Hairy Asian Experiences - GreyJoy (J) vs. Q-Ball (A)

[princep01]

An excellent point and observation, Obvert.  It surely is a mistake to put such a slow vessel in the otherwise speedy mix of ships.
 
Bassed on NYGiant's experience re Wasp (and that of others I am aware of), I wonder if the Wasp and Saratoga are hardwired in some way as torpedo magnets.  IRL, Sara couldn't stray far from the yards before absorbing yet another torpedo and Wasp's encounter with them was fatal.
 
Ser Greyjoy, good work with those subs.  Wasp and Idaho may survive, but both will be out of service for a very long time.  Personally, I don't think Wasp will make it...Idaho, maybe, given her proximity to safe harbor.
 
 

[BBfanboy]

I thought I read somewhere that the game gives a bonus to attacks that IRL damaged or sank a ship. Thus Prince of Wales is commonly a magnet for aerial torps and seems to catch quite a few DD/cruiser launched torps too! Yamato suffers disproportionate fire damage from bombs, relative to other Japanese BBs.

[Dan Nichols]

DE Edsall is not slow. It is a Clemson class DD that is converted. It has a max speed of 30 and a cruise speed of 15.

BBfanboy, no, I'm sure you are wrong. As far as I can tell, there are no bonuses of that kind in the game.

[GreyJoy]

Sorry guys if it took so long to reply but was a busy night yesterday[:D]

However, the following day (dec 9 1942), whatever Brad was up to was scracthed. All the enemy TFs (several BBs, CVs and APs included) moved back to Townsville or to Brisbane. On the 10th it was confirmed that the enemy invasion was called back[&:]...pretty strange if you ask me. Is the loss of a single CV enough to call back an invasion? If so, Brad must be far less confident than what i thought
I still hope Wasp is a goner, but the intel screen showed not a single a/c lost "on ground" or for ops loss, so i fear that both the enemy Ships that got hit on the 8th were saved. 3 of my subs that tried to chase them down till the coast were badly damaged by escorts and are now limping back to Rabaul.
A good hunting nonetheless [:D]

With the enemy CVs back to brisbane and with all those BBs between Exmouth and Perth (and let's not forget all the AP/AK and support ships we've spotted), the KB, that was moving to Hollandia from Bab, was called back to its starting position.

In Oz the Australian troops are approaching Darwin from the south, supported by liberators on ground attack missions.... We're using this time to reinforce our Southern DEI perimeter which is, by now, quite decent imho.
Timor is a real fortress and a landing there is, imho, almost impossible at the moment.
We're trying to find another unit to be sent to Saumlaki and more engineers are arriving from Singapore and Balikapan.
Dempassar has been reinforced with a Naval guard Unit and Christmas I.O. is getting a Bde (well, a small one to be honest...only 80 AVs cause it was badly mauled in China and didn't have time to rebuild it)

In China we've almost managed to secure the corridor that, on rough terrain, brings to Neikiang, the city recently conquered by our Tank Army. However i need to free the main road if i want to be able to conduct a general campaign in the plains, so we're sending 3 divisions, supporting by an HQ and by 3 arty units (nearly 50,000 men) to get rid of the 1000 enemy AVs that are blocking the road that leads to the plains (SW of Chungking).

N1K1 advanced to 6/43!!! [:D]

In Burma everything is still... he doesn't seem to have the strenght to push me out for the moment.

[GreyJoy]

Oh, forgot to say, It seems that US CVEs are not staying with their big sisters.... some of them have been spotted near Camberra, transfering to the west coast...so we have to fear a pincher movement?

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Dan Nichols

DE Edsall is not slow. It is a Clemson class DD that is converted. It has a max speed of 30 and a cruise speed of 15.

BBfanboy, no, I'm sure you are wrong. As far as I can tell, there are no bonuses of that kind in the game.

Good note Dan. I forgot that some of the old ones could become DE as well.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

Oh, forgot to say, It seems that US CVEs are not staying with their big sisters.... some of them have been spotted near Camberra, transfering to the west coast...so we have to fear a pincher movement?

This and the aborted invasion both point to some subterfuge going on. The CVEs must be there for a reason. Your sub hit might have stopped an operation or a feint, but either way it could have altered the course. Losing one CV for the Allies is pretty big if they're already just under KB levels for planes and don't have Hellcats yet.

Your intel is your best weapon right now, and whatever you're doing to make it work so well, keep doing it! [:)]

[crsutton]

I learned the hard way about using CVEs offensively. They just are not built for this and too easily sunk. Three CVEs are not the equivalent of a Japanese fleet carrier but a lot of Allied players look at them this way. Go after them if he uses them offensively away from the KB. They are great escorts but need to be well escorted themselves to be effective.

