The Power of Inexperience / GreyJoy(A)-Rader(J)

[CaptBeefheart]

I've got a few things to mention just to make things more confusing. I'm doing a beta game game now, so your mileage may vary, but I found that 50 EXP/70 Low Naval skill-piloted B-25s rack up a lot of skip bombing hits (i.e. naval bombing at 1000 ft.). They are now more useful like they were in WITP. Also, early on I tried some fighter sweeps and they don't seem as effective as they used to be (either that or in Ironman the Japanese are much tougher--could be).

I also like the P-40K and its higher operational rate than the P-38 for CAP. The air war should improve for you when those come in.

Anyway, best of luck. Rooting for the underdog is an American tradition.

Cheers,
CC

[Canoerebel]

I, too, have found the P-40K an effective Allied fighter (relatively speaking).

[GreyJoy]

I've taken a deep look at planes stats and, as for as i understand, the "second best" rule won't change much from the 20k limit rule...most of allied fighters have their best second on the range between 15 and 20k...so what changes?
 
Anyway, two more days have passed by. 9th and 10th Feb are gone and nothing really happened, despite a jap ACM raider that sunk a couple of AKLs near wellington (NZ).
At Singa he delib attacked and got a 1-2 but forts are down to 3...the air power really changes land combat...
 
Ok, you're right...my CVs have been ordered to look for Jap raiders in CENTPAC...let's see what i can find!
 
More turns tonight...

[Nomad]

The P-40K will be able to operate up to 31,000 and your P-47s and P-51s will be able to operate at 31,000 or higher. Hurricane IIcs can go to 31,000 also.

[FatR]

Hurricanes are your best fighters, until Lightnings arrive. Oh, and B-17s. Use the latter carefully and try not to expend them in small attacks, mass is very important for airfield-destroying raids they can excel at. I agree, that they have better uses than NavSearch. Use obsolete 2E bombers, like Hudsons, which will die anyway upon encountering Japanese CAP, to support Catalinas searchers. Use modern 2E bombers, like Marauders and especially Mitchells, for skipbombing attacks. With reasonable levels of LowN skill, they murder all unarmored ships and have good chances of getting past non-KB CAP even with no escort. Use 4E bombers to disable your opponent's bases.

[GreyJoy]

Ok but does this rule favours only the Allies? If so is it really fair?
 
Two more days into the war. 13th and 14 Feb 1942
The KB springs up east of Noumea...i discovered her only because a groups of 6 zeros performed a sweep mission over the empy base of Noumea...that means my OZ Convoy is in danger!!...Will try to escape moving south east of Pago Pago towards Bora bora...there i should be safe.
 
Another deliberate attack at Singa...still 1-2 in my favour but the japs managed to down another fort (level 2 now)...the constant bombing of 200+ IJN bombers is making really the difference.
In China he's bombing back to stone age all my bases in Central China..no supplies are left by now...we're ready to be invaded and defeated.
 
His subs are making my life hard in I.O....another AK is gone today torpedoed by a sub near Diego Garcia.
 
The KB down there in SOPAC may mean he's really going for Oz...in that case i badly need to push through my convoy!...will try to use the map southern border in order to avoid his search planes...but my TFs are starting to have fuel shortage...cannot linger there forever in the middle of nowhere... Harsh times for the good ones [:D]
 
Ok, i'll try to concentrate my 4Es and use them wisely...let's just hope i can get them to oz in time...

[Nomad]

No, because his Oscars and Zeros can overfly your P-39D, P-40E, Hurricane IIb, Buffalo, etc.

[GreyJoy]

Thx Nomad, i'll talk to Rader and see if he's ok with this change!
 
Thx again

[GreyJoy]

15th to 19th Feb 1942
 
The KB moved from New Caledonia eastwards...paid a visit at Suva (FiJi), bombed the hell out of the port (sinking the lone AM that was parked there) and then moved back again towards the Marshalls...he brought in the whole combined fleet...CVs and fast BBs... luckly he didn't go any further and my convoy can now resume its journey towards Oz...[:)]
 
At Singa in 4 days i counted something like 1600 bombers over the base...every day not less than 400 planes pounded Singa's AF...the combined land assault managed to get only 1-2 but the forts are now down to 1!
At Sebang my dutch boys are repulsing the assaults of 2 jap Rgts...but losses are high and forts are down to 0...the last ducth base in SRA-DEI is falling...
The only good thing in this theatre has been the sinking of a whole supply convoy directed to Sebang that passed too close to our 9.2 CD guns at Singa[:D]...1 DD, several PB and some 6 AKs have been badly damaged or sunk.
The intel says he's moving the whole Army (the 25th) that conquered Batavia back to Malaya via-mersing...Singa's days are really about to end.
 
