The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

[Crackaces]

So where is this justification that either location should only be captured from the sea?

I think its that film roll of the blind Aussie tredging through the mud with Laurence Olivier narriation of how this group stopped the IJ from crossing the Owen Stamelys [8D]

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

1. There is no tunnel under the Owen Stanleys. I have no idea where this fantasy that there is such a thing first arose. It did not arise in GreyJoy's game v rader.

2. Movement rates across the Owen Stanleys, ie between Port Moresby and Buna, are exactly the same as anywhere else on the map where the same type of terrain is found. Units do not cross as if they were traversing a major road. Again no idea where this fantasy has come from.

3. If the crossing of the Owen Stanleys were in fact at the rate of a major road, that would be a definite bug to be fixed by michaelm. No other action, such as forcing players to move in combat mode, or restrictions on units able to cross, would be appropriate.

4. Andy Mac has already, from the very beginning of AE's life, had a jungle TOE which Commonwealth units change over to. If someone wants to argue that Andy Mac got it wrong, I'm all ears but I very much doubt that they will be able to successfully prosecute that argument.

5. Is the argument that a non historical, special "light jungle" TOE template required? Putting aside the basic premise that Andy Mac got it wrong, all TOE templates are based on the historical unit structures. I don't see the need, nor the wisdom in the overall context of the game, in introducing a "fantasy" TOE template which is optional at the player's discretion. No other TOE is an optional detour from the preset path.

6. The terrain between Port Moresby and Buna did not preclude the historical movement of some artillery tubes throughout its entire length. If the Japanese could do it, why can't the player?

7. I find it amazing that anyone is comfortable with the idea of forcing their opponent, whether it be the Japanese re Port Moresby or the Allies re Buna, to undertake only a sea borne invasion of those locations. The Own Stanleys were historically crossed in both directions by both sides. It is not a one way thoroughfare. The Japanese came very close to Port Moresby and if there had been no simultaneous Guadalcanal campaign which severely impacted on the limited Japanese logistical capabilities, who is to say they would not have captured Port Moresby overland. The Allies definitely captured Buna with an overland campaign. So where is this justification that either location should only be captured from the sea?

Alfred

Thanks for clearing that up Alfred! I do recall reading comments that the movement rate was borked there, but that was before the last major release in early 2012, so either it got fixed or someone was exaggerating!
In the book I read on the New Guinea campaign I am fairly sure that Buna was taken in a two-pronged assualt: the Australians coming overland [partly supported by some paradropped supplies] and the US troops making an amphib landing just down the coast from Buna and marching a few miles to the base.
The book also makes it clear that PM had been reinforced by the Allies after the Coral Sea battle and the Japanese forces from Buna would not have been enough to take it. After the Coral Sea battle made a landing directly at PM too risky, the Japanese landed somewhere near Milne Bay and tried to march up the coast. However, newly arrived allied aircraft attacked them and their supply shipping, paralyzing their progress. And as Alfred said, the battle for Guadalcanal ate up a lot of the support they might have gotten for NG. I can't recall if the Japanese withdrew from the Milne Bay area before or after the US landings near Buna.
At any rate, the only issue with the OS mountains passability seems to be with the size of the equipment that the game allows to pass over it. Other than a house rule of sorts, it seems the answer is to accept how it is modeled and let both players use it when they can. The key is always going to be air superiority and greater troop numbers whether delivered overland or by amphib landing [or both] anyway.

[Chickenboy]

If malaria, scrub typhus, dengue, jungle rot and other tropical diseases were modeled well in the game (and not capped as they are), large units would be made combat ineffective in short order traversing malarial jungles. Unit effectiveness would be less than 20% after prolonged slogs and fighting through some of this terrain with these disease handicaps.

Instead, fatigue and malarial effects are capped out by code. This diminishes (significantly) the realism associated with conducting such a campaign in this fashion. I'm less concerned about whether the Owen Stanleys are modeled differently than other mountain ranges than about the way the jungle all around is modeled insufficiently.

