Rise of the Sheep! JocMeister(A) vs. Obvert(J)

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

I'm not looking at the game right now but as I remember there are two kinds of Amphib HQ - one is Amphib Corps and the other is Amphib Force. Corps is just a Corps HQ. Force is the HQ that goes on the AGC and helps the amphibious landing to go better.

BTW, as I recall, MichaelM clarified that an Amphib Force aboard an AGC only helps the TF in which it is a member. The advice in old WITP (before AE) had been that it helped all TFs in the hex, so I'm not sure if that is a change or if the old advice was simply mistaken.

MichaelM really said that? When I was first trying out AGCs/Amphib HQs and had it embedded in the Amphib TF it unloaded the HQ! How in the world do you keep it on the AGC if you have to set "Unload Cargo" to get your troops ashore?
This is really confusing.

Thanks for pointing out that Amphib Corps is a Corps HQ and not a landing coordination HQ. I think this is the one that shows up at PH in early 1942.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: witpqs

I'm not looking at the game right now but as I remember there are two kinds of Amphib HQ - one is Amphib Corps and the other is Amphib Force. Corps is just a Corps HQ. Force is the HQ that goes on the AGC and helps the amphibious landing to go better.

BTW, as I recall, MichaelM clarified that an Amphib Force aboard an AGC only helps the TF in which it is a member. The advice in old WITP (before AE) had been that it helped all TFs in the hex, so I'm not sure if that is a change or if the old advice was simply mistaken.

MichaelM really said that? When I was first trying out AGCs/Amphib HQs and had it embedded in the Amphib TF it unloaded the HQ! How in the world do you keep it on the AGC if you have to set "Unload Cargo" to get your troops ashore?
This is really confusing.

Thanks for pointing out that Amphib Corps is a Corps HQ and not a landing coordination HQ. I think this is the one that shows up at PH in early 1942.

I know - I hate that too! IIRC Michael mentioned something about it not unloading until the turn after everything else. Don't remember that fully so might not be exactly what he said. Basically I guess that implies that you have one turn to catch it and stop it from unloading. It was a while ago and I haven't had a chance to use one since hearing that, so I still have to see it for myself to get comfortable with how it works.

[JocMeister]

28th - 1st December -43

Not much happening to report actually. Moving forces around all over the map. Did some sweeps in Burma and SOPAC. Erik lost some 200 planes in the last days. I lost 7 Corsairs over Darwin.

SOPAC

Erik tried to defend the air over Milne Bay. But with Port Moresbys AF operational and that cost him. I´m reshuffling the air units to start the air offensive against Milne Bay. Air field at PM expanded to 6 already. Once it reaches 9 Erik will have some problems I think.

Tried something sneaky over Darwin. Snuck in a AirHQ and loaded it up with torps to strike at Eriks 2 CA forces at Darwin. 40 TBs manage an astounding 2 hits on a CL. [8|] I wish I had guided torpedoes like Eriks Betties/Netties.

Burma

I struck at one of Erik major airfields with over 100 Fighters.

Morning Air attack on Toungoo , at 57,50

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 37,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 48
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 80
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 12



Allied aircraft
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 167


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 4 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 8 destroyed
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 5 destroyed

No Allied losses

Losses are actually a lot higher then the numbers show. Around 60 Tojos are downed today. Hopefully I can push Erik back to Rangoon AF soon! Don´t know if its smart of Erik or not but he has avoided air combat like the plague for the last 2 months. This has led to my Pools being in excellent shape. Almost 100 P47 in the pools right now. And that is with 250 planes on map. [:)] P38 pools are approaching 100 too. And Corsair pools are going up despite me upgrading a lot of units.

