[Clever Title Here] Texas_D (J) vs Marbakka (A)

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: marbakka

Orders Summary - December 10, 1941


Philippines
- I paid the PP for the remaining two B-17 squadrons. That means that I ended up buying all 4 squadrons out of the PI. The first two had already been sent south (One to Soerabaja, the other on its way to AUS). These two were both sent to China where I hope they will be a constant thorn in IJ's side

DEI
- Palembang Pillow Fort is at 62 AV.

Pacific/Australia
- IJ sent a couple light SAGs to explore around Wake. I'll not be having with that. Lexington is steaming SW on a course intended to invite these TFs to explore the Pacific sea floor. Enterprise is shifting to Lexington's old position.

WC/NOPAC
- Moved some LCUs from SD to SF. SF is my staging area for troops and is where I have concentrated all transports
- Saratoga is moving to Seattle where I think I'll keep her until BB Tennessee arrives for repairs. At that point, I'll use Tennessee's escorts to replace the pathetic little row boats that I have sailing alongside my 3rd CV. After that, I plan on sending her on a cruise in the Bering Sea.

Some comments from Kibitzer Central:
Re: the B-17's in China - they may not be fully effective here for two reasons: maintenance and supply. Bombs and fuel eat a lot of supply which China lacks all over. And although you can build up airfields all over, China has precious few base forces to maintain aircraft. Large bombers take a lot of maintenance, usually three days to repair an unserviceable aircraft. You can operate them from Chittagong against Burma provided Chittagong airport has fighter CAP to keep it in business.

Re: - Palembang Pillow Fort [:D] - a great mental image! When he attacks clouds of feather dust will obscure his vision, tickle him everywhere and induce uncontrollable sneezing!

Re:- putting everything at SF: other players have ranted about the concentration of IJN subs around SF and LA so they spread out the ports they use to lessen the number of encounters. Allied ASW is not very effective yet. Use aircraft on Naval Search to spot and some on ASW duty to try and kill the vermin. I will look again at the FAQ in the General Forum for this game to get the ideal altitudes for the aircraft. [lots of great tips there].

Re: your carrier deployments - spreading the carriers around allows you to be in more places, but you will have to back down whenever an IJN carrier appears because your fighters cannot fend off an attack and you don't have enough bombers to push through his CAP. Concentrating your available carriers in the same hex, if not the same TF enables you to fight back and even pick off an isolated CV or CVL/CVE TF. The big danger is not seeing KB coming in time - their scout planes reach further than yours and their strike planes have one more hex range. If he spots you loitering and you have not spotted him he will move to his max strike range during the night and attack. Even if you want to run away, carriers seem to react towards the enemy by more than the "max react" setting [unless that was changed in the latest update]. Guess what I'm saying is "concentrate your carriers or be very cautious about showing them [i.e. you know where KB and mini KB are].
Good luck!

[BBfanboy]

OK, I checked the FAQ for newbies, which is in "The War Room" section rather than the General section I mentioned.
Best altitude for Nav. Search is 6000 feet [to see the furthest] but a tiny sub might be missed at this altitude. I usually use 4000 feet.
Best altitude for ASW is 100 feet! That's right 100, no missing zero. Float planes can handle this altitude well and apparantly can fly a long way because of "ground effect". Hope that helps.

[marbakka]

December 10, 1941 Report

Philippines
- Davao fell, and unfortunately the troops retreated AWAY from the reinforcements that were on the way. My forces here are in disarray.
- The TF that I suspected was a landing force for Cebu was actually for Butuan. Combined with the mess on the south side of Mindanao, I'd say it's game over without much trouble for Japan.

DEI
- With Singkawang secured, IJ has moved to Miri and landed a force of around 2000. It will fall in short order
- Manado falls. It took him an awful long time to capture it, and around 600 troops escaped to the SW. I'll try to air lift them out to Ambon with float planes. Maybe the IJ landing force at Ambon will see these guys waving to them over the barricade and decide it isn't worth it.
- Manokwari falls. Enemy lands at Noemfor
- Palembang Pillow Fort is up to 83 AV. Too slow. He tried a bombing raid but it was poorly executed and my handful of fighters fought it off.

