Newbie Allies vs. Experinced WitP

[Crackaces]

I am starting a thread journaling the experiences of a newbie to WitP AE vs. an experinced WitP player but new to the AE system. I will use Combat Reporter and WitPStaff as my reference points.

The game starts Dec 8th, 60 day variation of reinforcements, and Historical options.

The only agreement we have made was derived from the ol' WitP IJN sub behavior and that the Japanese subs will be computer controlled. The IJN commander has been very surprised by the agressiveness. Otherwise PP pretty much restricts the Allied player and both of us are not into finding exploits in game mechanics.

I have embeded the macro view of the world as of January 12th, 1942. The Japanese have been delayed in Malay due to some very lucky sub attacks using the Dutch Subs. Otherwise, my boneheaded moves have greatly helped the IJ cause. One game turn 4 for example, I tried to recover the Marine fighters on Wake Island and got the Lex within 6 hexes but .. I needed to patrol and linger .. next turn I am 7 hexes away returning to PH! I figure this out when BAM! The lady Lex takes to slugs from a IJN sub and that plan is defunct ..

One interesting move was that my opponet struck Midway with raids starting day 5 and crippled the Island. Again, a lack of understganding of Amphib into a level 2 port vs. Transport hung my forces there .. I figured that out and a month later Midway is back in action

There was an exchange where the DD's from Hong Kong escaping met up with a convoy headed toward DEI .. and the Dutch and American subs had been effective early but now the die rolls are going the other way.. Otherwise I recovered force Z and the PoW/Repulse back to Sydney. The Manilla DD's and HK DD's are right now in Perth getting ready to escort AP's back and forth to Columbo.

The Lady Lex was moved to Seattle for Repairs from her IJN plan of venting ocean water into her hull (200 ton dock limit), and the Nevada has been moved to Los Angles for repairs (110 days left) from the Dec 7th experience. The West Virgina and California are still alive but will spend the war at PH. The Penn and the Tenn will be ready in 57 days.

The month was spent leanring the logistics system and setting up supply. I have auto-convoys set up in SF & Colombo. I intially established ~100KT of shipping from CT-Colombo that takes about 20 days to complete and 40KT shipping from UK - CT and an additional 20KT from East Coast to CT. I think the roundtrips will move about 40 - 50 KT to Columbo per month at this point. I guess as the number of boats goes up so to will the shipping. 20KT is moving right now CT to Perth and 20KT from Cristobol to Sydney. This is in addiion to 30KT that moved from Colombo to Perth. I tried to empty the DEI into Darwin and moved 40K fuel units and 20KT of supplies. However, the IJN is floating SCTF that have more than threaten shipping from Palenburg. My subs have taken torp shots hitting but ..duds vs. his BB's. An LCAP intercepted a Naval attack from Bativa with my forces also missing getting any hits. The noose is closing.

I have made a bunch of boneheaded moves thus far, which I will not remiss ... For example, I did not pay PP's and move forces into PM. Moving forward:
Overall Plan is DEI focused with the thought of teh IJ taking PM, Java, Sumantra. The Allies will reverse the course from 1943 to 1945. A Central Pacific thrust will be aimed at capturing Siapan. If the DEI becomes over-reinforces the Central Pac will be the main thrust and target Formosa.

DEI PLAN: The Plan now is to stage LBU's into Luganville and then stage a forward Airpatrol. I have staged forces into Pango Pango & Suva to make this move. The American Carriers (Wasp & Saratoga) are moving to @ join the Enterprise PH. The Lady Lex that has 57 days left to her repairs @ Seattle from taking 2 torps. I suppose the upgrade will add a few more days to her stay. The plan is to have 2 2 CV TF's ready to operate near Luganville in coincding with LR Patrol forces by April/May 42. 8 AP's and 12 xAK's have been staged at Brisbine to move 4 AUS units belonging to I AUS to Luganville.

