Hailstones, and Lotus Blossoms -Admiral Mitscher(A) vs Richard III(J)

[Admiral Mitscher]

Hello Folks...

This is my first Pbem game, and also my first AAR. I have been playing AE for around two years now, but against the AI. I have played two long-term Allied grand campaign one AI games, with both going up to late 1944. But the AI was getting too predictable, and even cheating a bit I think.

Before AE I played WitP stock and CHS, and before that UV which first got me hooked on operational wargames. I never joined the forum in all those years, because to be honest it was a bit scary in the old days. I have always lurked from time to time in the forum, and learned to play the game from it.

So to cut the story short, I decided to join the forum and find a pbem opponent. I have been fortunate enough to find a good opponent, which I read is not always the case. Richard III has taken the Japanese side, as I have never played Japan. Rich is an experienced player, but has never played Japan in Pbem, which is good for me I think.

We are playing the DaBabes-Lite 26A scenario, with the December 7th start. We have both made a firm commitment to play this campaign out to the bitter end. So I will give my best, but know that at the start I will get beat up somewhat. I now wish Richard III good luck, as I am confident that he will need it.

Please read no more of this AAR Rich, as it is now closed to you, bye and good luck. [;)]

Here are the HR's, option, and setting -

Options/settings:
-Accept air/ground replacement off.
-Advance weather on.
-AI historical.
-Allied damage control on.
-Auto sub ops off.
-Combat reports on.
-Dec 7th surprise on.
-Factories to expand off.
-Fog of war on.
-Historic 1st turn off.
-PDU on.
-Plane move radius on.
-Show combat animations on.
-Show combat sum on.
-Show clouds on.
-Ships/air groups upgrade off.
-TF move radius on.
-Turn cycle 1.

House Rules:
- Air Combat TFs to contain no more than 500 aircraft (no death stars).
- Allies cannot form new TFs in turn 1, but can alter orders for existing TFs.
- Allied LCUs and Air units in China can be moved on turn 1.
- Fighter sweep or CAP altitude is restricted to the band of their second best maneuver rating.
- Invasions are only allowed in hexes with bases.
- No Carrier Hunting by KB after the Dec 7 strike.
- No creating dozens of 1 ship TF `s ( AK`s PT`s )in 1 hex on either side.
- No naval attack bombing below 10k feet for 4E bombers other that for navy 4E bombers.
- No night bombing if moonlight is less than 50% other that for B29s.
- No strategic bombing in or from China before 1943.
- No using fragments of Para units to take bases.
- Only one Japanese port attack on turn 1.
- PPs have to be paid to release units from restricted commands.

Marc.

[JocMeister]

Good luck!

I just started my first PBEM aswell after playing the AI for many years. Can´t understand now why i waited so long!

[Canoerebel]

Good luck, Admiral Mitscher!  Welcome to the game and to the forums.  Nice sig, too.  [:)]

[Olorin]

Good luck to both of you and enjoy the game. [:)]

[obvert]

Welcome and good luck! It will keep you much more on your toes to play a person, and an experienced one as well. It's exciting and I find I'm learning a ton.

Use the Boise wisely![:)]

[Grfin Zeppelin]

Welcome and good luck

[Admiral Mitscher]

Thank you Guys, and Gal for the words of encouragement, and good luck. I will need it, but I am confident that I will give Richard III some headaches, while that's the plan anyway. Please feel free to offer me advice, even if it is of the hard kind. As there is still alot I need to learn on this game, especially pbem. [;)]

[Admiral Mitscher]

Thoughts on Strategy.

Well what am I going to do after December 7th, a saint Robin, or stand and fight? Maybe a bit of both I think, depending on the local circumstances. But The Allied forces are for the most part spread out, and pretty thin on the ground.

Alaska, West Coast: Not much chance of any Japanese invasions here in the opening game, apart from maybe the western Aleutian Islands. So this will for the most part be my work-up and training area. Also it goes without saying that it is my main supply/fuel/oil hub.