Sure, units could traverse the Owen Stanleys across the Kokoda track both ways. Such movement sapped the hell out of them. Even worse were some of the infantry actions around Gilli Gilli / Milne Bay. The virulent malaria around there was particularly awful, rendering units combat ineffective in comparatively short order.

Model the hell that was jungle fighting, equippping and feeding whole divisions through untrackable malarial fens and tropical diseases and then I'll say that the game's 'got it right'. Until then, some extraordinary self-imposition of rules is needed if one wants to track reality.

[Canoerebel]

2/11/42
 
One of those days when the fates are against me; the stars aligned against me; "If I had no bad luck I'd have no luck at all."  Well, it wasn't that bad, but read on:
 
NoPac:  My sexy CL/DD TF raiding into the Home Islands encountered a defenseless merchant TF in the Kuriles....and didn't engage!  In the Aluetians, an I-Boat put a torp into a CL.  Then, following an effective Allied bombardment of Umnak, the same sub put a torp into CA Chicago.  Both cruisers are hurting, especially Chicago.  There is serious risk that the latter won't make it out of the sub-infested waters.  But, truth be told, things continue to go well:  the unloading at Akutan and Cold Bay are complete and all the activity should reinforce John's focus here.  Bottom line, I think he'll conclude it isn't safe for his ships to move into this region without carrier support; I think there's a good chance he'll commit his carriers.  Mine have completed their duty here and are en route to San Franciso and thence Oz.
 
DEI:  The only other bad vibes came near Port Blair, where an IJN two-DD TF sank two xAKL, one of which had already unloaded.  No big deal, but it left me with intercept envy compared to my failed intercept in the Kuriles.
 
WitP AE: We are entering my favorite part of the game.  Japan is mighty and almost unstoppable at any point of its choosing; but the Allies are beginning to grow, can do some things, and can enjoy laying the foundation for things to come.  I find the logistics aspect of the game extremely satisfying.  (Why I enjoy that but despise pilot training I can't tell you.)  What an immensely satisfying game!

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

WitP AE: We are entering my favorite part of the game.  Japan is mighty and almost unstoppable at any point of its choosing; but the Allies are beginning to grow, can do some things, and can enjoy laying the foundation for things to come.  I find the logistics aspect of the game extremely satisfying.  (Why I enjoy that but despise pilot training I can't tell you.)  What an immensely satisfying game!

You're about to overrun our game. I just watched the movie for Feb. 14. Agree that the units-arriving portion of the read-out is getting nicer to watch. Today two RN BBs, three Gato-class boats, and a big supply convoy to Cape Town. It somewhat balances the lack of fighters.

As you pull past my game I'll be watching to see what goodies I'll soon have.

On the I-boats; I assume you've done the 1/1 and 2/1 DD upgrades? Not great, but they help. Better DD classes (Fletcher and Porter) are coming soon.

[Canoerebel]

2/12/42
 
Blood lust and an International Incident, Oh My!

NoPac:  As busy as it was yesterday, today was even moreso.  The Allied raiding TF in the Kuriles stumbled upon a replenishment TF, sinking a PB and an AO.  Then the TF found an IJN DD TF.  Both sides got bloodied, with the Allies getting the better of things...until Kates from Paramushiro finished off two DDs.  CL Raleigh is also hurting and her patrol plane diverted to Petroplavisk, an international incident, though I've impounded her.  Over in the Aleutians, an IJN sub finished of CA Chicago with two torps.  INJ patrol aircraft of some sort also have high detection levels on several TFs near Kodiak.  This worries me a bit. I don't think John could've gotten the KB this far this fast, but my concern level is growing.  (On the other hand, if John has a small CV force up here it's nothing but prey if I can find it and squash it.)  The USN  CVs will close on the Alaskan panhandle tomorrow - still in theater, but about to depart.  All of this activity and blood-letting should really have John salivating.  I'm betting he is.