Erik did do a sweep over Akyab 2 days ago. Didn´t go very well for him. Ended with 1:1 and most of my units were P40s.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Akyab , at 54,45

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 30 NM, estimated altitude 37,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 25



Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 16
Spitfire Vc Trop x 16
Spitfire VIII x 32
P-40K Warhawk x 63


Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40K Warhawk: 3 destroyed



Aircraft Attacking:
4 x N1K1-J George sweeping at 31000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Akyab , at 54,45

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 71 NM, estimated altitude 36,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 31
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 78
Ki-84a Frank x 32



Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 16
Spitfire Vc Trop x 16
Spitfire VIII x 31
P-40K Warhawk x 57


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 2 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 destroyed
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 destroyed
Spitfire VIII: 1 destroyed
P-40K Warhawk: 4 destroyed



Aircraft Attacking:
42 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 31000 feet
24 x Ki-84a Frank sweeping at 31000 feet
6 x Ki-43-IIb Oscar sweeping at 31000 feet
19 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 31000 feet
16 x Ki-43-IIb Oscar sweeping at 31000 feet

I´m not impressed so far by the Frank and George. As long as I can match them against Corsairs or P47 I should do fine. He can outproduce me for sure. But his higher losses will mean he hopefully can´t build a pool of experienced pilots like I can. The low losses for me slowly builds a healthy pool of combat experienced pilots while he should run out pretty quickly and be forced to use raw recruits.

My army pool is still in great shape with some 600 70+EXP pilots. And I hardly loose any pilots at all. USMC are also in great shape while the navy pool isn´t. I´m starting to get some good numbers but they are still pretty low quality (50/70/50).

[ny59giants]

Some of them are like Darwin, Dutch and Tarawa. Rabaul and Ndeni are unsure. I just don´t really know what other targets might be better to prep for! I have teamed them with a Corps HQ of course [:)]

One more time here. At this point in your game, you should have a Army/Corp HQ and Command HQ prepping for Milne Bay. Another set for Darwin. That leaves you with three set of HQs that need to be prepping for......?? [&:][&:] Of the four bases you listed, you did not feel as if they would be attacked in the next three months, if at all. You should have a list of your combat engineers, assign two each to a new objective.

The 1st Marines together with a Corp HQ and two combat engineer units set out after his troops retreating towards Buna. The USAAF will continue to harass from the air. I think Erik will have some problems getting the troops out from Buna unless his marches them. He might try to evac them via air. I will put LRCAP up once he arrives.

So, did you start to prep a Command HQ for this base??

New Guinea - Are you going to try to advance up the southern or northern side?? Or both?? Assign your HQ sets to bases you will invade next here.

I doubt you have certain divisions assigned to a Army/Corp HQs, but you should have a list of troops assigned to one for operational purposes. An example would be that US 1st Corp HQ, SW Pac Command HQ, 37 Div, 40 Div, Americal Div, two combat eng, and two or three tank. They prep for a base, invade and capture that base, rest and recover together. Rinse, repeat.

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

I´m not impressed so far by the Frank and George. As long as I can match them against Corsairs or P47 I should do fine. He can outproduce me for sure. But his higher losses will mean he hopefully can´t build a pool of experienced pilots like I can. The low losses for me slowly builds a healthy pool of combat experienced pilots while he should run out pretty quickly and be forced to use raw recruits.

My army pool is still in great shape with some 600 70+EXP pilots. And I hardly loose any pilots at all. USMC are also in great shape while the navy pool isn´t. I´m starting to get some good numbers but they are still pretty low quality (50/70/50).

No suprise here. There's nothing Japan can oppose to P-47s in 1943-1944. Just numbers... P-47s will eat alive anything. and i think Erik is right not to keep on attrit you air force. By now your replacements rates are much better than last year, so, with the quality of your planes and pilots, Erik would attrit him more than what he can attrit you.

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants
One more time here. At this point in your game, you should have a Army/Corp HQ and Command HQ prepping for Milne Bay. Another set for Darwin. That leaves you with three set of HQs that need to be prepping for......?? [&:][&:] Of the four bases you listed, you did not feel as if they would be attacked in the next three months, if at all. You should have a list of your combat engineers, assign two each to a new objective.

Well, I do have to make a decision about Ndeni very shortly. Rabaul too. You are right. I don´t gain anything by putting the decision off.

ORIGINAL: ny59giants
So, did you start to prep a Command HQ for this base??

