Hammer of the Gods Godochaos(A) vs Da Hammer(J) NO DA HAMMER PLS

[godochaos]

I was leery of creating an AAR because I told myself I am too lazy, but then I started thinking, you know i'm a new PBEM player and I could really use guidance and wisdom(and restraint) so imma try to get this aar going, I feel I can't afford not to create an AAR.

Goal of this game for me is to imprison Tokyo Rose and bring her to justice. In my world she will not be pardoned by Gerald Ford

A little about the game:
My opponent wished to do scenario #2
My instinct from looking at the details of scen 2 was that this was not a good idea for a new ally pbem player to play, so I asked my opponent for some balance concessions and he offered to turn off Ally withdrawal which seemed like a good and fair balance so I accepted.
I looked at the FAQ and we agreed on most of the standard house rules
1 day turns
I have installed intel monkey and i generally understand its use
I have installed WITP Tracker AE but never used it and find it hard to see how its actually used. I see the data from screenshots but dont get its use.



A little about me, I have played the GC as Ally a few times but never real deep. I got to a point where I felt the AI was not cutting it for me so thats why I looked to PBEM.
I feel comfortable with my tactics and my grand strategy but here is my weak areas:

1- I do not know the slightest thing about Ally industry
2- I understand the little meta-game of Pilot Training in theory but not in practice.
3- I don't know what I don't know, for example- In DOCUPS AAR he got a bunch of B17Es(and i mean a lot) up to the DEI area and then used them to bomb a port with spectacular results. its the kind of thing where i look at a scattering of bombers in the usa with 3,4 7, in there groups and i think- these groups are useless because they are so small, how am i going to get them up to the warzone any way? my bases are too small to use them anyway, set them to training and ignore them. Another example- who would have though that an ally ENG EAB unit does not provide aviation support? I sent an EAB to seize Tulagi in a game against the AI then I sent in some Warhawks to provide cap at the base. the Warhawks all sat in damaged state waiting for aviation support and I had to wait a week or so to get a ENG base unit there- little things i guess that come with experience.

4- as i send out transports more and more and more i lose track of them, when 1-3 get torpedoed I don't know what they were carrying and then don't know that that critical base unit or squadron is not coming to its destination. the sheer volume of what i need to track is overwhelming(i got a note book).

Here is my initial barrage of questions
1- did i bite off too much as a new ally by taking scen#2, or will my concession that I got help a lot?
2- Please tell me its safe to just ignore ally industry for the 1st 6 months or so
3- I could use some guidance on pilot training, i think i know altitudes and stuff, its just managing the pilot shifting meta-game(if you know what i mean) that i dont understand.
4- Should i wait before sending out convoys to establish bases in sopac to see if KB doesnt stick around and raid?
5- Should i scatter all healthy ships out of PH like rats, or should i stay in the harbor?
6- PI should i set everyone to replacements off?
7- what mods/tools are you using? how is AE tracker helping you?

I have my opponents 1st turn so I will make another post after I get done with that.
Thanks Gentlemen!

[godochaos]

Oh 1 more question: How do i get B-17's from USA up into the warzone above Australia? fly from base to base to base? ship them by air transport ships?

in my next post I will try to give an overview of strategic plans

[DOCUP]

Godochaos:  Good luck on your game.  Withdraws off, nice that should help you out a lot.
 
Allied industry: Just get supplies, fuel, and oil (what you can) to bases that need it.  You don't have to worry about plane or ship production.  If you keep your big bases supplied with the before mentioned items you will be fine.  Side note  Pearl Harbour needs resources.  Hilo has a lot of resources.
 
Pilot training:  I don't think its hard.  I kinda like it myself. 
Fighter pilots train in escort and sweep (100ft)
Bomber pilots train in nav bomb, ground (this covers port, air field), low nav and low ground (both 1,000 ft)  Navy torpedo bombers make sure TTs are being used intraining (it can be red they will still train as TT bombers)
Recon train in recon
ASW train in ASW
This will train up specialty skills.
Pilot exp must fly operational missions. That can be CAP over Las vegas if you want it will also gain exp for pilots.
 
Keeping track of all  your fleets will come with time.  Early in the game and being new you have no clue what TF 234 was carrying.  You can labe the TF that does help.  Your important TFs need to have escorts.   Also use your way points to help avoid areas prone to subs.
 