DEI:  SigInt that 33rd Div. is aboard a maru bound for Mersing (and obviously Singapore).  This is one of those small but telling indicators that means very much.  Since this isn't Scenario Two with the four extra divisions, John would need nearly all his divisions free to pose a credible threat to India at this point.  Instead, he'll have three at Singers, three in the Java region, and at least one at Clark Field.  Based on this, I'm pretty sure India is safe (though a smaller campaign vs. Ceylon or Calcutta is still one the table).  Therefore, I'm willing to fight forward in India and to shift more attention to defending Oz, which in my estimation is the more vulnerable of the two (because IMO India proper cannot be attacked successfully by the time John is done with Singers, Java and Clark).

India:  An IJN combat TF with float-plane support is near Addu Atoll.  I'm pretty sure no carriers are present.  The Allies have a combat TF at North Male Island and a small CV TF at Socatra.  The latter will weigh anchor and move east.

Bullwinkle:  Most of my carrier ships haven't upgraded because they've been at sea the entire month of February.  The ships in port - mainly Pearl and Seattle - are upgrading.  I'll probably do all possible upgrades when the carriers reach San Francisco. (And I know what you mean about our game passing yours; in my game vs. PzH, the game between Q-Ball and GreyJoy was far, far behind but eventually caught up and passed ours.)

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

If malaria, scrub typhus, dengue, jungle rot and other tropical diseases were modeled well in the game (and not capped as they are), large units would be made combat ineffective in short order traversing malarial jungles. Unit effectiveness would be less than 20% after prolonged slogs and fighting through some of this terrain with these disease handicaps.

Instead, fatigue and malarial effects are capped out by code. This diminishes (significantly) the realism associated with conducting such a campaign in this fashion. I'm less concerned about whether the Owen Stanleys are modeled differently than other mountain ranges than about the way the jungle all around is modeled insufficiently.

Sure, units could traverse the Owen Stanleys across the Kokoda track both ways. Such movement sapped the hell out of them. Even worse were some of the infantry actions around Gilli Gilli / Milne Bay. The virulent malaria around there was particularly awful, rendering units combat ineffective in comparatively short order.

Model the hell that was jungle fighting, equippping and feeding whole divisions through untrackable malarial fens and tropical diseases and then I'll say that the game's 'got it right'. Until then, some extraordinary self-imposition of rules is needed if one wants to track reality.

You sound like a tropical disease fanboy! [:D]

Seriously, I agree BUT - road(major/minor) and rail building would have to be modeled to go along with that.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

If malaria, scrub typhus, dengue, jungle rot and other tropical diseases were modeled well in the game (and not capped as they are), large units would be made combat ineffective in short order traversing malarial jungles. Unit effectiveness would be less than 20% after prolonged slogs and fighting through some of this terrain with these disease handicaps.

Instead, fatigue and malarial effects are capped out by code. This diminishes (significantly) the realism associated with conducting such a campaign in this fashion. I'm less concerned about whether the Owen Stanleys are modeled differently than other mountain ranges than about the way the jungle all around is modeled insufficiently.

Sure, units could traverse the Owen Stanleys across the Kokoda track both ways. Such movement sapped the hell out of them. Even worse were some of the infantry actions around Gilli Gilli / Milne Bay. The virulent malaria around there was particularly awful, rendering units combat ineffective in comparatively short order.

Model the hell that was jungle fighting, equippping and feeding whole divisions through untrackable malarial fens and tropical diseases and then I'll say that the game's 'got it right'. Until then, some extraordinary self-imposition of rules is needed if one wants to track reality.

You sound like a tropical disease fanboy! [:D]

Seriously, I agree BUT - road(major/minor) and rail building would have to be modeled to go along with that.

OK. No complaints here.

[Q-Ball]

Dan, can you give an overview of your early troop movements?

IMO, for the Allies the #1 priority is safeguarding India, and #2 is Australia.

For India, I think sending the 2 Australian Divisions there is a given.

For OZ, I load up the Marines in San Diego and a couple base units, with lots of supplies and fuel, and get that to OZ ASAP. And keep moving other odds and ends out there

Where are your available troops going?

