Allied AI vs Fulkerson

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58
Tenders need supply to rearm, not to repair.

Oh. I didn't know that. Good info thanks.

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58
Saigon can have its port built to 7 pretty easily; then you don't need an AS. See Table on pp284. Sec. 20.1.2.2.

Yeah, I saw that table and looked it over real good then turned the page and forgot most of it. Old age is creaping up on me.

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58
Depending on what phase of the war you're in, you might want to re-look if Saigion is an optimal place for many/any subs to base. Personal preference to some extent, but Singers usually has a lot more fuel and supply, a big yard, and adds days on station anywhere in the IO. Batavia is good if you're patrolling the west coast of Australia out to the Cape Town exit. Rabaul works well for ops around PM and the east coast of Oz. Kawjalein works for PH all the way to the WC. Truk is a good compromise once Kwaj is pressured, and it has an ARD which can take a sub. Probably other IJN bases which are also better than Saigon, unless you're really needing subs that close to the Asian mainland.

I'm going through the first turn of this game against the AI and there's lots of things that have to happen before I can take advantage of Singers and or Batavia but that's a good idea further down the road.

[Encircled]

Must be one of those from Hong Kong.

Got to admit I never thought of them

[cohimbra]

ORIGINAL: larryfulkerson
Cool !!! Thanks for the info. I'm thinking of investigating enemy ports, looking for mines, etc. with the midget subs. I've gotten one into the harbour at Port Moresby in my game w/ Rob and now it's down to 1 hex range and practically immobile unless I can retrieve it with a carrier sub. Too bad each "C" class sub can carry only one midget at a time.

Yeah, It's bad but the Midget carrier missions are useless, I made ​​two attacks with 5 sub each (Soerabaya and Darwin), no shot fired, destroyed all mini-sub (obstructions, mines, landings, etc). Ultimately, too much work, poor performance, but it's not bad ideas to use them for mines fields recon, I'm tinking about that:lose a (lot of) SSX is acceptable, lose a (single) SS no!

[larryfulkerson]

Also based in Saigon is an ACM that has 10 mines aboard. I'm wondering about the utility of laying those mines at the entrance to the Saigon harbour. Would 10 mines deter any Allied boats? Would those 10 mines be better used somewhere else? Are 10 mines enough to do any good anywhere they are laid? Enquiring minds want to know.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: larryfulkerson

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58
Tenders need supply to rearm, not to repair.

Oh. I didn't know that. Good info thanks.

If you have not, run, do not walk, to read Alfred's Reapir Guide. Much will be clearer.

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58
Saigon can have its port built to 7 pretty easily; then you don't need an AS. See Table on pp284. Sec. 20.1.2.2.

Yeah, I saw that table and looked it over real good then turned the page and forgot most of it. Old age is creaping up on me.

I don't remember the start conditions, but check Cam Ranh Bay. It might already be a level 7, and has a good amount of fuel and supply. Saigon also has HI factories and is going to need that fuel to make HI points until you can capture a fuel source and ship more in. CRB doesn't have any industry. I think it's better as a fleet base. The Soviet Red Fleet thought so too after the Vietnam War ended.

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58
Depending on what phase of the war you're in, you might want to re-look if Saigion is an optimal place for many/any subs to base. Personal preference to some extent, but Singers usually has a lot more fuel and supply, a big yard, and adds days on station anywhere in the IO. Batavia is good if you're patrolling the west coast of Australia out to the Cape Town exit. Rabaul works well for ops around PM and the east coast of Oz. Kawjalein works for PH all the way to the WC. Truk is a good compromise once Kwaj is pressured, and it has an ARD which can take a sub. Probably other IJN bases which are also better than Saigon, unless you're really needing subs that close to the Asian mainland.

I'm going through the first turn of this game against the AI and there's lots of things that have to happen before I can take advantage of Singers and or Batavia but that's a good idea further down the road.

I forgot you're that early. So yes, Saigon or CRB work as sub bases. Just push them forward as you can. The great leverager of sub ops in the game and history was minimizing transit time.

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: cohimbra
...the Midget carrier missions are useless, I made ​​two attacks with 5 sub each (Soerabaya and Darwin), no shot fired, destroyed all mini-sub (obstructions, mines, landings, etc). Ultimately, too much work, poor performance....

Sorry about your misadventure(s). I agree that carrying midget subs somewhere to do nit noy jobs is a lot of effort for small payoff. Unless you have a midget sub source that's really near the target maybe, or you have so many midget subs they are coming out of your ears. I just haven't had that much success with them so far to justify using them that often.

