add'l blather wrt pilot training:
- for me, '70' is the magic number for skill-gain accomplished thru training alone. but a good combat pilot needs 70 Exp, he can't get their unless he's flying combat missions.
- all sqns (both ops & trn) should be filled w/ the full 133% complement of pilots, to maximize training / keep pilot fatigue low.
- arriving sqns are always set to 40% train & max range, the group morale will likely be low. if you don't immediately reset the sqn to 100% trn & rng=0, its morale will stay low.
- likewise, whenever you upgrade or downgrade a sqn's planes, the range will change to max. be sure to reset the range after each up/down-grade.
- make fair regular checks on hotkey A & N, then sort by morale - if a sqn's morale has decreased to <85, take action (switch to 100%trn/rng=0, mebbe replace leader). sometimes a group will get waxed in combat, it'll need to retire/refill/retrain.
- we're both playing against the AI, which follows its script & doesn't really try to mung w/ your air-groups. playing PBEM is likely a whole different story, you'll have much more pressure against your planes & pilots. so, learn how to train efficiently & practice your airframe husbandry vs. the AI, to develop good habits for the future.
- training costs supply, this is no worry in USA, but in China, it'll hurt. consider withdrawing Chinese sqns west to India, where their training won't drain supply from China.
There's also this thing called TRACOM.
- basically, it's a Reserve Pool for pilots w/ Exp >80, the vast majority will be Fighter pilots. they must be assigned to TRACOM individually from their sqns.
- assigning pilots to TRACOM (in batches of 10, per nation/service-branch) will aid the training of pilots in your 12-month replacement-pilot pipeline, adding a point or three to newb pilots' Exp.
- practice husbandry now for future pay-offs. say, when a new CV arrives at Balboa, 's wonderful to fully-staff its VF sqn w/ "don't even think of messing w/ us" uber-pilots from TRACOM.
- or mebbe, 2-3 Fighter sqns training TRACOM pilots to 70+ GrdB, for xfer to arriving B-29 sqns.
NooB AAR(gh): Which way's north? a.k.a we'll buff that hole right out won't we chief?
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
-
uncivil_servant
- Posts: 200
- Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2013 10:55 pm
RE: NooB AAR(gh): Which way's north? a.k.a we'll buff that hole right out won't we chief?
Jmalter - thank you SO VERY MUCH for the advice.
It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion,
It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed,
The hands acquire shaking, the shaking becomes a warning,
It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.
It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed,
The hands acquire shaking, the shaking becomes a warning,
It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.
-
uncivil_servant
- Posts: 200
- Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2013 10:55 pm
RE: NooB AAR(gh): Which way's north? a.k.a we'll buff that hole right out won't we chief?
Example of xx/xx/xx training:
Hawaii - 18th PG/6th PS 14 plnes out of max 25 25 pilots. P-40B's. All 25 pilots have orange "Air" numbers, 2 have green, 19 of the 25 have orange or green EXP numbers except those right at 45. 14 of 25 have orange DEF numbers. The unit is at 30/30/20 range 6
18th PG/ 19th PS at PH is 40/20/20 18 planes, 25 pilots, 20/25 have orange AIR - 2 green, 18/25 have orange EXP - 2 green, 8/25 orange DEF.
I have 6 fighter squadrons here debating where to send some.
I currently have 11 pilots in TRACOM of various nationalities. 3 brit, 2 Aussie, 3 Army, 3 Navy.
I have nearly all air units at +extra pilots. Oftimes to maximum.
I thought I read somewhere that search missions where you spot nothing makes no improvement so its why i did a active/train/rest ratio.
Seattle Catalina's: 11/12 40/20/20 ASW 8/11 orange EXP, 10/11 orange ASW - 2 grn,
Nac Search grp: EXP 13/16 orange, 2 grn, nav search 15/16 orange 3 grn, 15/16 DEF, 1 grn - was on 50% train
Hawaii - 18th PG/6th PS 14 plnes out of max 25 25 pilots. P-40B's. All 25 pilots have orange "Air" numbers, 2 have green, 19 of the 25 have orange or green EXP numbers except those right at 45. 14 of 25 have orange DEF numbers. The unit is at 30/30/20 range 6
18th PG/ 19th PS at PH is 40/20/20 18 planes, 25 pilots, 20/25 have orange AIR - 2 green, 18/25 have orange EXP - 2 green, 8/25 orange DEF.
I have 6 fighter squadrons here debating where to send some.
I currently have 11 pilots in TRACOM of various nationalities. 3 brit, 2 Aussie, 3 Army, 3 Navy.
I have nearly all air units at +extra pilots. Oftimes to maximum.
I thought I read somewhere that search missions where you spot nothing makes no improvement so its why i did a active/train/rest ratio.
Seattle Catalina's: 11/12 40/20/20 ASW 8/11 orange EXP, 10/11 orange ASW - 2 grn,
Nac Search grp: EXP 13/16 orange, 2 grn, nav search 15/16 orange 3 grn, 15/16 DEF, 1 grn - was on 50% train
It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion,
It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed,
The hands acquire shaking, the shaking becomes a warning,
It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.
It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed,
The hands acquire shaking, the shaking becomes a warning,
It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.
RE: NooB AAR(gh): Which way's north? a.k.a we'll buff that hole right out won't we chief?
orange# = that skill has improved during the current month
green# = that skill increased during the last gameturn
so - lotsa green in a sqn's pilots means they're busybusybusy on the training, but if only 1 pilot in a 100%train sqn has a green#, the sqn is maxed for that particular skill, it's time to either switch to another skill for cross-training, or promote the bastids to Reserve & start over again w/ another group of newbs.
in early-war, many sqns arrive w/ far fewer planes than one would prefer! 2 or 4 planes in a newly-arrived sqn that needs 12 or 25, ain't it wonderful. Send another moan (in triplicate) to the WarProductionBoard. but a sqn is a sqn, even a minimally-equipped sqn will usefully train a full staff of newb Replacement pilots into the mid-high 40s, at which point they'll train better if you throw them another 5 or 10 planes.
wrt "debating where to send some":
- by air, to any base within the sqn's max range, use droptanks if needed, set to 5k' alt, expect at least one ops-loss.
- by ship, create an AirTransportTF w/ AKVs, the advantage is that AKVs deliver the planes in full nick. AKs will work in a pinch, but they deliver the planes in pieces-parts, they'll unload un-assembled & will need maintenance time at the destination to rebuild to flyable condition.
- by train, you can send a sqn to another base beyond its flight-range IF the bases are connected by railroad. this always reqs re-assembly time.
- by magic, you can send a sqn from any off-map base to another off-map base without using ships, but the time will be similar to a low-speed ship, say 38 days from EastCoast to CapeTown.
- some sqns can't be loaded onto a ship, that's because they belong to a restricted HQ, you must buy them out to an unrestricted HQ to load them to a TF.
- some sqns can't fly to an in-range base, or move there by railroad - again, it's b/c of restricted HQ. you can buy out the group, alternatively you can look at the destination base's HQ. It might be better to spend PP to change the base's HQ! Early in my game, I bought several bases in North Oz to ABDA HQ, it was fairly cheap, then I could fly Dutch sqns direct from the DEI w/o changing their HQ.
- when moving sqns, it's best if the destination has enough air-support to accept the new arrivals. awhile back in my game, right after the ship-route from Aden opened in 5/43, I moved a passel of sqns from Aden to Bombay in an AirTransTF composed of xAKs. All these multi-engine planes unloaded to Bombay, which had only 60 AS present & was already supporting an ASW sqn. the airbase was large enough to base the planes, but the support needed by the new arrivals swamped the baseforce's capacity while I was unaware, its fatigue/disruption went north & its morale went south, major logistical bottleneck, took close to a month to fix.
- similarly it's awful to load sqns onto ships, then when they arrive at the destination, you realize the TF's size exceeds the port's docking capacity.
- another thing, NO training occurs when sqns are in transit. but when it unloads to an advanced base, it starts sucking supply immediately under whatever orders it had when it was loaded. supply at an advbase might be sub-optimal, don't waste it on training. best to Stand Down the sqn to 0 training before you load it.
- heh, by now i've scared you off of moving anything to anywhere, best don't try it, just hide under your chair!
- for sure you'll want to move more sqns to the front, those 6 fighter sqns aren't racking up any scores while based in the WC. but there are other methods than movement - 's quicker to take an existing front-line group off ops, or fly it back to a rear-area base, to upgrade its planes & fill it w/ pilots. let's say, 2 of those 6 groups should ship out for the front, while 4 of them stay home for the training train.
&c.