The Celebes Situation
- mKB moved to the NW and failed to spot either of my SAGs. They met up with 2 other SAGs in Ambon and most have been combined into what I'm calling the Cruiser Strike Force which will undertake Operation Truk It To Sydney (see below) and return to the Java Sea by way of the Sydney repair yard
- Meanwhile, Force Z (augmented with some extra DDs) will be holding the line in the Java Sea until the cruisers come around (this could be several weeks depending on damage sustained in "The Playground")

The Noble Three
- DD Scout DD Thanet and DD Thracian started the war in Hong Kong. On 12/7 they were ordered to sea in the hope that they could reach Manila or Singapore safely.
- After Manila was virtually leveled, they were instructed to make for Singapore. My hope was that either the KB would be concentrated on PI and miss them or it would be distracted by them and ease off on Manila.
- One of the three received major damage from land based bombers on 12/9. She and her companions limped toward Singapore without much hope.
- Early on the morning of 12/10, the Noble Three found themselves in the midst of an enemy convoy consisting of around a dozen troop transports. Each ship conducted itself with valor, sinking or heavily damaging many of the enemy vessels and slipping into the morning mist when their ammo had been expended. Fog prevented the captains from making an accurate count of ships and troops lost by the enemy, but it is thought that several thousand enemy troops were eliminated.
- Sadly, the morning engagement drew the attention of the IJN carriers Hiryu and Soryu located in the South China Sea. A noon attack by carrier based aircraft sunk one and seriously damaged its sisters. A second attack in the early afternoon resulted in the loss of the last two remaining ships.

I'm sure I'll enjoy dropping the bomb one day, but its the small victories by otherwise hopeless ships that give me joy. Let's hope that division was the one he had designated for the Pillow Fort. [:D]

[marbakka]

Operation Truk It To Sydney

Disposition of Forces: KBa and mKB are operating in the Celebes Sea. Invasion forces are operating in Dutch New Guinea. A task force with lightly damaged cruisers and DDs is at Ambon. Force Z is at Kendari for the day and will move back toward the Java Sea after it meets up with a small group of DDs traveling from Ambon.

Cruiser Strike Force

• CA Houston
• CL De Ruyter
• CL Tromp
• CL Marblehead
• CL Boise
• DD Barker
• DD Bulmer
• DD Paul Jones
• DD Parrott
• DD Stewart

Objectives
1. Get to the Sydney repair yard and repair the light damage that was sustained during the previous week before returning to the Java Sea (Note: The damage to the Boise's engines could potentially take some time to repair, and I don't want her in Soerabaja's yard for any length of time)
2. Disrupt enemy operations in eastern New Guinea
3. Disrupt any ongoing enemy attempts to land at Rabaul

Risks
- It is possible that the mKB will turn SE again, though I don't believe it can intercept the CSF before it turns SE.
- If spotted by the mKB or search planes out of Ternate, it is possible that IJN will have time to respond by sending a SAG from Truk to intercept
- It is possible that the landing forces in New Guinea are accompanied by heavy escorts. I deem this to be unlikely as the carrier fleets are "sealing off" all but a small window that I can sneak something through in the NW and my cruisers from Australia haven't had time to get into that area yet.
- Ships damaged in "The Playground" will likely be finished off by bombers out of Truk before they can reach the safety of the Solomon Sea.

Benefits
- Both retreats (to Sydney) and disrupts the Japanese advance (if successful)
- Gets the cruisers to a shipyard that can get them sorted and back into the Java Theatre before the fun is over
- Forces IJ to send better escorts with invasion forces in New Guinea

[BBfanboy]

Op Truk It looks like a lot of fun. He is probably not expecting you to be so bold as to cruise past Truk like that. Most players would head directly down the east coast of Austrailia to get away from air attacks.
Not sure if you noticed but Brisbane has a dockyard that can handle a 10,000 ton cruiser. It saves about a day sailing but is also a day closer to any Japanese foray down the coast.