If I use the "retirement allowed" setting I can usually investigate enemy ports that are mined with limited damage using a "real" sub but I've gotten into the habit of snooping them with dedicated mine sweepers here lately with good results. This depends on there being nobody home in the enemy port but so far so good.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: larryfulkerson



Also based in Saigon is an ACM that has 10 mines aboard. I'm wondering about the utility of laying those mines at the entrance to the Saigon harbour. Would 10 mines deter any Allied boats? Would those 10 mines be better used somewhere else? Are 10 mines enough to do any good anywhere they are laid? Enquiring minds want to know.

Look at the mine deterioration rates for deep water, shallow open water, and ports.

No, 10 mines there are a waste. Also, Saigon is a river base. Don't worry about it too much when playing the AI.

OTOH, I se you're opening up Miri pretty early. The AI WILL do surface raids with CLs and DDs on a random basis, and it does patrol Borneo. There's no need to begin pulling petroleum out of Miri in the first week. You have fuel closer to home you need to transport (Hokkaido, etc.) and the RN and the Dutch have a bite.

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58
I forgot you're that early. So yes, Saigon or CRB work as sub bases. Just push them forward as you can. The great leverager of sub ops in the game and history was minimizing transit time.

Thanks for the info Bull dude. CRB is still a 5(6) because it's so early in the game but I'm thinking of the two ports ( Saigon and CRB ) CRB might work out better in the long run. How many subs are there going to be that are damaged so much they need a repair yard anyway? And I can re-park the AS at Saigon at CRB and carry on. Didn't know about the industry at Saigon needing that much fuel.....I'll keep an eye on that and re-fuel Saigon from CRB as needed. Thanks.

[larryfulkerson]

And while we're talking about Saigon........I've got some AKL's converting in the shipyard there. 3 are going to be PB's and 1's going to become an AK. They took on a small amount of damage in the conversion and will be ready to put to sea shortly, like about three weeks or so. Can you ever have too many PB's? Toward the mid-42 mid-43 time period I hear that the Allied side gets a ton of subs and they need to be chased down something awful. Mike Solli says he has about 200+ of the PB's and I'm taking what he says to heart. He's an expert if there ever was one I'm guessing.

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58
No, 10 mines there are a waste. Also, Saigon is a river base. Don't worry about it too much when playing the AI.

Roger that.

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58
OTOH, I se you're opening up Miri pretty early. The AI WILL do surface raids with CLs and DDs on a random basis, and it does patrol Borneo. There's no need to begin pulling petroleum out of Miri in the first week.

In my game w/ Rob after I captured Miri I found half of the refineries damaged and not producing. So I agree that early on I don't have to worry about pulling much out of that location.

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58
You have fuel closer to home you need to transport (Hokkaido, etc.) and the RN and the Dutch have a bite.

Yeah, I fired up Tracker just now and looked over Hokkaido and I gotta say.......it looks like there's not much oil there but there's a ton of resources that can be hauled out of there to the home islands. Thanks.....that's good to know.

[Bullwinkle58]

Sakhalin I. has oil. I pull it to Sapporo and re-load for Honshu, so I think of it as Hokkaido oil.

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58
Sakhalin I. has oil. I pull it to Sapporo and re-load for Hokkaido, so I think of it as Hokkaido oil.

More good info. Thanks. And since Sakhalin doesn't have a refinery all that oil would be a waste if not hauled to the home islands. Good idea. This posting of an AAR is a boon to people trying to play the best possible game.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: larryfulkerson

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58
Sakhalin I. has oil. I pull it to Sapporo and re-load for Hokkaido, so I think of it as Hokkaido oil.

More good info. Thanks. And since Sakhalin doesn't have a refinery all that oil would be a waste if not hauled to the home islands. Good idea. This posting of an AAR is a boon to people trying to play the best possible game.

Believe me, when it comes to the Japanese this is the blind leading the blind. [8D]

[larryfulkerson]

Here we have a smallish surface TF near Hong Kong I have sailing out to a point SSE of Hong Kong ready to intercept the mice fleeing the forest fire. When Hong Kong falls, which should happen within a week or so, those guys will have to undock and flee. I have my air assets concentrating on the ground action right now but after Honky Town falls they can be switched to a naval mission and those Allied ships will be toast unless and until they run for their lives. I've got plans to intercept them if possible. I guess I should use a patrol instead of a simple destination for this TF but you get the idea. I'd rather not use "remain on station" because I'd like them able to react to the nearing of the Allied ships and just using a simple destination will cause them to reverse course and return to base after they get to their destination station. So I gotta give them a patrol surface combat mission. Everyone concur?

[larryfulkerson]

Here we have a surface task force from at or near Tokyo bound for Wake Island. I'd like some help from you guys to estimate how long it'll take to arrive there in days. I'm seeing the innermost ring at a range of 3 hexes and I'm assuming that's how far the TF will travel during the day and that the outtermost ring estimates how far the TF will travel per one 24 hr. day and that therefore the TF will take approx. (41 / 5 ) 8 or 9 days. Yes?