[Capt. Harlock]

6. The terrain between Port Moresby and Buna did not preclude the historical movement of some artillery tubes throughout its entire length. If the Japanese could do it, why can't the player?

7. I find it amazing that anyone is comfortable with the idea of forcing their opponent, whether it be the Japanese re Port Moresby or the Allies re Buna, to undertake only a sea borne invasion of those locations. The Own Stanleys were historically crossed in both directions by both sides. It is not a one way thoroughfare. The Japanese came very close to Port Moresby and if there had been no simultaneous Guadalcanal campaign which severely impacted on the limited Japanese logistical capabilities, who is to say they would not have captured Port Moresby overland. The Allies definitely captured Buna with an overland campaign. So where is this justification that either location should only be captured from the sea?

There is one historical point which is not easy to simulate in the game. The Allies found it easier to move supplies and light equipment over the Owens Stanleys because the natives were more willing to carry things for them. (The word had spread of the treatment of the races the Japanese considered inferior.)

[Canoerebel]

2/12/42

NoPac: Everything quiet here today. No sign of enemy carriers or sizeable counter operations (I don't think John will come unless he brings his carriers; at least for awhile). Operation Quercus is complete. At a cost of one CA and two DDs, the Allies occupy Akutan (160 AV, base force, engineers) and Cold Bay (140 AV, engineers), and reinforce Kodiak (350 AV). On the plus side, the Allies sink one AO, one PB, and at least one DD, maybe two. Overall, this has been a highly successful operation. If the enemy carriers rise to the challenge, I will deem it a strategic victory of the first order.

Pacific: Quiet. QE is perhaps three days out of LA. With 18 SYS damage, she'll need a week in the yards, after which I'll buy 27/C Div. for transport to Melbourne.

DEI: Quiet. Singers is down to 16k supply, so she might hold another two or three weeks.

Luzon: Nothing's happened at Clark field in weeks.

India: The combat TF near Addu Atoll? Well, it's a carrier TF. Good patrols out of Addu and Diego report carriers with 50 fighters, 40 bombers, and 12 auxilliary. I'll steer clear of this puppy.

China: MLR still looks good.

John's Email: John asked me via email what I thought of his sub's performance over the past few days. I didn't reply, in keeping with my practice. Part of the reason is that I really, really would like to ask him about a few things that have happened in the game, but doing so would either disclose important information or appear to be goading.

The Game to Date: To this point, I think there are three major advantages that have accrued to the Allies. I don't take credit for any of them. IE, they are each self-inflicted wounds by Japan:

1. Use of Infantry Divisions: I've detailed this at length recently, so I won't go into detail. Suffice to say that John's stalled campaigns at Singers and Clark and his failure to jump hard somewhere else are symptomatic of this failure.

2. Use of the KB: From my perspective, the commitment of the KB to New Zealand in a lengthy cruise was a tactical failure and a strategic disaster.

3. Air War: As of this date, John has a seven point lead in the air war - 947 to 940. As of this date, there are no active air campaigns ongoing in any theater, and there haven't been for for at least six weeks. If auto vic were on the table, this would actually help John (because the Allies would almost certainly do better than a 1:4 ratio). But in a game that's going the distance, Japan can and ought to attrit the Allied air force in 1942 to take advantage of the woeful aircraft pools. At the moment, it doesn't look like there will be any major air campaigns any time soon.

I do give John high marks for his "shock and awe" move into and through the DEI at the outset of the war. This was well organized and overwhelming (in part because I stood in front of a tidal wave).

As for my play thus far, I've only done one thing to date that I take any pride in - the just completed operation in the Aluetians. I have done very little else of any worth.

This evaluation comes from my limited perspective as the Allied commander, so I may be missing important things. But, to this point, I think John hasn't had a good concept for Phase II, thus allowing about six weeks to pass without accomplishing anything worthwhile. If, as I hope, he commits his carriers to NoPac, then his situation should really deteriorate.