Hmm, No I didn´t. I may have misunderstood something here but don´t you need 100 prep for the bonus to kick in? I expect to reach Buna in 22 days. Unless the bonus kicks in immediately I would be better off using the time to prep for a target "further down the line"?

ORIGINAL: ny59giants
New Guinea - Are you going to try to advance up the southern or northern side?? Or both?? Assign your HQ sets to bases you will invade next here.

I will go on the North side. Merauke will be the only base attacked on the south side. I have Cops HQs prepped for various targets. But with only 2 command HQs available (Rabaul/Ndeni) I can´t prep for them all. But you are right. I should be prepping for those targets instead of Rabaul/Ndeni.

ORIGINAL: ny59giants
I doubt you have certain divisions assigned to a Army/Corp HQs, but you should have a list of troops assigned to one for operational purposes. An example would be that US 1st Corp HQ, SW Pac Command HQ, 37 Div, 40 Div, Americal Div, two combat eng, and two or three tank. They prep for a base, invade and capture that base, rest and recover together. Rinse, repeat.

I had three such teams consisting of 1 Corps HQ, 2 ID, 2 Tank BTL and 1 Combat Engineer RGT. The PM debacle threw that off since I had to land the Ndeni team at PM. In hindsight these "teams" are too weak on their own. At least 1 more ID and one more Engineer unit is needed I think? Thats why I fear a landing at Milne right now. I would have liked an additional ID there.

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy
No suprise here. There's nothing Japan can oppose to P-47s in 1943-1944. Just numbers... P-47s will eat alive anything. and i think Erik is right not to keep on attrit you air force. By now your replacements rates are much better than last year, so, with the quality of your planes and pilots, Erik would attrit him more than what he can attrit you.

You are probably right as you have way more knowledge of this then me! [:)] But assuming he can produce roughly 500 Franks/Georges per month and I´m stuck with 134 Corsairs/P47s I assumed it would be beneficial to the Japanese player to try and attrit the allied side? At least until the next version kicks in with 175 arriving per month?

Erik not trying to battle my forces have led to me being able to upgrade a lot of squadrons from P40 to P47. Something I´m quite happy with! [:)] I started with 6 squadrons and now have 10 squadrons plus 80 in the pool. If this continues I will be able to upgrade 2 more P40 squadrons shortly. And this sure leads to even more problems for the Japanese player?

But perhaps as you say its just not doable to kill of enough P47s to "stem the tide"!

[ny59giants]

HQ Bonuses - The AI rolls the dice per say for each HQ prepping for that base. Only 100% prepped ensures it passes this part of the combat resolution. So an Army/Corp HQ with only 33 prep points has a 1 in 3 chance to pass this die roll to get the 10% Adjusted AV bonus. The Command HQ only acts like a Command HQ "IF" the Army/Corp HQ passes its dice roll. If the Army/Corp HQ doesn't pass the dice roll, then you have this extra chance with a command HQ.

So, at Buna if the Army/Corp HQ passes its test, the 25 points the command HQ may have gotten to before your troops arrive will give you a 1 in 4 chance to have it effect combat. Make sense now??

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

HQ Bonuses - The AI rolls the dice per say for each HQ prepping for that base. Only 100% prepped ensures it passes this part of the combat resolution. So an Army/Corp HQ with only 33 prep points has a 1 in 3 chance to pass this die roll to get the 10% Adjusted AV bonus. The Command HQ only acts like a Command HQ "IF" the Army/Corp HQ passes its dice roll. If the Army/Corp HQ doesn't pass the dice roll, then you have this extra chance with a command HQ.

So, at Buna if the Army/Corp HQ passes its test, the 25 points the command HQ may have gotten to before your troops arrive will give you a 1 in 4 chance to have it effect combat. Make sense now??

It seems I havn´t really understood how this works!

So basically its only crucial to have the Corp/Army HQ as prepped as possible? The command HQ bonus (+90% adjusted AV) will kick in as long as the Corps/Army HQ passes the dice roll and the Command HQ is within range? (I´m guessing there are some checks related to the Command HQ too?)