In China the constant bombing of Kienko (Central China - north of Chungking) managed to destroy our supplies stocks. Now it's been 4 days that the base is completely out of supplies...with 8 jap units marching at the gates think it's time to move back to Chengtu...
Lanchow in the north is being encirled...not much i can do to stop him...
 
The sub activity in I.O. (near Karachi) is still very high. I think he's using Rangoon as his advanced sub base in the area. I'm placing ASW TFs in all the critical routes...but the fight is fierce and balanced...during the last 4 days we've lost 2 AKs foran enemy sub badly damaged (i hope!).
 
CV Soryu has been taken away from the "sunk list"....[:@] that bastard ship is still afloat

[ny59giants]

India -

Using Buffalos as CAP will get them and their precious pilots killed. You may have to concede control of the skies to him for a few months and pull back your fighters to train up the pilots until they are in the mid-60s in Air experience. Don't forget to do some training at 100' on Sweep to raise their Straf experience up, but more importantly your Defend experience. I waited until the Hurricanes IIa and IIb came out and then mass them over important bases. If you try to face him with a couple of 12 or 16 plane fighter groups he will send in massive waves to kill you.

I hope you have sent the few at start B-17 groups here. I upgrade them all to B-17E models as the D model have no rear gunner and die quickly. Train them up on Ground. Base them at Calcutta and without warning set them at 9000' and port attack on Rangoon. Anything lower and his medium AA guns come into effect.

You have three mobile Indian CD guns. I send one to Chittagong, one to Diamond Harbor, and the other to Viza....(I cannot remember how to spell it all out. [:D]

You will get a large AA Bde at Colombo. Ship it back to India and base it a base that he is hitting with Lily, Sally, or Helens. In my game I have it at Ledo with another Heavy AA and BF so I have 120 heavy AA guns there. He is paying a price to kill my C-47 transports. [:)]

Use Hudsons for ASW and Naval search. One of the best defenses against his subs is just finding them. If I have to press them into immediate use, I set them for 40% ASW/Search, 30% training, and 20% rest once their morale is at 99. If their morale goes down then check their leaders and make sure you are not using them on extended range.

Viza and the base next to it get a brigade and a BF to start building up forts. Calcutta should be expanding the AF to 7 so you can upgrade planes and then over to forts.

Make sure your LCUs are prepping for their base along with Army and Command HQs. Many players get lazy when it come to prepping.

Good Luck!!

[GreyJoy]

20th-21st Feb
 
The KB hasn't gone away...it moved south towards NZ...attacked the port of Wellington sinking some 10 ships parked there [:(]...my convoy has been ordered again to move back eastwards...really running out of fuel...it may become a big problem
 
In India i really don't know how i can defend all those distant places without spreading too much my forces...the indian units have an exp and a morale so low that those experienced japs divisions would eat them for breakfast.
 
Unfortunately no 4Es are in India...they are all enrouted towards Oz [:-]... In India i only have a couple of p-39 units and 3 Maradeurs...with no replacements these bomber units are pretty useless [:@]...have to blame myself for this...didn't plan enough...really i wasn't thinking that by march i had to think about defending India...[:o]
 
Seband fell today. Now we've lost our last base in Sumatra...when singa will be down the door for India will be open...[X(]
 
Thx NY59

[ADB123]

Seband fell today. Now we've lost our last base in Sumatra...when singa will be down the door for India will be open...

Which LCUs do you currently have in India proper?

What LCUs do you currently have in Ceylon?

Which LCUs will arrive at Aden or Cape Town during the next 4 weeks?

Are the 4Es that you have going to Oz on board ships or are they island hopping?

If they are on board ships, where are they?

Do you have any forces (LCUs or AC) on their way to Oz via Cape Town?

Do you have your Indian combat troops set to "rest" in non-malarial bases?

What troops do you have building up the Forts in Karachi, Bombay, Madras and Calcutta?