4 P40 sqns. surviving Manilla made it to Darwin and now our staged at PM. That means right now I have 15 working aircraft with 60 exp vs. what has been 6 Zeros and 20Nells pounding the port/airfield. We shall see how this goes.

CENPAC: Amphib an additional BF to Midway to repair / build up the airfield. This will be the base for patrols toward Wake is. A CV based airraid on Wake Is. is planned for Feb. 15th for the purpose of disrupting patrol and base forces building there. Submarine forces will continue to scout and interfere with IJ shipping to Truk, Rabul, and Manaco .. along with sub forces interdicting shipping out of Japan [about 1 out of 10 torps hit and a xAP sunk is as good as gold].

OK .. I will post the details moving forward.

One thing I ask in this thread. Constructive ideas are very much welcome but refrain from being a troll please ..

[Crackaces]

I will post a much more detailed picture of events moving forward and how teh strategy is unfolding but today I thought I would proclaim a smaill victory

For Jan 12, 1942 ...The IJN is executing air attacks in Singapore and Bativa at will also in Burma and China but ...
P-40's squdrons flown to PM from Manilla in a most cock'eyed route through the DEI on to Darwin, and now just stationed at PM to just intercepting an IJ raid ...

Afternoon Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
G3M2 Nell x 6



Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 11


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
G3M2 Nell: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed


To get the thread going properly in the middle of the movie so to speak .. below shows the score to this point. The IJ took heavy bomber hit early on December 8th using the ol' WitP tatics and the fighters at 15K and the bombers at 13K in T-storms produced seperated waves .. the bombers arriving unescorted .. and the P-40's making their day miserable. These same pilots and planes defended PM today ...

[Crackaces]

The Maylay Disaster ..

I have postponed the battle of Slim River for a full month, but even supporting the flanks of the Indian divisions .. the Japanese have turned the flank from the orginal blue line to the current position. Two brigades are at the red line on teh far south awaiting the onslaught, and the armour is on the clear hex and the far left flank. I suspect I will postpone things for another month but Singapore will fall ..

[Alfred]

1. How did you get the Manila Warhawk units to Port Moresby? They are attacherd to a restricted command and cannot be reattached.

2. Be very wary of using Australian units forward so early. The AIF units are very powerful but the militia units are quite weak whilst they are composed of CMF militia squads. Plus check on how the upgrades for infantry work. You get a great benefit of if you can upgrade on a 1:1 squad basis.

3. Covering your land flanks in AE is not as indispensable as you believe it to be. In Malaya you should be consolidating into road blocks rather than spreading out to hold an extended line. Read up on the comments regarding "Reserve" mode as it pertains to "Pursuit" on page 185 of the manual. You force disposition is aiding the enemy to get pursuit benefits. of course if your opponent is not aware of the game mechanics...[:)]

4. Don't worry so much about Port Moresby. In the first few months no place which is dependent on SLOCs for reinforcements and incapable of generating sufficient supply locally can be held a determined Japanese push. You can make it very costly for the enemy, both in terms of lost materiel and time, to capture such a base but ultimately you cannot hold it, unless the opponent makes serious errors or is only half hearted in the attempt.

5. No mention made of your pilot training program. That is a critical area that must not be overlooked.

6. Allied pilots shot down over Allied lines stand a much better chance of surviving than if shot over enemy lines. When you launch your carrier raid against Wake Island next month (an operation I personally have reservations about) try to position a sub in the Wake Island hex to recover pilots shot down.

7. In 1942 carrier air operations can suffer disruption penalties if more than 100 aircraft in the TF. Thus operating 2 CVs in a TF (you intend a total of 4 CVs in 2 TFs) is dangerous. Much safer, but nothing is ever guaranteed, to operate only 1 CV per TF throughout 1942. The enemy has higher tolerance limits.

8. Pay careful attention to the withdrawal dates of land units. Unlike air units and ships which the player must manually withdraw, land units just automatically disappear without any player input. Can be very frustrating to pay PPs to get a unit forward only to discover that a week after landing it simply goes "poof".