Now, to answer Q-Ball's question, here's the general allocation of major Allied infantry units to open the war:

1. Marines - went to occupy key NoPac bases to secure the area and to prevent a repeat of what happened in my game vs. PzH.
2. 18th UK Div. - two brigades lost at Cocos Island; the third is defending Diego Garcia. The division has been rebuilt and is currently at about 215 AV.
3. Australian Div. - one division is at Karachi, the second is at Socatra, pending a decision on commitment. Originally, I was considering sending this to Oz, but much more likely now to go forward in India (Calcutta) or possibly to Ceylon.
4. Americal: beginning to arrive at Capetown; this unit will probably go to Oz.
5. 27th USA: One RCT is at Melbourne, one is en route, and the last will board QE at Los Angeles in a week or so.

[BBfanboy]

I think your timeframe for repair of QE is pretty optimistic CR. I put QE into repair at Capetown with 19 SYS damage. It took about five weeks.
Most of the yards on the WC US are bigger, but I am not sure how much that will accelerate the repair. Let us know, please.

As for your summary of "where your game is at", I don't think you give yourself enough credit for having a more coherent plan and for using your intuition to keep your key vessels out of harm's way. Most players would send a wave of shipping to SoPac/NZ/Oz right off the bat and KB would have been there to slaughter them. You rightfully chose to start at more critical and defendable areas. Good strategy. [8D]

[GreyJoy]

To be honest Dan, i don't know if the assumption "in 1942 Japan needs and have to attrit the allied air force" is always right.
After the first couple of months, where a real attrition is clearly possible, then, when the war reaches the line in the sand traced by the allied commander, a war of attrition means for Japan to lose hundreds of planes and pilots. Zeros and even KI-44as are very fragile and every damaged plane almost means a pilot KIA or MIA. If Japan wants to arrive in 1943 with a decent pools of pilots, my view is that a war of attrition isn't a winning strategy. Sure you can win a couple of air campaign, but the Helen/Sallies cannot close any big allied airfields (if enough AA is packed there) and to mass the number of fighters to succesfully sweep into oblivion a big allied airbase (say something like Calcutta, or Sydney or PM if built enough) means, for japan, to leave uncovered and undefended several other areas of the map.
 
 

[Canoerebel]

2/13/42 and 2/14/42
 
NoPac:  CL Raleigh succubs to her wounds and goes down, bringing the "death toll" in the operation to one CA, one CL, and two DD.  John is getting very high detection levels as distant as Kodiak.  The Allied transports are further east, with some having made it back to Seattle.  The American carriers are a hex west of Vancouver Island, en route to San Francisco.  I'm waiting to see if John takes the NoPac bait.
 
West Coast:  Pearl Harbor-damaged BB California arrived at the SF yards (repair time 135 days) and Tennessee will make Alameda's yards tomorrow.  QE is two days out of Los Angeles.  Her SYS is 18.  This will be her last trip to Melbourne, and she can go with 10 to 15 SYS, so I think it'll be a week.
 
SWPac:  14th Div. joins 144 RCT at Port Moresby and somehow fail in a shock attack against a small garrison out of supply.  Despite the flurry of interesting and informed opinions expressed in here, I say, "No way!"  I do realize there are lots of other terrain abnormalities in the game, but I'm not familiar enough with other regions to know. I've read enough about the Owen Stanleys to have an opinion.
 
DEI:  Singers is down to 14k supply.  I'm going to try to sneak in a few small transports from Oz, via Soerabaja.  The chances of them getting through are essentially nil.
 
India:  The Mini KB is just west of Addu Atoll, expending fuel on a mission of uncertain merit.  The AVG has been in India for weeks and is beginning to upgrade to P-40E.  I'll probably be recommitting them to China soon.  Most of the small bases and dot hexes in NE India are now minimially garrisoned against para drops.
 
China:  MLR intact.
 
Air War:  For the first time in the game, the Allies take the lead, 956 to 950.  This is a product mostly of the sustained enemy bombing campaign at Singers.  The Allied AA there exacts a decent toll every day.  Regarding GJ's comment, if not now, when?  If the Japanese don't wage an air war in early '42 when the disparity in aircraft and pilots is at its greatest, when does Japan do so?

