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

[Erkki]

I have read Rader's AARs of other games... You're doing well. Probably better than I would. [;)]

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: Nemo121

Anyway as you'll all see it's already too late to change.

I seriously doubt that.

Thx everyone...i'll reply later...now just a screenshot for Nemo...look at here...he has cut India in two within 6 days...para-drops, transfer fighters, rail everything in...in 2 turns he had managed to move towards Bombay something like 68 units...[:o]

more bad news to come with the next combat report...

[Nemo121]

I've PM'ed you my email. If you wish I'll have a look at your situation for you. Be sure to send whatever passwords I might need also.

Also, quit doing turns, the more you do until you come up with a workable plan the deeper in the s**t you'll be [8D]

[Roger Neilson II]

I have just discovered and read the whole of this AAR. Kudos to GreyJoy for the details and keeping going.

However am I the only one to think that this sort of conquest has departed from any of the realms of reality? Calcutta to Bhopal is 1356 kms - so if that's done in 6 days thats an advance of 200 kms a day. The total is greater than that between Cherbourg and Berlin.

There is something very wrong with this surely?

Roger

[Nemo121]

Paras and no blocking forces on the rail lines...

If you take two points 1000km apart on the rail lines and there are NO enemy troops blocking the line at all then you can rail to places in no time... It isn't entirely realistic BUT this is why players need to have small Bn-sized forces blocking the main rail lines. I know I always do in India, it slows the enemy down hugely.

[GreyJoy]

Here's the situation at the 6th of May 1942.
 
Bombay is now almost isolated as you can see from the screenshot.
 
Attu atoll has been nuked again by a bombardment TF and now we've spotted a BB TF approaching Scoodra...i bet Rader won't do again the same mistake in sending an invasion force without a previous bombardment preparation.
 
The KB has moved closer to Karachi...sinking 5 transports that were leaving the harbour (direction Aden)and badly damaging a DD of the escort.
 
We're trying to plan the first bombing raid of this campaign...let's see if i can do some harm to Rader's AFs...
 
My subs near Karachi are getting slaughtered by the Kates and Vals on naval search...however they'll try to maintain their position as a shield for Karachi harbour...if the KB wanna come closer it will have to face them!
 
The supply situation in the north of India remains pretty stable...i count more than 300k supplies north of Bombay that remain in allied hands
 
The RN will try to interdict the BBs approaching Scoodra...with a bit of luck we could make those BB eat a couple of fishes for dinner [:)]
 
Near Palmyra we've sunk another AMC raider...don't understand why Rader keeps on sending his ships on these suicide missions...i learnt the trick and now i always escort my convoys...[&:]
 
More to follow...
 
 

[GreyJoy]

I was tempted to ask for another help and sendind the turn to Nemo...however i then stopped and thought about it and i really feel i've already had too much help comparing to my opponent...i'm playing with a lot of veterans here who are giving priceless suggestions while Rader is playin all alone...
So thanks - and i really mean it! - but i decline this time. Thank you mate!
 
Roger, yes, it's a bit unreal but that's the game engine we have...it's part of the system and we do not have any HR preventing that so...
 
I've pull out everything because my "blocking forces" were being destroyed by his bombers and bypassed by his tanks...i really could not effort to lose more LCUs...well...maybe i could have done it in a better way now that i see your point...

[Canoerebel]

Well, for what it's worth, I am vowing to adopt GreyJoy's name for that strategically vital island in the Arabia Sea....Scoodra! No more referring to it as Socatra in my games - it's Scoodra in honor of GreyJoy.

[Roger Neilson II]

ORIGINAL: Nemo121

Paras and no blocking forces on the rail lines...

If you take two points 1000km apart on the rail lines and there are NO enemy troops blocking the line at all then you can rail to places in no time... It isn't entirely realistic BUT this is why players need to have small Bn-sized forces blocking the main rail lines. I know I always do in India, it slows the enemy down hugely.

