Once Again into the Breach - Mike (J) vs. tc464 (A)

[Rkuzava_slith]

As a definite newcomer to the game, but a long time war gamer ....my question would be WHY does Japan have to make any of these bold moves at all in '42? Rather than exposing your forces to potential destruction in NOPAC, Oz, or India...could you not just sit tight with the SRA, and overload your defenses in the first and second lines of defense?

Granted I have only played as the Allies vs. AI...but reading alot of AARs shows me that almost without fail, when Japan overextends itself, it always comes back to get bit in the ass.

[Mike Solli]

Mike, a retired army logistician, eh? I'm a soon to be retired army guard logistician. I've also recently applied to the DLA as a logistician. I've gotten through the first hurdle and am waiting to see if I get an interview. I'm currently a government contractor supporting the DLA. Small world.

Anyway, that was a very eloquent and convincing discussion. A few of my thoughts. (This may answer some of your questions Tachyon68.) Any expansion beyond the historical is purely temporary. If I go to N. Australia, 6-8 months would be tops and then I'd most likely pull out. I just want to delay the Allied bombing of the Southern SRA for a bit. The Aleutians is the same, just a delay for a time, then leave some small detachments to make him actually invade and maybe attempt an ambush. My thoughts on Ceylon are to dump a force to destroy his forces then withdraw. That could become a big POW camp.

Tachyon, I am pretty conservative for the most part. My opponent and I have been playing each other since 2005, WitP, AE and then AE again (this game). He's very aware of my preferences. I want to do something different to surprise him. Just some fun and mayhem. Nothing permanent.

[ny59giants]

I hope Mike doesn't mind me posting here, but we are PM each other about him taking a walk on the wild side and playing a game as the Allies vs me. Shocking, I know!! [:D]

I have learned to play both sides well enough, that turns don't take me as long. What is the average time a new Allied player takes to do a turn once the first few weeks have past?? I know for me that the Combat Replay can take up more time than the orders do. There is a lot less micro-management to do as no economy to run. Just moving stuff from point A to B. It is usually less than an hour for me unless i'm loading a major TF worth of stuff.

[Mike Solli]

[;)]

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

I hope Mike doesn't mind me posting here, but we are PM each other about him taking a walk on the wild side and playing a game as the Allies vs me. Shocking, I know!! [:D]

I have learned to play both sides well enough, that turns don't take me as long. What is the average time a new Allied player takes to do a turn once the first few weeks have past?? I know for me that the Combat Replay can take up more time than the orders do. There is a lot less micro-management to do as no economy to run. Just moving stuff from point A to B. It is usually less than an hour for me unless i'm loading a major TF worth of stuff.

My turns take about an hour. Replay combat. Review Combat Reporter Arrivals, TF's Unknwowns, subamrines, .. while loading up Tracker that can take 30 minutes [I have a slow Sony Vaio [:@]] while I following up with Staff and upgrades/withdrawals . then reacts to alerts . pilot management .. then 10 - 15 minutes clicking things arranging TF's /air group orders .. . final check . send turn .. then 15 minutes to upate the AAR ..[8D]

[ny59giants]

Looks like all systems are a GO. Time to pull up RA as Japan and start the "plotting and scheming." I will need to see if I can channel my inner Tom Clancy and pull off my own version of "Hyper War."

[Cribtop]

Really looking forward to the new matchup. Someday I'll try Allies too. As Japan, it's and hour or so to run and digest the replay and check Tracker. Then about 1.5 hours to enter orders. What can I say, I'm thorough! As Allies, I bet it would go faster.

[Mike Solli]

Yeah, I'm hoping the turns go faster. I suspect the first few will be slow then things will speed up. Not sure why I'm really doing it though. My love is playing the Japanese.

16 Mar 42

Sub War

A couple of Allied escorts caught one of 3 midget subs at Christmas Island and obliterated her with a direct DC hit. Allied ships are in port and there are planes there as well. Bingo.

Not much else to speak of. No air combat in either Pt. Moresby or Burma. I'm going to send some bombers to Akyab tomorrow.

Several attacks will also happen tomorrow to include Bataan, Djambi (no enemy here!), a stack of 6 surrounded Chinese units etc....

[Cribtop]

Think of it as opposition research. It will make you a better player. Plus, you get to throw assets around like Joe Stalin at a vodka bar. AND you actually get to win the war for once. [:D]

[Grfin Zeppelin]

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

Think of it as opposition research. It will make you a better player. Plus, you get to throw assets around like Joe Stalin at a vodka bar. AND you actually get to win the war for once. [:D]

Could also lead to bad habbits " oh I lost 5 fleet carriers....nevermind ill get more" [:D]

[Cribtop]

You got that right, GZ.

[Admiral Mitscher]

I still find this AAR a very scary to look in on, all you JFB's with all these diabolical plans, Uuuuuuoooo someone just walk over my grave.

Marc.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Admiral Mitscher

I still find this AAR a very scary to look in on, all you JFB's with all these diabolical plans, Uuuuuuoooo someone just walk over my grave.

Marc.

[:D]

[Mike Solli]

17 Mar 42

Sub War

The I-169 was tooling around south of Lord Howe Island and ran into a good sized xAK. Three hits out of 4 torpedoes launched and down she went.

5 Fleet

Very quiet. The infantry regiment is still a few days out of Adak.

4 Fleet

Nothing here either.

SE Fleet

Those damn Kittyhawks are impossible to kill. I lost another Zero (and pilot) to them and then 3 Lilys after they bombed Pt. Moresby airfield.

I've got just about all the dot bases in the area.

Something new today. 9x B-17Es bombed Milne Bay causing moderate damage. That's ok. I'll take that base as the sacrificial lamb. There's nothing there but some engineers and an SNLF company.