Also, the TF includes two DD's with short legs that will require me to replenish them enroute probably several times. There just happens to be an AO near Pearl that I can re-direct toward Wake and top off this TF therefrom. Probably. If everything goes right. If the AO gets sunk then I'll probably have several ships run really low on gas unless and until I can get some more gas moved out to them where-ever they are when they run low. But the KB is out there and can provide cover etc.

This whole exercise is to provide some bombardment for the wake invaders so the island will fall faster, or at all as the case may be.

[Dan Nichols]

ORIGINAL: cohimbra

ORIGINAL: larryfulkerson
Cool !!! Thanks for the info. I'm thinking of investigating enemy ports, looking for mines, etc. with the midget subs. I've gotten one into the harbour at Port Moresby in my game w/ Rob and now it's down to 1 hex range and practically immobile unless I can retrieve it with a carrier sub. Too bad each "C" class sub can carry only one midget at a time.

Yeah, It's bad but the Midget carrier missions are useless, I made ​​two attacks with 5 sub each (Soerabaya and Darwin), no shot fired, destroyed all mini-sub (obstructions, mines, landings, etc). Ultimately, too much work, poor performance, but it's not bad ideas to use them for mines fields recon, I'm tinking about that:lose a (lot of) SSX is acceptable, lose a (single) SS no!

Useless, I don't think so.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 07, 41
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Midget Sub attack inside harbor of Pearl Harbor!!!

Japanese Ships
SSX Ha-22, hits 6, heavy damage

Allied Ships
BB West Virginia, Torpedo hits 1
PC Taney



SSX Ha-22 eludes PC Taney by hugging bottom


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Midget Sub attack inside harbor of Pearl Harbor!!!

Japanese Ships
SSX Ha-24, hits 3, heavy damage

Allied Ships
BB Pennsylvania, Torpedo hits 1
PC Taney

[larryfulkerson]

Here I have a minesweeper on a suicide mission to recon the Davao harbour. I feel like I need to recon the Davao environs a bit to get an idea what kind of opposition I can expect and whether or not there's a minefield there etc. Is this something I should do or would you guys advise against it. I'm planning on some serious damage and or a sunk ship from this mission and I think maybe it will be worth it to find out whether or not an invasion is even feaseable this early in the game. I've got most of my heavy hitters bound for Wake and or Guam and there's not much left over for covering an invasion of Davao and I might have to postpone the invasion for a while until I can put together some covering forces for such an invasion.

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: Dan Nichols
Useless, I don't think so.
BB West Virginia, Torpedo hits 1
BB Pennsylvania, Torpedo hits 1

It's good to hear that midget sub missions aren't always a waste of time and that good things can come of them. Thanks for the post.

[larryfulkerson]

So I've moved all the TF's and now I'm looking at R&D and this is the entire list ( above ) and I've put a red line underneath the Frank's because it looks like I'm producing 0(55) of them starting in 4 of '44. I'm wondering if I should turn off all the R&D and then just turn on specific ones, specifically the ones that will mature soon. OR should I just let them all cook. What's the consensess out there with you experts. I haven't turned anything off or on or expanded anything yet pending some input from you guys.

[moore4807]

Another suggestion, although I am NOT any kind of expert - I tried to simplify the engines and airframes when playing as Japan. I loaded up on Zeroes and Nell's & Betty's - essentially making Nakajima 35's the primary engine for everything. The end result was around +350 engines per month from the factories and over 100 Zeroes per month. I changed over as many groups to these airframes as I could and had great success using the bombers with escorts against Allied shipping and bases.
I did not finish the game yet, In November 43, I hold a strong line near Calcutta, most of China and bases/airfields in Cook Is (Mangaia L2 Port, L3 AF) the Samoa's (Pago Pago L4 Port & L4 AF & Ta'u L3 AF) essentially making shipping impossible to the Aussies. The Bonus is the AI has thrown the kitchen sink at me in SW Pacific AND lost all 4 CV's & 2 BB's trying to take back the Samoa's (hehehe) I have not invaded Australia - rather let them wither on the vine with little supplies and no oil but getting lots and lots of shipping targets though!

Now there is bad news I could not pry Wake Is from the AI's cold dead hands and lost 2 CV (Kaga, Soryu) to sub attacks while trying to support the landings there (WHO says USN torps dont work!), I have shortages in the Phillipines AND I have badly handled my supplies and resources. I think I will lose the overall game since the AI went into conservo mode after losing the CV's and I really dont have the shipping to keep expanding the Empire AND bring oil and resources to the Home Islands...

Hope it helps -