TRACOM: I've read they work as groups of 10, so you need to add 7 or 8 to each of these pools.
green# = that skill increased during the last gameturn
so - lotsa green in a sqn's pilots means they're busybusybusy on the training, but if only 1 pilot in a 100%train sqn has a green#, the sqn is maxed for that particular skill, it's time to either switch to another skill for cross-training, or promote the bastids to Reserve & start over again w/ another group of newbs.
in early-war, many sqns arrive w/ far fewer planes than one would prefer! 2 or 4 planes in a newly-arrived sqn that needs 12 or 25, ain't it wonderful. Send another moan (in triplicate) to the WarProductionBoard. but a sqn is a sqn, even a minimally-equipped sqn will usefully train a full staff of newb Replacement pilots into the mid-high 40s, at which point they'll train better if you throw them another 5 or 10 planes.
wrt "debating where to send some":
- by air, to any base within the sqn's max range, use droptanks if needed, set to 5k' alt, expect at least one ops-loss.
- by ship, create an AirTransportTF w/ AKVs, the advantage is that AKVs deliver the planes in full nick. AKs will work in a pinch, but they deliver the planes in pieces-parts, they'll unload un-assembled & will need maintenance time at the destination to rebuild to flyable condition.
- by train, you can send a sqn to another base beyond its flight-range IF the bases are connected by railroad. this always reqs re-assembly time.
- by magic, you can send a sqn from any off-map base to another off-map base without using ships, but the time will be similar to a low-speed ship, say 38 days from EastCoast to CapeTown.
- some sqns can't be loaded onto a ship, that's because they belong to a restricted HQ, you must buy them out to an unrestricted HQ to load them to a TF.
- some sqns can't fly to an in-range base, or move there by railroad - again, it's b/c of restricted HQ. you can buy out the group, alternatively you can look at the destination base's HQ. It might be better to spend PP to change the base's HQ! Early in my game, I bought several bases in North Oz to ABDA HQ, it was fairly cheap, then I could fly Dutch sqns direct from the DEI w/o changing their HQ.
- when moving sqns, it's best if the destination has enough air-support to accept the new arrivals. awhile back in my game, right after the ship-route from Aden opened in 5/43, I moved a passel of sqns from Aden to Bombay in an AirTransTF composed of xAKs. All these multi-engine planes unloaded to Bombay, which had only 60 AS present & was already supporting an ASW sqn. the airbase was large enough to base the planes, but the support needed by the new arrivals swamped the baseforce's capacity while I was unaware, its fatigue/disruption went north & its morale went south, major logistical bottleneck, took close to a month to fix.
- similarly it's awful to load sqns onto ships, then when they arrive at the destination, you realize the TF's size exceeds the port's docking capacity.
- another thing, NO training occurs when sqns are in transit. but when it unloads to an advanced base, it starts sucking supply immediately under whatever orders it had when it was loaded. supply at an advbase might be sub-optimal, don't waste it on training. best to Stand Down the sqn to 0 training before you load it.
- heh, by now i've scared you off of moving anything to anywhere, best don't try it, just hide under your chair!
- for sure you'll want to move more sqns to the front, those 6 fighter sqns aren't racking up any scores while based in the WC. but there are other methods than movement - 's quicker to take an existing front-line group off ops, or fly it back to a rear-area base, to upgrade its planes & fill it w/ pilots. let's say, 2 of those 6 groups should ship out for the front, while 4 of them stay home for the training train.
sometimes reading the forum you get the smell of an idea, you try it out, and it works! so experiment & try different ideas, make decisions based on your game-experience, smack yourself if you screw up, smack me if i give you bad advices, question authorityI thought I read somewhere that search missions where you spot nothing makes no improvement so its why i did a active/train/rest ratio.
&c.
TRACOM: I've read they work as groups of 10, so you need to add 7 or 8 to each of these pools.
-
uncivil_servant
- Posts: 200
- Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2013 10:55 pm
RE: NooB AAR(gh): Which way's north? a.k.a we'll buff that hole right out won't we chief?
We are still in learning pause:
So search squadrons should be 60/40 active/rest or 100% trainw range 0?
You mentioned moving squadrons to the front - FTR Squadrons - Australia? They have two, one I'm trying to get to PM , another for northern Aus. Alogn with US Army DB's. I have squadrons capable of relocating at San Fran:
49th PG/9th PS {II FTR Command} - (HQ at Hawaii)
2 in the 50th PG, one in 11th AF (only ftr in 11th, others bombers in NW and alaska), other in 13th AF (other two restricted in Eastern US)
8th PG HQ - in II FTR Squad, no idea where any other 8th PG units will appear - none on map.
3 FTR Squadrons in the 51st PG, and the 51st's HQ - all in the 10th US AF. That unit is not on the map yet.
also, The 7th BG, under the V bomber Command is unrestricted.
In Hawaii -
15th PG: One PG/PS of the 15th PG, and the HQ unit in PH, with the other 3 PG units of the 15th in Lahaina and Hilo. (Under Hawaiian AF)
18th PG: Eight 8 squadrons of the 18th PG at PH, with the HQ. (Under Hawaiian AF)
35th PG: One squadron of the 35th, and its HQ (also under Hawaiian AF)
49th PG: One squadron of the 49th and the HQ unit - under II FTR Command (also in PH)
Marine SQDL VMF-211 under US Forward Command is in PH
In LA I also have Marine VMF-221 FTR SQD w/ Buffalos that is unrestricted.
I see I already have in transit on a cargo TF going to Sydney the:
35th PG/HQ
49th PG/8th PS
35th PG/39th PS
35th PG/40th PS
35th PG/41st PS
VP-72
Other islands I have troops and/or engineers/building up: Noumea, Louganville, Savii, Pago Pago, Canton, X-mas Island, Palmyra {I'm sure some of these are at-risk locations}
So search squadrons should be 60/40 active/rest or 100% trainw range 0?
You mentioned moving squadrons to the front - FTR Squadrons - Australia? They have two, one I'm trying to get to PM , another for northern Aus. Alogn with US Army DB's. I have squadrons capable of relocating at San Fran:
49th PG/9th PS {II FTR Command} - (HQ at Hawaii)
2 in the 50th PG, one in 11th AF (only ftr in 11th, others bombers in NW and alaska), other in 13th AF (other two restricted in Eastern US)
8th PG HQ - in II FTR Squad, no idea where any other 8th PG units will appear - none on map.
3 FTR Squadrons in the 51st PG, and the 51st's HQ - all in the 10th US AF. That unit is not on the map yet.
also, The 7th BG, under the V bomber Command is unrestricted.
In Hawaii -
15th PG: One PG/PS of the 15th PG, and the HQ unit in PH, with the other 3 PG units of the 15th in Lahaina and Hilo. (Under Hawaiian AF)
18th PG: Eight 8 squadrons of the 18th PG at PH, with the HQ. (Under Hawaiian AF)
35th PG: One squadron of the 35th, and its HQ (also under Hawaiian AF)
49th PG: One squadron of the 49th and the HQ unit - under II FTR Command (also in PH)
Marine SQDL VMF-211 under US Forward Command is in PH
In LA I also have Marine VMF-221 FTR SQD w/ Buffalos that is unrestricted.
I see I already have in transit on a cargo TF going to Sydney the:
35th PG/HQ
49th PG/8th PS
35th PG/39th PS
35th PG/40th PS
35th PG/41st PS
VP-72
Other islands I have troops and/or engineers/building up: Noumea, Louganville, Savii, Pago Pago, Canton, X-mas Island, Palmyra {I'm sure some of these are at-risk locations}
It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion,
It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed,
The hands acquire shaking, the shaking becomes a warning,
It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.
It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed,
The hands acquire shaking, the shaking becomes a warning,
It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.
-
uncivil_servant
- Posts: 200
- Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2013 10:55 pm
RE: NooB AAR(gh): Which way's north? a.k.a we'll buff that hole right out won't we chief?
THERE IS NO SPOON
Episode I of the Aaarrrgghh Trilogy
i.e. kinda like geting to third base that very first time.. except that she's dating someone he's just out of town with his folks this wekend and she was bored.... so no second time or follow-up.. just BB's.
kinda like that.
I've lost records of a few days as switching to Beta, archive stopped and I didn't know, etc.
January 16
Batavia - Carrier AFs visit Batavia and play with the CAP, and nearby Kalidj
Singapore and Wuchow attacked.
and.. Sea Combat!
PT Force of 6 ships catches the enemy!
Day Time Surface Combat, near Batavia at 49,97, Range 21,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CV Kaga
CV Shokaku
BB Kirishima
DD Hayashio
DD Amatsukaze
DD Natsugumo
DD Asagao
DD Fuyo
DD Karukaya
Allied Ships
PT-31
PT-32
PT-33
PT-34
PT-35
PT-41
Seaman "Sir, enemy fleet ahead!"