That is enough for now. Reading the AARs is a very good way of learning how to avoid making mistakes. Just remember that in the AARs there is quite a gulf in ability both in the players and the quality of advice prooffered. Loud or persistent voices do not necessarily equate to quality.

Alfred

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

1. How did you get the Manila Warhawk units to Port Moresby? They are attacherd to a restricted command and cannot be reattached.

2. Be very wary of using Australian units forward so early. The AIF units are very powerful but the militia units are quite weak whilst they are composed of CMF militia squads. Plus check on how the upgrades for infantry work. You get a great benefit of if you can upgrade on a 1:1 squad basis.

3. Covering your land flanks in AE is not as indispensable as you believe it to be. In Malaya you should be consolidating into road blocks rather than spreading out to hold an extended line. Read up on the comments regarding "Reserve" mode as it pertains to "Pursuit" on page 185 of the manual. You force disposition is aiding the enemy to get pursuit benefits. of course if your opponent is not aware of the game mechanics...[:)]

4. Don't worry so much about Port Moresby. In the first few months no place which is dependent on SLOCs for reinforcements and incapable of generating sufficient supply locally can be held a determined Japanese push. You can make it very costly for the enemy, both in terms of lost materiel and time, to capture such a base but ultimately you cannot hold it, unless the opponent makes serious errors or is only half hearted in the attempt.

5. No mention made of your pilot training program. That is a critical area that must not be overlooked.

6. Allied pilots shot down over Allied lines stand a much better chance of surviving than if shot over enemy lines. When you launch your carrier raid against Wake Island next month (an operation I personally have reservations about) try to position a sub in the Wake Island hex to recover pilots shot down.

7. In 1942 carrier air operations can suffer disruption penalties if more than 100 aircraft in the TF. Thus operating 2 CVs in a TF (you intend a total of 4 CVs in 2 TFs) is dangerous. Much safer, but nothing is ever guaranteed, to operate only 1 CV per TF throughout 1942. The enemy has higher tolerance limits.

8. Pay careful attention to the withdrawal dates of land units. Unlike air units and ships which the player must manually withdraw, land units just automatically disappear without any player input. Can be very frustrating to pay PPs to get a unit forward only to discover that a week after landing it simply goes "poof".

That is enough for now. Reading the AARs is a very good way of learning how to avoid making mistakes. Just remember that in the AARs there is quite a gulf in ability both in the players and the quality of advice prooffered. Loud or persistent voices do not necessarily equate to quality.

Alfred

GREAT FEEDBACK TY!

1. To understand the problem .. these P-40's got experience and success quickly due to the game mechanics of how escorts and bombers need to be at an exact altitude and the bombers comming in unescorted. Four groups obtained multiple aces. It seemed a waste to let these boys die .. so I paid the PP's and flew them out to fight battles where it might have an impact rather than stave off the inevetable. As it is these squadrons have been exteremly effective at flying to points where the IJ is making long range raids and meeting those advances with success.

2. Granted I paid PP's and sent militia into PM. I see this is a mistake. So if the militia is at PM they do not get upgraded?

3. Ok .. In fact to back your statement I have come to discover that forces in the Jungle off the roads are quickly flanked, surrounded, and destroyed. I need to read and understand how he game uses reserve. This will also come in handy in the final moments of Manilla.

[4 relates to 2 so we shall not digress ]

5. Ok Pilot Training will be my next post.

6. I did not think about Pilot rescue but I plan to have 10 subs around the area looking for the KB if by chance they arrive. I would guess a side effect is that some pilots will be rescued as a result. A big plus clearly.

7. Good advice. I am quite influenced by the effectiveness of IJN submarines and still have a lack in numbers and effectiveness of ASW. Maybe instead of flying off the decks of 4 carrriers I will reduce the mission within better economies of scale. I still want to do this mission for a number of reasons.