Sending ships out of PH depends on what you think?  People will tell you differently.  Let the KB pass before sending ships out to frontline bases.
 
Taking replacements lowers your supplies.  So you have to think of what you want more troops or more supplies.  I kept my supplies.
 
I don't use any mods or tools.  I am not smart enough to get them up and running.
 
Bombers: This is what I did.  I tryed to fill up my squadrons.  If I had on squadron with only one plane that was fine if I could fill out another and get it combat ready.  I did this over and over until I had all my squadrons ready.  I flew my units out,  you will lose some to ops but its safer than a ship.
 
As an AFB.  Remember this is a long game.  Be the turtle slow and steady right now.  Don't go for big a big score right now.  And take your lumps you will get many. Good luck

[godochaos]

DOCUP great to hear from you I have been following your AAR for days now, I have read it a few times now. It has been very educational, and I love the fighter ambushes and what you did with the 4E bombers.

When you talk about the 4E bombers and filling up your squadrons, lets say I have a group with 2 and a group with 6. Do I disband the group with 2 and then wait for replacements on the group of 6? Literally how did you get the bombers from the size 2 to the size 6?

Regarding the pilot training I think what confuses me is how to execute the overall idea(not the settings for altitude etc), so is it the case that basically I have these groups in the USA or AUS, who are just training pilots, these groups are never really intended to see combat they are just training. Then I go into the list of pilots for the group and find candidates that have moved up to 60-70-80 and i click on them and send them to the reserve? Then combat units as they take losses will pull in these already trained pilots?

1 more question, I intend to use CA, CL , DD aggressively to slow the advance of the japanese war machine hopefully to raid transports, do you have any regrets for committing older BBs or the British BBs,cvl,cv(not usa) and then losing them. I'm going both ways...

[DOCUP]

Thanks for reading and your kind words.
 
Bombers: I waited until the squadrons had to withdraw and used the planes that went into the pools, to fill out my squadrons.  I guess you could temp withdraw some squadrons, but make sure they will come back.  Replacements were used in my filling out of squadrons.
 
Pilot training: Yes, got it right.  Once they reach your desired training level pull them out into the reserves and move them into combat units.
 
Losing all those CA's, CLs and such.  Yes I do regret it some.  I can think of several battles that I should of stayed away from.  But I don't regret using them.  I lost way to many to dumb new guy mistakes.  Good nav search can help but at the begining you don't have that.  Usually the first TFs you will see will be combat.  Japs will eat you up early.  Try to use them in pairs one to hit the SAG and another to come in behind it and clean up.  Use your Brit CVs to keep your opponent from sending small SAGS into the IO and raiding your SLOCs.
 
Since your playing with withdraws off.  In PI you have 4 units besides the BFs that you should get fragments out and back to Oz.  There are 2 US rgts (1 Marine, 1 Army) also 2 tank units.  These can be rebuilt quickly in Oz and used to help you later on.

[godochaos]

Sorry for the question barrages
So in theory take small air groups in areas out of combat like the rifraff at PH(i noticed months after the pearl harbor raid that I still had units at pearl with 8 planes that should have been at 24) and then withdraw them so the planes go into the pool, then use those planes to bolster front line units?
With regards to the US rgts at PI how to get them out, isn't getting them out by ship pretty risky? can i airlift the infantry out? So you pulled the ENG base forces out of PI?

After turn 1 do i need to scatter out of the port at PI(for fear of port atk missions) or do you think I can get out in stages?
When you use your B-17s what altitude for:
airfield attack
ground attack
Port attack

[godochaos]

I am working on turn 1, very excited!
I think we are doing historical

Below is a pic of the PH ship repair situation, AZ not listed is gonna burn and sink as predicted
I plan on sending 2 BB's to the west coast when KB permits

[DOCUP]

No problem with the questions.
 
PI units.  Use your Cats to fly out small portions of the unit.  It dosen't matter if its inf or support squads.  Just get pieces of them out.  You will have to do it in several different legs.  So make sure where you park them is safe from invasion.  Yes those Base Forces are gold.  Pull them out.
 
Pulling out of Pearl is your decision.  I porbably wouldnt depending on how back my fighters and AF is.  If this scen 2 has DaBabes mod in it then the AAA and fighters will put a hurten on him.  Slowly pull out your ships, make sure your have plenty of ASW work and escorts for your BBs and other damaged ships.
 