Commander "There is NO spoon son"
Sman "Huh?"
Cder "There is no spoon, continue our current heading"
Sman "But Sir.. Carriers!!"
Cder "Imaginary spoons often have imaginary butcher knives with 14" shells which are unhealthy to PT boats when they come into contact, continue orgininal heading"
Sman "But..but..but"
Cder "There is NO spoon"
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 20,000 yards
Japanese TF attempts to evade combat
Range increases to 21,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 21,000 yards
CV Shokaku , CV Kaga screened from combat
- escorted by DD Fuyo
Range increases to 23,000 yards
Range closes to 22,000 yards
CV Shokaku screened from combat
- escorted by DD Karukaya
BB Kirishima engages PT-41 at 22,000 yards
Kingman, C.I. orders Allied TF to disengage
Task forces withdraw.
The second carrier TF (with the Hosho CVE) catches a running DD
DD Pope, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
IJN Cruiser n DDs visits PM
xAP Macdhui, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
January 17th
Near Batavia - IJN FTRs and DB's from CVs scare but miss..
DD Barker
CL Marblehead
three xAKLS sunk @ Singapore bringing supplies from abandoned Palembang
Singapore and Wuchow Holding
PM visited again:
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 98,130, Range 3,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Haguro
CL Tama
DD Isonami
DD Uranami
Allied Ships
AM Penguin, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
BUT - I sent my Aussie SCTF to try and help out
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 97,131, Range 3,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Haguro, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1
CL Tama
DD Isonami
DD Uranami
Allied Ships
CA Pensacola, Shell hits 1, on fire
CA Australia, Shell hits 1
CA Canberra, Shell hits 1
CL Leander
CL Achilles
CL Perth
CL Adelaide, Shell hits 1, and is sunk (Powder explosion)
Day Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 98,132, Range 17,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Haguro, Shell hits 11, on fire
CL Tama, Shell hits 2
DD Isonami
DD Uranami
Allied Ships
CA Pensacola, Shell hits 2
CA Australia
CA Canberra, Shell hits 1
CL Leander, Shell hits 2
CL Achilles
CL Perth
CVs near Java headed north.
January 18th
Lae, Namlea taken
Singapore and Wuchow still Hold
Near PM the SCTF catches two DD's
Day Time Surface Combat, near Milne Bay at 100,133, Range 23,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
DD Isonami, Shell hits 6, heavy fires
DD Uranami, Shell hits 17, and is sunk
Allied Ships
CA Australia, Shell hits 2
CA Canberra
CL Leander, Shell hits 1
CL Achilles
CL Perth, Shell hits 2
The CA is nowhere to be seen.. sunk?
Day Time Surface Combat, near Milne Bay at 101,134, Range 23,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
DD Isonami, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
Found it.....
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 98,132, Range 6,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Haguro, Shell hits 5, heavy damage
Allied Ships
CA Pensacola
CA Australia
CA Canberra
CL Leander
CL Achilles
CL Perth
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 99,132, Range 6,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CL Tama, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
DD Isonami
DD Uranami
Allied Ships
CA Pensacola, Shell hits 1
CA Australia
CA Canberra, Shell hits 3
CL Leander
CL Achilles
CL Perth
Allied subs take out 4 xAKs this round and an xAKL.
January 19th
xAKL Shinai, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk near Singapore (Betty)
xAKL Chaksang, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk near Palembang (Nells)
I think LBs based on NW Tip of Borneo is the source of strikes.
I-1 continues its rampage
Japanese Ships
SS I-1
Allied Ships
YP-401, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
otherwise quiet
January 20th
Darwin bombed by Betty's - Japs took base just NW of Ambon
Allied aircraft losses
PBY-4 Catalina: 2 damaged
IJA in China moves forces on road SW of Chengchow
Fighting in Saingapore and Sinyang
Resupply od Midway hits a snag
Night Time Surface Combat, near Midway Island at 158,91, Range 2,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CL Kinu, Shell hits 2
DD Ayanami
DD Sagiri, Shell hits 1
Allied Ships
AM Grebe, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
AM Vireo, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
AM Bobolink, Shell hits 27, and is sunk
xAKL Manini, Shell hits 34, and is sunk
xAKL Hirondelle, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
January 21 - lost in space
IJN CVs head south to the Java area..
January 22nd
Batavia attacked by
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
B5N2 Kate x 15
Afternoon Air attack on Kalidjati , at 50,99
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
D3A1 Val x 20
destroys some planes on ground
xAKL Patris, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk near palembang
Dutch AF attacks.. much death
CV Shokaku seen.. never touched
Vildebeasts go in w/out escorts and get eaten alive
CVE hosho seen.. never touched
I lose significant Dutch air strength
IJN Drops forces off at Makassar - unopposed and Watampone both in Celebes
Kavieng falls
Singapore hit, fortifications drop to 2
Singkawang falls
Near Midway I reach third base
Sub attack near Midway Island at 158,91
Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu
DD Tanikaze
Allied Ships
SS Trout, hits 4
SS Trout launches 6 torpedoes at CV Hiryu
all of the trouts torpedos fail to explode
Enemy CV fleets south of Banka island just north of Batavia.
Task force Z, near X-mas island, reinforced with a CL and DDs from Columbo sorties
January 23rd
There is no spoon part 2
Enemy CV attacks near Batavia
Allied Ships
AM Pieter de Bitter, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
AM Jan van Amstel, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
Allied Ships
xAK Gorgon, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK La Cordillera, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
Dutch SCTF headed to bombard newly taken Makassar spotted and bombed but unhurt.
The enemy CV's position was known as twice in the night their lead TF meets a single fleeing TF with the dutch xAKL De Klerk.
In the morning.. the PT TF sails right by them.....
BUT...
A BATTLE - Task force Z encounters the enemy!! Good luck me!! shit happens.. bad luck me!!!
It was SOOOOO painful to watch as my Battleship wasted its ammo firing on Destroyers...
Japanese Ships
CV Kaga, Shell hits 3
CV Shokaku
BB Kirishima, Shell hits 1
DD Hayashio, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Amatsukaze, Shell hits 3
DD Natsugumo, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
DD Asagao
DD Fuyo
DD Karukaya
Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales, Shell hits 3
BC Repulse, Shell hits 1, and is sunk (first hit from the first shot of the battle - total Hood action here.. magazine explosion)
CL Danae, Shell hits 1
CL Dauntless
CL Ceres
CL Mauritius, Shell hits 2
CL Capetown
DD Vampire, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Van Nes, Shell hits 1
DD Scout
DD Isis
DD Jupiter
completely inept.. misses all over.. heartbreaking.... PoW uses its big guns to miss destroyers over and over.. CVs take piddly shell hits from CL
they meet again shortly after...
Day Time Surface Combat, near Batavia at 49,97, Range 24,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CV Kaga, Shell hits 2
CV Shokaku, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
BB Kirishima
DD Hayashio, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Amatsukaze, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Natsugumo, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
DD Asagao
DD Fuyo
DD Karukaya
Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales (out of ammo)
CL Danae
CL Dauntless
CL Ceres, Shell hits 1
CL Mauritius
CL Capetown
DD Vampire, on fire
DD Van Nes
DD Scout
DD Isis
DD Jupiter
I couldn't stand to watch this one live.....
and.. ALL Dutch remaining Air Forces refuse to sortie.. I still have air groups.. some have gotten replenishments and repaired damaged planes.. all refused to fly
even Brit torpedo planes refused....
Even when I get the Carriers.. there is no spoon.
Episode I of the Aaarrrgghh Trilogy
i.e. kinda like geting to third base that very first time.. except that she's dating someone he's just out of town with his folks this wekend and she was bored.... so no second time or follow-up.. just BB's.
kinda like that.
I've lost records of a few days as switching to Beta, archive stopped and I didn't know, etc.
January 16
Batavia - Carrier AFs visit Batavia and play with the CAP, and nearby Kalidj
Singapore and Wuchow attacked.
and.. Sea Combat!
PT Force of 6 ships catches the enemy!
Day Time Surface Combat, near Batavia at 49,97, Range 21,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CV Kaga
CV Shokaku
BB Kirishima
DD Hayashio
DD Amatsukaze
DD Natsugumo
DD Asagao
DD Fuyo
DD Karukaya
Allied Ships
PT-31
PT-32
PT-33
PT-34
PT-35
PT-41
Seaman "Sir, enemy fleet ahead!"
Commander "There is NO spoon son"
Sman "Huh?"
Cder "There is no spoon, continue our current heading"
Sman "But Sir.. Carriers!!"
