War and Peas - Hortlund (J) vs. Canoe (A)

[adsoul64]

[OT] Keifer, great boxshot of my second game. Good old times... [8D]

[SuluSea]

Regarding China- the three units at Tuyun can combine to the 6th Chinese Corps (96ish starting AV) it's a cheap buy that you can afford on the first turn and it's one of the big units if built up to full strength . I change them to NCAC and start them marching to Burma on the first turn. Also all the 5th Chinese Corps from 11  Group Army to be bought head to the border NE of Lashio. Anything else you plan to buy I'd suggest you get them started to the border as well so you can get out before Burma is no longer in Allied hands.

I'll add be careful in selecting what to buy for intstance the three units that combine to form the 66th Chinese Corps at Chungking can be purchased but withdraw about 14 months in.

[Lomri]

I wonder if he'll be reading the tea leaves about why you have ASW TFs operating in the Torres strait. If you are lucky he caught them heading east, but if he thinks they were moving west it is obvious they aren't fleeing ships. Suppose he could assume they are escorts for a re-supply of Darwin, but if those subs never saw a transport at all...

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: SuluSea
I'll add be careful in selecting what to buy for intstance the three units that combine to form the 66th Chinese Corps at Chungking can be purchased but withdraw about 14 months in.

Why would a Chinese unit withdraw with Japanese troops all over their homeland? To go plant the rice crop? To harvest it? To reduce the supply demands?

[JocMeister]

Getting a few Chinese units out might help a little with supply. But as crustton says there are very few units you can actually buy out. I think its mainly the units with the prefix "new".

[BBfanboy]

Oh, I'm not questioning the movement of units into Burma, I'm questioning why the game mechanics require a withdrawal of a Chinese unit in 14 months. With British and American forces the war in Europe is the reason for some units withdrawing on a schedule. But where would a Chinese unit reappear if it was withdrawn for other duties? Italy? San Francisco?

Edit - spelling correction.

[CRations]

It sounds like you've already decided not to force a naval confrontation. Do you have any B-17 bombers in the area that can grind down the airfield? I was just thinking that you can destroy the airfield before he can move his aircraft in as you should have a turn or two free of enemy CAP - yes?


CR

[SuluSea]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: SuluSea
I'll add be careful in selecting what to buy for intstance the three units that combine to form the 66th Chinese Corps at Chungking can be purchased but withdraw about 14 months in.

Why would a Chinese unit withdraw with Japanese troops all over their homeland? To go plant the rice crop? To harvest it? To reduce the supply demands?

I'm not a developer but I'd guess the unit withdrawls (like some others of both sides) to form incoming reinforcements. If you ask in the proper form I'd bet one of the people responsible has a good explanation.

[BBfanboy]

You're right - I've gotten so used to getting answers from the experienced players that I haven't even thought about asking developers. I'll try that.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

You're right - I've gotten so used to getting answers from the experienced players that I haven't even thought about asking developers. I'll try that.

Well, probably to reflect that many Chinese units were disbanded for a variety of reasons. Could have been broken up to build up other under strength units. Many units were in essence the private armies of quasi warlord/generals left over from the Chinese Civil War. chiang kai-shek was a highly suspicious man (not without reason) and considered loyalty a much more important trait for a general to have than skill. He replaced a lot of generals and most likely some of the units were done away with out of concerns for loyalty. You can't think about the Chinese army in the same terms as a western army.

[BBfanboy]

Thank you crsutton. That's the kind of perspective I was looking for. I know virtually nothing about the Chinese military and political situation in the forties.
I did ask the question on the developer's forum so we'll see what their rationale was. FAIK it could just be a game balance thing to give the Allies another problem in China when they are beginning to get stronger elsewhere.

[Canoerebel]

Ya think Steve suspects Allied carriers might choose to transit the Torres Straits?

Is it worth it? Yes - assuming I don't get a carrier or two torpedoed in the process. Whether my flattops get through undetected or detected would be very helpful. It would slow Steve's aggression in the DEI considerably until he could bring up his own carriers. They could be on the way, or they could be involved in something else far away. So gaining carrier superiority, even if temporary, would be a big help.

But is it worth taking the chance? Chime in now - I have about one hour before I issue orders and end the turn.

If I proceed, the carriers will follow two ASW Tfs - one comprised of three DMS and the second to be two or three DD taken from the two carrier TFs. A third ASW TF - the remaining Aussie minelayer - is also present.

[JocMeister]

Set them to full speed and all TBs and DBs to ASW and give it a go! Who dares wins! [:)]

[Historiker]

But is it worth taking the chance? Chime in now - I have about one hour before I issue orders and end the turn.