Pearl Harbor: Is my main base in the Pacific, it is unlikely that Rich would attempt anything other than a raid here. But if he was to invade the Islands, I would fight even with my CVs early. It would work for me I would think, as he would be fighting on stretch LOC, and at serous disadvantage. Whereas I would be close to my main hub, and easily able to reinforce.

Midway, Johnston, Line Islands: Chances of early action here is also much on the par with Pearl Harbor. Again the advantages would be on my side, but apart from Johnston not a serious threat to me. I will be building up midway, Johnson, and Palmyra as forward bases for Pearl Harbor.

Central Pacific: Some chance of Japanese operations here, maybe south toward Fiji and Pago Pago. But not a game breaker, as I can just move further back. As an extra few days for the convoys to the South Pacific is not worth being caught forward and unconcentrated. Having said that I still expect to build up Pago Pago, and Fiji as main bases, with Canton as a forward base.

Southwest Pacific: Could be some early landing Japanese operations here, even as far south has New Caledonia. I defiantly expect Rich to go for Rabaul, Lae, and Port Moresby in the first phase. This would not be a problem, as I can pound Lae and PM from North East Australia. I also think that this would be good, as it would allow me time to build up New Caledonia, and maybe even Luganville.

Northern Australia: There is the real possibility of Japanese landing along the northern coast, as far as Port Headland. He will probably move south though Ambon, Kendari, and into Timor. His best option would be to at least take Darwin, to deny it as a base for me. This would slow me in the area, but Darwin can be bypassed by the Allies I think.

Philippines: In all probability Rich will land on Luzon, as the Japanese did historically. If he does so in force, the Philippines are indefensible and all the ground forces there are lost. So my plan here is to slow him down with small delaying forces, while building up the forts at Clark Field, and Bataan. I want to keep his infantry here as long as possible, and to damage his units enough that he needs to refit them. I will maintain a fighter force here as long as possible to attrite his air forces. Plus I will use my S-boats and PT-boats to harass his landing convoys. The bigger submarines and all other surface vessels will attempt to withdraw to safer bases.

Dutch East Indies: Same has the Philippines, if Rich moves in force here the area is lost. So again Delay, and build up forts to damage his infantry. While my air power will attempt to attrite his air forces when practical, and hide when overwhelmed. The local naval forces including submarines with the aid of some RN, and USN heavy units will attempt to harass the enemies landing convoys. All other surface vessels not needed in this area will retire to India and Australia. But I will attempt to ship out has much fuel, then oil as possible without heavy tanker losses.

Malaya, Borneo: Again if Rich moves here historically, both areas are indefensible and will fall. Borneo and the units there are lost, and nothing can save that. The trick in Malaya is to hold on as long as possible, but early forward delay could be dangerous here. I have to get the infantry units in northern Malaya, under Singapore’s airpower intact and undamaged. So all aircraft and ground units in the northern part of Malaya will withdraw south of Kuala Lumpur as soon as possible. I will keep fighter cover over the Singapore as long as possible, even in the face of heavy casualties. Also I plan to withdraw the Australian infantry brigades, along with the air HQ’s for use in the India, Burma areas.

Burma: Rich will in all probability move into Southern Burma from Thailand, and strike at Moulmein. Which I will hold as long as possible, by moving a good infantry brigade south from Rangoon. But Moulmein can be flanked, so when this happens I will withdraw. I can delay him south of Rangoon on the two river lines, but not indefinitely. I intend to bring the rest of the 17th Indian division to Rangoon, and maybe one of the Australian brigades from Malaya, but that will be all the reinforcement I do for Burma. Because if Rich wants Burma he has the recourses to do it, but I will make him work for it. I will stand and fight in some positions, but know I will be forced back to the Indian boarder.

India, Ceylon: On the Burmese border I will stand and fight with no retreat, and most of the early British and Indian reinforcement will go here. Apart from the 18th division which will go to Ceylon, which must be held at all cost. While the 44th, 45th, and 46th Indian brigades will go to the Calcutta area for garrison duty and to train. The Deccan Coast of India will only be lightly screened by individual infantry battalions in the early game. I intend to build-up several airfields in the Calcutta and Bengal area, for a air campaign over Burma. Also to build-up three big airfields on Ceylon, to command the Bay of Bengal, and the Deccan coast. This is the way to combat him if he comes this way, from the air. The Shipping in the Calcutta, Deccan coast, and Ceylon areas will be thinned out to the minimum, just in case of KB raids.