Cder "Imaginary spoons often have imaginary butcher knives with 14" shells which are unhealthy to PT boats when they come into contact, continue orgininal heading"
Sman "But..but..but"
Cder "There is NO spoon"
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 20,000 yards
Japanese TF attempts to evade combat
Range increases to 21,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 21,000 yards
CV Shokaku , CV Kaga screened from combat
- escorted by DD Fuyo
Range increases to 23,000 yards
Range closes to 22,000 yards
CV Shokaku screened from combat
- escorted by DD Karukaya
BB Kirishima engages PT-41 at 22,000 yards
Kingman, C.I. orders Allied TF to disengage
Task forces withdraw.
The second carrier TF (with the Hosho CVE) catches a running DD
DD Pope, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
IJN Cruiser n DDs visits PM
xAP Macdhui, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
January 17th
Near Batavia - IJN FTRs and DB's from CVs scare but miss..
DD Barker
CL Marblehead
three xAKLS sunk @ Singapore bringing supplies from abandoned Palembang
Singapore and Wuchow Holding
PM visited again:
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 98,130, Range 3,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Haguro
CL Tama
DD Isonami
DD Uranami
Allied Ships
AM Penguin, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
BUT - I sent my Aussie SCTF to try and help out
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 97,131, Range 3,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Haguro, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1
CL Tama
DD Isonami
DD Uranami
Allied Ships
CA Pensacola, Shell hits 1, on fire
CA Australia, Shell hits 1
CA Canberra, Shell hits 1
CL Leander
CL Achilles
CL Perth
CL Adelaide, Shell hits 1, and is sunk (Powder explosion)
Day Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 98,132, Range 17,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Haguro, Shell hits 11, on fire
CL Tama, Shell hits 2
DD Isonami
DD Uranami
Allied Ships
CA Pensacola, Shell hits 2
CA Australia
CA Canberra, Shell hits 1
CL Leander, Shell hits 2
CL Achilles
CL Perth
CVs near Java headed north.
January 18th
Lae, Namlea taken
Singapore and Wuchow still Hold
Near PM the SCTF catches two DD's
Day Time Surface Combat, near Milne Bay at 100,133, Range 23,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
DD Isonami, Shell hits 6, heavy fires
DD Uranami, Shell hits 17, and is sunk
Allied Ships
CA Australia, Shell hits 2
CA Canberra
CL Leander, Shell hits 1
CL Achilles
CL Perth, Shell hits 2
The CA is nowhere to be seen.. sunk?
Day Time Surface Combat, near Milne Bay at 101,134, Range 23,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
DD Isonami, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
Found it.....
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 98,132, Range 6,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Haguro, Shell hits 5, heavy damage
Allied Ships
CA Pensacola
CA Australia
CA Canberra
CL Leander
CL Achilles
CL Perth
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 99,132, Range 6,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CL Tama, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
DD Isonami
DD Uranami
Allied Ships
CA Pensacola, Shell hits 1
CA Australia
CA Canberra, Shell hits 3
CL Leander
CL Achilles
CL Perth
Allied subs take out 4 xAKs this round and an xAKL.
January 19th
xAKL Shinai, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk near Singapore (Betty)
xAKL Chaksang, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk near Palembang (Nells)
I think LBs based on NW Tip of Borneo is the source of strikes.
I-1 continues its rampage
Japanese Ships
SS I-1
Allied Ships
YP-401, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
otherwise quiet
January 20th
Darwin bombed by Betty's - Japs took base just NW of Ambon
Allied aircraft losses
PBY-4 Catalina: 2 damaged
IJA in China moves forces on road SW of Chengchow
Fighting in Saingapore and Sinyang
Resupply od Midway hits a snag
Night Time Surface Combat, near Midway Island at 158,91, Range 2,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CL Kinu, Shell hits 2
DD Ayanami
DD Sagiri, Shell hits 1
Allied Ships
AM Grebe, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
AM Vireo, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
AM Bobolink, Shell hits 27, and is sunk
xAKL Manini, Shell hits 34, and is sunk
xAKL Hirondelle, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
January 21 - lost in space
IJN CVs head south to the Java area..
January 22nd
Batavia attacked by
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
B5N2 Kate x 15
Afternoon Air attack on Kalidjati , at 50,99
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
D3A1 Val x 20
destroys some planes on ground
xAKL Patris, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk near palembang
Dutch AF attacks.. much death
CV Shokaku seen.. never touched
Vildebeasts go in w/out escorts and get eaten alive
CVE hosho seen.. never touched
I lose significant Dutch air strength
IJN Drops forces off at Makassar - unopposed and Watampone both in Celebes
Kavieng falls
Singapore hit, fortifications drop to 2
Singkawang falls
Near Midway I reach third base
Sub attack near Midway Island at 158,91
Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu
DD Tanikaze
Allied Ships
SS Trout, hits 4
SS Trout launches 6 torpedoes at CV Hiryu
all of the trouts torpedos fail to explode
Enemy CV fleets south of Banka island just north of Batavia.
Task force Z, near X-mas island, reinforced with a CL and DDs from Columbo sorties
January 23rd
There is no spoon part 2
Enemy CV attacks near Batavia
Allied Ships
AM Pieter de Bitter, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
AM Jan van Amstel, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
Allied Ships
xAK Gorgon, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK La Cordillera, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
Dutch SCTF headed to bombard newly taken Makassar spotted and bombed but unhurt.
The enemy CV's position was known as twice in the night their lead TF meets a single fleeing TF with the dutch xAKL De Klerk.
In the morning.. the PT TF sails right by them.....
BUT...
A BATTLE - Task force Z encounters the enemy!! Good luck me!! shit happens.. bad luck me!!!
It was SOOOOO painful to watch as my Battleship wasted its ammo firing on Destroyers...
Japanese Ships
CV Kaga, Shell hits 3
CV Shokaku
BB Kirishima, Shell hits 1
DD Hayashio, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Amatsukaze, Shell hits 3
DD Natsugumo, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
DD Asagao
DD Fuyo
DD Karukaya
Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales, Shell hits 3
BC Repulse, Shell hits 1, and is sunk (first hit from the first shot of the battle - total Hood action here.. magazine explosion)
CL Danae, Shell hits 1
CL Dauntless
CL Ceres
CL Mauritius, Shell hits 2
CL Capetown
DD Vampire, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Van Nes, Shell hits 1
DD Scout
DD Isis
DD Jupiter
completely inept.. misses all over.. heartbreaking.... PoW uses its big guns to miss destroyers over and over.. CVs take piddly shell hits from CL
they meet again shortly after...
Day Time Surface Combat, near Batavia at 49,97, Range 24,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CV Kaga, Shell hits 2
CV Shokaku, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
BB Kirishima
DD Hayashio, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Amatsukaze, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Natsugumo, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
DD Asagao
DD Fuyo
DD Karukaya
Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales (out of ammo)
CL Danae
CL Dauntless
CL Ceres, Shell hits 1
CL Mauritius
CL Capetown
DD Vampire, on fire
DD Van Nes
DD Scout
DD Isis
DD Jupiter
I couldn't stand to watch this one live.....
and.. ALL Dutch remaining Air Forces refuse to sortie.. I still have air groups.. some have gotten replenishments and repaired damaged planes.. all refused to fly
even Brit torpedo planes refused....
Even when I get the Carriers.. there is no spoon.
It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion,
It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed,
The hands acquire shaking, the shaking becomes a warning,
It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.
It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed,
The hands acquire shaking, the shaking becomes a warning,
It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.
RE: NooB AAR(gh): Which way's north? a.k.a we'll buff that hole right out won't we chief?
Hi uncivil servant (and those providing advice),
As another NooB about to start first campaign, thanks for the AAR.
A few things in there I didn't realise were so important (pilot training!).
Will continue to follow closely...
Cheers
As another NooB about to start first campaign, thanks for the AAR.
A few things in there I didn't realise were so important (pilot training!).
Will continue to follow closely...
Cheers
-
uncivil_servant
- Posts: 200
- Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2013 10:55 pm
RE: NooB AAR(gh): Which way's north? a.k.a we'll buff that hole right out won't we chief?
Doggie3 - So glad to be of assistance! I figure that if I included enough humor (haven't done so well at that) and kept whining to a minimum (Ditto) I might get some experts to come in and see how fresh eyes handles the game. I knew that I know just enough to get myself into trouble and that my learning curve would be vastly improved instead of a long slow learning climb. I also didn't know how important some things are - I have learned that using the Beta is important as even just a few days I see differences.