It defenitly is! The two carriers can take on MKB and come out on top!

[BBfanboy]

The northern channel has no detected subs. I'd break away from the ASW units and run through it full speed.

[Canoerebel]

Indeed, I routed my TFs through the northern channel.  I did not set to "full speed," though it might have been wiser to have done so.  I did set the Devastators to full ASW and the cruiser-patrol aircraft to part ASW and part search.  As you can imagine, I'll be nervous in getting the next turn back.  I am sure that Steve's email will "let the cat out of the bag" if his ambush works.  Here's hoping it doesn't.

[BBfanboy]

Crossing my fingers and eyes for you ....
Rotsa ruck!

[Walloc]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Indeed, I routed my TFs through the northern channel.  I did not set to "full speed," though it might have been wiser to have done so.  I did set the Devastators to full ASW and the cruiser-patrol aircraft to part ASW and part search.  As you can imagine, I'll be nervous in getting the next turn back.  I am sure that Steve's email will "let the cat out of the bag" if his ambush works.  Here's hoping it doesn't.

CR, while i understand the need to sight/supprese the subs. Im wondering about the choice of using TBDs/crafts that in effect at this point in time and place can only come from CVs. Considering ur excellent skills in decieving/information warfare this sounds like an odd attempt to signal the exact locations of 1+ CVs. The chance is there for not getting sighted but msg of TB planes sighted by the subs is a give away.

What gives?

Rasmus

[Canoerebel]

I can make effective use of my carriers in the eastern DEI whether they are sighted or not, but it's getting them there that's topmost in my mind.  Cruiser floatplanes are responsible for all those sub sightings, so Steve (who was already obviously alert to this possibility) should have his spidey sense tingling like crazy.  I just want to slow him down in the DEI, and having him aware of my carriers is almost as effective as not.

On a related subject, while Ent and Lex (hopefully) will be handling the DEI, my plan is to have Saratoga (currently SW of Seattle) join Yorktown (soon to arrive) to handle SoPac. 

[Canoerebel]

12/18/41 and 12/19/41
 
American Carriers:  Lex and Ent transit the Torres Straits without incdient (one of the most exciting non-events, and one of the most compicated tactical maneuvers, that I can recall).  There were no encounteres of any kind, so as far as I know the transit wasn't detected.  Some of my ASW will continue to patrol the straits in order to keep up appearances.  The two carriers will refuel NE (true) of Darwin and then see what's happening.  There is a large number of enemy shipping at and near Ambon, including three BB and a Mini KB.  I will have to be judiciious in employing my carriers - limited sorties, time required to replenish, and the paucity of SBD replacements mean that the flattops should be used only if the opportunity is too good to pass up.
 
Gulf of Alaska:  I got a sighting of what seems to be the full KB in the Gulf of Alaska, due south of Kodiak quite a distance.  There is no place I'd rather have it.  That is at least two week steaming distance from the DEI.  Meanwhile, Saratoga is down near San Fran and moving south.  She'll rendezvous with an oiler somewhere in deep SoPac.  I've also set up my West Coast fighter squadron on a combination of training and CAP.  I wouldn't put it past Steve to raid the coast.
 
SoPac:  Louisville is guarding Tarawa and has twice driven away a small enemy TF comprised of a DD and a troop transport.  I'll give it one more day and then I'll back off a bit, as Steve might send in a larger TF to deal with the situation.  Meanswhile, a CA/CL/DD TF is departing Pearl tonight to take on duty as America's South Seas fleet.
 
Oz:  In the belief that Japan probably won't move on Oz until the eastern DEI is squared away, I will spend some PP to transfer a few units from Java to Koepang, Timor.  I'd like to get perhaps 250 AV in place.  That combined with carriers and combat ships should allow the Allies to slow or halt Steve until he brings in some carriers (or takes the time to establish forward airfields, which will....take time).
 
Malaya:  An Allied army will attack the Japanese army that tried to implement the Mersing Gambit.  I'm not optimistic about defeating the enemy, but it's worth a shot since the enemy failed in its own attack a few days ago.
 
Burma:  I'm going to try to dislodge the enemy at Meiktila.  I'm not optmistic there either.
 
China:  I'm going to try to dislodge an IJ divsiion in the open south (true) of Chengchow.  The Chinese have 800 AV, so there's a chance.
 
Philippines: Japan is gobbling up the vacant bases in Luzon, but I don't detect a major move on Manila/Clark Field yet.