Good luck -
Thanks mate.
Ok, so you say i'd better set the best altitude of my fighters instead of 20k fts-no-matter-what?
I've been very conservative with my fighters till now. i've been wiped out during the first 7 days at PH (where he stayed and sunk everything that was afloat), but, except for the dutch air forces and for a couple of AVG missions in China, i've tried to save as many fighters as possible. Despite this, numbers are still very very low. Anyway i'm training a LOT and hopefully within few months i'll have a decent reserve of fighter pilots.
For the moment i'm using my 4Es in naval search mission...cause i badly need eyes and i have not nearly enough cats around all the theatres...
However i'm planning to build, slowly, a decent 4Es force in Oz as soon as my convoy arrive there (still 2 weeks i guess).
DEI and SRA are already lost. tried to defend them and managed to ambush a big invasion force in northern Borneo (Miri) with force Z...but then the overwhelming forces that japan brought in (KB included) forced me to evacuate my assets (air and naval), letting the dutch defend on their own...now trapped in a sieged Batavia that will likely fall tomorrow... I hope singapore will last for a couple more weeks...so that i can build up decent defences around Calcutta and Colombo...finger crossed!!!!
Still thanks!!!
RE: Disaster at Colombo
Ok, so you say i'd better set the best altitude of my fighters instead of 20k fts-no-matter-what?
For example, P-39s are best at 9K and below. At 20K they are toast. at 5K they have a slim chance. And if his fighters are at 20 K they have to fly down to get at your P-39s.
You will get fighters that will operate best at 20K - the P-40K, for example, IIRC. But your others should be kept in their best altitude ranges.
But then, you shouldn't be trying to Sweep, nor really trying to defend against Sweeps with the planes that you have right now. Keep them back to protect against paratroop drops and bomber raids into your rear.
Good luck
RE: Disaster at Colombo
ORIGINAL: GreyJoy
...For the moment i'm using my 4Es in naval search mission...cause i badly need eyes and i have not nearly enough cats around all the theatres...
Why?[:-]
(1) Let's say your misused 4Es identify an enemy fleet. What are you then going to do? Raise anchor and sail the Allied fleet to intercept. Break out the popcorn folks, we're going to have an early treat when the front page headline of the New York Times reads, "KB destroys Allied fleet".
(2) Allied 2Es are just as good, nay better, than 4Es for naval search, particularly at this stage of the war.
(a) Naval search range beyond 12 hexes is largely useless
(b) 2Es can operate from much smaller airfields without penalties
(c) Some 2E models have radar which does help in finding the enemy
(d) Except for torpedo equipped 2Es, the best use of 2Es is against land targets. Considering your current lack of fighter escorts, you must either have a lot of unemployed 2E units or tasked them on very inefficient missions. Why not employ them instead on naval search? That frees up the 4Es to do some real damage to the enemy.
Alfred
RE: Disaster at Colombo
ORIGINAL: GreyJoy
ORIGINAL: Nomad
As far as I have seen, the house rules you have favor the Japanese. This is not good when a game is between a fairly inexperienced Allied player and a very good and experienced Japanese player. I have a game where we are not using any house rule for aircraft altitude and things are just fine. I have another where we are using 2nd best maneuver band as the maximum altitude and things are fine. I would never use a set altitude, it completely takes away the fact that aircraft got better as the war went on. You will really be hard pressed to use the advantages of the P-47, P-51 and late Spitfire marks.
oh...so you suggest me to ask for a change in HRs?...2nd best altitude? Is that fair for the japs? I would not like to appear a stupid-little-whining-girl to Rader's eyes asking for a change when the game is already started...especially if this change are against japs...
Nope, too late now. Just learn. Listen to Alfred and ADB123, they have both given you good information. You really have not lost the game yet, but you can if you do not do better in the coming months of game time.
RE: Disaster at Colombo
For example, P-39s are best at 9K and below. At 20K they are toast. at 5K they have a slim chance. And if his fighters are at 20 K they have to fly down to get at your P-39s.
I always set my P-39s to 10k and they seem to do just fine. Am I mistaken that the altitude range at which they are best is UP TO 10k? This is how I've been reading it all along, and it has worked, but if it functions better at 9k please let me know. I fly a combined CAP if possible with P-40s at 15k and P-39s at 10k, and both have stood up well.
Don't bother with your Fighters until you start to get much better planes - preferably starting with the P-47 in 1943.
Use the best fighters you currently have at their best altitudes - If You Absolutely Need To.
Use your crummy fighters (everything but P-38s and Hurricanes) for training only.
This is very discouraging advice, and it seems to me slightly overstated.
P-38s are not good for CAP anyway due to their service rating of 3. Use them for sweeps at 20k with good pilots, (70+ AIR, 60+ DEF, 60+ EXP), and go after his concentrations. Two or three squads like this in 42 will get 3-1 kills and take down critical large squads of Oscars especially.