Jmalter and BBFanboy have been of great assistance as its "from the source" as hunting and reading in certain areas that can contain conflicting information. I'd rather trust an expert/advanced user than my greenhorn interpretation of the "best way to do X".
n01487477 was helpful in trackerAE issues and set-up - I highly recommend tracker to a lesser extent but also the daily report program so one gets concise daily rundown (which also helps in AARing).
Fear the Betty's.. FEAR the Bettys
Jmalter and BBFanboy have been of great assistance as its "from the source" as hunting and reading in certain areas that can contain conflicting information. I'd rather trust an expert/advanced user than my greenhorn interpretation of the "best way to do X".
n01487477 was helpful in trackerAE issues and set-up - I highly recommend tracker to a lesser extent but also the daily report program so one gets concise daily rundown (which also helps in AARing).
Fear the Betty's.. FEAR the Bettys
It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion,
It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed,
The hands acquire shaking, the shaking becomes a warning,
It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.
It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed,
The hands acquire shaking, the shaking becomes a warning,
It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.
RE: NooB AAR(gh): Which way's north? a.k.a we'll buff that hole right out won't we chief?
Your experience with Prince of Wales and Repulse is pretty much what I have seen in my first couple of sandbox games. I would send them into a definite intercept in good conditions and they just could not hit anything, while the Japanese surface ships fired twice as much and hit often. So on the next outing I changed a few things:
1. Replace Tom Phillips, whatever the PP cost! There are some excellent RN officers available.
2. When you are sure there is going to be an intercept, put your ships on FULL SPEED. It makes them harder to hit [especially by the dreaded Long Lance torps] and more able to keep in contact with the enemy, or break off the action if the enemy is too powerful. Ensure the TF is well fuelled before you do this.
3. When not assigned to a specific operation, send the TF on a patrol pattern that will keep them out overnight. It takes a while but eventually this increases the ships' crews experience level. Stay near a base with lots of fuel and able to repair the largest TF ships while doing this.
4. When you can, use multiple SCTFs to intercept to use up the enemy's ammo and ops points. The first ones may suffer but if you can get British DDs in torp range when the enemy is low on ammo and movement points ...
Items 2-4 above also apply to US TFs. When I did the above my "luck" improved greatly!
Good luck.
1. Replace Tom Phillips, whatever the PP cost! There are some excellent RN officers available.
2. When you are sure there is going to be an intercept, put your ships on FULL SPEED. It makes them harder to hit [especially by the dreaded Long Lance torps] and more able to keep in contact with the enemy, or break off the action if the enemy is too powerful. Ensure the TF is well fuelled before you do this.
3. When not assigned to a specific operation, send the TF on a patrol pattern that will keep them out overnight. It takes a while but eventually this increases the ships' crews experience level. Stay near a base with lots of fuel and able to repair the largest TF ships while doing this.
4. When you can, use multiple SCTFs to intercept to use up the enemy's ammo and ops points. The first ones may suffer but if you can get British DDs in torp range when the enemy is low on ammo and movement points ...
Items 2-4 above also apply to US TFs. When I did the above my "luck" improved greatly!
Good luck.
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
RE: NooB AAR(gh): Which way's north? a.k.a we'll buff that hole right out won't we chief?
BBfanboy gives some good advice here,
but i disagree w/ his #2. I don't think fullspeed gives you an advantage over missionspeed during combat, tho' it might be needed to get to the intercept-point (and to get out of Dodge afterwards).
his #3 is well-taken, ships on active ops gain crew-experience, disbanded ships in port do not. if fuel is at a premium, put the combat ships in appropriate TFs that just stay in port, they'll gain some crew-exp, but more slowly than if they were sailing around on patrol. the IJ has a nasty habit of sending subs into your ports, where they'll launch a mini-sub or drop some mines. In-port ASW & MSW TFs will stomp on that stuff right away.
there was a thread recently, hmm, here:
tm.asp?m=3311684
wrt SurfTF composition. even when you need an immediate SurfTF composed of what's available at the time, pay attention to keeping 'like w/ like' in the TF - adding that add'l CL (w/ lower speed/maneuver, or lower gun-range) can degrade your effective combat-power. Or a DD w/ only 3k fuel-capacity might req a refuel from cruisers in the TF, using 250 ops-points & reducing the TF's speed during that phase by 1/4th.
also, didn't you know that you can't have any spoons? they're needed back in DC, where WSC has arrived for several weeks of consultations, along w/ the entire Imperial General Staff & a coupla' dozen WRENs. Diplomatic dinner-parties have used all the available spoons. check your <I> screen's Industry/Troops/Resource Pool button for the spoon production-rate, likely there aren't any in the pools, nor will there be 'til mid '43.
as you reported in your latest AAR, the PTs did nothing against the IJ CV TF, but did you note the "CV Shokaku , CV Kaga screened from combat" msg, that's likely what happened in the TF Z vs. IJ CV combat. (Escorts charge to protect the carriers, cf. the Taffy 3 escorts at Leyte Gulf.)
of course PTs aren't gonna attack in daylight when spotted at 20k yards, they're gonna run away. PTs like to attack at night in the dark of the moon. & your 1st several dozen USN PTs lack radar, check their upgrade-date & cycle them thru your rear-area ports when the radar upgrade is available - give the upgrade, then return them to the PT pool.
finally, it's hard for me to tell what you're trying to accomplish in your game, your AARs focus on tactical combat. IMO you should be in 'fighting withdrawal' mode, w/ victories counted as 'successfully moved Dutch airsupport LCUs to Oz, rescued the Rabaul LCU back to Port Moresby'. Fighting into the teeth of the IJ expansion is, perhaps, not the best long-term strategy?
but i disagree w/ his #2. I don't think fullspeed gives you an advantage over missionspeed during combat, tho' it might be needed to get to the intercept-point (and to get out of Dodge afterwards).
his #3 is well-taken, ships on active ops gain crew-experience, disbanded ships in port do not. if fuel is at a premium, put the combat ships in appropriate TFs that just stay in port, they'll gain some crew-exp, but more slowly than if they were sailing around on patrol. the IJ has a nasty habit of sending subs into your ports, where they'll launch a mini-sub or drop some mines. In-port ASW & MSW TFs will stomp on that stuff right away.
there was a thread recently, hmm, here:
tm.asp?m=3311684
wrt SurfTF composition. even when you need an immediate SurfTF composed of what's available at the time, pay attention to keeping 'like w/ like' in the TF - adding that add'l CL (w/ lower speed/maneuver, or lower gun-range) can degrade your effective combat-power. Or a DD w/ only 3k fuel-capacity might req a refuel from cruisers in the TF, using 250 ops-points & reducing the TF's speed during that phase by 1/4th.
also, didn't you know that you can't have any spoons? they're needed back in DC, where WSC has arrived for several weeks of consultations, along w/ the entire Imperial General Staff & a coupla' dozen WRENs. Diplomatic dinner-parties have used all the available spoons. check your <I> screen's Industry/Troops/Resource Pool button for the spoon production-rate, likely there aren't any in the pools, nor will there be 'til mid '43.
as you reported in your latest AAR, the PTs did nothing against the IJ CV TF, but did you note the "CV Shokaku , CV Kaga screened from combat" msg, that's likely what happened in the TF Z vs. IJ CV combat. (Escorts charge to protect the carriers, cf. the Taffy 3 escorts at Leyte Gulf.)
of course PTs aren't gonna attack in daylight when spotted at 20k yards, they're gonna run away. PTs like to attack at night in the dark of the moon. & your 1st several dozen USN PTs lack radar, check their upgrade-date & cycle them thru your rear-area ports when the radar upgrade is available - give the upgrade, then return them to the PT pool.
finally, it's hard for me to tell what you're trying to accomplish in your game, your AARs focus on tactical combat. IMO you should be in 'fighting withdrawal' mode, w/ victories counted as 'successfully moved Dutch airsupport LCUs to Oz, rescued the Rabaul LCU back to Port Moresby'. Fighting into the teeth of the IJ expansion is, perhaps, not the best long-term strategy?
-
uncivil_servant
- Posts: 200
- Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2013 10:55 pm
RE: NooB AAR(gh): Which way's north? a.k.a we'll buff that hole right out won't we chief?
BBFanboy - I think I did replace Tom Thumb - but I'll have to confirm. I have NOT been doing that - sending ships out to gain experience. Oops. I generally have my ASW TFs patrol two spots then come back to port and remain for 1 turn allowing refueling plus a day to just sit and look.
I was afraid to use full sped as often when the little DDs get low on fuel they make the TF run off and the trip from C.I. IO to outside Batavia would've drawn massive fuel in a full speed run.
I was afraid to split up the British fleet else I have a few paltry DDs and a CL vs a BB, DD's and CVS. I hoped the PTs would strike first and/or immediately afterwards.