Having the Command HQ prepped is only important in the way that if the Corps/Army HQ fails the dice roll (for 10% adjusted AV) the command HQ (if prepped and successful) can add the 10% AV failed by the Corps/Army HQ? But other then that the preparation of the Command HQ is irrelevant?

If so, the Corps HQ I have 100% prepped for Milne Bay can contribute a +90% adjusted AV as long as I move say SW Pacific to Port Moresby and within range of Milne Bay?

Sorry if I´m being dense here! Just want to make sure I get it! [:D]

[ny59giants]

ALL HQs have to pass the dice roll to get their advantage. So an Army/Corp HQ has to pass their dice roll (0 to 100) and then the Command HQ has to pass their dice roll (0 to 100). "IF" the dice roll is equal to or less than the prep level, then it has passed the test and can add 10% or 90% "IF" it is a Command HQ.

[JocMeister]

Ah, so both have to be prepped. I have a Corp HQ prepping for Buna with 66% prep. Do you think its worth starting to prep a command HQ for it too? That would give me 88 prep on the Corps HQ and 22 on the Command HQ. Thats roughly 20% chance of success?

[ny59giants]

Yes, unless that Command HQ will start prepping for another base that also has an Army/Corp HQ prepping for the same one. That 1 in 5 could change to 1 in 3 if the base holds for a week or more.

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Yes, unless that Command HQ will start prepping for another base that also has an Army/Corp HQ prepping for the same one. That 1 in 5 could change to 1 in 3 if the base holds for a week or more.

I followed your advice. I prepped one for Milne and one for Buna! [:)]

[JocMeister]

I did something very, very risky this turn...If it works I have a chance of nailing 120 fighters on the ground and closing Eriks second biggest AF is SOPAC. If it doesn´t I´ll probably loose 4 CAs. Fingers crossed! [X(]

I have had a very hard time catching any of Eriks planes on the ground. If I close an AF and it lists 40 planes on the ground its ALWAYS empty the following day when I return.

I have a theory why. I think he keeps fragments around and when I bomb an AF closing it he simply disbands the group on the AF which then returns to the pools and the fragment becomes the parent and voila. The group have escaped. I´m not sure I´m very happy if this is indeed what he does.

Or he could simply fly out what can fly and then disband the rest which returns to the pools. Kosher?

[BBfanboy]

Kosher - NO! But unless the base is a significant size or has an Air HQ nearby, I think disbanding destroys the planes? Look at some of your own and notice all the red text on the disband order.
Another possibility is that he keeps a ship or two in port to pull out damaged aircraft. They load instantly so it would not take long and the ship would be about six-ten hexes away from the airfield before your next day's air attacks.
Final possibility is that the airfield isn't totally closed - the recon of the damage is shows airfield facilities damage, not runway damage. The latter is repaired first.

[JocMeister]

Short update

The surprise didn´t work very well. Erik anticipated my move and revealed three BBs that smashed into to my CA TF before they reach their destination. Mutsu, Huyga and Nago just smashed Canberra, Hawkins, Salt Lake City and Northampton. All four were sunk outright with virtually no damage to the BBs. A bit disappointing. I also lost some 20 P47s over Woodlark and a good amount of 2Es. All this for nothing. Not a very good turn. [:(]

Only positive thing is my Fletchers really smashed up his DDs. Lost one Fletcher though. Good thing I have plenty!

Ah well. To tired to do the turn or do a proper update. Ida has decided to stop sleeping at night and work was horrible today. Time to try and get some sleep!

[BBfanboy]

I wonder if Ida knows she shares the name with an annoying little Japanese level bomber ... she's harassing you to get you to make mistakes![;)]

[JocMeister]

1st -5th December -43

Not the best turns for the allies as indicated in my short update.

Port Moresby Area

My little plan to close Woodlark with naval bombardment and then strike from the air failed miserable. Erik anticipated my move and had a BB TF on intercept. Result were not good.