Hurricane IIc will be a great CAP and escort plane at 15-20k, but again it's all about pilot training, fatigue, and making sure to switch out squads that are low on planes or fatigued for fresh full ones. You may not win the air battle, but you will hold your own. And he will always have days when the Netties will come in without their buddies and you'll light up 5-10 in one flight.
Never pull back and wait until you have better stuff to fight. You won't learn anything and you will just make it easier for your opponent. (Unless we're talking about CVs. With those and other high value items 42 is not the time to risk, prudence and patience is best). Use your air, but train your pilots before you do or there is no point.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill
RE: Disaster at Colombo
Lots of inputs here...hard to say what to do...[&:]
We're discussing about a change in our alt HR...i proposed the 2nd best mvr alt and Rader said he's ok with it...
Feb 8-9 1942
Batavia finally fell. All those jap troops are now able to move forward to the second stage of the Empire's expansion.
At the same time the bombing of Singapore started. 200 betties and Nells pounded the airstrip at Singa for 2 days in a row, destroying 10k supplies. Under these conditions Singa won't last long...
Our RN CV Task Force caught another "suicide TF" composed of an AV plus an E south west of Colombo....i filled the area with subs and with planes on naval search but that tricky small TF managed to get there unseen...my RN CV - that were there in order to hunt some subs - found it for pure luck!...the E ship was hit while the AV went away without a scratch [:@]
However this heavy patrolling jap activity in the Bengal Bay may mean he's not going for Oz but for India...time's running up!!!!...i must say i'm getting obsessed by this "second expansion phase"...Where is he going? When? How?...lots of questions...no answers yet.
4 enemy subs are reported between PH and SF...it's been a while since the last time we saw them...may mean the second stage is really on the way and he's ready to send his KB forward again!
Canton Island is being resupplied and filled with troops along with Christmas Is, Palmyra and Pago Pago.
Colombo ahd Calcutta have been reinforced and i'm trying to rationalize (sp?) my training program...i discovered i was training too much on naval search and too little on ground bombing [:(]...flaws of the inexperience[:o]
In China nothing moved today...he keeps on bombing back to stoneage the last 4 bases i own in Central China...we won't last long.
We're discussing about a change in our alt HR...i proposed the 2nd best mvr alt and Rader said he's ok with it...
Feb 8-9 1942
Batavia finally fell. All those jap troops are now able to move forward to the second stage of the Empire's expansion.
At the same time the bombing of Singapore started. 200 betties and Nells pounded the airstrip at Singa for 2 days in a row, destroying 10k supplies. Under these conditions Singa won't last long...
Our RN CV Task Force caught another "suicide TF" composed of an AV plus an E south west of Colombo....i filled the area with subs and with planes on naval search but that tricky small TF managed to get there unseen...my RN CV - that were there in order to hunt some subs - found it for pure luck!...the E ship was hit while the AV went away without a scratch [:@]
However this heavy patrolling jap activity in the Bengal Bay may mean he's not going for Oz but for India...time's running up!!!!...i must say i'm getting obsessed by this "second expansion phase"...Where is he going? When? How?...lots of questions...no answers yet.
4 enemy subs are reported between PH and SF...it's been a while since the last time we saw them...may mean the second stage is really on the way and he's ready to send his KB forward again!
Canton Island is being resupplied and filled with troops along with Christmas Is, Palmyra and Pago Pago.
Colombo ahd Calcutta have been reinforced and i'm trying to rationalize (sp?) my training program...i discovered i was training too much on naval search and too little on ground bombing [:(]...flaws of the inexperience[:o]
In China nothing moved today...he keeps on bombing back to stoneage the last 4 bases i own in Central China...we won't last long.
RE: Disaster at Colombo
ORIGINAL: Alfred
ORIGINAL: GreyJoy
...For the moment i'm using my 4Es in naval search mission...cause i badly need eyes and i have not nearly enough cats around all the theatres...
Why?[:-]
(1) Let's say your misused 4Es identify an enemy fleet. What are you then going to do? Raise anchor and sail the Allied fleet to intercept. Break out the popcorn folks, we're going to have an early treat when the front page headline of the New York Times reads, "KB destroys Allied fleet".
(2) Allied 2Es are just as good, nay better, than 4Es for naval search, particularly at this stage of the war.
(a) Naval search range beyond 12 hexes is largely useless
(b) 2Es can operate from much smaller airfields without penalties
(c) Some 2E models have radar which does help in finding the enemy
(d) Except for torpedo equipped 2Es, the best use of 2Es is against land targets. Considering your current lack of fighter escorts, you must either have a lot of unemployed 2E units or tasked them on very inefficient missions. Why not employ them instead on naval search? That frees up the 4Es to do some real damage to the enemy.
Alfred
Yup...got it. It makes sense. I've done that because i felt extremely poor on naval search capabilities (too few catalinas out there and so much to patrol)...i wanted to be sure i knew when KB was coming so that i could run away with my convoys...a mistake, now i understand.