Thanks for the advice.
Jmalter:
Thank you for the composition link. I did just throw them together to try and get as big a force as possible so if I caught a CV fleet I could outnumber it and hopefully smash it.
Thanks for the advice.
Strategic:
I don't mention certain strategic things I do b/c I don't want my AAR to get even more unwieldy and wordy making viewership, as it is, drop. MY strategy has been thus:
I pulled back a couple AA groups from Singapore and the reconstituted Indian 7th & 9th Divs from Singapore Region. One went to Java. Other went to Calcutta.
I am essentially trying the "things that are impossible" in the game. i.e. trying to hold a potion of the DEI, trying to hold Rangoon, trying to hold the islands East of Noumea and the like, holding PM, etc. I want to experience how hard those things really are and what happens if I try to hold them. Thus, all the early British forces on transports early in game all went to Rangoon region. B-17s from Manilla were bought and shipped to Sing, then to Calcutta for long range bombardment when IJA gets close enough.
I have transferred ALL Dutch forces except those at Medan and Ambon to the Java island. All Dutch AF's located there along with British Torpedo planes, and later Buffalos, that fled Singapore but could not fly over to Rangoon b/c I left them in Sing a little too long.
In China I'm seeing how hard it is to hold versus normal opposition, much less, a another human player buying out korean/russian border forces.
US Navy forces, carriers, I've hidden from the KB as I'd likely risk them. I have not bought out many US units yet as I spend them on Brit Singapore units and Dutch forces as I don't know where the axis of attack will be and what opportunities I will have, and where, to counter-attack.
I want to learn how much it hurts to resist, and where, and then learn where I can try and hold until killed and where it is hopeless.
I was afraid to use full sped as often when the little DDs get low on fuel they make the TF run off and the trip from C.I. IO to outside Batavia would've drawn massive fuel in a full speed run.
I was afraid to split up the British fleet else I have a few paltry DDs and a CL vs a BB, DD's and CVS. I hoped the PTs would strike first and/or immediately afterwards.
Thanks for the advice.
Jmalter:
Thank you for the composition link. I did just throw them together to try and get as big a force as possible so if I caught a CV fleet I could outnumber it and hopefully smash it.
Thanks for the advice.
Strategic:
I don't mention certain strategic things I do b/c I don't want my AAR to get even more unwieldy and wordy making viewership, as it is, drop. MY strategy has been thus:
I pulled back a couple AA groups from Singapore and the reconstituted Indian 7th & 9th Divs from Singapore Region. One went to Java. Other went to Calcutta.
I am essentially trying the "things that are impossible" in the game. i.e. trying to hold a potion of the DEI, trying to hold Rangoon, trying to hold the islands East of Noumea and the like, holding PM, etc. I want to experience how hard those things really are and what happens if I try to hold them. Thus, all the early British forces on transports early in game all went to Rangoon region. B-17s from Manilla were bought and shipped to Sing, then to Calcutta for long range bombardment when IJA gets close enough.
I have transferred ALL Dutch forces except those at Medan and Ambon to the Java island. All Dutch AF's located there along with British Torpedo planes, and later Buffalos, that fled Singapore but could not fly over to Rangoon b/c I left them in Sing a little too long.
In China I'm seeing how hard it is to hold versus normal opposition, much less, a another human player buying out korean/russian border forces.
US Navy forces, carriers, I've hidden from the KB as I'd likely risk them. I have not bought out many US units yet as I spend them on Brit Singapore units and Dutch forces as I don't know where the axis of attack will be and what opportunities I will have, and where, to counter-attack.
I want to learn how much it hurts to resist, and where, and then learn where I can try and hold until killed and where it is hopeless.
It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion,
It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed,
The hands acquire shaking, the shaking becomes a warning,
It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.
It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed,
The hands acquire shaking, the shaking becomes a warning,
It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.
-
uncivil_servant
- Posts: 200
- Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2013 10:55 pm
RE: NooB AAR(gh): Which way's north? a.k.a we'll buff that hole right out won't we chief?
January 24th
Apparently in moving ships n stuff the British SCTF was commanded by one Leach, 61 naval, admin 50, aggression 33
Anyway..
Some Nells swing by and put a torpedo into the CL Danae at Batavia.. 52/64 (57 major)/2 is all.
Dutch Air Forces Scramble to go after the CVE Hosho Group.
more casualties on top of the already sustained
5 B339
4 CW-22
4 139WH
2 L-212
1 Buffalo
2 75A-7 Hawk
BUT
A group of swordfish arrive and they put a torp into her!
CVE Hosho, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Lots more troops landing on Ambon. I supplied Ambon well b/c they have CD unti but they're now getting quite outnumbered.
Ever since the switch ot the Beta Singapore Defenders have done piss poor. Its 1 to 1 odds now, forts @ 1.
Elsewhere..
My Dutch bombardment TF hits Kendari, and absolutely nothing.. no planes, no troops, nothing.
My American Bombardment TF with 3 CAs, 5 CLs, and 2 DDs hit Rabaul only Damaging some 20ish Nates and Sallys and some ground troops. No bettys or Nells... this should be good.
At Sea - The PoW and her TF meet the CVE TF and run away.
and AGAIN.. PTs refuse to engage
Night Time Surface Combat, near Batavia at 50,96, Range 10,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku
DD Hayashio, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Amatsukaze, heavy damage
DD Fuyo
DD Karukaya
Allied Ships
PT-31
PT-32
PT-33
PT-34
PT-35
PT-41
PTs disengage at 10,000 yards
and then I see No Spoon continues
Night Time Surface Combat, near Batavia at 50,96, Range 9,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CVE Hosho
CS Mizuho
CS Chiyoda
CL Yubari
DD Mochizuki
DD Shiokaze
TB Hiyodori
Allied Ships
PT-31
PT-32, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-33
PT-34
PT-35
PT-41
I swear to all that is unholy how do I stop this.. this is just blatant refusal to obey orders b/c it might be damgerous..
PT boats.. night.. zoom in, drop torps then run for home..
The Dutch SCTF at Kendari lays was to 2 PBs, 1 AK, 2 xAKs, and 1 xAPs
3 xAKs sunk as Makassar.
Surface Combat at Rabaul... First they find an xAK and use ammo.. then trouble brews..
Day Time Surface Combat, near Rabaul at 106,125, Range 25,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 56, heavy fires
CA Mogami, Shell hits 1
DD Yakaze
DD Hokaze, Shell hits 2
Allied Ships
CA New Orleans, Shell hits 1
CA Minneapolis
CA San Francisco, Shell hits 6, on fire
CL Raleigh, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
CL St. Louis, Shell hits 2, on fire
CL Helena, Shell hits 3
CL Phoenix, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Honolulu, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
DD Cummings, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Selfridge, Shell hits 1, on fire
CL Phoenix sinks after the battle.
CLs Raleigh and Honolulu sink at the end of the turn
Most of the shell hits were from the BB Hyuga
The Cruisers wasted their shells on enemy Destroyers (can I exchange my ship AI's with my opponent.. mine shoot at crap)
Most of the shell hits on the Hyuga were from destroyers.. "just impacted on the surface"
I know I have an enemy cruiser fleet in the celebes sea.. poor guy almost made it on his weird journey from Hong Kong.
Night Time Surface Combat, near Tawi Tawi at 71,92, Range 10,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara
CL Naka
CL Kuma
DD Matsukaze
DD Hatakaze
DD Asanagi
Allied Ships
MTB 8, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
January 25th
Bettys bomb Batavia Airfield in night attack. They destroy 8 precious 139_W bombers
Three seperate amphibious groups land at Ambon. I divert an inbound xAKL with supplies to go elsewhere as the dead require none and Ambon is outnumbered.
My Dutch SCTF bombards Kendari again this time scoring hits
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 22 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 6 damaged
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 3 damaged
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 1 destroyed on ground
and then.. a magnificent cock-tease to start the night
Sub attack near Singkawang at 55,87
Japanese Ships
CV Kaga
DD Asagao
Allied Ships
SS Spearfish
SS Spearfish launches 4 torpedoes at CV Kaga
PTs had Shokaku and Hosho, subs had Kaga.. anyone else wanna get close and eith miss and run-away?
Why yes, yes there is.. Dutch Captain of the K-XII Van Den Bosch flips me the bird and then
Surfaces his ship!
Submarine attack near Billiton at 52,95
Japanese Ships
CVE Hosho, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
Allied Ships
SS KXII
CVE Hosho is sighted by SS KXII
SS KXII attacking CVE Hosho on the surface
Ammo storage explosion on CVE Hosho
I trust the good captain when he says he heard sinking sounds very very much.
