Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop (J) vs CF (A)

[Cribtop]

OK, here's the tracker screenshot. Over the next few days I plan to use this screenie and a follow up on R&D recommendations as my March economic report. Please help me make sure I understand what this means. Alternatively, if there is an online manual for Tracker, please advise. I've been to the web site and read a few tutorials, but couldn't find anything covering the engine or R&D screens. My basic dilemma is that several months from now, Tracker now seems to show me needing a lot more engines than it did for the same months just a few weeks ago. While I did expand some production, it wasn't much (mostly Zeros, Oscars, resurrecting Kate production from 0, etc).

PS - Pls ignore the cool picture of Big Bend National Park I use as my wallpaper. Also, in case any of you are wondering about the file MAJOR.JPG, Major is one of my dogs.

[PaxMondo]

The Ha-35 upticks are prolly due to Rufe and the Zero 3 coming on line.  You have factories for both at game start, and it looks like you haven't fully repaired them yet.  click on a specific engine and then the lower portion will filter to just a/c models for that engine.  Very useful tool.

[Cribtop]

March 1, 1942

Thanks to Pax and nygiants59 for their advice! I assumed that new squadrons/new planes would be accounted for in the out months in the Tracker planning tool, but apparently they are not. Sort of moves the goalposts on you, but we can ramp up production to match without too much trouble.

Subs & 4th Fleet

No change.

SE Fleet

SA Horn Island takes the place, forcing the remaining 2 LCUs to surrender with 5:1 odds vs level 1 forts. Casualties 271(79) vs 32(1). Glad to have this base as it can be a thorn in the side. It was a fun little mini-game to take it on the cheap. We will fly in an SNLF and fly out the 2 paras for duty elsewhere. In fact, I have a mind to move the 3rd Yokosuka SNLF to China and drop them on the Sian outskirts stack to halve its adjusted AV at the crucial moment.

The survivors of the Port Moresby garrison stumble into Terapo with raw AS of 20 and adjusted AV of 3. They barely take the place from the janitor we left to keep an eye on things (he died like a true Samurai - very hard to commit seppuku with a push broom but he managed it [:D]). We will bomb this rabble into oblivion and re-take the base with the other para unit in short order.

14th Army

No change.

16th Army

Babo invaded. 21st Division has re-formed at Kendari and 38th Division will arrive in about 3-4 days. The quiet period will end soon with an invasion of NW Oz. Tomorrow we begin flying the 5th Air Division HQ unit into Denpasar.

25th Army

We have decided on a broad plan for Operation SJ, the capture of Sumatra and Java.

This could take a while to type so, it being Friday night, we had to re-fill our frosty adult beverage.

Friendly Situation: We have available for the mission up to 5 infantry divisions, 3 tank regiments, engineers and base forces. Naval assets will include MKB, Indes Fleet, and various supporting elements, including minesweepers, dedicated ASW TFs and a special LCTF for use at Palembang. IJAAF will bring 2 or if needed 3 Sentai of Oscars and two bomber wings to the party. IJNAF will allocate 3 Zero units of varying sizes plus at least 3 Daitai of Netties.

Enemy Situation: Enemy ground forces are generally weak and dispersed, with concentrations at Batavia, Medan and Soerabaja. Enemy naval forces in theater are almost nonexistent except for Dutch submarines. We cannot discount the possibility that UK or USN CVs will intervene, but at least the UK battle line was decimated at Nicobar Island. Enemy LBA is generally weak, concentrated at Batavia, Palembang, Sabang and Madioen.

Threats to our forces: 1) Submarines; 2) LBA; 3) Surface assets equivalent to an IJN LCTF (i.e. CL/DDs); and 4) Carrier air. Additional localized threats include mines and CD guns.

Desired End State: Invade Sumatra and seize the southern portion of the island to project air power over Java from both East and West. Invade Java, divide the island, and put both Batavia and Soerabaja in a state of Siege. Final phase will be mopping up these garrisons, followed by DBCL work.

Execution: The Op will be multi-phased, beginning with a direct descent on Palembang using a specialized invasion TF that includes an LCTF to sail upriver. This is determined to be achievable because Palembang contains only 2 enemy LCUs of minimal strength. Pre-conditions for Palembang invasion: 1) Clear Singapore of mines (DMS en route currently); 2) shift assault shipping from Takao and Cam Ranh Bay to Singers; 3) Sweep and bomb Palembang airfield and other Dutch airfields in range of Malaya; and 4) establish line of picket ships south of Sumatra and Java to warn of enemy CV threat. Invasion will be covered by LBA, Indes Fleet and MKB in a standoff/LRCAP role.