Alt for bombers.  Do you have an HR limiting it or what?  I wouldn't go to low.  I use mine at 10K, love to send my 2Es at 6k.  But I have an HR that says no 4Es under 10k.
 
Disbanding groups, I wouldn't disband withdraw them maybe.  Make sure they can return.  Pull your good pilots out of them also.  Also make sure you get your planes sent back to the pool.  Someone else might have a better idea than withdrawing groups.
 
ALFREDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Glad to see the WEE VEE is in good shape.  I guess you know she is my fav ship.  Don't lose her like I did.  Good Luck

[godochaos]

Thx DOCUP

we have a HR for 4E. Nothing under 10k
I will try to pull some portions of the units you mentioned out of PI, thats a great idea.

Here is the overall plan:

In south pacific and PH just wait to confirm where KB is going, then begin to try to build up bases.
PM try to hold it, but only in moderation. I realize that if he really wants it he can get it, i just want to make it painful

Try to hold Ambon/Koepang/Kendri with the same theory, basically i'm not going to go "all in"

PI - try to hold clark and manilla as long as possible

Singapore- try to fortify and hold the hex above singapore for as long as possible, then retreat to singers. Right now everyone is fleeing south towards the singers area

In the dutch areas I plan on try to ship out every single drop of fuel and oil i possibly can, lots of mining of ports. Lots of little SAG's running around with a CL and a few DD's just looking for an opportunity to find some transports. Trying to do the best i can to fortify palembang.

India/burma. I want to hold pegu and fortify it, then retreat to Rangoon. Its going to be iffy.

China, fall back. consolidate, set up resistance nests with an eye on favorable terrain. Engage and delay and stall but trying not to commit too much.

Can anyone advise me: when it comes to cities that you know may eventually fall, like say Soerbaja, what did you do with all the Industry in the sense that do you turn it all off so its not producing oil or resources for your opponent? and did you turn off repair?

Overall I'm going to write out my rules here so I will stick to them:
1). KB is away, Carriers gonna play, Where we see KB, everyones gotta flee
2). Strip everything of value from every place the japanese may/will take
3). Stall stall stall

[DOCUP]

Don't stand and fight in Southern Burma.  Japs will eat you alive.  Fall back to Northern Burma build forts save supply get some supply to China.  Don't fight for Rangoon or Pegu.  Run Forest Run for the forest.
 
Watch your shipping in DEI.  Don't risk your tankers.

[godochaos]

Gotta keep up morale during these dark days

[DOCUP]

I like.

[godochaos]

Dec 8th 1941

Various bombings of Singers, PI, Rangoon etc, nothing interesting except one group of Bettys came into Singapore alone and lost 13-yay. Air skirmishes at Rangoon inconclusive. Kukong China heavy bombing.
CVL bombs Davao
We attempt to bomb Babeldaob port but we have altitude at 20k and miss. we will try again at 10k

Intel rumors of atk on miri, I have houston and boise near tarakan but im leery of running up to miri

My biggest concern is: Where is KB going?(west) and thankfully PBY's have a pretty good look at KB and above it the AO group. see pic below

[godochaos]

Dec 9th
KB still sighted and headed west, great relief to see where they are

Various Landings at PI
Lots of air battles around PI here are some details:
sweep by zeros 7US lost vs 1 zero
Japs bomb PI port 5US lost vs 12 BM and F
Iba bombing and 9 sallys smoked

We bomb Babeldaob port w B-17s at 10k no luck
We bomb Samah port w B-17s and sink a tanker- i think this is the 1st Japanese ship of the war sunk! GOD BLESS MERICA!!

Tarawa and Vigan fall to the Japanese

Sing- we have many troops flowing south to make a stand at Johore Baru, so far so good

Wake Invasion- AMC on fire from shore guns, we hold off the 1st wave of assaulters. I reluctantly withdraw the Wildcats

Horde of subs is swarming PH, which is ok with me as long as they are not harassing west coast

HK i tried something,instead of just running away with all of the doomed transports at HK, I loaded them 1st. If he sinks them they are basically loaded with his supplies. 10k more supplies at Manilla could help a lot!

Current concern, I had 1 AS at PI which was damaged in the port attack, i wonder if subs will not be able to rearm now.