My dutch SCTF near Watampoe encounters
Day Time Surface Combat, near Watampone at 66,105, Range 18,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
DD Inazuma, Shell hits 18, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Shonon Maru #15, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Kokuryu Maru, Shell hits 21, and is sunk
Allied Ships
CL Java
CL De Ruyter, Shell hits 1
CL Tromp
CL Durban, Shell hits 4
DD Barker, Shell hits 1
DD Bulmer
DD Paul Jones, Shell hits 1
DD Whipple, Shell hits 1
DD Banckert, Shell hits 2
DD Witte de With, Shell hits 1
Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 12 (8 destroyed, 4 disabled)
The Inazuma gave a hell of a lot better than it got...
then encounters three xAKs but withdraws as they are low on ammo,....
and for the American SCTFs (multiple as had cripples)... there is a Carrier in the Area
Morning Air attack on TF, near Buka at 110,128
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
B5N1 Kate x 10
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
CA New Orleans
CA Minneapolis
CL Helena, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
Singapore will fall soon.. IJA combat engineers reduce fortifications to zero but fortifications go back to one at end of phase.
60K attackers versus now 22K defenders.
in China..
fighting in Nanning.. I should be able to trash the lone attacker soon
Near Lang Son its a stalemate.. I'm 12K vs. 6K IJA but atackers are tired and used up. attacking at 1-2 to 1-3 assault odds.
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 12001 troops, 86 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 132
Defending force 6125 troops, 72 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 108
Allied adjusted assault: 86
Japanese adjusted defense: 195
Allied assault odds: 1 to 2
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
190 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
177 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Sinyang got quiet. IJA has taken no aggressive action in some time.
IJA troops occupy the road SW of Chengchow (est some 5,500)
and the road East of Nanyang
I have dispatch troops from Nanyang to, hopefully, overpower the lone unit.
I am also risking a sortie from Chengchow to encounter the road troops to SW. [:o]
Two Inf. Corps ith 440 AV between them and a Cavalry unit with another 181.
I now have five poorly supplied corps at Wuchow. IJA has not attacked. I am moving one corp across the river to recon in force and sethimself up on the safer western side of the river.
IJA has not moved to engage at Bataan.
Apparently in moving ships n stuff the British SCTF was commanded by one Leach, 61 naval, admin 50, aggression 33
Anyway..
Some Nells swing by and put a torpedo into the CL Danae at Batavia.. 52/64 (57 major)/2 is all.
Dutch Air Forces Scramble to go after the CVE Hosho Group.
more casualties on top of the already sustained
5 B339
4 CW-22
4 139WH
2 L-212
1 Buffalo
2 75A-7 Hawk
BUT
A group of swordfish arrive and they put a torp into her!
CVE Hosho, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Lots more troops landing on Ambon. I supplied Ambon well b/c they have CD unti but they're now getting quite outnumbered.
Ever since the switch ot the Beta Singapore Defenders have done piss poor. Its 1 to 1 odds now, forts @ 1.
Elsewhere..
My Dutch bombardment TF hits Kendari, and absolutely nothing.. no planes, no troops, nothing.
My American Bombardment TF with 3 CAs, 5 CLs, and 2 DDs hit Rabaul only Damaging some 20ish Nates and Sallys and some ground troops. No bettys or Nells... this should be good.
At Sea - The PoW and her TF meet the CVE TF and run away.
and AGAIN.. PTs refuse to engage
Night Time Surface Combat, near Batavia at 50,96, Range 10,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku
DD Hayashio, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Amatsukaze, heavy damage
DD Fuyo
DD Karukaya
Allied Ships
PT-31
PT-32
PT-33
PT-34
PT-35
PT-41
PTs disengage at 10,000 yards
and then I see No Spoon continues
Night Time Surface Combat, near Batavia at 50,96, Range 9,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CVE Hosho
CS Mizuho
CS Chiyoda
CL Yubari
DD Mochizuki
DD Shiokaze
TB Hiyodori
Allied Ships
PT-31
PT-32, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-33
PT-34
PT-35
PT-41
I swear to all that is unholy how do I stop this.. this is just blatant refusal to obey orders b/c it might be damgerous..
PT boats.. night.. zoom in, drop torps then run for home..
The Dutch SCTF at Kendari lays was to 2 PBs, 1 AK, 2 xAKs, and 1 xAPs
3 xAKs sunk as Makassar.
Surface Combat at Rabaul... First they find an xAK and use ammo.. then trouble brews..
Day Time Surface Combat, near Rabaul at 106,125, Range 25,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 56, heavy fires
CA Mogami, Shell hits 1
DD Yakaze
DD Hokaze, Shell hits 2
Allied Ships
CA New Orleans, Shell hits 1
CA Minneapolis
CA San Francisco, Shell hits 6, on fire
CL Raleigh, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
CL St. Louis, Shell hits 2, on fire
CL Helena, Shell hits 3
CL Phoenix, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Honolulu, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
DD Cummings, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Selfridge, Shell hits 1, on fire
CL Phoenix sinks after the battle.
CLs Raleigh and Honolulu sink at the end of the turn
Most of the shell hits were from the BB Hyuga
The Cruisers wasted their shells on enemy Destroyers (can I exchange my ship AI's with my opponent.. mine shoot at crap)
Most of the shell hits on the Hyuga were from destroyers.. "just impacted on the surface"
I know I have an enemy cruiser fleet in the celebes sea.. poor guy almost made it on his weird journey from Hong Kong.
Night Time Surface Combat, near Tawi Tawi at 71,92, Range 10,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara
CL Naka
CL Kuma
DD Matsukaze
DD Hatakaze
DD Asanagi
Allied Ships
MTB 8, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
January 25th
Bettys bomb Batavia Airfield in night attack. They destroy 8 precious 139_W bombers
Three seperate amphibious groups land at Ambon. I divert an inbound xAKL with supplies to go elsewhere as the dead require none and Ambon is outnumbered.
My Dutch SCTF bombards Kendari again this time scoring hits
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 22 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 6 damaged
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 3 damaged
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 1 destroyed on ground
and then.. a magnificent cock-tease to start the night
Sub attack near Singkawang at 55,87
Japanese Ships
CV Kaga
DD Asagao
Allied Ships
SS Spearfish
SS Spearfish launches 4 torpedoes at CV Kaga
PTs had Shokaku and Hosho, subs had Kaga.. anyone else wanna get close and eith miss and run-away?
Why yes, yes there is.. Dutch Captain of the K-XII Van Den Bosch flips me the bird and then
Surfaces his ship!
Submarine attack near Billiton at 52,95
Japanese Ships
CVE Hosho, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
Allied Ships
SS KXII
CVE Hosho is sighted by SS KXII
SS KXII attacking CVE Hosho on the surface
Ammo storage explosion on CVE Hosho
I trust the good captain when he says he heard sinking sounds very very much.
My dutch SCTF near Watampoe encounters
Day Time Surface Combat, near Watampone at 66,105, Range 18,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
DD Inazuma, Shell hits 18, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Shonon Maru #15, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Kokuryu Maru, Shell hits 21, and is sunk
Allied Ships
CL Java
CL De Ruyter, Shell hits 1
CL Tromp
CL Durban, Shell hits 4
DD Barker, Shell hits 1
DD Bulmer
DD Paul Jones, Shell hits 1
DD Whipple, Shell hits 1
DD Banckert, Shell hits 2
DD Witte de With, Shell hits 1
Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 12 (8 destroyed, 4 disabled)
The Inazuma gave a hell of a lot better than it got...
then encounters three xAKs but withdraws as they are low on ammo,....
and for the American SCTFs (multiple as had cripples)... there is a Carrier in the Area
Morning Air attack on TF, near Buka at 110,128
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
B5N1 Kate x 10
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
CA New Orleans
CA Minneapolis
CL Helena, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
Singapore will fall soon.. IJA combat engineers reduce fortifications to zero but fortifications go back to one at end of phase.
60K attackers versus now 22K defenders.
in China..
fighting in Nanning.. I should be able to trash the lone attacker soon
Near Lang Son its a stalemate.. I'm 12K vs. 6K IJA but atackers are tired and used up. attacking at 1-2 to 1-3 assault odds.
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 12001 troops, 86 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 132
Defending force 6125 troops, 72 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 108
Allied adjusted assault: 86
Japanese adjusted defense: 195
Allied assault odds: 1 to 2
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
190 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
177 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Sinyang got quiet. IJA has taken no aggressive action in some time.
IJA troops occupy the road SW of Chengchow (est some 5,500)
and the road East of Nanyang
I have dispatch troops from Nanyang to, hopefully, overpower the lone unit.
