AE Tourney II/Chickenboy PROHIBITED!!!/If you are Penelope Cruz my number is 714 287-4297

[Cap Mandrake]

Pretend I didn't read the manual.

What is an LSV for (Landing Ship Vehicle?). She wont load armor..I already tried. Maybe some engineers.

Also I have a P-39 squadron at Pearl and am starting to get the F-6C. Should I convert to P-47's or can I use the F-6C as a fighter?

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Pretend I didn't read the manual.

What is an LSV for (Landing Ship Vehicle?). She wont load armor..I already tried. Maybe some engineers.

Also I have a P-39 squadron at Pearl and am starting to get the F-6C. Should I convert to P-47's or can I use the F-6C as a fighter?

The LSV is one of the 'beaching ships' that unloads completely in one turn during an amphibious invasion. Like an LST, only smaller IIRC.

When you get some, and LSD is like an APA.

The F-6C is a recon version of the fighter plane - notice the "Camera" device. You'll either have some squadron that converts to it or can convert a recon type (I think) when you are running out of the previous type. I would not use it as a fighter, but YMMV.

[rtrapasso]

and LSD is like an APA.

i thought it is like a drug, man...

[Cap Mandrake]

***********June 16, 1942**********

Embarcation of V Corps at Pearl should be complete today. That Makes D-day at Saipan in about 6 days. The CO of V Corps is Gen. Howling Mad Smith [:D] It's not even in parentheses, which must mean it is his given name.[:D] He has started his training diet of ground glass and kerosene. All of V Corps will be embarked on AKA and APA's so they can get ashore in one day. This is important because the CD guns at Saipan are wicked. I have B-24's and some TBF's from Pagan on port attack over Saipan to soften up the guns and try to get some supply hits. When the carriers close on Pagan, the effort over Saipan will get a bit stiffer. I will also start some BB shore bombardments with the BB's shuttling back to Pagan for reloading from the arriving AE's.

The Jap carriers are retreating toward Palau. I set up a sub picket between Truk and Palau. At least one group tired to sneak back along the Northern coast of New Guinea and was found by USS Pike which put two torps into Zuikaku. That will take her out of the fight for sure, even if she does not sink. USS Pennsylvania took on some more water on her way back to Pearl after the sub attack. She may have to double back to the Marianas first.

[rtrapasso]

[>:]

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: rtrapasso

[>:]

Yes...been a bit busy..had to break up a fight between Stalker Girl and The Mayan. Stalker Girl Jr. reports that The Mayan was in her room for 3 hrs. during the day talking on her cell. As I am inclined to believe the report, (though allegiance to Stalker Girl makes any intel gained from Stalker Girl Jr. suspect..Fog of War you might say) The Mayan was probably plotting the reconquista de Aztlan. Now, I no what you are going to say, "Dood, the Aztlan thing is Aztec". Yes, of course, but I have this suspicion there is some kind of conspiracy. If the Mayans help the Aztecs take back Aztlan, then the Aztecs will cede something to the Mayans....Tucson or Las Vegas...or maybe even Miami.

Anyway, to impress me how hard she is working, The Mayan always fires up the vacuum after I get home. This is mildy annoying to me, but I just take my libation and retreat to the man cave. On this occasion, however, SG and I were watching True Grit, the new one...which is astoundingly good...and The Mayan starts unloding the lavaplatos noisily. Well, succinctly, let's just say the Fit hit the Shan. [:D]

Here is the deal...SG believes The Mayan is jealous of her..and there is the whole business of The Mayan saying outright that SG looks older than her stated age. [:D] Then you add to the mix the deal with Schwarzenegger and his housekeeper and you have ammonium nitrate and diesel oil...the only ingredient lacking is the match.....

[Cap Mandrake]

*************************June 18*********************


The entire Saipan invasion group (less one Bn armor and aviation and construction engineers) has left Pearl and will arrive at Saipan in 4-5 d. One of the escort DD's was badly damaged in a collision and the poor bastards will have to return to Lahaina.

The Plenary US Navy Aircraft Carrier Death Star Strike Force has arrived 80 miles off Pagan. They added their TBF's and TBM's (bombing at 10,000 ft) to the attack on Saipan with some improved effect. Next turn I will start on the runways at Saipan, Tinian and Guam. I am concerned that I will not have have Saipan beat up badly enough when the Marines arrive. I will therefore send in the 3 remaining slow BB's for a daytime bombardment in 1-2 days.

Zuikaku is hurt bad and has been swarmed by my subs on her way back to Palau. No attack today, but I should have two more chances.

[Cap Mandrake]

I also just discovered there are 3 full Divisions of infantry (1 USMC and 2 Army) due at Pearl over the next 60 days. Assuming I take Saipan, they can be used for Guam and Tinian.


Question: What is the best way to knock down the shore batteries? Port attacks or ground attacks?