[godochaos]

Dec 10 1941

Nothing interesting to report except that we successfully used B-17s to bomb babeldoab and samah, we hit a tanker and an AK

at Rangoon we are starting to get worn down by Japanese attacks due to lack of aviation support

we successfully mined kuching right as a Japanese landing force is 3 hexes away. We have a surface force about to engage the Japanese at miri so that should be interesting
at PI the PT boats are going in for a suicidal mission

KB appears to be refueling well below midway
Wake still holding for now.
tomorrow should bring some fireworks

[DOCUP]

Nice getting the tankers.  They are gold on both sides.  Get use to the lopsided aeral victories.  Get used to getting your butt kicked.   Looks like your putting up a good fight, keep it up.

[godochaos]

Hot turn hot turn hot turn dec 11

I'll start with the mundane and finish with a bang:
PH subwarfare not really going very well for us, but im so happy the japanese seem to be content to concentrate in this one region. good for them, i know where they are. we lose a dms or dm, we did get a CM hit which made me sadface because i love me some mine warfare
PI air combat we lose about 13 and he loses around 8 during various battles
PI PTs strike in 3 groups- 1 PT raid we lose 1 pt for no gain, 2 the MTBs go in and we sink 2x DMS, we have an interesting 4 pt vs 4 PB fight we sink a PB
PI we bomb Samah and manage another bomb hit on an AK in port
PI ships that loaded at HK and fled with supplies are arriving and dropping off about 8k supplies to help manilla!
Rangoon air situation serious due to lack of aviation support, we have help on the way and AVP and a Base force
KB is inbetween midway and wake and clearly visible yay
Ryujo is near babeldeaboblob
rest of MKB unknown

Hot news[&o]
Japanese conduct a daring invasion of Singkawang, they manage to unload but now I have 3 different SAGs vectoring in on this invasion force, major battles expected in the darkness
Americans CV's struck back at Japanese forces today near the island of Makin. We sink a transport with 1000 casualties and hit many other ships with a sprinkling of bombs god bless merica
and last but not least The Royal Navy has struck Japanese forces after the landing at Miri and inflicting a fine wound, see screenshot

[godochaos]

Dec 12th
there is a lull in the asw war at PH, we make various attks but never hit as usual
down south of PH an important AP is hit and damgd it carries a base force to Lungaville. I hope it limps there but it does not look promising

KB is now heading SE from in between Midway and Wake, this makes me very nervous
Wake still holds

PI air war totals are like 2 japs for 11 ally
PT boats flee the CA Ashigaru and friends, he gobbles up 4 PTs

our subs torpedo 3 AKs woot

Lots of air attacks on HK which is great, pls damage the port, pls damage the airfield bomb it more!

Rangoon we overcome shoot up and damage and destroy 13 Japanese and lose non, but i check the base and we have tons of planes dmg'd and down for maintenance

He seizes Miri, Vigan, and he manages to unload and take Singkawang before my SAGs disrupt his landing
I have to admit that the early loss of Singkawang is a blow and that it is the 1st time I have felt a serious loss
I plan to make Singkawang untenable for some time because I have lots of SAGs on it
Major Surface actions at Singkawang 1st SAG vs SAG and the SAG vs Transports
in the SAG vs SAG fight the RN and dutch do well and sink a CL
see the tranports battle below

[DOCUP]

You've done good raiding his TF's.  Thats got to screw up his plans some.  He will have to slow down and guard his TFs better now.  So becareful.  Notice that he put a CA in with a TF. Unless this was to absorb some CD gun shells its a bad idea.  The other ships will slow this ship down.  Put your warships in a surface TF.  So it can fight.

[godochaos]

Dec 13th
KB plowing towards Canton area, sinks 2 DD's I had going south
PH subs still swarming PH area, his subs get no action because I'm afraid to send much out with the KB near
Allied subs hit 2 transports, we here sinking sounds
Japanese push south towards singers and land at Kuantuan, we make lots of naval air atks and we manage to hit 3 transports but we miss a lot too, we cannot send SAG because he has a BB group there

PI air raids blast clark, its in bad shape we lose 4 he loses 1

Rangoon situation improving because i have more support eng there now

and now for a special report on 2 Gangster thugs known as H-town and Big-B. The Houston and the Boise catch a large convoy unloading at Legaspi, unfortunately they were not very interested in the transports but really im not complaining.