OK ... off to my other occupation

[Crackaces]

Enclosed below is the status of my pilot training pool. One thing I did was to transfer one ace each into training groups on the East Coast. This helped boost their experince qucikly.

Fighters escort @ 13000
Bombers Naval Search @ 6000
B-26 Bombers Naval attack @ 100'
PBY's Naval Search @ 2000
Wirraryways ASW @ 100'
Other ship based Float PA's ASW 100's

The months of December and begining of Jan my PBY's at PH and LA have been vigeriously ASW Bombs @ 100'. IMHO) This has been extermly helpful in avoiding subs, which wreeked havoc in December. Now as my DD's are gaining some effectiveness they are back to Naval Search 2000' Torps ..

[Crackaces]

The enclosure below shows the 3 current aces back deployed with their units. I moved them back after the training groups reached 50. In all I feel teh air campaign has gone quite well and we should have a good cadre of pilots to begin our offensive in 1943.

[Crackaces]

I have found the KB ....or should I say the KB has shown up raiding Darwin and sinking merchant ships at port and some support ships. The DD Encouter just repaired damage and was heading to Sydney when bam! The area the KB is operating has 7 subs .. and few possibilites ... there is always the opporunity for a lucky sub hit .. The Allies continue with the current strategy .. and has moved forces from the West Coast to PH for further deployment.

Afternoon Air attack on Darwin , at 76,124

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 78
B5N2 Kate x 141



No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
xAP Kota Tjandi, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
xAK Hai Lee, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Compagnia Filipinas, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Mauritius, Bomb hits 13, heavy fires, heavy damage
AG Gemma, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DD Jupiter, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
AS Platypus, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Whippoorwill, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Encounter, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Tanager, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
TK Iris, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Princess of Negros, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Luzon, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
AVP Reiger, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AVP Fazant, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Ping Wo, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AVP Poolster, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Taiyuan, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Pieter de Bitter, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
AM Quail, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AVP Bellatrix, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Wulin, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Eland Dubois, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AG Albatros, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
PC Zeeman, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AVP Pollux, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Lark, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Elcano, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Liran, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Bittern, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Magallanes, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AM Abraham Crijnssen, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Corregidor, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Palawan, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AM Finch, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAKL Bisayas, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
AM Jan van Amstel, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Port hits 16
Port fuel hits 3
Port supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
27 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 5000 feet *
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
25 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 5000 feet *
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
18 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 5000 feet *
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
17 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 5000 feet *
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
27 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 5000 feet *
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
27 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 5000 feet *
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

[Crackaces]

One of the tools out here in the forum is the WitP combat reporter. This has been ivery helpful for me to recall previous attacks and trends along with showing these on a map. Below illistrates a previous reproted attack on Bativia and since I do not do the game in a continous session I looked at this before moving fighter support in for the next turn. At least I know my 20 fighters might have a chance at 15K feet against the 11 Zeros and 4 Nells

One other use is those Radio transmissions out in the middle of nowhere .. a quick click and I found a sub lurking in the middle of the Indian Ocean I might want to avoid ...

[Crackaces]

Below shows a Radio Transmission out in the middle of nowhere [actually right off Johnson Island but 171,144 means nothing to me] that is actually very significant for me, and I am able to visualize the threat by simply clicking on the report. I have two convoys returning from Pango Pango that I need to be aware of this threat and avoid at all costs. These are the details and decisions that this game tests on an everyday basis.