China: The basic philosophy in China is withdraw the ground units from the plains, and fight him in the rough terrain whenever possible. I will try not to give up my fuel, oil, and supply baring bases. While my airpower attempts to stay out of trouble, while building up and training. I will probably use the AVG air group to do some bomber hunting. But I think that I will wait, and see what his strategy is going to be. Because if he concentrates all his forces in China on one area, I will be in trouble.

Marc.

[zuluhour]

enlisted.

[Dan Nichols]

Note on the Line Islands. Christmas Island is a very large atoll. That means you can put anything you want on it and if he invades he must do a shock attack. A regiment with some artillery is hard to take. A division with artillery and a CD unit is mostly impossible for him to take. Plus it can be built to be a large base.

[Admiral Mitscher]

ORIGINAL: Dan Nichols

Note on the Line Islands. Christmas Island is a very large atoll. That means you can put anything you want on it and if he invades he must do a shock attack. A regiment with some artillery is hard to take. A division with artillery and a CD unit is mostly impossible for him to take. Plus it can be built to be a large base.

Good point there Dan Nichols, and thanks for passing it on. My thinking was to make Palmyra a forward air-search base, and use PH as it's support. But a Marine regiment with some engineers and AA early, would make Christmas Island secure for future build-up.

[DOCUP]

Good Luck Adm.    Will follow your exploits.  Theres a nice (4) 6in gun CD unit in Oz that has done well for me at PM in my game.  Might want to think about putting it into action.

[JocMeister]

Keep in mind that early in the game you are extremly thin on reincforcents so decide very carefully were to send it. Also remember that with very few exceptions he can take what he wants and you can´t do anything about it. So don´t waste waste what you have on futile defense operations. I´m not saying that you shouldn´t fight back but do it were it counts and you can achieve something.

Don´t ever forget that you are playing a human and nothing will be like when playing the AI. I´m learning that every turn, again and again. Don´t be too slow in Malaya. A human moves so much faster then the AI and its easy to have your forces cut off. I have something like 3 battalions cut off because I was expecting a certain pace from my opponent.

Also, don´t forget to have fun!

/Jocke

 

[Admiral Mitscher]

Hello DOCUP... I follow you AAR, and you have tort me alot thank you.

I have found the CD unit you mentioned thanks, it is the 5th RAA Coastal Artillery regiment at Sydney. I intend to lift it along with the two other battalions of the 30th Australian brigade into PM, when I have finished evacuating the Rabaul. That should stiffen PM till I can get a regular brigade from the Middle East there.

Marc.

[DOCUP]

Thanks Adm.  I'm glad I'm doing something.  I wish I would have a lil more time to put my thoughts in my AAR.  Also the transport sqd in China is a good group to move so you can airlift units around DEI.  Padang BF has 2 5 in guns, you might think about moving them to Pbang for a lil extra firepower.

Edit. I will be following this AAR Adm.

[Admiral Mitscher]

Thanks JocMeister... You are correct, and there are only so many bases that I can reinforce in the early game. So I think I will work my way across the Pacific in this order, as Resources become available:

Midday, Johnston, Christmas, Palmyra, Pago Pago, Canton, Tahiti, Suva and Nadi, Auckland, Noumea and Koumac, Efate, Luganville, Ndeni. With the ones in bold lettering being the priority bases, and Pago Pago able to replenish aircombat TFs.

This I intend to be my line in the sand so to speak, but depending on Rich's moves some could change.

Marc.

[Mac Linehan]

Admiral Mitscher and Richard III -

The best of luck to both of you!

Mac

[zuluhour]

well.......

[Admiral Mitscher]

ORIGINAL: zuluhour

well.......

Still doing the huge Allied second turn, will write-up December 7th when I finish it. [:'(]

[zuluhour]

allow time for wrist cramps