Hairy Yankee Reports: Q-Ball (A) v Greyjoy (J)

[JocMeister]

Q-ball,

I´m not very experienced but given your situation in China I would try and stay away from places with a large landmass. When you have lost China he will be able to start moving out large amount of troops. I think you should make whatever move you decide on before China falls.

I don´t remember if you are still on control of the Andamans? If not I would move there for simple fact that it would force him to commit the troops freed from China to garrison Burma, Malaya and Sumatra. You can then move in any other theatre without having to deal with a lot of "extra" forces usually in China. I think to tie down those forces should be your main concern for the rest of 42 and early 43.

It would also open up those 3 places for you later in 43 if you think making a push there would be possible.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

I guess so, I'll have to remember that as PPs bleed away at 65 per turn; that's the price of honor. Hopefully she gets to 50% damage quick, we'll see, but I predict some PP losses, at least 4000 points

Probably you're already doing, but Seattle is a huge shipyard, the biggest on the WC. If you put everything else there on Readiness or Pier, put her in the yard alone and go to Critical you should be able to get under the withdrawl damage limit faster than 4000 PPs worth. Seattle can fix BBs, which are usually "repair denser", fairly fast. I don't have the numbers you're seeing, but Seattle can really bang out some repair if you clear out everything else and commit.

Edit: I just checked GJ's AAR and see you're using the extended map. I've never studied its changes. A post here says Bremerton is a bigger yard than Seattle; Bremerton doesn't exist on the stock map. So I don't know. But put her in the biggest WC yard there is and go Critical. It's your best bet.

And move as much NavSupport you can there along with every AR you can scrounge up. [:D]

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

I guess so, I'll have to remember that as PPs bleed away at 65 per turn; that's the price of honor. Hopefully she gets to 50% damage quick, we'll see, but I predict some PP losses, at least 4000 points

Probably you're already doing, but Seattle is a huge shipyard, the biggest on the WC. If you put everything else there on Readiness or Pier, put her in the yard alone and go to Critical you should be able to get under the withdrawl damage limit faster than 4000 PPs worth. Seattle can fix BBs, which are usually "repair denser", fairly fast. I don't have the numbers you're seeing, but Seattle can really bang out some repair if you clear out everything else and commit.

Edit: I just checked GJ's AAR and see you're using the extended map. I've never studied its changes. A post here says Bremerton is a bigger yard than Seattle; Bremerton doesn't exist on the stock map. So I don't know. But put her in the biggest WC yard there is and go Critical. It's your best bet.

And move as much NavSupport you can there along with every AR you can scrounge up. [:D]

Doesn't matter if he's in Shipyard mode. Support squads and tenders don't add to repair points which can be used in yards.

[PaxMondo]

Rats!!!

[Q-Ball]

Aug 7, 1942

Well, we landed at Baker Island. The landing itself was successful, but overall not a great day.

Baker Landings:

I landed an RCT and other forces on Baker. They were enough to take the base on the first attempt, from a small SNLF garrison. I knew the garrison was small from SigInt and also because there were no flights at all from Baker as far as I could tell, and a recon flight found 1 unit. So, just enough to take it.

Maryland!

BUT, we lost USS MARYLAND! His subs are a menace, and other than forming ASW TFs to tail every combat TF, which I don't have enough DDs to do, not sure what I can do about it. He's definitely using his subs well, and that's the 2nd time a Sub has sunk a BB unassisted. This one was courtesy of I-28.

I have now lost 4 USN BBs, after only losing 1 at Pearl. That's not good. I am probably going to bring over the R-Class BBs from the IO.

Next Steps:

I had planned to leave a few transports to pull-off combat units before I bring in a base force, but look at the map below: KB looks to be present! There is no way I'm messing with KB at this point.

The transports that landed at Baker are moving to Canton, where they will have LRCAP from 75 fighters. This will not repel KB, but at least make an attack expensive. The warships are all moving out of there, and I don't think he can run them down. The CVs, in particular, are moving out back toward Christmas Is. and safety.