[Crackaces]

The picture below shows one strategy for dealing with IJN submarines although I am not so sure the crews appreciate it . Here I have noted the patrol zone of a sub highlighted in the black oval. I have three ASW patrols consiting of YP's moving in and out of the patrol zone lingering for a day or two and then back out of that zone because a second or even third sub? is also in this area. The YP's have experince of 30's/20's day and night, and I do not expect them at all to hit anything. But .... this sub has fired salvos of 4,2, & 2 making it 10 torps fired total over the past week, and only one YP has met their fate. I understand these subs have a maximum of 10 torpedoes loaded total? If my understanding is correct, I can get these submarines to expend their ammo into the open ocean rather than my xAP's and xAK's ....[8D]

I will continue to monitor my results. I will continue to keep these low effective ASW patrols until my DD's get more experience and hardware to perfrom better escorts. Then I feel that the risk of tonnage vs. results will be better handled by my DD's. But for now... the YP's as target practice is more effective ...[:'(]

[Crackaces]

The picture below shows a 4 CV KB who has just raided Darwin and is right now continuing its South-SouthEast Path. Of note were the subs in the area that failed to react to the KB sailing over the top of them [X(]

Ok I am at the mercy of the IJN at this point they have done their worse at Darwin sinking 25 ships. In a new post I will track my repsonse, which is a 1CVTF raid on Wake Is. He has some patrol craft there and plans to use it as an early warning picket to my movements. It will take 7 days to organize and position. In the meantime I will sail Subs in the Wake Island area and note the activity.

[Alfred]

I noticed you have laid a minefield in open water two hexes from Darwin.

Generally speaking it is not a good idea to mine open water, particularly when it is easy to side step the minefield. You get too few mines monthly to allow for such extravagance.

Defensive minefields are best laid in your own ports with an anchored ACM to reduce/totally remove, the decay rate of the minefield.

Alfred

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

I noticed you have laid a minefield in open water two hexes from Darwin.

Generally speaking it is not a good idea to mine open water, particularly when it is easy to side step the minefield. You get too few mines monthly to allow for such extravagance.

Defensive minefields are best laid in your own ports with an anchored ACM to reduce/totally remove, the decay rate of the minefield.

Alfred

Thanks Alfred .. . this thread might be just me and you at least I will learn something from the experince.
I had a pesky sub right in front of the and desperately laid 25 mines.... as you have stated an act of futility. As were the mines laid where the IJN KB just plowed through. One question is what about on coastal hexes? and .. How many mines are required to get an effect?

[PaxMondo]

From what I've seen, it takes about 100 mines to have a reasonable chance for a ship to hit one.  The area in each hex is still pretty large ...

[House Stark]

As someone who eventually wants to attempt a PBEM, I'm following all these first-time AARs with interest. Good luck[:)]

[Crackaces]

Just supporting Alfread's observations ....In the picture below it shows that the sub eventually penatrated into the port area and just mining the port would have eventually caused some die roll for a mine hit. The irony is by the time that happened the IJN KB has already sunk every ship in Darwin [:'(]

Ok There is a lot going on and in the next post I will highlight some of the fronts but for now ..

In general we are trading merchant ships with sub warfare. Today is a typical encouter ..what was nice is that in the combat report .. "fuel on fire" . she is going to burn into Davy Jones's locker [;)]

Submarine attack near Hengchun at 83,68

Japanese Ships
xAK Nissen Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Pike

The USN Keeps the pressure on the subs trying to sink tankers out of LA:

Sub attack near Channel Islands at 222,79

Japanese Ships
SS I-21, hits 1

Allied Ships
DD Kilty
DD Gilmer
DD Humphreys

And the IJN takes their toll [:@]

Sub attack near Tillamook at 210,58

Japanese Ships
SS I-23

Allied Ships
xAKL Kahuku, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAKL Lahaina
KV Quesnel

This is typcal every turn .. what is not typical is snagging an amphib force :

Invasion Support action off Balikpapan
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

6 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
xAK Okuni Maru, Shell hits 2
PB Tokotsu Maru
TB Tomozuru
xAK Thames Maru
PB Naruto Maru #3
xAK Tatutaki Maru
xAP Koan Maru

Now the todays operations ..

NorPac: The 1/151 Eng are still at Seattle with attempt #2 to load for Kodiak. Our first adventure was met with a torpedo attack shortly leaving the estuary for open water. In a previous post I escorted the transport force with 4 DD's and 4 PG's but they did not react. These escorts are more experinced and upgraded.