Checked all my bomber groups again and changed the training program...hope it's not too late.
I have a decent fighter pilot force of pilots between 50 and 60...still not enough, i know...but the fighter training system is going well i'd say.
RE: Disaster at Colombo
for what concerns my naval assets i've divided the USN (plus the Aus navy) into theatres, assigning to each of them cruisers and destroyer divisions. The naval assets are my main weapon against his lonely raiders that keep on hitting my sealanes. I divided my 4 CVs into 2 Task forces, operating for escort pourposes at the moment.
The RN is patrolling the seas of the Bengal Bay, looking for an opportunity to strike...trying to hide it waiting for his invasion to come out.
Hopefully, till Singa isn't taken, he could not spread his dirty hands onto India or the Bengal Bay...
The RN is patrolling the seas of the Bengal Bay, looking for an opportunity to strike...trying to hide it waiting for his invasion to come out.
Hopefully, till Singa isn't taken, he could not spread his dirty hands onto India or the Bengal Bay...
RE: Disaster at Colombo
Would you please care to explain me the so called "2nd best mvr alt"? I don't understand how it works...
Let's say i have the P-38E, which has these numbers:
15/15/15/14/11....which should be the max alt of this plane?
Thx in advance
Let's say i have the P-38E, which has these numbers:
15/15/15/14/11....which should be the max alt of this plane?
Thx in advance
RE: Disaster at Colombo
ORIGINAL: obvert
For example, P-39s are best at 9K and below. At 20K they are toast. at 5K they have a slim chance. And if his fighters are at 20 K they have to fly down to get at your P-39s.
I always set my P-39s to 10k and they seem to do just fine. Am I mistaken that the altitude range at which they are best is UP TO 10k? This is how I've been reading it all along, and it has worked, but if it functions better at 9k please let me know. I fly a combined CAP if possible with P-40s at 15k and P-39s at 10k, and both have stood up well.
The best operation altitude is less than 10K for P-39s, so at 10K you get the second level of ability.
Don't bother with your Fighters until you start to get much better planes - preferably starting with the P-47 in 1943.
Use the best fighters you currently have at their best altitudes - If You Absolutely Need To.
Use your crummy fighters (everything but P-38s and Hurricanes) for training only.
This is very discouraging advice, and it seems to me slightly overstated.
P-38s are not good for CAP anyway due to their service rating of 3.
I keep mine at big air bases with Air HQs and they repair quite fast. They also discourage air attacks very quickly...
Use them for sweeps at 20k with good pilots, (70+ AIR, 60+ DEF, 60+ EXP), and go after his concentrations. Two or three squads like this in 42 will get 3-1 kills and take down critical large squads of Oscars especially.
Hurricane IIc will be a great CAP and escort plane at 15-20k, but again it's all about pilot training, fatigue, and making sure to switch out squads that are low on planes or fatigued for fresh full ones. You may not win the air battle, but you will hold your own. And he will always have days when the Netties will come in without their buddies and you'll light up 5-10 in one flight.
Never pull back and wait until you have better stuff to fight.
Early on when the best that you have are P-40Es, they just aren't good enough. It is better to hang back and look for mistakes from your opponent.
You won't learn anything and you will just make it easier for your opponent. (Unless we're talking about CVs. With those and other high value items 42 is not the time to risk, prudence and patience is best). Use your air, but train your pilots before you do or there is no point.
RE: Disaster at Colombo
ORIGINAL: GreyJoy
Would you please care to explain me the so called "2nd best mvr alt"? I don't understand how it works...
Let's say i have the P-38E, which has these numbers:
15/15/15/14/11....which should be the max alt of this plane?
Thx in advance
In this case, the "2nd Best" is the 14 band - "best" being 15 and worst being 11.
RE: Disaster at Colombo
ORIGINAL: GreyJoy
for what concerns my naval assets i've divided the USN (plus the Aus navy) into theatres, assigning to each of them cruisers and destroyer divisions. The naval assets are my main weapon against his lonely raiders that keep on hitting my sealanes. I divided my 4 CVs into 2 Task forces, operating for escort pourposes at the moment.
The RN is patrolling the seas of the Bengal Bay, looking for an opportunity to strike...trying to hide it waiting for his invasion to come out.
Hopefully, till Singa isn't taken, he could not spread his dirty hands onto India or the Bengal Bay...
What are your CVs escorting? They should be out hunting down enemy raiders.
What do you hope that the RN CVs will do against the KB if it comes calling? Do you think that you can get close enough to strike with biplanes?
You would be better off to ground those pitifully few biplanes and keep them near your Air HQs in India so that they can attack any invading TFs.
If you want to see what happens when Allied TFs go against the KB in 1942, read PzB's AAR, and also Andy Macs matching AAR... They ought to be very educational...
Good luck -