[princep01]

I have to agree with CR on the issue of the wisdom of IJ players engaging in early attritional air battles.  The Allied pools are far from inexhaustible.  The IJ have superiority of AC and generally a vast superiority in quality of pilots.  While one should always use good judgement in chosing where and when to fight the air battles, there is no better time (as CR notes) to rack up as many air kills as possible.
 
By engaging in these battles, I would think there is a net gain to the IJ in pilot experience as well.  They will lose a few good pilots, but will quickly advance the experience of mid-level and rookie pilots.  I see no downside to this strategy early in the game.
 
I have no experience as the IJ player, so perhaps my comments are "out of school".  I base my comments on my experiences playing the Allied side and the comments made by people I respect and admire in this forum.  So, I am certainly open to contrary argument from the IJ Fanboys.

[princep01]

956-950...excellent!!  CR, you really do denigate your play too much.  It is amazing to watch you deftly parry John's initial, bull-like charge (well, okay, maybe Cocos was mishandled a bit, but such is the risk of war).  I have always seen you as a more conservative Allied player than me, but I sure cannot argue with the excellent results thus far.  Keep up the good work. 

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: princep01

I have to agree with CR on the issue of the wisdom of IJ players engaging in early attritional air battles.  The Allied pools are far from inexhaustible.  The IJ have superiority of AC and generally a vast superiority in quality of pilots.  While one should always use good judgement in chosing where and when to fight the air battles, there is no better time (as CR notes) to rack up as many air kills as possible.

By engaging in these battles, I would think there is a net gain to the IJ in pilot experience as well.  They will lose a few good pilots, but will quickly advance the experience of mid-level and rookie pilots.  I see no downside to this strategy early in the game.

I have no experience as the IJ player, so perhaps my comments are "out of school".  I base my comments on my experiences playing the Allied side and the comments made by people I respect and admire in this forum.  So, I am certainly open to contrary argument from the IJ Fanboys.

In attacking the IJ fights over the Allied territory. Without armor and with fragile planes, losing the pre-war 70-80 experience pilots becomes all too regular even with apparent superiority. The Allied pilots, even when shot down, often live to fight another day. While those that are shot down lose experience from being wounded, the group as a whole gains skill and kills. In looking at the CR Sutton thread asking for pilot losses recently Allied players had decidedly fewer pilots lost at ALL stages of the game. One P-38 sweep in late 42 can wipe out half your 'expert' group flying the A6M.

So it depends on your focus. I understand Allied airframe pools are very low, and the Japanese can produce Tojos to rule the skies in 42. Attrition as a system though is different. It inherently means the Japanese player takes losses and expects to be able to make up those losses more easily because of deeper airframe pools. They cannot however win an attritional battle taking into account pilots because the Allies will always retain more for every plane shot down. So by the time the Alies have the planes, they also have a pilot skill and numbers advantage, and they can start to roll. The Japanese could store the experts and go with lesser quality, but then they don't do as well in the air, because they're planes are not that much better, even in 42. Using volume alone eventually breeds an Allied pilot quality like what GJ experienced vs rader, with a whole group of 90exp pilots flying Spit VIII. Not something I'd like to see from the Japanese side.

[princep01]

Obvert, I see your point and cede it to a degree.
 
Perhaps I should be more precise in defining "attritional battles".  I am talking about battles in the period 12/7/41-thru 4/30/1942.  By attrtional I am referring to battles aimed at attriting the Allied air at very favorable ratios.  These are battles wherein Zeros are engaging Chinese, Dutch and early British and American units (of necessity, over Allied bases generally).  The Japanese should lose few AC, hence fewer pilots, in such battles.  The IJ should be able to sweep with numerical and qualitative advantage in practically all case.  Achieving lose rations of at least 2-1 should create a net gain of IJ pilot experience and, with a little luck, a net even or less for the Allies.  Since I have not carefully analyzed this, I am speaking off the cuff, but being on the receiving end of such battles, that has been my experience in the three PBM games I played.
 