He probably wants a CV battle, and I thought about it as I have 7 CVs there, and I can position them to draw LRCAP from Canton. I probably won't get a chance to fight within LBA range again. But decided against it.

[PaxMondo]

Mmm, if you could have gotten him into a fight with 75 fighter CAP from Canton Aug '42 ... well, let me put it this way, as the IJN I would never take it.  In a straight fight, the KB has you out planed.  BUT, with any LBA on the allied side, particularly fighter CAP the equation swings rapidly the other way.  Looking at this, I know I'm going to lose 2-3CV's min.  Even if I get all of yours, and that's unlikely in this scenario, it isn't a trade that I want.  Right? 

Flipping it around then means you should have tried to get him to commit.  I think your first reaction (fight if you can get him) was the correct one.

OTOH, you're doing fine keeping him honest with these landings like this.  Another 6 months and your Essex' start showing up and not long after that you start to see your B-29's and he still has to fly Zero's with the KB.  Either way, you win.  NIce thing about playing as the allies, you win.  [;)]

[JocMeister]

Out of curiosity. Why did you decide not to give battle?

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Mmm, if you could have gotten him into a fight with 75 fighter CAP from Canton Aug '42 ... well, let me put it this way, as the IJN I would never take it.  In a straight fight, the KB has you out planned.  BUT, with any LBA on the allied side, particularly fighter CAP the equation swings rapidly the other way.  Looking at this, I know I'm going to lose 2-3CV's min.  Even if I get all of yours, and that's unlikely in this scenario, it isn't a trade that I want.  Right? 

Flipping it around then means you should have tried to get him to commit.  I think your first reaction (fight if you can get him) was the correct one.

OTOH, you're doing fine keeping him honest with these landings like this.  Another 6 months and your Essex' start showing up and not long after that you start to see your B-29's and he still has to fly Zero's with the KB.  Either way, you win.  NIce thing about playing as the allies, you win.  [;)]

In retrospect, I think you are right; as it happens it didn't matter, because KB set-up about 5 hexes north of Baker. Basically, he was just going after the transports at Baker, not my CVs. I could have moved 50 fighters to Baker, and used that to augment my CVs....maybe that should have been my play. I prefer to commit the USN CVs, though, after the 40mm upgrades. With the Flak capability on this mod, that should tip the balance. If I had moved fighters to Baker, he could also easily torch them by bombarding the airstrip with cruisers.

But I chose not to fight, not at this moment...I'll get other chances. It's a bit early.

Aug 8, 1942:

As I said, the KB ended up north of Baker; doesn't seem like he is inclined to go deep against my shipping. The transport will make it to Canton, along with DETROIT, which ate a torp a couple days ago. She will live.

He could go after my transports at Canton; I probably should have disbanded them, forgot about that after I closed the turn. But against 75 fighters, it will cost him some attack planes, and he may want to save them for warships.

So, Baker falls. It's not a strategic base, I really just wanted to keep punching in the Pacific, and draw his attention to CentPac. It does improve my floatplane coverage, and helps guard the supply lines to Australia.

This operation cost me BB MARYLAND, which isn't great. I've lost too many to subs; that's 3 so far!!!!!

CBI:

Three Japanese units are about to attack Paoshan. They are going to cross the river. This should be bad for him, because the max stacking is only 20K there, and I am maxed-out on my side. Unlike the rest of the Chinese army, these guys are also in supply (through Ledo). I am running a big bombing mission against the units tomorrow from Dimapur, first air action in a couple months from me.

China continues to go south; a 1-2 attack at Chihkiang dropped the forts again, and this base will fall in a couple weeks. That's a big problem, but not a ton I can do about it.

Next Steps:

The fleet will return to Pearl, along with the assault transports. First, we are going to take the rest of the Aleutians; that should take me through September. Then, the "Major" push. Not sure what that is yet, I outlined a few options a couple posts ago.