[SoliInvictus202]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

I also just discovered there are 3 full Divisions of infantry (1 USMC and 2 Army) due at Pearl over the next 60 days. Assuming I take Saipan, they can be used for Guam and Tinian.


Question: What is the best way to knock down the shore batteries? Port attacks or ground attacks?

from my experience and what I've read on this forum it's port attack.... -
naval bombardments help as well!

[Cap Mandrake]

Yes...that is what I heard too. Port attacks it is. Airfield at Saipan also gets it today...to dent the runway and maybe take out some supply.

Zuikaku tries to make port. I could send the US carriers but that would be an undesireable position to do battle with the Jap carriers so close to his big bases in Palau

[Cap Mandrake]

Things are heating up in the mirror game (me as IJN)

The USN death start disappeared for a turn then showed up West of Guam and sank an AKL with 60 dive bombers. [:D]

It seems possible that Chicken does not know where the IJN carriers are. A single Jake pilot on Tinian spotted a nest of colonial aggressors. These are reconned to be BB's and DD's and APA's in several TF's. That smells a bit like an amphibious force. Chicken is concentrating his ASW activity at Guam but that could just be a ruse. They could be headed anywhere in the Marianas except perhaps Pagan. Tinian also seems unlikely as it is poorly reconned. I moved a bunch of planes to Tinian and chopped the range to 2 to try to avodi the Death Star. We shall see. The carriers are going to try to escape detection and move SE of Iwo.

His fast carriers could close to the NE and come withing range of the Jap carriers but the planes at Iwo will have a shot too. Given the point values at stake you can definitely lose the match in one turn.

[Cap Mandrake]

His carriers are at sea again.

[Cap Mandrake]

This is the mirror game. There is almost certain to be a great disturbance in the force on June 19. My attacks from Tinian went very badly. They weren't well coordinated and encountered about 80 fighters from his CVE's (and probably one CV). I lost over 100 planes to like 15 of his and didn't get one bomber through. The survivors will have to move to Truk or Palau and have some hot fish head soup and sake because their morale is in the crapper.

Chicken is landing at Guam and Rota. Guam has 814 Assault points and 2 Bn of Ronsons behind level 4 fortifications and some seriously crazy Emperor-brand Kool-aide drinking generals. Guam also has the beter part of two extra brigades (one from Palau and one from Truk). Rota just has some old men in adult diapers. I am tempted to counterattack at Guam as his force ashore so far is said to be only 1300 infantry and 24 tanks (some will be amphibous light tanks not all Shermans). I would hate to burn up a bunch of ammo and be repusled. Not sure what to do.

At sea, his fast carriers are closing on Iwo with a vengeance. Clearly, he is not going to let me get the IJN carriers in among his transports. Oddly, Nagumo failed to follow Abe and now my carriers are divided. Probably the best thing to do is close for battle somewhere SW of Iwo and allow the bombers and fighters at Iwo to participate. The IJN will get its clock cleaned, of course, but we might get through and wreck 1 or 2 US carriers. Some of the IJN orphan planes (from the inevitable sunk carriers) will be able to recover to Iwo. As for the big BB's, they could either try to skirt around to the East and head for Saipan/Guam or head SW and try to get a night battle with the carrier taffys. The carrier taffys could purposely move apart to save one but that is likely to end badly too. Not sure what to do here either. The good news is he will eventually be in the same position with him as the IJN.

[rtrapasso]

[>:]

[rtrapasso]

zzzzz.... hunh? ... wha? What's the score (in both games??)

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: rtrapasso

zzzzz.... hunh? ... wha? What's the score (in both games??)

I got my imperial booty kicked as IJN two turns in a row.

More to follow.

[rtrapasso]

er... when, pray tell?

[Cap Mandrake]

Score in the me as Allied game through 6-21. Zuikaku was hit by a 3rd torpedo on the 20th AND a dud. It appears she survived and made Palau but certainly is out of action and can probably be finished off later.

The 36 F4U-4 op losses were a bug.

[Cap Mandrake]

Here is the alleged score in the game where I am IJN

[Cap Mandrake]

After adjusting for the bogus 36 Marine Corsair losses, the net score is nearly 300 pts unfavorable to me.

Most of that is due to the higher aircraft losses for me as Allies (mostly ditched aircraft when my carrier took a single torp from a Betty).

I the USN game, bad weather has hampered my attacks on the port facilities at Saipan. A night bombardment from four BB's did little damage, although now they can refuel at Pagan the same day and go back the next.

In the IJN game, the carriers are redistributing fuel. Chicken declined to do battle near Iwo and instead pulled his carrier back to cover continued unloading at Guam. He attacked at Guam, gaining a 1:1. I had larger casualties. After two days of fighting at Guam, my IJA AV strength is down by 40%