As the P-40E and Hurricanes begin to show in numbers, I'd expect the IJ player to be more circumspect in sweeping, but to still engage in that to a significant degree.  The loss ratio can vary considerably against these planes, but the IJ should be in a position to seriously denigrate the pools and slow the Allied conversion process.
 
Have you had a different experience in that time period or in later engagements against P-40E/Hurricane IIb? 

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: princep01

Obvert, I see your point and cede it to a degree.

Perhaps I should be more precise in defining "attritional battles".  I am talking about battles in the period 12/7/41-thru 4/30/1942.  By attrtional I am referring to battles aimed at attriting the Allied air at very favorable ratios.  These are battles wherein Zeros are engaging Chinese, Dutch and early British and American units (of necessity, over Allied bases generally).  The Japanese should lose few AC, hence fewer pilots, in such battles.  The IJ should be able to sweep with numerical and qualitative advantage in practically all case.  Achieving lose rations of at least 2-1 should create a net gain of IJ pilot experience and, with a little luck, a net even or less for the Allies.  Since I have not carefully analyzed this, I am speaking off the cuff, but being on the receiving end of such battles, that has been my experience in the three PBM games I played.

As the P-40E and Hurricanes begin to show in numbers, I'd expect the IJ player to be more circumspect in sweeping, but to still engage in that to a significant degree.  The loss ratio can vary considerably against these planes, but the IJ should be in a position to seriously denigrate the pools and slow the Allied conversion process.

Have you had a different experience in that time period or in later engagements against P-40E/Hurricane IIb? 

Up to 4/42 certainly it is much better. I'm not sure what the losses are like on the Allied side, but the Empire should come out on top in most engagements during this period, yeah.

So if you mean just this first part of the Game I guess John could have done more to strike, but CR is a veteran player as well. It is often hard to hit the Alies in the early going because they pop around to the many available bases and don't have to defend anything they don't want to. So an experienced player might avoid some conflict in China and the DEI, and only begin fighting if the Empire strives to cross certain lines, like India or the Australian coasts, thus limiting losses.

I think CR has done really well at controlling and conserving his use of the Allied air power, from this bleacher seat at least.

[Canoerebel]

2/15/42
 
NoPac:  An IJ TF of unknown kind is NE of Adak Island.  I'm interested in seeing what this is - probably a combat TF or possibly a transport TF bringing reinforcement to Umnak.  The Allied pull-back continues unmolested.

Pacific:  QE arrives at LA tonight.  27th/B Div. and a tank regiment are about halfway from LA to Tahiti, near the east edge of the map.

SWPac:  Port Moresby falls.

DEI:  John mentioned that tough flak at Singapore.  Another dozen IJ aircraft downed due to flak or ops damage.  John says he's going to increase altitude. 

India:  Patroling DD Tjerk Hiddes stumbles upon the Mini KB replenishment TF due east of Ceylon.  An IJ DD suffers heavy damage and one of the oilers takes a bit of damage.  Score one for the Dutch!  The Mini KB appears to be retiring.  The balance of an Aussie divisions arrives at Aden and will join it's brother units at Socatra (all these troops are aboard ship - I was placing them to head to Oz, if needed, though that no longer appears likely).  Not sure where the Aussies are going yet. They might go to forward India - Calcutta or Viz.  Possibly, I could hold them back and begin prepping for Cocos Island.  Or, least likely, I might send them to Colombo or Diego.

China:  MLR remains intact.  Next locus of action may be Kweilin/Liuchow.  I don't have much there, so I hope John reciprocates by bringing little.

IJN Division Reconciliation:  Two at Singers, Imperial Guards messed up, one at Clark, three at Java, one at Port Moresby.  Analysis:  Major IJ move on India or Oz near term unlikely.  Allied Reaction:  Prepare to fight more forward than I typically do this early in the game.  I won't yield Calcutta without a fight.