Newbie Allies vs. Experinced WitP

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: DOCUP

Outstanding Crack.  Go after them again. I would say atleast one of those carriers won't be launching any planes tom.  Just my two cents.

doc

I am working on that plan right now ... I also have a SAG 40 miles due west that will close in at full speed ...

BIG QUESTION: Can carrier based CAP fly when the ship is on fire? What level base rules goes into the CAP as far as being shut down?

My only fear now is tha the KB is going to be coming into this area .. The KB has about 7 days from where they are is on the other side of the DEI the Saratoga is 6 days from service and 4 days away. The Hornet and the Lady Lex will take at least 2 weeks to get into theater.

[DOCUP]

I don't think they can fly when ship is on fire. I'd hit them one more time.  Run from the KB, don't try and fight the KB till later.
 
doc

[zuluhour]

Good hunting ACE.

[Crackaces]

Here is the Situation at the end of the turn 22 MAR 1942:

I am a bit nervious about the Tarawa landing now. I will have to see how this unfolds. I have 6 more days until D-DAY. My Opponets reaction to every one of my maneuevers is to committ the KB. No matter how small the victory. His philosophy is to use the KB not as a fine instrument of war, but as a weapon of terror. Seking our to sink ships even if it does not fit the final plan. He lost 20 Vals over Colombo for a ols BB and some merchant ships. He has lost 2 CVL's for 3 AVP's at Baker Island and I am looking for the 3rd. That philosophy is how he got into this situation in the first place.

The problem being now I cannot face the KB yet so early in 1942. Landing at Tarawa will committ my carriers or I will lose the landing .. we have some time to think about this.

I really should have just moved at cruise speed toward Baker Island rather than rushing him .. I could have got a free shot .. but I really thought he was moving to get between Baker Island and PH .. maybe hit some shipping .. so I thought that was the best place to launch .. Carrier war has so much uncertainty .. but with Cat's the USN has so much an advantage within LOC. This battle has not only cost 2 CVL's but will cost 100 of the IJN's finest. Also there are 2 CA's in this group one of them will be a huge win.

One note about a "Nellie" Attack. I wiped out his Nell's turns 3 - 5 in the Battle for Clark Field. There were T-Storms and the Nell's arrived with no escorts. My P-40's had a field day. In two such occurances I had 3 aces and 1 Double Ace and they had 70+ experience two pilots achieved 83 and 84 exp. These guys joined training squadrons that now patrol Ndeni.

In the meantime, I am full bore moving toward his CVL CVTF with both a SAG and a CVTF. There are 2 DD's at least that were trying to join his CVTF last turn I suspect because he thought once detected I would surround him wiht subs He never suspected now saw the carriers. You see below I am just going to move as fast as possible within range. Then we shall decide about Tarawa.

[Crackaces]

The Animation showed only the 3 CVL's but a closer look at Combat Reporter and we find a 4th CVE the Hosho!
.............................................................

CAP engaged:
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 8 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
11 planes vectored on to bombers
Shoho-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 8 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
10 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 8 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Hosho-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 2 on standby, 6 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
7 planes vectored on to bombers

We shall see what this turns brings. I am not sure how many Zeros were damaged landing on damaged carreirs and how overstacked are the carriers if in fact the other two on fire can't take planes. It might just very well be another very bloody day but the IJN lacking not 3 but 4 light carriers!

[Crackaces]

In a Most interesting turn I think the IJN CVTF Headed due West and got away.

The first action in the night:


Night Time Surface Combat, near Nikunau at 143,129, Range 9,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Japanese Ships
CVL Ryujo, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Oboro, Shell hits 2, on fire

Allied Ships
BB Idaho
BB Mississippi, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1
CA Chicago
CL Detroit
CL Trenton
DD Sims
DD Hughes
DD Dunlap
DD Mahan
DD Case
DD Pope


Then day broke and one PBY found a CL did not report postion but said they hit a CL? "a Japanese CL is reported HIT"

No CVTF is sight so ....