Consider starting to send the Engineering units that arrive in the Continental US to the "East Coast" and then send them to Cape Town. You can then send them to Oz, India or both. Sure, it will take two months, but even once your opponent lands anywhere in Force it will still take him a long time to move around either Oz or India. They are both big.

BTW - your experiences in Colombo and now Auckland should be enough of a lesson that you start to follow Rule # 1 regarding Ships in Port:

Rule #1 Regarding Ships in Port - DO NOT LEAVE ANY SHIPS IN ANY PORTS WHERE THE KB CAN ATTACK AND YOU CAN"T DEFEND WITH AS MANY LAND-BASED PLANES AS THE KB CAN PUT IN THE AIR

If you aren't sure what to do with your ships, or if you don't have an immediate need for them, send them somewhere the KB can't go.

Good luck -

[ny59giants]

In India i really don't know how i can defend all those distant places without spreading too much my forces...the indian units have an exp and a morale so low that those experienced japs divisions would eat them for breakfast.

There are a few places in India that you have to be prepared to defend. Chittagong as he can do a short hook. I did that in my game as Japan. Diamond Harbor to get to Calcutta. Viza and the base next to it. This combined with landing at Chittagong can be a powerful pincher around Calcutta. Madras is tough to land at due to the urban bonus. Ceylon is one to get an unsinkable CV to launch into India from. Karachi and Bombay are self evident. You MUST set a place for your low experienced troops to prep for as once they reach 100% prep, their experience goes up. Look to spend PP to change leaders for some of those Indian divisions (look for high inspiration and admin). High aggression and land rating are good once the division get over 50 experience level.

Find some bomber units in USA that are not permanently restricted and send to Eastern USA. From there you can send them to Cape Town without transports needed. It may take a few months, but you need to plan ahead in this area.

[GreyJoy]

22-26th Feb 1942

The KB seems to be gone for now...she disappeared in the Rabaul area...

Singa is falling. Japan brought in 3500 AVs from Java and now, with the forts gone, with the sky darkened by hundreds of jap bombers, my brave soldiers didn't manage to repulse the enemy's attacks. During the last 2 days japan obtained a double 1-1 and now my AV at Singa is less than 500...tomorrow, maybe 2 more days...but for the 1st of March i'm pretty sure the gates of India will be open.

In China 1000 jap AVs conquered an emptied Kienko (sp?!) - north of Chungking in Central China - while my troops are concentrating in the last 3 bases (Chengtu, Chungking and idontrememberthename).
Kumming is being sieged by more 1000 jap AVs that achieved an 1-1....the road that leads from Burma to China is now closed.

In India i have placed at Viza, Calcutta and at a chokepoint between these two location my best forces. I have two full Indian divisions guarding the possible landings, along with 2 arty and 2 AA units each. 2 Aus bde have been moved to Colombo and the 18th UK Div is prepping and building at Bombay. Some Armoured units that arrived at Aden have been sent to Oz...hopefully they will arrive in time. Colombo recieved some more 2 Indian Bdes and some heavy AA units. Indian tank units are resting at Madras ready to be moved at Viza if the enemy shows any intention of landing there. I'm moving the 3 CD units as you suggested ny59.

Karachi is building very slowly cause i've sent my eng units to build forts in the south...

The main problem related to the defence of India now is the air- power. I'm trying to figure out how i can concentrate my air power near the possible landing locations without dispersing my air units too much.
Do you think i need to change those US air units arrived from Cape town in India and attach them to SouthEast Asia HQ? Does it change anything if an air unit attached to HQ "X" is operating from a base attached to HQ "Y" ??

[ny59giants]

I have heard that you get better coordination with your bombers if there is a HQ at the base along with each of the air units belonging to the same HQ. Thus,you may want to assign all your 4e American bombers to 10th Air Force HQ. I would wait till later in the game as PP are too valuable at this point in the game.

Have you or are you able to move the few non-restricted Chinese units towards India?? Once rebuilt they come to over 1500 Assault Value. They should have started the game in the western part of China.

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

I have heard that you get better coordination with your bombers if there is a HQ at the base along with each of the air units belonging to the same HQ. Thus,you may want to assign all your 4e American bombers to 10th Air Force HQ. I would wait till later in the game as PP are too valuable at this point in the game.