[marbakka]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Op Truk It looks like a lot of fun. He is probably not expecting you to be so bold as to cruise past Truk like that. Most players would head directly down the east coast of Austrailia to get away from air attacks.
Not sure if you noticed but Brisbane has a dockyard that can handle a 10,000 ton cruiser. It saves about a day sailing but is also a day closer to any Japanese foray down the coast.

Thanks for the pointer. I'll probably head there. I'm running into a problem with CL Tromp though. I don't think she has enough fuel to make it. I do have an AO that might be able to meet them in the Solomon Sea. We'll see.

I also just noticed a large group of ships moving into the Java Sea from the Singapore area (no idea how I missed this before). It includes a heavy escort and a landing force. I -think- that it is tasked with landing on Western Borneo.

[CaptBeefheart]

As long as your TF is in green, not red (i.e. the distance is less than the fuel range), then you will be fine even if one ship is light on fuel. They'll redistribute at some point.

Cheers,
CC

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Commander Cody

As long as your TF is in green, not red (i.e. the distance is less than the fuel range), then you will be fine even if one ship is light on fuel. They'll redistribute at some point.

Cheers,
CC

Right - and using some of their daily 1000 operations points for refueling each other will slow them down somewhat [15-50%, depending on the number of ships being refueled from buddies] . Something to remember when you are planning a hit and run with short-legged DDs and such. Fuel them up just before the high speed run in.

[marbakka]

Orders Summary - December 11, 1941

China
- All about repositioning troops into hexes with rough terrain.
- I have pretty much abandoned Chengchow and doubled up on Loyang. I'm likely to withdraw the whole host of troops into the wooded area SE of Sian without much of a fight.
- Recon missions at Sinyang in anticipation of a bombing raid there when my B17s are ready
- AVG moved to Changsha and is assigned a sweep of the Sinyang area. They will then back out again. This will be the first he learns of an AVG presence in China proper

DEI
- Operation Truk It To Sydney (err...Brisbane at least) is initiated. Fingers crossed that I really tear into some landing fleets
- Force Z is headed back to Soerabaja where it will cower until a large fleet incursion into the Java Sea passes. This fleet supposedly contains 2 BBs and several CAs
- More transport planes show up with their pillows to add to the Pillow Fort
- Mining Palembang's port and trying to remove IJ mines from Merak

India/Burma/Malaya
- TONS of troops arriving at their destination from turn 1. Lots of unpacking and settling in going on
- AVG squadron moved to Port Blair on its way to Palembang
- CVL Hermes is repairing for about a week. No idea how she got damaged. I haven't even looked at her since the beginning of the game, so she may have started that way.
- Checked Garrison levels and moved troops toward the east when able.

Australia
- Not much going on here except fortifying the coast and waiting for the PaPa supply line to get going

Pacific & WC
- Moved a lot of AGs to the East Coast in anticipation of a transfer to Cape Town where they can be sent to either India or Australia (probably the latter)
- Saratoga nearing Seattle
- Lexington is just off of Wake hoping to find the SAG groups that were nosing around a few days ago
- Enterprise is staying about 12 hexes behind Lexington and conduction ASW operations primarily
- BB Tennessee appears to be holding up well as she is escorted to Seattle for repairs. Saratoga will be waiting there to steal her escorts


Notes:
- I've got to decide what to do with my BBs. I've sent 2 to NOPAC, and 1 is headed back to the WC for repairs. That leaves me with 5 BBs in PH lookin' all shiny and navylike but accomplishing nothing. I'd thought to send a few to join Force Z, but it will take them forever to get there. Thoughts?
- I need to get some AV to Adak, but I'm uncertain where to find them. I'm not keen to pay PP for them as I'm supposed to be saving PP to get the AUS out of Singapore [8D]

[CaptBeefheart]

Until you get some good fuel depots set up on Pago and environs, there's not a lot you can do with those BBs as they suck fuel big time. What you have done so far seems pretty reasonable (i.e. 2 in NOPAC and the rest in PH or WC).

Did Hermes have an upgrade mayhaps?