One thing, though, is that I probably need to avoid major land masses, because he figures to have dozens of spare divisions by mid-1943, once China is closed out.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball
...I'll get other chances. It's a bit early.

Yes you will ... and yes it is. [;)]

[Q-Ball]

August 9-11, 1942

Commando Raid!

Our sub commando raid worked; the three subs unloaded the Aussies, and Tjepoe fell. Only issue: for some reason, only 1 sub was able to load troops again on the way out. Not 100% sure why. They were all docked (in fact, I took the liberty of refueling)

Quiet Time:

From my perspective, it's going to be quiet for about a month; by then, I'll be ready to clear the rest of the Aleutians. Then, 1943 planning....

[Dan Nichols]

Loading is very dependent on who has air cover. You have none, and he has at least some.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball
Our sub commando raid worked

Hey-that's cool, Allied dog! I'll have to see if I can work this into my game somehow. Fun! [8D]

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball
Our sub commando raid worked

Hey-that's cool, Allied dog! I'll have to see if I can work this into my game somehow. Fun! [8D]

Yeah, it works. For those watching, I do think it's gamey to use Sub Commandos as "suicide scouts'; i.e., to land at a potential target, and count the defenders before the Commandos die. But I think it's OK to use them against targets you think you can take, like Tjepoe. That's my opinion anyway.

Tjepoe will probably be garrisoned now, so not sure what the next target is, as I have to look for bases that are likely to be empty. Maybe one of the towns in Thailand along that rail line, or maybe some atolls and dots. Not sure. We are taking requests![:D]

Aug 15, 1942:

Not much happening. We sank 3-4 more ships via sub, so that's going well, and Bettys sank one of my APs picking up troops at Baker. Dumb on my part; we'll send another convoy in, and this time fly in fighters, hoping we can bait some unescorted Betties.

There was some air action on the Australian coast; Betties sortied from Buna (I think Buna) to try to sink some transports unloading supplies at Portland Roads. They sank 3 AKLs, but not before we shot down 10 escorting Zeros. Not sure he'll keep doing that, kind of expensive.

Other than that, the US Fleet is basically back at Pearl. As soon as the invasion transport shipping makes Pearl, we are leaving for the Aleutians.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball
We are taking requests![:D]

Check out Phuket, if he's taken it by rowboat corps. Alternatively some of the islands in the Andaman chain or off the coast of Sumatra are interesting to keep in Allied hands for a later return.

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball
We are taking requests![:D]

Check out Phuket, if he's taken it by rowboat corps. Alternatively some of the islands in the Andaman chain or off the coast of Sumatra are interesting to keep in Allied hands for a later return.

Those are good targets, though I can't really hold anything I take with Sub Commandos. It's hard to think of a likely empty hex that is a major pain for him. That's why I thought of the rail line to Singapore. Another possible use: Just as I am moving into an area, land them at a dot hex, then fly-in a few AV support via Catalina. That would set-up a flying boat base, good for recon while I move into a new area. I may do that.

8-16 to 8-23 1942

Still slow right now, but a few things going on.

Pacific:

I have sent invasion transports to the Aleutians, for the next invasion of Amchitka. I have been bombing Amchitka every day, so he has no LBA available in the Aleutians, while I do. I don't anticipate Japanese resistance, but we'll bring everybody just in case.

Plenty of units are prepped, so absent naval opposition, it should fall easily. I want to get the Aleutians cleared before winter hits. Plus, I have bigger plans elsewhere, this is just a good area to accomplish something in the meantime.

Australia:

I am building bases along the NE coast, to interdict New Guinea. I plan to bomb the Solomons.

Burma:

I am preparing for an attack on Myiktinya and Akyab as soon as the monsoon lifts. I need the time anyway to fill-out the Indian and Chinese units I am using. We'll probably jump-off sometime in October or November. My objectives will be limited; the main objective will be to tie-down alot of the IJA.

China:

What is there to say? The slow march to the inevitable continues. I have managed to halt him at a tough defense line, but the lack of supplies is the biggest problem I have, and the reason that he will win in the end. I just hope to hold him off into 1943, to delay the transfre of most of the IJA to other theaters.