CenPac: The Big 'E' Escorted by 12 DD's and 4 CL's with 2 CA's are moving toward Midway and into postion to raid Wake Island.There are patrol craft and the IJ is bilding the base there as a picket line. My thought is to make this more difficult while figuring out how to pull a carrier raid off .. Right now 6 subs are patroling around the coasts of Wake Island.

SouthPac: Suva and Pango Pango have both been fueled up to 10K and 4K of supplies. Engineers are busy expanding facilites. 4 PBY's are in route with aviation support and more Marines.

DEI: My luck has been very good. The ocmbination of shore batteries and sub have taken their tool severly damaging xAK's dropping off troops and supplies.

Maylay: The IJ forces still have yet to cross into Slim River .. Delaying the inevetable at least another month. Its Mid-January and historically Slim River fell mid December. The IJN has focused Amphib operations in DEI and has not attempted to cut off Singapore from retreating forces.

[Crackaces]

The below map shows the error in my ways. Not enough reserve and IJ pursuit penatrating the line and driving deep isolating forces.

However, there is some good news in that it is January 18th 1942, and I suspect Slim river will not be pentrated until the 20th. There is bad news that Singapore has only 7K in supplies and will not give much of a fight when the IJA arrives. However, everyday I postpone the surender of Singapore is precious time the IJ is busy not using those forces in Burma or elsewhere. The jungle terrain completely turns the battle of trading men and supplies for time .. it takes too long to retreat into better postions agasint the faster IJA forces.

[Crackaces]

It's late January and as the post above points out Singapore as yet to fall. Although all the forces north of Kuala Lumpur are disorganzied and will surrender at first contact -- I suspect I can hold Malay and Singapore until Feb 1st 1942. This puts a tremendous amount of pressure for the IJN to move even more agressvely and faster under severe supply constraints. Though the KB's can do what they will right now -- The IJ player understands that they have little time and lots to get secured. Things maybe even worse and he does not know it ...yet ..

If you remember, we have the 60 day variation option in place and I am getting some platforms rather early in the war. I am operating 3 CV's right now raiding Wake Is. and doing operations such as positioning support in Suva to secure Nidnei and Luganville with Marines and PA. The US will be able to bring to bare 5 CV's in March 1942. I suspect I will be able to put pressure on his plans way before history. I do not think I need to enage as much as a show of force right now to get the KB reacting to me rather than me react to the IJ moves.

For today:

I am using a operational method of moving in air assests to bases where the IJ threatens but has not yet brought adequite air resoruces to bear. This has a big disadvantage in that I have noted that the game constently damages aircraft and that leaves little bread crumbs as air assets move. But .. I think it is better than having aircraft on the ground to be pounded by 4BB's, 2CA's and 2CL's ..

Yesterday was a small victory in this strategy .. using a line from another brillantly written thread .. the little wildebeasts that could ...[8D]

Morning Air attack on TF, near Palembang at 48,91

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 44 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes


Allied aircraft
Vildebeest III x 12


Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest III: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Naka, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CA Maya, Bomb hits 1
CA Ashigara



Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Vildebeest III bombing from 6000 feet *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

So one big cruiser with the paint scratched, and a little crusier that will need some time on the blocks so to speak ...The assets damaged are not as important as the physiological effect of some small insignificant airplane doing damage .. if that was the two of the AK's in the group instead of teh CA/CL ...this would have been much more a disaster. I suspect more airpower will be committed to invasion from this point on .. and if it is the KB .. this will provide plenty of opporunities elsewhere for some mischief [:D]

CT/Colombo/India: I have begun to move the 10 knt coastal cargo ships to Bombay. There are lots more supplies right now in Bombay than anywhere else in the Indian Occean. I need to mvoe this to Colombo and keep the auto convoys going. Just to say this wold have been smarter I think than moving so many cargo assests to UK/East Coast to get 400K of supplies to CT and eventually to Colombo. We shall see .. I expect in 30 days I will have moved these distant supplies into threater. The remnants of the Indian Corps as been centralized at Calcutta and some "free" (units not required for garrisons) have also been moved. The 3 RAF units and RAF engineers have been positioned at Calcutta. I can decide know how to repostion forces.