Have you or are you able to move the few non-restricted Chinese units towards India?? Once rebuilt they come to over 1500 Assault Value. They should have started the game in the western part of China.

Unfortunately Burma fell so fast and the situation in China was so grim that i couldn't move anything back to Burma. Also i didn't found any non-restricted chinese units in my rooster...[&:]

Yes, at this stage i don't have any PP left to be used for "coordination" pourposes...

10th Air Force HQ? Is it in India? Why should i assign my american bombers in India to an HQ which is not there and does not belong to the SouthEast Asia general HQ?

Again: Thanks a lot

[ny59giants]

The Tenth USAAF HQ arrives at Aden on 1 May 42.

Chinese 6th Corp is at Tuyun broken down into 49 Div, 55 Provisional Div, and 93 Div. If you combined them all, it would cost 336 PP to buy them out and once its TO&E is filled out has 873 AV.

Chinese 5th Corp (954 AV) is spread out at Paoshan (36 Div [57 PP], 88 Div [57 PP]); Tsuyung (200 Div [60 PP], 96 Div [60PP], 22 New Div [34PP]): and Mengtze (2 Res Div [51PP]).

I would try to get them moving towards Ledo, if possible, even if they have to go through the mountains and take months to get there. You have plenty of supply in India (not in China) to use them.

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

The Tenth USAAF HQ arrives at Aden on 1 May 42.

Chinese 6th Corp is at Tuyun broken down into 49 Div, 55 Provisional Div, and 93 Div. If you combined them all, it would cost 336 PP to buy them out and once its TO&E is filled out has 873 AV.

Chinese 5th Corp (954 AV) is spread out at Paoshan (36 Div [57 PP], 88 Div [57 PP]); Tsuyung (200 Div [60 PP], 96 Div [60PP], 22 New Div [34PP]): and Mengtze (2 Res Div [51PP]).

I would try to get them moving towards Ledo, if possible, even if they have to go through the mountains and take months to get there. You have plenty of supply in India (not in China) to use them.

Unfortunately mate this is the situation in China/Burma right now...no way to march through the mountains (the burma road is closed in both ways) in time to get to India before the japs close the door...the allies are doomed in this part of the map[:o]

Beyond that i spent my PPs to get the more units i could from US to Oz...i barely have 80 PPs right now...[8|]

[GreyJoy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 25, 26 42


the 26th is a sad day for the western powers. Singapore, after a long a bloody siege, falls, giving more than 30k pows to the japs and, more importantly, opening de facto the second stage of the war. Now, with the whole DEI-SRA-MALAYA-PI(execpt for a neutralized Manila), Japan has free hands to roam somewhere and to start the second stage of its expansion.

In China things haven't changed. The theatre is lost. it's now just a matter of time. The supply lines are all closed and, with my troops starving, Japan can simply sit, lay a siege with few troops and bomb me back to stoneage.

In Oz-NZ.... finally the Convoy has been able to resume its route. Now in a week or so we should be able to get enough troops,planes and supplies to make any attempt to invade southern oz a risky task for the japs. The arrival of the Aus bdes from Aden has really been important to give some more strenght to my defences. Now i've elaborated a defensive plan for the big triangle Brisbane-Syney-Melbourne. My forces will be concentrated there, where the terrain and the bases forts will rapresent not an easy picking for any invasion force. And if he lands at Perth or in the north-east he will have to march and face my Aus units where they can use their armoured units. He had conquered Cooktown which, i bet, is the place where he's going to land. I'm pretty sure he's coming for Oz.


In the Hawaii-CENTPAC.... we've reinforced Christmas Isl. with 600 AVs. I'm sending more 500 AVs to Canton Isl and the next step will be Pago Pago where i'd like to have more 500 AVs. Minor islands (Palmyra, Johnston, Midway) will have 100 AVs.

In NOPAC nothing is happening.

India...well...this is probably the theatre were i'm less ready. Only Colombo, Madras and Calcuta have enough AVs to be ready to stop on the beaches the invaders.