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato
BB Mutsu, Shell hits 2
BB Hyuga
DD Takanami
DD Naganami, Shell hits 1
DD Onami
DD Fujinami, Shell hits 3
DD Kiyonami, Shell hits 2
DD Arashi, Shell hits 1
DD Michishio

Allied Ships
CA Northampton, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
CA Salt Lake City, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CA Canberra
CA Hawkins, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
DD Bush
DD Fullam, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Harrison
DD Hutchins
DD Kidd
DD Kimberly
DD Murray
DD Pringle

During the day his TF caught up with the retreating allied fleet.

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato, Shell hits 4
BB Mutsu, Shell hits 3
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 8
DD Takanami, Shell hits 29, and is sunk
DD Naganami, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
DD Onami, Shell hits 4, heavy fires
DD Fujinami, Shell hits 16, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Kiyonami, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Arashi, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
DD Michishio, Shell hits 2, on fire

Allied Ships
CA Canberra, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
DD Bush, Shell hits 1
DD Fullam, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
DD Harrison, Shell hits 3
DD Hutchins
DD Kidd
DD Kimberly, Shell hits 1
DD Murray, Shell hits 3
DD Pringle, Shell hits 1

Once again the Fletchers proved more then a match for the Japanese DDs. We also had a big air battle over Woodlark which did not end very well for the Allied side. I decided to send in the P47s on sweep despite having almost 20 in fatigue. It cost me... See screenshot for losses.

Loosing the 4 CAs is a bit annoying. Especially since they went down so easy. I now have to make some plans to deal with his BBs. I have the Alabama, PoW, Massachusetts and Indiana ready in 8 days. One option is to try and engage his BB with them. The other option would be to form 12 ship Fletcher TFs and try and nail his DDs to the point when he can´t escort the BBs and have to withdraw. I might even get lucky with a TT or two... What do you guys think? I´m not sure I can afford to loose a single BB at this point. Loosing a few Fletchers are much more affordable.

Can´t really land at Milne without removing the threat. Then again I don´t have to land...just make Erik belive I will land...might prove an opportunity to nail his BBs.

I think this will also be a good opportunity to form CAP traps for his bombers from Rabaul.

CENTPAC

Bombardment of Canton Island will commence tomorrow. I will bombard tomorrow and the day after that the troops will land. Fingers crossed this respite of 6 days havn´t let his troops recover too much.

Burma

Erik has withdrawn into Rangoon with his air force. He now has 500 Fighters there. Pretty impressive! I´m not going to sweep that but force Erik to LRCAP his troops/bases and then Sweep that instead.

A lot of troops are heading towards Rangoon via sea. Of course despite 20+ subs trying to intercept I get no shots off at the transports. Wish my subs were half as effective as Eriks. I loose 5 subs over 2 days. [8|] Did I mention I havn´t been able to sink a single Jap sub around Canton Island despite 6 ASW TFs working in the area...

I also captured Ramree Island. With some luck Erik might try a bombardment here. I have all the Indian CD guns here more or less. Mines are in place and PT boats will arrive in two days.

Here is the screen of the carnage!

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

I wonder if Ida knows she shares the name with an annoying little Japanese level bomber ... she's harassing you to get you to make mistakes![;)]

[:D]

[BBfanboy]

I think using DDs [of any breed with 5" guns] is good at this point in the war - they have radar and working torps, and they have trained in night battle tactics [see the Battle of Cape St. George for proof]. They are also harder for bombers to hit and can put up good AA, so they could bait your CAP traps. Use Fletchers if you got 'em, but don't rule out the Bensons with their 16 torp tubes! They didn't remove any during the AA/ASW upgrades, did they?

Twelve is too many in a single TF, though. Although the book says no penalty in battle with 15 or fewer, I have found that anything over 10 results in greater risk of collision and several of the TF never getting into the battles before they end. I think eight is ideal.

Re: the Canton subs, DL is important for getting your ASW onto the sub. Use lots of Nav Search aircraft to raise the DL if you can. Have you checked the naval skills of your TF commanders? If they are lower than the sub skipper's skill, chances of outfoxing him are not good.