It seems the IJ player is trying to reinforce Makin:


Morning Air attack on TF, near Makin at 136,125

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes


Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 9
TBD-1 Devastator x 5


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAP Montevideo Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
65 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


What is far more interesting is that the IJN is staging Oilers at Makin. I suspect to refuel the KB for forward strikes:


Morning Air attack on TF, near Mili at 138,120

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 11
SBD-2 Dauntless x 33
TBD-1 Devastator x 12


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed


Japanese Ships
DD Yugao
DD Wakatake, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
AO Iro, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
AO Ondo, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Susuki

[font="Arial"]Now the drama[/font]

Somebody suggested .. "watch for the Nell's" which as above I totally discounted because I blasted so many over the skies of Manilla and Clark Field I just thought "no .. he would not do that" ...

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Mili at 140,123

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
G3M2 Nell x 13



Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 10
F4F-3 Wildcat x 10


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Yorktown
CA Astoria
CV Enterprise

Now Tarawa ...we might be thinking of Postponing the invasion I have to think about it today ...it seems I migth need longer range fighters and much more support ... in the meantime I found a lone DD ..

Morning Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 144,128

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes


Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 10


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Oboro, Bomb hits 6, and is sunk



I have a total of 41 fighters left and the offensive capacity is next to nothing wiith all the damaged aircraft. I was thinking of holding off the upgrades for a months but .. some major random damage has them both needing the pen for 20 days and refit.


The below picture shows the situation. I am headed to Tabituea to meet a AO and get rearmed by the AKE's there. Then back to PH I think. Gather all 5 CV's and then go at this. In the meantime ... more fighters on Tabetuea .... He does not know this .. but 25 Air Cobras are there on CAP as well as 2 CD units incase he is thinking Bombardment.

[Crackaces]

below shows the airwar to date. We are keeping a 2-1 ratio and got a great victory today over the skies of Ragoon:

Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 24 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 28



Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 3
Buffalo I x 8
Hurricane IIa Trop x 6
Hurricane IIb Trop x 12


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
H81-A3: 1 destroyed



Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 13
Ki-51 Sonia x 5



Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 2
Buffalo I x 6
Hurricane IIa Trop x 6
Hurricane IIb Trop x 15


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27b Nate: 6 destroyed
Ki-51 Sonia: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged

fternoon Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 7
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 5



Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 4
Hurricane IIa Trop x 6
Hurricane IIb Trop x 12


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27b Nate: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIa Trop: 1 destroyed


Afternoon Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 17



Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 2
Buffalo I x 8
Hurricane IIa Trop x 4
Hurricane IIb Trop x 15


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 2 destroyed

Afternoon Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-30 Ann x 11



Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 1
Buffalo I x 5
Hurricane IIa Trop x 3
Hurricane IIb Trop x 13


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-30 Ann: 7 destroyed

The totals below in order of todays losses with a carrier attack:

[DOCUP]

Nice numbers in the air war. Crack  I hate how they can just disappear.  I have had 3 TFs do that to me already in my game.  I do think that, I sunk all of one.  The other 2 I don't know where they went.  You might be able to get the Tarawa invasion off.  Just watch out.
 
doc

[Saros]

He's using nates, sonia's and ann's on offensive missions? He must really hate his pilots I guess.

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: Saros

He's using nates, sonia's and ann's on offensive missions? He must really hate his pilots I guess.

I do not think he was expecting resistance. 3 things came into play.

I rescued 4 BF's from Malay back to Prome. This enabled the support for fighter groups. I paid the PP's for the AVG to play in Burma [with the AVG HQ'ed there] along with moving RAF assests. Then I timed the pounce with an bmbardment attack on Moulmein. Combine that with weather causing missed escorts and in a few short days the attrition took its toll. He has moved to night operations with these aircraft. I have the AVG on night ops this turn. I will post the results.