[Chickenboy]

You guys are certainly moving right along on the pace of your gameplay! August 1942 already? I'm very impressed. How many turns a day are you averaging?

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

You guys are certainly moving right along on the pace of your gameplay! August 1942 already? I'm very impressed. How many turns a day are you averaging?

We are bookin'. We probably average 3-4 a day, with some breaks in there. Greyjoy is a very reliable opponent and gracious too.

It also helps that these last couple months, I can do a turn in 5 minutes most of the time. I tend to move unit in single large convoys, and at the moment doing one operation at a time. But most of the time, I am resting, training, building up forces for various pushes. I also want to time multiple efforts at once.

So most of the last couple months, other than the attack on Baker, has been waiting and building.

8-24 to 8-28, 1942

Not a ton going on, but it's going to get hotter.

China:

I don't need a ton of maps to describe the position: Dire. He broke my river line in the north (see previous map), so we are falling back on rough terrian. We have a couple hexes deep of that, and when that falls, it's over.

Let's move on to happier topics......

Burma:

Despite moving out the Australians, I still have alot of forces in this theater. The Indian Army is now up to 6 good divisions, and climbing, and I have enough AFVs for 2 Tank Brigades. The Free Chinese Army is rounding out, and I should have over 1000 Chinese AV in a month. Not enough to break through, but enough to cause problems.

We have been bombing Myiktinya to burn his supplies and for practice in the meantime, with about 150 planes.

HMS FORMIDABLE: Hooray! The shipyard at Bremerton knocked the float damage to 50; at that point, I was able to withdraw her from there, with 1 day to spare! No AP loss, and I saved the ship.

SOLOMONS:

I am launching a new operation in the Solomons. More details to follow.

Playing Allies:

I am used to playing Japan, where every single crappy construction unit and base force has a mission, and you never have enough AV support or engineers.

As Allies, though, I am getting to the point that I have more base force and engineer units than I know what to do with. I have piles of engineers at all the stuff I want to build, and still I have units waiting on the West Coast. I have transport for them too, I just don't know what to do with them other than pile them up in Australia. Even with that excess, every base I want to build pretty much maxes out instantly once I drop engineers there.

Is this the experience of Allied players? I'm just not used to that as Japan, having excess engineering units. I guess that's life as the Allies!

[Capt. Harlock]

HMS FORMIDABLE: Hooray! The shipyard at Bremerton knocked the float damage to 50; at that point, I was able to withdraw her from there, with 1 day to spare! No AP loss, and I saved the ship.

Unless I've overlooked a rule requiring the withdrawal of troop-ships, I think you meant PP loss . . . [:D]

[Gridley380]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

Is this the experience of Allied players? I'm just not used to that as Japan, having excess engineering units. I guess that's life as the Allies!

More or less, yes. The US in particular has masses of engineers. Troops still in CONUS, I recently learned, should build up all the bases there to max for extra VP. They have nothing better to do.

In my current Babes game I'm using Naval Construction Battalions as garrisons because their dozen AV is more important than their engineering abilities!

[ny59giants]

I am used to playing Japan, where every single crappy construction unit and base force has a mission, and you never have enough AV support or engineers.

As Allies, though, I am getting to the point that I have more base force and engineer units than I know what to do with. I have piles of engineers at all the stuff I want to build, and still I have units waiting on the West Coast. I have transport for them too, I just don't know what to do with them other than pile them up in Australia. Even with that excess, every base I want to build pretty much maxes out instantly once I drop engineers there.

Is this the experience of Allied players? I'm just not used to that as Japan, having excess engineering units. I guess that's life as the Allies!

I would recommend sending groups of four or more SB (Naval Construction) to India via Cape Town and then maybe some of the Construction Regiment. I'm only at the beginning of August playing this mod and know I will send some there soon.

You can also send in the plans for your private condo along a particular beach front. [:D]