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

Oh, forgot to say, It seems that US CVEs are not staying with their big sisters.... some of them have been spotted near Camberra, transfering to the west coast...so we have to fear a pincher movement?

This and the aborted invasion both point to some subterfuge going on. The CVEs must be there for a reason. Your sub hit might have stopped an operation or a feint, but either way it could have altered the course. Losing one CV for the Allies is pretty big if they're already just under KB levels for planes and don't have Hellcats yet.

Your intel is your best weapon right now, and whatever you're doing to make it work so well, keep doing it! [:)]

Well, i have 4 subs operating south of Camberra and 4 more south of Perth, along with Glens-equipped subs operating near Exmouth and a very good number of Emilies that keep an eye untill Brisbane and Exmouth.
Now his CVs are back to Brisbane, while the BBs got back to Townsville, along with the AP/AKs... but the fact that the number of troops at Townsville (53k) remained stable, it makes me think that those APs weren't loaded! You may be right with the "feint" suggestion... but if the CVEs are moving to Western Oz, it may means that he wants to draw my KB to east and to invade in the DEI using his CVEs as cover.... but i agree here with CRSUTTON...even with lots of CVEs, they cannot hold the LBA alone! I find this quite a risky strategy for early 1943[:-]

I'm keeping a good number of Netties around Timor and Ambon, along with some LBA dive bombers and torpedo bombers. If he really tries to invade there only with CVEs in support, it may be the decisive battle i'm looking for[:)]

[ny59giants]

Sorry guys if it took so long to reply but was a busy night yesterday [:D]

Same girl friend from the summer or have you 'moved on?' [;)]

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Sorry guys if it took so long to reply but was a busy night yesterday [:D]

Same girl friend from the summer or have you 'moved on?' [;)]

unfortunately i'm getting old...and my sexual mobility, once pride of mine, has absolutely slowed down lately...too lazy to hunt anything outside the couple...also i'm getting sorrounded by friends who father childs and who get married....it doesn't help, believe me[:o]


13 dec 1942

Usual shifting of ships spotted from Syndey to Perth. He's moving A LOT of troops to Northern Oz but my perimeter there is pretty solid now.

In China we overstacked against the Kienko Fortress...and we obtained a 1-1 with a deliberate attack....not bad but we need something more. hopefully the flanking movement we're doing will pay off

Enenemy CVs should all be at Sydney by now, while i lost contact with his CVEs which should be near Perth by now....

Ground combat at 80,40 (near Kienko)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 41310 troops, 516 guns, 249 vehicles, Assault Value = 1185

Defending force 26618 troops, 168 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 528

Japanese adjusted assault: 607

Allied adjusted defense: 442

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
654 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 154 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Vehicles lost 36 (5 destroyed, 31 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
405 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 38 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
27th Division
37th Division
26th Division
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
Mongol Garrison Army
Tonei Hvy Gun Regiment
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Mortar Battalion
9th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
4th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Army
5th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
40th Chinese Corps
14th Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
64th Chinese Corps

[GreyJoy]

Dec 14, 1942

The enemy is really growing strong everywhere. The air balance is clearly shifting to the allied side everywhere on the map.

In China we've been ambushed again over Kunming, with 42 planes shot down for only 20 enemy fighters... These ambushes have finally forced the IJAAF HQ to stop the IJA fighter training program and to send 4 Sentais from Manchutko to China. We need to estabilish again a complete air superiority in this theatre if we want to have a chance of achieving something anytime soon!

In Burma he's testing my defences at Mandalay....i'm pretty sure he'll be coming with a HUGE raid in the next weeks...

In Oz he's moving very very fast towards Darwin...and i have nothing to stop him. All his movements are covered by a HUGE LRCAP and i have no intentions of throwing away my air assets on suicide missions... but i now need to worry cause the inner perimeter is getting really close now... his Catalinas are now able to reach Kendari from the Gulf of Carpentaria...which ain't not a good thing...not at all!!!!

Fearing for a para-drop at Medang...will try to reinforce that empty base with a naval unit asap!

[GreyJoy]

here's what's left of the Empire's dominion in Northern Oz... Darwin will be invested very very soon, while the rest of the sorrounding bases are being built fast by the allied seabees

[GreyJoy]

In China we're trying to flank the enemy strongpoints east of Kunming and of Kienko... and we're also trying to open the main road to Neikiang (Central Plains)...but the situation is far from being good

[GreyJoy]

Here are my defences in the southern DEI. With red circles you can see the places i'm planning to fortify in the next couple of weeks, picking up forces from HI and from the pacific

[ny59giants]

He will not be willing to risk his CVs at this point until he gets the Hellcat in April '43, so if he goes into the SRA from Northern Australia, the place I would go is due north map wise from Darwin. That means Babar, Selaroe, and/or Saumlaki. He may quickly build up Bathurst Island so he can use his short legged fighters (P-40s) to cover a landing while his P-38s can use drop tanks from Darwin. Anything else means exposing his CVs too much and KB is still too powerful at this time.