Yes and that's why I always put stuff in every base hex i can, I love the 'it isn't entirely realistic' ......... its plain crazy IMHO. The logistics and comms needed to stage this even without any opposition..... Its the clearest example I have come across of the Blitzkreig in the Pacific.

As for the rail movement.......each location just happens to have the rolling stock to load at will every japanese combatant and there are never any delays? I mean i have seen pictures of the normal loading of Indian railways, but that's assuming they all have the engines, carriages, low loaders and crews to run them.......

Ok if your love is for the game and its mechanics, but if what you want is something that approaches a simulation of the actuality.

Ok rant over.

Roger

[GreyJoy]

*edit...double post

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Well, for what it's worth, I am vowing to adopt GreyJoy's name for that strategically vital island in the Arabia Sea....Scoodra! No more referring to it as Socatra in my games - it's Scoodra in honor of GreyJoy.

LOL...i just realized i was mispelling it ))))

Thank you CR...very much appreaciated

[GreyJoy]

What i'm really missing for my "Marshalls" adventure is a decent land based air force. i'm tryin to collect every single group able to fly which won't be called back to europe for the next 6 months but that's pretty tough.
 
The sign-in reports keep on saying many more units are moving by ship to Calcutta...seems that he's bringing everything for this Indian adventure...
 
Jeffk...about a raid...well...i wanna get a foothold and estabilish a strong position in the Marshalls asap...i'd be really pissed if i'd get a CV out of order for a lucky sub while raiding some useless AKs in the Japan sea. I do see however that this will catch Rader's attention...but i'd like to obtain a total surprise and so i'll try not to unfold my cards till the very last moment...hoping this will be enough...
 
Back to India now...i forgot to say that on the 4th of May a jap sub tried to violate Karachi harbour...but hit a mine and probably sunk[:D]...i've used all the mines i could at Karachi and this is the signal i have not wasted them[8|]
 
However...the next weeks will be really really painfull...
 
Thanks everyone for the great support here...without you my morale would be really really lower than what it is right now[:)]

[jeffk3510]

GreyJoy-

I guess my main point would be do not show face with your carriers if you do not need to. No?

If the Marshalls are heavily defended and cannot be taken without proper air power, then by all means use them I guess...

Raid- while those AKs you sink may not hurt, it is just hitting him where he least expects it and keeps him on his toes....Dootlittle Raid...?? some damage far as I know, yes...scared the bajesus out of Japan, knowing we were capable of striking them...

He knows he is doing with you as he pleases across the Pacific, show him you mean business, and hit him in the mouth a couple of times....taking his planes, men, and or ships with you...

As always. Keep it up. Scooodra made my day btw. That and feeding cattle at 530...awww [8|]

[GreyJoy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 06,07 42
 
Finally a little and, i know useless, payback. It's not enough, i know...but it feels good to finally being able to hurt him a bit...
Two days with a double raid of my 4Es...still don't have the turn yet but from what i can see from the combat report we've done some damage...
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Indore , at 43,22
 
Weather in hex: Severe storms
 
Raid spotted at 128 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 39 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 40
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      B-17E Fortress x 40
      LB-30 Liberator x 3
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
      B-17E Fortress: 6 damaged
 
 
 
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 2
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Indore , at 43,22
 
Weather in hex: Severe storms
 
Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 6
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      B-17E Fortress x 9
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged
      A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
 
Allied aircraft losses
      B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged
 
Japanese ground losses:
      4 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
 
 
Runway hits 2
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Indore , at 43,22
 
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
 
Raid spotted at 78 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 32
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      B-17E Fortress x 26
      LB-30 Liberator x 2
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed, 14 damaged
      A6M2 Zero: 6 destroyed on ground
 
Allied aircraft losses
      B-17E Fortress: 9 damaged
 
Japanese ground losses:
      29 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
 
 
 
Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 27
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Indore , at 43,22
 
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
 
Raid spotted at 154 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 47 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 16
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      B-17E Fortress x 18
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      A6M2 Zero: 3 damaged
      A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
 
Allied aircraft losses
      B-17E Fortress: 3 damaged
 
 
 
Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 4
 
 

Chengtu is slowly falling under the pressure of the invader who brought in many units...he got two runs with 1-1 odds...with those bombers sucking up my supplies i'm pretty sure the base will fall the next turn...however i'm amazed it has lasted so long...
 