Cheers,
CC

[BBfanboy]

Yeah, the old BBs are fuel hogs and they need to stay under air cover as much as possible at least until they get some AA upgrades under their belt.
First thing to do is look at the date for their next upgrade. Get the ones that need the earliest upgrade to Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Mare Island or San Diego as soon as you can provide some ASW escort. It takes about a week for an undamaged BB to Truk it to the WC.

Only at-sea use for them at this stage is to escort large troop convoys that you don't want to lose to some cruiser/DD/AMC raiders. Put the BBs in a SAG and have the troop convoy follow them at a range of 0 [same hex]. Include a couple of AOs in the convoy to fuel the BBs.

[marbakka]

December 11, 1941 Report

Philippines
- Buatuan and Tuguegarao fall
- CF bombed again

DEI
- Landings at Billiton, Hollandia, and Aitape (New Guinea) (If these are unprotected, my cruisers are going to have a field day)
- Miri and Noemfer fall

China
- Ichang is captured
- AVG sweep ineffective (staying for 1 more day then backing them off)

Malaya
- I now know what KBb was up to. It was supposed to be covering the (somewhat early) invasion of Mersing. Unfortunately for IJ, I'd left a number of AGs at Singapore on Naval Attack for lack of anything better to do, and the Zeros from the KBb did not scramble effectively. As a result I hit the landing fleet very hard. No reports of sunk ships, but I would be surprised if he goes through with the landing. If he does, I could be in some trouble as most of my AV there is still unpacking and only just arrived.
- The AUS brigade that had been in Mersing arrived in Johore Bahru and will ride the train into Singapore to wait until I have enough funds to buy them and get them transported back to AUS

Operation Truk It To Sydney
- Off to a frustratingly slow start. These guys should be going 30+ knots.
- In any case, it looks like we've got a landing force just off Sorong which the cruisers should deal with handily if they don't pass by in their hurry
- An AO is loading with fuel and Sydney and moving to the Solomon Sea just in case. If all else fails, we can cancel the swing through Rabaul
- Final destination is now Brisbane, not Sydney

SigInt
- The heavy radio transmissions could be something headed for Wake (and my carriers). Two nearby submarines have been sent to investigate

[marbakka]

Orders Summary - December 12, 1941

Nothing special

- CSF ordered to full speed until they get further away from KBa which moved into the Celebes Sea yesterday. This makes the fuel situation even tighter, of course, but I'd rather have to cancel their shore leave in Rabaul than get caught by KBa
- Lexington is sticker her neck out a bit to strike at some raiders SW of Wake. I've loaded the marine fighters from Wake to double up the CAP during this little jaunt. She will withdraw to PH for resupply afterward.
- Enterprise is headed back to PH. She's in a nest of enemy subs and is causing me too much stress for a CV that isn't actually doing anything
- Saratoga should arrive in Seattle tonight. Enjoy the shore leave, men!
- CL Hobart arrived in Aden today. She'll remain there until the next major transport to Karachi and then from there to Ceylon to join the RN fleet assembling there.

[marbakka]

December 12, 1941 Report

(based on watching the replay and combat reporter...still haven't gotten the turn yet)

Philippines
- Not much going on here
- San Fernando captured
- Amphibious attack on Dadjangas

DEI
- A sizable force including an AF construction group has landed at and taken Billiton under heavy SAG escort and Singkawang based CAP. With the capture of that base and the buildup of the airfield there, I can officially declare the Pillow Fort to be cut off from any sea route. What TFs remain in Palembang at the beginning of this turn are going to get their marching orders as soon as I feel confident they can slip by the BBs guarding the landing at Billiton.
- Landings at Sarmi
- Aitape, Billiton, and Hollandia were all captured
- CSF seems to be moving at a snail's pace. They encountered the 2 ship amphib TF bound for Sorong in the night but it was too cloudy and the enemy slipped away. I'll have to look at the turn, but they are moving slow enough that I'm having serious doubts about the success of their mission

Malaya
- The enemy landed in force at Mersing. I'd hoped that the 'Noble Three' had disrupted their TF enough that they had to return to port, but I suppose he's willing to let them sink off of Mersing so long as they unload first. My Mersing defense is caught with its pants down as many of the troops still had a day in strat mode before they could rest up and get dug in.
- Alor Star was taken without resistance (much to the chagrin of Texas_D). Those troops have been trying to get on the stinkin' train since turn 1 but the bombings kept disrupting their efforts. They made it out on the same turn that he marched into town. A story for their grandchildren...if they aren't slaughtered in Singapore where they are headed.