Land of Oz: As above ...Darwin was destroyed by the KB. Townsveille and Brisbine are being built up as forward bases to support PM. The final parts of the 1 AUS are being moved from Aden. The DD assests are being moved from perth to Sydney where subs are extermly agressive. On the way .. the Brits smashed a sub lurking off Melborne.

ASW attack near King Island at 80,172

Japanese Ships
SS I-10, hits 14

Allied Ships
DD Express
DD Electra



SS I-10 is sighted by escort
DD Express fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Electra fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Express attacking submerged sub ....
DD Electra fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Express fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Electra fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Electra attacking submerged sub ....
DD Electra fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


SoPac: The USN continues to build Suva and Pango Pango with support, supplies and fuel. The level 3/2 ports respectively are not going to cut it yet for any major operations. But the time to start the constrcution is now ..

NoPac: Engineers and aviation support are headed to Kodiak. This would be trip #2 and yes I got intercepted by subs .. but this escort group has a good commander and some experince .. they react first no torp attack!

CenPac: The Big E is 240 miles north northeast of Wake Is and sending recon forces over Wake. I plan a quick raid of the airfield . do little damage but use some of his supplies having to reapair and then rejoin the Saratoga operating in the SoPac area.

"That is all for now ..."

[Crackaces]

Jan 21 1942

The Big E hung out in "severe storms" and "Exterme Overcast" for three days in attack position 240 miles due East of Wake Island -- aircraft launched all missons cancelled ...Ok .. But the IJN launch medium bombers from Wake that have recon the TF 3 times in 3 days ...[:@] The IJN knows of my raid and the location of teh Big E .. time to skedaddle out of range. The lesson learned here is to make sure and look at the weather reports being sent by the subs! Next time I will wait for the clear air out of range of the IJN patrol craft ..

We also learned today that no AS -- no fuel for subs ...at least Townsville can fuel a cargo ship but no subs .. I will have to send an AS to pango Pango Soon to collect up the US S class subs soon to be stranded in Central Java . I am moving my short ranage subs to that point.

DEI: The KB has hit Palenbang and Bativia cleaning house .... One thing I know where the IJN KB is ... and where it is not [;)] The IJN has started to move subs into the open waters of the Indian Ocean about 500 miles south southwest of Palanbang. 2 TK's sunk by S-115 ...

Singapore: The IJ forces continue southward almost unopposed. I still think I can hold out 2 more weeks against this onslaught. That will mean that it will be mid-Febuary before the IJ will have control of the supplies.

NoPac: The engineers have off loaded at Kodiak Yea!

CenPac: The Big E and Saratoga are sailing toward a merge .. when better weather hits -- the both of them are going to hit Wake Island and run .. Although I want to have 3 carriers sailing in the Suva area by March 1942.

SoPAC: PA are in place at Suva and Pango Pango I can see just south of Nidei Is. I need aviation support at Noumea to put PA's there. A marine engeer deatchment is headed to Pango Pango. Things are sort of slower going because of the need to escort everything into this area. The submarines are very agressive but .. our ASW is reacting first and blocking the torp attack. The goal is to set up 3 PBY squadrons of 2 units that can look into the Coral Sea. With this we will also move some B-26 and P-40 squadrons in to intercept SCTF's in the area. Once this occurs we can move our CVTF's in to provide support of a prospective invasion of PM. Slowly but surely the infrastrcutre gets put into place. The supplies, the fuel, the assests ...

One note the IJ has divided thier forces right now into three main KB TF's. I suspect that once Singapore falls one of these TF's will raid the Indian Ocean this would be the oppournity to take on a fragmented KB and think about an exchange ..although it will be 1943 before we get our next batch of CV's. :/