Phase II will begin with MKB pounding enemy airfields in western Java, specifically Batavia. MKB to include 2 DesDivs with each CarDiv and a dedicated ASW TF of 4 DDs to minimize sub threat. We will invade at Kalidjati, use the level 4 airfield to establish a fighter base asap, then move to cut the island in two and invest Batavia. Secondary forces will then push until Soerabaja is invested. Invasion of Java will be supported by LBA from Palembang and perhaps Oosthaven.

15th Army

We enter Meiktila. DA tomorrow. Enemy main body is at Mandalay and retiring to Schwebo.

China

DA Pucheng results in 66:1 odds, casualties 501(3) vs 233(0). Our boys may be getting a bit tired, so we will rest tomorrow before more attacks.

Other

Today we graduate our first class of trained airmen and begin work on the second class. The first class is a bit of a stopgap. Future classes will be cross-trained in a second skill where relevant.

[Cribtop]

March 2, 1942

Another big surrender and what appears to be a huge opportunity in China.

Subs

Zippo city.

4th Fleet

Our DBCL TF will invade Howland Island tomorrow.

SE Fleet

Numerous reinforcement TFs are approaching Munda and Lae. We begin harassment bombing of the enemy LCUs at Terapo. Hosho will arrive at Truk tomorrow to join Taiyo on a raid into the enemy's convoy routes.

14th Army

Today a regiment enters Cotobato over the river. The mandatory SA takes the base with 18:1 odds. 7 battered LCUs surrender, ending effective resistance on Mindanao (Zamboanga is still holding out). The Companies used for DBCL work in the PI are about finished up and will be used to fulfill garrison requirements at Davao, Cotobato and Cagayan. The infantry and armored regiments will ship out for Singapore and more important work.

16th Army

Babo falls. All Oil is captured intact. Babo and Boela are declared to be far enough behind the lines that we will start ferrying oil to Babeldoab for transshipment to the Home Islands.

25th Army

Not much happening yet, but we are moving behind the scenes to launch Operation SJ.

15th Army

DA Meiktila catches 2 enemy LCUs before they can flee and takes the base with 48:1 odds. Casualties 485(55) vs 57(0).

China

11th Army joins 12th Army in the Sian outskirts. Critop HQ's collective jaw drops because during the replay we observe a movement arrow. The enemy stack is retreating out of the wooded rough hex and to the city itself! That strikes us as an error on CF's part as the rough woods will be easier to defend than the clear base hex, even assuming good fort levels. This raises a dilemma.

Option 1: Attack immediately. We might catch the enemy army in move op mode and defeat them before they can join the 8 LCUs in the city itself. However, this would mean we are fighting through the tough terrain, and if we fail to get good odds CF may stop his retreat.

Option 2: Wait for the enemy to move into the city. We are inclined to launch BAs and bombing raids but allow the enemy to retreat out of the forbidding terrain SE of the city. We can then pound down the forts over time and take Sian. We may even be able to engineer another encirclement a la Nanyang.

In the far north, an enemy LCU enters the Paotow hex. We only have a cav unit there, but it is a mountain hex. We are reinforcing with a brigade. It will be interesting to see the supply status of the Chinese force as we suspect it will be poor.

[Cribtop]

A few quick notes:

1) Enormous thanks to nygiants59 for his advice on aircraft & engine production and R&D. VERY helpful and I finally got R&D squared away, which had been lacking.

2) Tonight I graduated a class of trained pilots for the IJNAF and IJAAF. Approx 600 pilots of various stripes with primary skills of 70+. Nice, but what a pain. Had one unit of IJNAF fighters that will not graduate or accept rookie pilots so that I can slowly graduate the good guys and replace them with rookies. Odd.

PS - I figured 2) out. The unit has a Chutai elsewhere.

[Miller]

Let his troops retreat into Sian. Much better to face them in a clear hex as oppossed to a 3x terrain bonus hex. You can bomb them out of supply much quicker in a clear hex as well.

[Cribtop]

I agree, Miller.

[Cribtop]

March 3, 1942

Subs

No contacts.

4th Fleet

Howland Island invaded and taken by SA. Our DBCL TF will re-load asap and move to safer waters lest CF get any ideas as we are close to Canton.

SE Fleet

We begin daily bombings of Terapo while reinforcements move into position. These reinforcement TFs will free up 3 SNLF Coys for use as dot base warriors.

The CVE Raider TF (Hosho & Taiyo) will depart Truk tomorrow to try their luck in the convoy routes. 3 AMCs with search planes have been combing the waters near Noumea, Fiji and Pago Pago for a week with no contacts. Thus the raiders will probe the gap between the Line Islands and Tahiti.

14th Army

Masbate invaded. We will soon re-assemble 16th Division at Aparri for use in other AOs. For the moment this Divsion will serve as SRA theater reserve, but will be committed to NW Oz or, more likely, Java.