[Crackaces]

As the DEI became impossible to keep a submarine force afloat in the shallow waters .. I moved the Dutch Subs to be based elsewhere. They are now giving the IJ player a little of their own medicine:


Sub attack near Tanegashima at 101,63

Japanese Ships
xAK Yosida Maru #1, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS KXVIII



SS KXVIII attacking on the surface



Out of Three USN Submarine attacks we sink one xAK

Submarine attack near Ominato at 119,55

Japanese Ships
xAK Sakido Maru, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
SS Tuna



xAK Sakido Maru is sighted by SS Tuna
SS Tuna attacking on the surface

That would be in the bays of the homeland. and 2 ships sunk.

I am now bringing these submarines to defend 12 - 20 hexes around Tarawa. If the KB is coming .. they will have to risk running into a Dutch submarine .. they have much less duds ...

More later ..

[Crackaces]

My "Spidy" Senses are on full alert. I have decided to turn back the Tarawa mission and try this when I get get more bases and more air support in place. In the meantime I dropped off 2 DB units as both the Big E and Yorktown have random "failing floatation damage". Nohting too bad only 7 but all major. They both need a refit and overhaul. These units can practice DB Tarawa ....I am also taking out my AKE's and AG's here and parking them at a super secret location.

I suspect trouble. As below, my subs picked up a big convoy and the one closest sub reacted 1 hex away from the target. His leadership is 63 / 50 agreession. I am a newbie so I do not know what the algorithum for a submarine to back out of a fight, but it cannot be good for my forces, or a 4 day stay here required to pull off an invasion. The 24th Divsion got a free cruise within one day of striking .. but not worth the sacrifice .. yet ...

Roi-Numur has Nells and Jaluit has Zeros. Anything north of Tarawa will run into a Nelly attack.

[Crackaces]

I sure wish I had the experiece of Nemo, but alas I have to find somethings out for myself. We know good strategies and operational details but axact numbers are sparse and hard to come by ... even then, the randomness of the die rolls makes it hard to get a feel what is going to happen.

So this turn I just let loose 18 Dauntless DB's on Tarawa. A very small attack indeed but maybe I can extend the reuslts:

Morning Air attack on 53rd Naval Guard Unit, at 136,128 (Tarawa)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes


Allied aircraft
SBD-2 Dauntless x 18


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-2 Dauntless: 1 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
39 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


.................
Also attacking 7th Naval Construction Battalion ...
Also attacking 53rd Naval Guard Unit ...


Two bits of information came from this attack. With 18 aircraft about 4 squads were disabled and I lost a DB ... its going to take a HUGE DB attack on D-Day to disrupt as many squads as possible.

Second and most interesting .. I have discovered the two units on this base: 53rd Naval Guard Unit & 7th Naval Construction Battalion. So there is about 80 or so AV on this island.

Just to compare with a level bombing I attacked Pegu:

Morning Air attack on 15th Army, at 55,53 (Pegu)

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 8



Allied aircraft
Hudson IIIa x 6
Hurricane IIb Trop x 15


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27b Nate: 1 destroyed


Japanese ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Less casaulties but more non-combat squads disabled [&:] Randomness of the die roll or does DB's attack wat I want more .. or is it because 15 Army is a HQ unit and no combat forces to attack .. more questions than answers ..

Lots to think about and lots of time to do it .. I will wait unitil all 6 carriers are upgraded and into threater to crack this nut.

The other piece of news to report is that we both have agreed to upgrade to the latest Beta release. q3. [8D] That means maybe some different behaviors from this point on but certianly some very add behaviors fixed.

April is a month of logistical nightmares. The coming month has no less than 100 ships to get upgrades. These cannot be all done at once, and certainly I need to think about where these need to be done. I am thinking WC for the Yorktown upgrade splitting between LA, SF, and Seattle. PH is full of small ships and things that got torped that needed repair there .. not much roon to upgrade for another 2 weeks or so.