Oceanic/Australia
- Enemy forces landed at and promptly took command of Nauru Island from the small contingent that was based there. I suspect these are the same forces that took Ocean Island a few days ago. I'm tempted to send Enterprise down there to restore a a proper sense of humility in the enemy commanders.
- As ordered, Lexington made a dash SW of Wake at the "raiders" that were anchored at Enwetok. Upon arriving over the target, flight leaders reported that the enemy task force was significantly stronger than previously thought. Nonetheless, they commenced their attack on a SAG that consisted of 2 CAs and 3 CLs as well as some DDs and AMCs. Unfortunately, in the poor weather they failed to damage as much as I would have liked. 5 bomb hits on an AMC, 2 on a DD, 1 on CL Yubari, and 3 on another AMC. A followup attack in the afternoon was equally disappointing, netting only 2 bomb hits on a PB, 1 on another PB, and a torpedo hit on an xAK. Overall, I'm not happy with this operation. Sure, I only expected some PBs and AMCs, but this was a golden opportunity that was missed and in exchange for these light losses, IJ now has a sure location on at least one of my carriers. (subs have probably spotted Enterprise as well though I haven't had any patrol sightings)

SigInt
- Radio transmissions indicate activity about 9 hexes N-NE of PagoPago. Unacceptable.

December 13, 1941 - Strategery
- I've been thinking a lot about what to do with my BBs in PH. I'd like to send some help to PoW but getting them over there would be a pain and I'm not sure how long Force Z is going to be able to stay in the Java area.
- I very much dislike the idea of IJ knowing this early that PaPa is my supply hub. I know he'll already have a very good idea that it will either be there or Fiji, but still. I'm tempted to send Enterprise down in this area to keep it clear for a bit while I get things set up. Currently Enterprise is doing just about nothing and is headed home to PH to refuel before her next cruise.
- I still don't have the turn, but this may be the first turn where I lose sight of the KB entirely. I'm scared of the dark.
- A 2 Division force has moved west out of Wuchang. My forces in Changsha will continue resting/training unless that force continues into the bordering woods.

[marbakka]

Orders Summary - December 13, 1941

China
- Shuffled some troops into Changsha in case he is serious about this push
- Bombers will make a run at the ground forces outside of Changsha

DEI
- Every ship that I want out of Palembang is out except for one CM, but there is little I can do about him until and unless this heavy SAG leaves the area. If it weren't for the KBb to the east of Singapore, I'd be tempted to engage the SAG with Force Z out of Soerabaja
- The CSF is almost certain to run out of fuel. This morning and afternoon should see its engagement of landing forces off New Guinea, but then it will be a nail biter to get them to the Solomon Sea. I have a small AO escorted by a DD just out of the repair yard steaming NE from Sydney to meet them
- My three cruisers have finally met up at Rabaul and could, theoretically provide assistance to the CSF if needed

Oceanic/WC
- Adjusted lots of over-fatigued AGs. I've got to do better about watching these.
- All units of the 2nd US Fighter Command are on their way from Eastern US to Cape Town where they will be shipped to where they are needed
- The 21st Light AA Regiment and the B Sqn 3rd Hussars Regiment are being shipped from Aden to Karachi and from there to the Chittagong Defense Line in India

CVs
- IJ has a solid location for both Enterprise and Lexington. Lexington because she just mauled some of his cruisers and Enterprise because she sits in a nest of submarines
- Lexington is ordered to steam directly north, simultaneously withdrawing from the area where she struck yesterday and moving to intercept the mysterious TF that appears to be headed NE toward the Aleutians. After she closes with that TF, she will be returning to PH for refuel and rearm
- Enterprise is en route to PH with heavy ASW operations in effect
- Saratoga is awaiting the arrival of the wounded BB Tennessee in Seattle

[ny59giants]

B-17s and China - The "D" model can reach Sian from Ledo. If built up you can use all that India supply for these operations. Nothing right now, but in the weeks ahead.....