16th Army

Today we begin loading the last brigade of 38th Division at Koepang. This unit will re-form at Kendari and we will land in NW Oz. 5th Air Division has been flown into Denpasar. The unit's heavy elements have loaded on an FT TF at Balikpapan. We will have fighters and recon based at Denpasar tomorrow, Netties a few days thereafter.

25th Army

We have almost got the IJAAF and IJNAF ready for an alpha strike on the airfield at Palembang, which contains bombers and auxiliary a/c but no fighters per recon.

A DMS TF will arrive at Singers soon to clear mines. After that things will start to happen quickly for Operation SJ. We are having a bit of trouble getting supplies into the white at Singapore but if needed can ship in more from Cam Ranh Bay.

15th Army

2nd Fleet loads at Hainan Island for Rangoon via Bangkok. We will soon seize Taung Gyi, Lashio and Mandalay. Scads of base forces and engineers are re-deploying from Malaya to Burma. Capturing Singapore really frees up combat and logistical assets.

China

BA in the Sian outskirts shows raw AS to be 4761 vs 1958, about what Cribtop HQ expected. Another 600 AS will join us soon (see below). The enemy is still withdrawing to Sian and we will let him. No more BAs, but bombing will continue.

DA hex 84,45 (1 hex W of Nanyang) hurls back a corps that was trying to relieve Nanyang, odds 7:1, casualties 5861(298) vs 184(2). Our troops from this effort will now march on Sian.

DA Pucheng achieves 294:1 odds (silly, really), casualties 1101(6) vs 142(0). Enemy adjusted AV is down to single digits here again and we hope tomorrow's DA finishes this.

A brigade will arrive in Paotow by rail tomorrow unless the enemy attacks and takes the base in one shot, which we rate as unlikely.

Other

Lots of changes to our air production, engine production and R&D yesterday, but we are still running a healthy HI surplus. We will wait a day to make sure all is well and then undertake a few last conversions.

[ny59giants]

Palembang - Since this invasion is going in so late, I would be running in 2 BB TF based around a CA or two plus a fast DMS (speed 19) to hit the base. I would focus most of your air attacks on the ground units once the AF is knocked out. You want to disrupt as many of his engineers to reduce the possibility of the economic assets being destroyed.

Singapore - I would move most of your supplies from Camrahn Bay here. You don't need them in a base that has had been relegated to a back water base. I would have 12 of the 7950 capacity TKs moved here. You will need to form 2 TK TFs to run to and from Palembang once it falls. I include three escorts (a small SC or two and a PB small) just so the TF is under 48k in size and can dock.

[Canoerebel]

BBs can't go upriver to Palembang.

[ny59giants]

BB TF = Bombardment TF

[Canoerebel]

OS! IAATIMYA.



(Interpretation: Ooops, sorry! I am ashamed I misread your acronym.)

[ny59giants]

Dan - What is your acronym for a Bombardment TF??

I use SC TF for surface combat, AC or CV TF for carriers.

[Canoerebel]

"Ectually old chap," he said in poor imitation of a British offier, "I don't hev any such acronym."

Due to lack of imagination and a genuine if rare love of typing, I usually say "bombardment TF."

[Cribtop]

Dan, sounds like you need to increase R&D for TLAs (Three Letter Acronyms).

March 4, 1942

Subs

Our ASW TFs and aircraft near Formosa harass Skipjack and claim a hit.

4th Fleet

We hightail it out of Howland in case CF wants to stop by.

SE Fleet

Reinforcement TFs arrive at Lae, Hollandia and Munda tomorrow. The CVE Raiders TF has departed Truk and will top off at Kwaj before hoisting the Jolly Roger.

14th Army

Masbate falls. We should be able to re-form 16th Division at Aparri in approx 4 days, at which point she will ship out.

16th Army

The fragment Air HQ at Denpasar goes hot today so we move in Betties and Zeros to join recon. Things are about to get uncomfortable for the Dutch air force in Java.

25th Army

A quiet day with a big bonus - as we hoped, supply flows on its own from Cam Ranh Bay to Singapore and we are in business for Operation SJ. This allows us to order a powerful attack on Palembang airfield tomorrow, where un-CAP'd Dutch bombers await. IJAAF will hit from Kuala Lumpur and Singers while IJNAF launches from Sinkawang.

15th Army

Hordes of base forces and construction units approach Pisanuloke by rail for the march to Moulmein's railhead. Imperial Guards will rest at Singers a few more days before entraining for the same destination.

China

Evidence of a minor buildup at Changteh and Ankang. Is the enemy committing his Chungking reserves? We are 3 days away from buying out a division to exploit our successes in China. We will put the LCU under Southern Army to allow her to ship out for the perimeter after a few months in the Middle Kingdom. CF continues to retreat on Sian and we continue to bomb him.