Then there are the Submarine upgrades .. RADAR! But I have no intention of pulling my subs off patrol all at once to upgrade. The Clemson DD's get RADAR .... decisions decisions .. Oh ..and the KB is looking for revenge for my victory ...That has to be balanced .. So no major operations planned for April .. rather a month of getting our forces togehter ..

Last note for today .. PM is in deep trouble .. down on supplies, I am 4 - 5 days from getting supplies and the IJA is about just as far away .. its going to be close ..

[DOCUP]

I agree with your opening remark.  What did you loose those 18 DBs to?
 
doc

[DOCUP]

I just noticed your new title.  What are you experimenting with?  Just say no to drugs.  stay off the Crack.

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: DOCUP

I just noticed your new title.  What are you experimenting with?  Just say no to drugs.  stay off the Crack.

[:'(]

Well rather than have an absoute strategic purpose I am just experimeting with air raid types, altitudes, and results. How many aircraft of what type do I need on station to assure than enough comabt troops will be disabled that my landings can get ashore. Especally proir to 4/43. [3/43 plus the 24 days it takes to convert AP's to APA's] I am quite concerned about taking Tarawa and in particular the fort level. I can have all the engineers in the world but if the invasion force does not stick -- that is all for nothing. I also did a small air raid over Pegu to see what a ground attack with novice piloted level-bombers at 9K would do. Almost the same ...

As far as the DB attack .. I lost only 1 out of 18 DB's to flak. But an exchange of 1 DB for 13 casualties and 4 disabled squads -- tells me not to keep this up .. that I will need to let loose at least 100 - 120 DB's and follow up with the bombardment and invasion. I might even wait for the Wasp that will be in theater in 60 days. [60 day variation option .. she comes early!]

BTW) My moniker comes from my on line poker days ... playing JTs, 7-8s etc calling pocket aces small "sucker" rasies and when the flop favored my connected suiters ... "cracking" aces ... I really do not have the time to play anymore .. especally with this game [:'(]No experimenting with Drugs [;)]

[DOCUP]

Well did'nt know you could of been experimenting with other things.  Don't ask, don't tell[:-].  I personnaly like the DBs, I wish I had more,.
 
doc

[Crackaces]

Well not entirely a new game but it sure seems like it ..

First turn after both my opponet and I upgraded and I see a difference. My Dutch submarine finds a convoy, a single xAKL guarded by 2 PC's and a DD .. they say "wait for an easier target .." the same happends to the IJ player .. I am thinking the days of sub commanders risking everything to sink non-significant cargo are gone. In the i offical version I have lost 70 cargo ships of various types to IJ submarines some of them very well guarded but the algorithum was .. well crazy! Now we are using Micheal's fixed version.

We shall see how the supply works in Aussie Land I will see if supplies move from Darwin to Katherine for example. In the Offical version it seems that the lnad of Oz is configured to force ships to move supplies rather than rail .. I have ranted on this before ..

As far as the game goes .. another quiet turn. I have a very strong sense the KB is going to attack Tabateua. As I showed in a picture before a massive TFtt was seen in the Marshals and then I lost it ...

But this month is getting those upgrades done and deciding where they should be done. I am leaning toward moving the CVTF's to the WC and upgrading there. Escort CL's and DD's at the same time. Not sure yet and I have a couple of days to figure this out. Tonnage, port required, and distances.

More later ..

[zuluhour]

I just had to pull out the old Websters just to figure out what Nemo said. In three different sentences! His (Nemo's) assessments on CRs campaign are very adroit and insightful but require much time for me to decypher.
Sorry for the hijack. Get'em Crackace.
usnfb
ps I am traveling to Annapolis this weekend, I hope to have some photos to share.

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: zuluhour

I just had to pull out the old Websters just to figure out what Nemo said. In three different sentences! His (Nemo's) assessments on CRs campaign are very adroit and insightful but require much time for me to decypher.
Sorry for the hijack. Get'em Crackace.
usnfb
ps I am traveling to Annapolis this weekend, I hope to have some photos to share.

No problem! and welcome to the thread!