CM Rigel has been torpedoed trying to get to Karachi...he has flooded the waters around Karachi with subs...where the KB doesn't dare to go the jap subs make the dirty job...and they do it well[:o]...
 
As soon as i got the turn i'll share some more results...

[GreyJoy]

Destroyed 14 zeros on the ground and more 4 in the air...but lost 4 B17s in the process and 1 pilot....mmmm....don't think it was worth the exchange[:-]
However the 4Es prooved to be of some use...i now have to understand how to use them at best!
 
Seems that he's going for Bombay before anything else...and Scoodra for sure...tomorrow we'll have the first bombardments and then i'm pretty sure we'll have the invasion...the defenders of Scoodra will fight till the last man...no retreat admitted...no retreat possible.
 
He's moving his troops towards Bombay right now using the railroads...soon the siege will begin

[GreyJoy]

May 08-09 1942
 
A quiet turn. The invasion of Scoodra didn't come. my CVs are still on route...sweating...the KB is still based near Karachi...nothing much to report...oh yes, Chengtu held for another turn [:D]

[GreyJoy]

An indian screenshot

[GreyJoy]

Ok, it's again time to ask for your help.
I need to plan the invasion TFs that will partecipate at the Marshalls operation.
Consider i only have xAPs, xAKs and xAKLs for this operation

What is the best way to form an amph TF at this stage of the war? I was thinking about doing what Rader has done so far...placing BBs, CAs and DDs in the invasion TFs and use the max possible number of transport ships...however i still don't know how many units is correct to unload on an atoll...a division (3 rgts) is too much? I only have 1 Corp HQ at hand so i'd like to land on Tarawa with 3 RGTs, 1 FA arty unit, 1 tank unit and 1 corp HQ for the first wave...but i fear to be struck by the overstacking limitations...

Any tips?

[beppi]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

Ok, it's again time to ask for your help.
I need to plan the invasion TFs that will partecipate at the Marshalls operation.
Consider i only have xAPs, xAKs and xAKLs for this operation

What is the best way to form an amph TF at this stage of the war? I was thinking about doing what Rader has done so far...placing BBs, CAs and DDs in the invasion TFs and use the max possible number of transport ships...however i still don't know how many units is correct to unload on an atoll...a division (3 rgts) is too much? I only have 1 Corp HQ at hand so i'd like to land on Tarawa with 3 RGTs, 1 FA arty unit, 1 tank unit and 1 corp HQ for the first wave...but i fear to be struck by the overstacking limitations...

Any tips?

Is there a little more information available ?
- What do you want to invade. (how many enemies on them)
- What have you prepared for the targets. (which troops)
- How many BBs/CAs/xAPs/xAKs available.
- Do you have good intel in the islands ?
- Where do you plan to load your TFs.
- How is the layout of your bases close to the enemy. (4E there, 2E there ? )

[GreyJoy]

Thanks Beppi. Will be a blinded operation, in order to achieve total surprise. I suppose the targets are lightly defended for 2 reasons: first he has committed too many troops to have plenty of them in The Marshalls; second none of those islands have been built uo so far so very few engeneers must be present.
No, i won't have any 4 or 2Es in the nearby...i'll have to rely only on my CVs. I'll bring with me some 4 fighters, 4 catalinas, 4 dive bombers and 4 2Es groups but they won't be able to operate untill i'll have built up the target bases.
8 BBs, some 20 CA/CLs, some 100 xAPs and 150 xAKs.
I'll have available 5 marine rgts, 3 US RGTs, 4 Eng regiments, 3 tank units and plenty of AA, FA, Seabees etc...