Be careful in risking your TKs loading fuel in the SRA. You need them for other missions rather than stay here and get sunk.

[BBfanboy]

Re: CV strikes: The results you got are about par for the course in the first few strikes by Allied carriers - no experience and mediocre to poor aircraft. Add to that unreliable aerial torps for you Devastators and you were lucky to get one torp hit. They always seem to hit only merchantmen, perhaps because they are big, slow and not nimble. You should look at that strike as an experience gain for the TF.
Many players beach the Devastators and find a marine Wildcat squadron to load up.

Re: the radio source near Pago Pago - on several AARs I have seen interception of enemy AMCs in that area. Japan has quite a few of them and they have long range, so lots of times they get sent off in pairs on long range raids along convoy paths to Austrailia. If not AMCs, subs with Glen aircraft often go down there to spot convoys and look for your carriers. Have PBYs check out the area if you can.

[HansBolter]

Don't dicount the capabilities of the Japanese AMCs. I have seen them take out CLs. They are 6" gun armed and have uncannily accurate torpodoes. Once I get a wiff of them I hunt them down with my carriers.

[marbakka]

December 13, 1941 Report

Meh.

- CSF sinks 2 xAKLs off of Aitape, destroying 14 squads and disabling 17
- Philippines: Dadjangas and Naga fall. Forces in Mindanao are hiding in rough hexes.
- DEI: Sarmi captured. Enemy troops attacking Vanimo and Nabire. Bombardment of Tarakan whose troops I haven't had time to pull out. There is just under 30 AV there with a CD force. Maybe they can do a bit of damage. Lots of ineffective sub action against his Billiton fleets
- Malaya: Jap forces land in force at Mersing and take it straight away. I'm pretty disappointed by this. I obviously had no illusions about holding it but if he had come a couple of days later I could at least have had the defense forces unloaded off the trains before the fighting began. As it is, they have all retreated to Johore Bahru where the troops should hopefully be a tad more prepared for the coming battles. For some stupid reason, I left my bombers and torpedo bombers on Naval Attack mode even though I knew good and well that KBb was covering this landing. It was not pretty. I'm debating whether to keep the AVG squadron there for an extra day or two or go ahead and move them to Palembang where they will soon be needed.
- India: Something has been snooping around Chittagong. Two transport fleets are due in port with forces for the defensive line within the next day or so. ASW operations are going to be kicked into high gear.
- Oceania/Australia/WC: An invasion force has landed at Kavieng and begun to do battle with the small contingent there that hadn't yet been flown to Port Moresby. I have CA Canberra CL Perth and CL Adelaide are all twiddling their thumbs in Rabaul, so I believe I can at least wipe out the transports, but he has probably already landed enough troops to take it. I don't plan on making a stand at Rabaul

It was a kind of downer day. I wanted more from Operation Truk it to Sydney but it doesn't look like I'll get it. They are 3 hexes north of Madang and will make it to Rabaul where they can be met by the replenishment fleet that is slowly making its way up from Sydney and then proceed to Brisbane for repairs. I'm considering having the cruisers from Rabaul meet them at Kavieng and escort them back to Rabaul. They feel way too vulnerable right now.

SigInt: Nothing particularly surprising to my newbish eyes. 33rd Div is headed to Singapore I'm guessing. Lots of activity at Truk this turn (Rabaul force?)

[marbakka]

Also, a note about the AAR. I really appreciate the bits of wisdom you guys are sharing along the way. I don't often take the time to comment on them, but I read all of them and take them into consideration. I'm working through this completely blind as to what I can expect from Japan, so I greatly appreciate the advice.

I also appreciate your respect for OPSEC and Fog of War (not telling my opponent about anything you read here). A special note on that: I'm an inexperienced newbie playing an experienced Japanese player on Scenario 2. One of the few things going for me is the chance that he will underestimate me (though I admit that would be hard to do). So, please consider any evaluation of my skill level as a part of FoW and refrain from passing that on to Texas_D.

Thanks for reading and keep the advice/criticism/support coming!