At Paotow, our brigade rails in and begins to unpack. CF never attacked here and it is now probably too late. This is probably just a spoiling move on his part, but we responded with the local reserve for 1st Army, so it doesn't impact our plans yet.

DA Pucheng nets 179:1 odds but it's a pain to kill off a unit outside of a base (we are in the base hex but we own the base here). Casualties 666(4) vs 26(0).

5th Fleet

All elements from the Adak invasion have returned to Ominato. The TB pickets and the AMCs used as invasion shipping will re-base to Tokyo while the fleet stays in Ominato. If the enemy continues to show zero interest in the Aluetians/Kuriles we may shift the 2 BBs to the front.

[ChezDaJez]

ORIGINAL: DivePac88

Look what you've started Dan, you have us poor JFB's paranoid over Sumatra and Java now!

Yeah, tell me about it!!!

In my game with CR, recon tells me he has something like 300+ fighters spread between Palembang and Oosthaven not to mention 55 units at Palembang!

Chez

[Miller]

ORIGINAL: ChezDaJez

Yeah, tell me about it!!!

In my game with CR, recon tells me he has something like 300+ fighters spread between Palembang and Oosthaven not to mention 55 units at Palembang!

Chez
[/quote]

Just remember to bring the kitchen sink.

[Cribtop]

March 5, 1942

Subs

No contacts. This is kind of a good thing as we have all sorts of TFs re-positioning troops to Kendari and Singers in preparation for our next offensives. Still a bit surprised that our subs and search plane equipped AMCs have found nothing in the South Pacific.

4th Fleet

The CVE Raiders TF approaches Kwaj before its trip into the blue.

SE Fleet

Troops unload at Hollandia, Lae and Munda, with eventual destinations along the rapidly forming perimeter. These landings will free up small SNLF units at Lae, Buna and Munda for DBCL work.

14th Army

No change.

16th Army

Only one more TF to get back from Koepang to Kendari and we will be almost ready to launch Operation WD, the invasion of NW Australia with landings at Wyndham and Darwin as the final target.

25th Army

Some disappointment today as a neat little co-ordinated strike by 2 IJAAF bomber wings and the Sinkawang Betties only kills 4 Blenheim IVs on the ground at Palembang. We had hoped for more as the enemy air groups at Palembang have no fighter cover, but bad weather hurt accuracy and kept the Betties socked in at base.

A DMS TF will arrive at Singapore tomorrow to clear mines. Hordes of transports will ship out tomorrow. Indes Fleet and an LCTF are already re-basing from Kendari to Singers.

Miri hits level 3 port, as far as it can be developed. Just in time to start hauling Oil to Singapore in earnest.

15th Army

Marching after the retiring enemy.

China

CF's big stack completes its welcome withdrawal to Sian. We immediately order an aggressive pursuit. This should be interesting.

DA Pucheng finally finishes off the Chinese 100th Corps with 712:1 odds. The LCU surrenders, freeing up about 3 division equivalents to begin a limited offensive in Southern China. Our troops will rest a few days and shuffle garrisons before marching on Kanshien.

[Cribtop]

March 6, 1942

Subs

Escorts in a small troop convoy near Balikpapan chase off KXVIII.

4th Fleet

Arorae is invaded and falls to the automatic SA. Just picking up the Gilberts dot bases here, no plans to build it up.

The CVE Raiders TF tops off at Kwaj and is ordered out. Good hunting!

SE Fleet

No change.

14th Army

No change.

16th Army

Indes Fleet and an LCTF earmarked for Palembang spot no less than 3 subs in the area near Manado. We'll try to dodge them using waypoints.

Our TF loading at Koepang leaves 2 motorized support and 16 support squads of a brigade of 38th Division in port even though pre-loading screen showed that 100% of the unit would fit. Bugger.

An FT TF unloads most of the fragment of 5th Air Division at Denpasar. This base is fully hot and Betties are scouring the seas south of Java for targets. The main Dutch island is isolated.

Kendari makes level 6 airfield and will go on to 7.

25th Army

Junyo and Nisshin arrive to join MKB. Palembang is bombed by the IJAAF and IJNAF with satisfactory results, including destruction of several Vildebeest TBs. Surprised CF didn't evacuate or CAP the base after yesterday's raid.

15th Army

Taung Gyi falls. Lashio and Mandalay are up tomorrow. We wondered whether the enemy's main body would make a stand at Schwebo, but they are definitely retreating. Smart move. At this point the only question is whether Cuttlefish tries to hold Myitkyina or falls back all the way to bases in Assam.

China

No change.

Other

BB West Virginia is back off the sunk list. Cribtop Intel needs to make up its mind.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

BB West Virginia is back off the sunk list. Cribtop Intel needs to make up its mind.

[:D][:D][:D]