I attacked Bataan and it wasn't pretty. The 1:2 odds attack beat itself against level 4 forts. Losses were 2323(30) Japanese to 701(14) Allies. More bombing is in order.

China

I attacked the 6 surrounded Chinese units. There are 3 Group Armies and 3 Chinese Corps with strengths of 150, 50 and 45. The 2:1 odds attack wore them down a bit. Losses were 292(3) Japanese to 489(4) Chinese. I'll rest tomorrow to get some more supply there and then attack again.

Burma

I had 2x sentai of Sallies (56 bombers) hit Akyab airfield causing moderate damage and destroying a Swordfish on the ground. Most of Ted's fighters and bombers are at Imphal with a few fighters stuck at Chittagong, which still has 79 airfield damage and is closed. The only aerial combat was between 20x H81-A3s and a handful of Zeros with no losses on either side.

The 18 Division is a few days out from Rangoon and the IG Divisions left Singapore by ship today.

Sumatra

Djambi was liberated today. The oil field is at 245(5) and will be easily repaired. My oilfields are now over 2500!

Java

More troops move into Batavia. Still not enough to attack, but they're getting close.

The 100k supply convoy from Japan to Soerabaja is about 4 days out. Bout time.

Not much else to talk about. I continue to take bases. Oh yeah, the Ha-45 R&D factory advanced a month to Aug 43. It's used for a bunch of mid to late war planes, including the Frank, George, Grace, and Peggy, plus others.

[ny59giants]

BUMP!!

Turn 1 in your Inbox. [:D]

[Q-Ball]

Just catching up on this AAR, and had a few thoughts on Ceylon vs. Northern Aus. If that was your choice, why not both?

In my mind, Northern Australia doesn't take a huge commitment. This is because it would be foolish of the Allies to commit alot of troops along the Northern Coast, because they can be easily isolated. It's different once you get to Exmouth, but up until then, if I am the Allies I don't put alot of troops there. And if I am Japan, I would welcome any Allied player that did. There is nothing for Japan up there other than denial to the Allies, and isolating a base is better than taking it in some ways.

That's my two yen. Ceylon is a good target because a) you take out the shipyard, and b) anything on the Island can't retreat and will eventually die. Holding it will be a problem though if you don't get into India; otherwise it's more of a raid.

[Mike Solli]

Thanks Q-Ball. I value your input a lot.

[Mike Solli]

18 Mar 42

Sub War

The I-25, patrolling off San Diego, ran into the fully loaded TK Athelmere and put 3 torpedoes into her. She burned like a torch before slipping beneath the waves. Very nice.

5 Fleet

Nothing new to report.

4 Fleet

Nothing new to report.

SE Fleet

Rough day in the air over Pt. Moresby today. There were a total of 4 different battles there. Total losses were 8x Zeros (and 5 op losses) vs. 8x P-40Es and one op loss. None of those damn Kittyhawks were lost. In addition, a few bombs hit the airfield and Betties sank 2x AMs in port.

Milne Bay was visited by 9x B-17Es. Not much damage on either side.

China

Nothing new to report.

Burma

Nothing happened here today.

SRA

Koepang finally fell in a shock attack. A special base force is enroute. This will become the major base in the southern SRA.

[Mike Solli]

19 Mar 42

Sub War

An AM off Pt. Moresby hit the Ro-64 with 2 DCs forcing her to surface. She was then hit by a 4” shell and slipped beneath the waves. I figured she was done for but she’s still fighting to stay afloat! Her damage is 28-91(66)-13(4)-0 and is 18 hexes (18 days!) from Rabaul. We’ll see if she can make it. I’ve moved the remaining subs out from Pt. Moresby a couple more hexes and formed them in a semicircle.

5 Fleet

Nothing new to report.

4 Fleet

Nothing new to report.

SE Fleet

In air combat over Pt. Moresby, I lost 4 Zeros in exchange for 2 Kittyhawks. It is possible to destroy them!

China

Another attack on the 6 surrounded Chinese units caused 392(7) Chinese casualties to 119(4) Japanese. They continue to be worn down.

Burma

Nothing new to report. Ted has positioned a large number of fighters in Akyab. I’m sending a force of 1 BB and 4 CAs to pay them a visit.

SRA

Palembang’s airfield reached level 5 today. This is significant because the total port and airfield level is now 9, which allows unlimited fuel and supply in the hex. I can now keep the refineries on.

[Mike Solli]

20 Mar 42

Sub War

The Ro-64 caught a small Dutch xAP just east of Cairns and sank her with torpedoes. Later that day, the same sub caught another small Dutch xAP in the same spot and sank her with torpedoes. Unfortunately, both were empty, but I’ll still take it. Very nice hunting!

The Ro-60 continues to crawl toward Rabaul and actually repaired 2 points of flot damage!

5 Fleet

Nothing new to report.

4 Fleet

The slew of Naval Guard units are nearing their destinations on the fringe.

SE Fleet
Interesting day today. There were two air to air battles resulting in 2x P-40Es shot down and one op loss vs. two Zero op losses. Later in the day, Lilys showed up and bombed the airfield, destroying another P-40E on the ground.

Not to be outdone, the Betties flew two naval attack missions vs. a TF that just arrived in Pt. Moresby. The escorting Zeros lost 3 of their number protecting the Betties. In all, the Betties sank 3x xAPs, two of which were loaded. Here’s the weird part. One went down with 46 combat squads and 94 guns and the second went down with 179 combat squads and 222 guns! What the heck was that?!

Not much else of note happened other than Tongoo’s airfield reaching level 3 in Burma. Lots of preparations for future ops though.