--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 94708 troops, 1386 guns, 700 vehicles, Assault Value = 2715

Defending force 30868 troops, 504 guns, 255 vehicles, Assault Value = 415

Japanese adjusted assault: 1627

Allied adjusted defense: 509

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Singapore !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
3680 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 149 disabled
Non Combat: 36 destroyed, 180 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 14 disabled
Vehicles lost 52 (19 destroyed, 33 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
26283 casualties reported
Squads: 887 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 3008 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 290 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 539 (539 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 169 (169 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 41


Assaulting units:
47th Infantry Regiment
8th Tank Regiment
15th Guards Regiment
41st Infantry Regiment
12th Engineer Regiment
15th Naval Guard Unit
Kimura Det
4th Division
21st Division
II./124th Infantry Battalion
16th Naval Guard Unit
17th Indpt Guards Regiment
Miura Det
55th Infantry Regiment
42nd Infantry Regiment
146th Infantry Regiment
113th Infantry Regiment
Yokosuka 2nd SNLF
7th Tank Regiment
1st Tank Regiment
14th Guards Regiment
5th Recon Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
5th Engineer Regiment
11th Infantry Regiment
21st Infantry Regiment
33rd Division
22nd Recon Regiment
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
I./33rd Inf Regt /2
56th Engineer Regiment
143rd Infantry Regiment
I./124th Infantry Battalion
114th Infantry Regiment
48th Engineer Regiment
91st Nav Gd /1
3rd Mortar Battalion
26th Fld AA Gun Co
92nd JAAF AF Bn
5th Field AF Construction Battalion
Southern Army
35th Fld AA Gun Co
18th Mountain Gun Regiment
38th Road Const Co
82nd JAAF AF Bn
5th Guards Engr Rgt /17
35th Field AA Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
97th JAAF AF Bn
21th JNAF AF Unit
53rd Const Co
8th JNAF Coy
12th JAAF Base Force
6th Shipping Engineer Regiment
62nd JAAF AF Bn
55th Mountain Gun Regiment
15th Const Co
25th Army
20th AA Regiment
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion
8th Field AF Construction Battalion
43rd Const Co
21st Fld AA Gun Co
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
48th Field AA Battalion
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
34th Field AA Battalion
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
21st Army
30th Fld AA Gun Co
47th Field AA Battalion
55th Const Co
39th Road Const Co
96th JAAF AF Bn
5th Mortar Battalion
37th Const Co
32nd Field AA Battalion
23rd Ind. Engineer Regiment
4th Naval Construction Battalion
54th Const Co
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
31st Fld AA Gun Co
36th Const Co
25th JNAF AF Unit
22nd Air Flotilla
48th Field Artillery Regiment
1st RF Gun Battalion
31st Field AA Battalion
21st JAAF AF Bn /1
5th Field Artillery Regiment
41st JAAF AF Bn
18th JAAF AF Bn
15th Ind. Engr Rgt /2

Defending units:
22nd Australian Brigade
2nd Loyal Battalion
6th Indian Brigade
FMSV Brigade
27th Australian Brigade
Singapore Fortress
28th Gurkha Brigade
8th Indian Brigade
3/16th Punjab Battalion
SSVF Brigade
3rd Cavalry Regiment
15th Indian Brigade
2nd Gordons Battalion
5/2nd Punjab Battalion
3rd SSVF Battalion
1st Manchester Battalion
22nd Indian Bde /1
2/215th Bty 80th AT Gun Regiment
110th RAF Base Force
1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
3rd Heavy AA Regiment
223 Group RAF
3rd ISF Base Force
224 Group RAF
2nd ISF Base Force
Malayan Air Wing
109th RN Base Force
112th RAF Base Force
Malaya Army
III Indian Corps
2nd HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
109th RAF Base Force
137/155th Field Regiment
1st Indian Heavy AA Regiment
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
111th RAF Base Force
24th NZ Pioneer Coy
272/273rd Bty 80th AT Gun Regiment
Singapore Base Force
AHQ Far East
5th Field Regiment

[ADB123]

I'm trying to figure out why your opponent had so many odds-and-ends units in his Singapore attack stack. Why are all of those AA units and Base Forces there? You weren't bombing his troops were you?

I didn't think that padding-out an attack stack with essentially non-combat LCUs helped in an attack. If it does, then something is very odd about the base-attack model.

On another Front - make certain that you build up your inland air bases in southeastern Oz. You want to be able to fly bombers without having them wiped out in coastal bases by Naval Bombardments. Also, be very, very careful that you cover all of your rail junction bases so that your opponent doesn't cut them with paratroop drops.

Good luck!