OT - I just lost Port Hedland, but in my game as Japan its the end of Dec '43. [;)]

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

He will not be willing to risk his CVs at this point until he gets the Hellcat in April '43, so if he goes into the SRA from Northern Australia, the place I would go is due north map wise from Darwin. That means Babar, Selaroe, and/or Saumlaki. He may quickly build up Bathurst Island so he can use his short legged fighters (P-40s) to cover a landing while his P-38s can use drop tanks from Darwin. Anything else means exposing his CVs too much and KB is still too powerful at this time.

OT - I just lost Port Hedland, but in my game as Japan its the end of Dec '43. [;)]

Yup, I agree. Saumlaky already has a strong SNLF unit behind 3 forts. It will get another regiment but i won't build up any AF there. Same for Babar, which is getting a regiment. Selaroe will probably be occupied by a small SNLF garrison...just to avoid a para drop...nothing more. I'm counting on a strong air force based at Timor to threaten these leaps.
Very far LRCAP doesn't work that well thou, so it may be quite risky for him to count only on LRCAP for these adventures... also the combined fleet is still pretty strong and i am willing to contest any attempt of landing anywhere north of Darwin line

[GreyJoy]

Dec 15, 42

The allies seems already too strong to be countered in Northern Oz and in the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Today they arrived at night at Taberfane and sunk a convoy full of engineers!!!... this hurts a lot... none of my Netties managed to detect the enemy and my patrol planes were clearly sleeping...
I simply cannot cover the whole perimeter... i have not enough forces and Brad is very good at threatening everything everywhere

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Taberfane at 82,117, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Banshu Maru #8, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PB Sozan Maru, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
xAK Meiyo Maru, Shell hits 32, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Syohei Maru, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Unkai Maru #3, Shell hits 23, and is sunk
xAP Kashima Maru, Shell hits 34, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Louisville
CA Pensacola
CL Leander
CL Achilles
DD Monssen
DD Frazier
DD Sims
DD Mustin
DD O'Brien

Japanese ground losses:
2852 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 150 destroyed, 90 disabled
Guns lost 13 (6 destroyed, 7 disabled)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Now i see my mistakes... I should have expanded and held my southern perimeter way longer....but the more you expand, the more you leave vital areas undefended in the rear...but still, despite having started very soon to build up my rear area defences, the southern DEI seems now completeley undefended...too many bases to cover...too many bases to garrison and to build up....too few engineers and too few means to do a proper job.
Gove (east of Darwin) reached today lvl 1 port and AF... you know what it means right?

I'm a bit frustrated right now. I invested a lot in China...probably too much...and despite some successes i'm still stuck. The KB hasn't seen any action for a LOOOONG time and i never have the chance to come out and play. Same for my surface assets... always too late (i had a cruiser TF 9 hexes close to Taberfane) or too far away...
Brad's really good and he's teaching me how the allied player should play it out

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

Dec 15, 42

The allies seems already too strong to be countered in Northern Oz and in the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Today they arrived at night at Taberfane and sunk a convoy full of engineers!!!... this hurts a lot... none of my Netties managed to detect the enemy and my patrol planes were clearly sleeping...
I simply cannot cover the whole perimeter... i have not enough forces and Brad is very good at threatening everything everywhere

Sad news. Losing those engineers is not good. Losing half of ID will hurt less.
Buy them back ASAP. In month You should have them ready to back in action.

[GreyJoy]

Yes, i'm building them back...but it takes some time and i need engineers in southern DEI now!
 
Ok, the bad mood has passed. It's damned hard to play as Japan guys and Brad is that kind of player who never commits any major mistake and who always makes you feel uncertain.
He's reconning Sumatra from Cocos Island, so i cannot simply move everything down to southern DEI...an invasion of western Sumatra could possibly be worse than an invasion of Timor.
I decided to follow Cribtop's advice...moving back some units from SOPAC and CENTPAC and reinforcing the DEI even more... the point is that my air force is already thin everywhere and i cannot defend all those theatres at the same time (Burma, Sumatra, Southern DEI, CENTPAC and SOPAC). I'm trying to keep track of his movements but from western Oz he can go almost everywhere and my naval search is very limited with Cocos Is. in his hands.... for those who are listening: remember to conquer Cocos Is. ASAP...before it's too late