I am also risking a sortie from Chengchow to encounter the road troops to SW. [:o]
Two Inf. Corps ith 440 AV between them and a Cavalry unit with another 181.
I now have five poorly supplied corps at Wuchow. IJA has not attacked. I am moving one corp across the river to recon in force and sethimself up on the safer western side of the river.
IJA has not moved to engage at Bataan.
It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion,
It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed,
The hands acquire shaking, the shaking becomes a warning,
It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.
It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed,
The hands acquire shaking, the shaking becomes a warning,
It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.
RE: NooB AAR(gh): Which way's north? a.k.a we'll buff that hole right out won't we chief?
Ya think maybe Leach's aggression had something to do with it?ORIGINAL: uncivil_servant
Apparently in moving ships n stuff the British SCTF was commanded by one Leach, 61 naval, admin 50, aggression 33
...
At Sea - The PoW and her TF meet the CVE TF and run away.
ORIGINAL: uncivil_servant
and AGAIN.. PTs refuse to engage
Night Time Surface Combat, near Batavia at 50,96, Range 10,000 Yards
PTs disengage at 10,000 yards
...
Night Time Surface Combat, near Batavia at 50,96, Range 9,000 Yards
...
I swear to all that is unholy how do I stop this.. this is just blatant refusal to obey orders b/c it might be damgerous..
PT boats.. night.. zoom in, drop torps then run for home..
The detection range is the key for PT attacks. Detected far off. the enemy has lots of time to shoot at them while they approach, racing or not! Suicide is not an option for those seeking promotion!
They need very low moonlight conditions [probably less than 15%] to get detection less than about 3K yards and therefore a chance to make a torpedo run. Shooting single torps, they have to get a lot closer than a DD or sub shooting off a spread of several torps.
Also check the stats of every PT/MTB skipper. They need high naval, high aggression. The good part of it is that changing the captain can often be done without spending any PP.
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
wrt your strategy post#71
the game reqs planning, building, training, & logistics as well as tactical skill. what i get from your AAR is far too much focus on battle-reports, & far too little on shipping fuel to Cape Town, building up infrastructure & supply-levels (SW of Pearl, N of Port Townsend) in support of future ops. this indicates that you focus on the tactical, to the detriment of the strategic.ORIGINAL: uncivil_servant
Strategic:
I don't mention certain strategic things I do b/c I don't want my AAR to get even more unwieldy and wordy making viewership, as it is, drop. MY strategy has been thus:
I pulled back a couple AA groups from Singapore and the reconstituted Indian 7th & 9th Divs from Singapore Region. One went to Java. Other went to Calcutta.
I am essentially trying the "things that are impossible" in the game. i.e. trying to hold a potion of the DEI, trying to hold Rangoon, trying to hold the islands East of Noumea and the like, holding PM, etc. I want to experience how hard those things really are and what happens if I try to hold them. Thus, all the early British forces on transports early in game all went to Rangoon region. B-17s from Manilla were bought and shipped to Sing, then to Calcutta for long range bombardment when IJA gets close enough.
I have transferred ALL Dutch forces except those at Medan and Ambon to the Java island. All Dutch AF's located there along with British Torpedo planes, and later Buffalos, that fled Singapore but could not fly over to Rangoon b/c I left them in Sing a little too long.
In China I'm seeing how hard it is to hold versus normal opposition, much less, a another human player buying out korean/russian border forces.
US Navy forces, carriers, I've hidden from the KB as I'd likely risk them. I have not bought out many US units yet as I spend them on Brit Singapore units and Dutch forces as I don't know where the axis of attack will be and what opportunities I will have, and where, to counter-attack.
I want to learn how much it hurts to resist, and where, and then learn where I can try and hold until killed and where it is hopeless.
vs. the AI, it's quite possible to hold Rangoon, Port Moresby, & Noumea - but only if you hang on to Singers & Clark/Bataan for as long as possible. The keys to holding out there (and in the DEI) are to conserve supply while maintaining a credible CAP for as long as possible. In my view, you are wasting supply, LCU capability, airplanes, & ships w/ your counter-attacks.
the IJ is at its peak, it's coming to cut your throat. your forces are at their low-point in combat power. When Singers & the Philippines fall, all those IJ LCUs will transfer to Burma & the DEI earlier than your friends would wish. Many of your cruisers & DDs will be sunk or overloading the dockyards in Oz trying to repair major damage, by 8/42 you'd rather they were still active, upgraded & available for the Solomons fight.
sigh. at least you're keeping your CVs away from the fray.
-
uncivil_servant
- Posts: 200
- Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2013 10:55 pm
RE: wrt your strategy post#71
BBFanboy - So, what do I want in my admirals? I've read that Air doesn't matter for admirals or even ship captains.. so.. what do I want Naval most? aggressivenes I understand but is Admin next in line or inspiration?
Jmalter - Again - I doubt Id have any readers at all if I detailed my supply convoys and the like. Abadan is feeding India, Cape Town feeding Colombo/India. Fleets going to East Coast and Ingerland for transport to CT.
I stripped DEI of supply and fuel with exception like balikpapan and Palembang where I didn't get al the fuel out. Supplies fed Singapore and Java. Singapore has fallen though they had fuel and suplies to spare. The two main ports on Java have 86K and 76K in supplies with 20K and 39K fuel respectively. The rest of the fuel carriers/supply carriers to lesser extent went to western Aus and/or rangoon.
In the north I'm currently trying to prepare Dutch Harbor, Kodiak, and Adak at present. Anything on mainland also a yes naturally.
South Pacific islands being built up with supplly and fuel depots - X-mas, Tahiti, Pagox2, Savaii, Suva/Nadi, Louganville, and Noumea
I'm using Java as a sub hub and staging area for dutch and former manilla usn forces to pinprick enemy landings. Not quite as sucessful at that in the Solomon Sea
Jmalter - Again - I doubt Id have any readers at all if I detailed my supply convoys and the like. Abadan is feeding India, Cape Town feeding Colombo/India. Fleets going to East Coast and Ingerland for transport to CT.
I stripped DEI of supply and fuel with exception like balikpapan and Palembang where I didn't get al the fuel out. Supplies fed Singapore and Java. Singapore has fallen though they had fuel and suplies to spare. The two main ports on Java have 86K and 76K in supplies with 20K and 39K fuel respectively. The rest of the fuel carriers/supply carriers to lesser extent went to western Aus and/or rangoon.
In the north I'm currently trying to prepare Dutch Harbor, Kodiak, and Adak at present. Anything on mainland also a yes naturally.
South Pacific islands being built up with supplly and fuel depots - X-mas, Tahiti, Pagox2, Savaii, Suva/Nadi, Louganville, and Noumea
I'm using Java as a sub hub and staging area for dutch and former manilla usn forces to pinprick enemy landings. Not quite as sucessful at that in the Solomon Sea
It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion,
It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed,
The hands acquire shaking, the shaking becomes a warning,
It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.
It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed,
The hands acquire shaking, the shaking becomes a warning,
It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.
RE: wrt your strategy post#71
Re: leaders
Some experienced forumites have posted different ideas, but here is what my experience tells me:
Leaders in rear area HQs need high admin and leadership skills and some (~60) skill in their land, sea or air element. Their job is to get the fighting units what they need and give some general direction.[no pun intended]
Admirals at sea with a SCTF need high naval skills, leadership, and aggression appropriate to the types of ships in the TF. BB TFs should not be extremely aggressive [over 65] if that means charging into enemy torpedoes. They should stand off and use the power of their big guns at ranges where lesser guns are not very effective.
An all-DD TF commanders should have very high aggression [70+] so it will close the enemy and launch torps - DDs are expendable.
For cruiser TFs, it depends on the opposition - when enemy BBs are expected, aggression around 60 is good while 70 is good for meeting equal or weaker enemy TFs. The commander should engage and decide whether to close or disengage based on what happens in the first couple of exchanges.
For Air Combat TFs the admiral should have high Air skill - just check out Halsey and Mitscher. I think this affects strike/CAP targeting and coordination. Naval skill is not so important for the Admiral as his maneuvering is not supposed to be for the purposes of firing guns.
Ship captains all need high naval skills and leadership/inspiration at least in the 50s. Aggression depends on ship type - higher for DDs, a bit less for CLs and CAs, moderate for BBs and on the skittish side for CVs.
Naval skills seem to help target acquisition and hitting [gun or torp], dodging enemy salvos, and damage repair efforts. Not sure if leadership or naval skills help avoid collisions - maybe a bit of both. Inspiration may help with damage control and firing back after being damaged.
As you can tell, some of the above is conjecture, but it is based on observations of many battles and review of the admirals/captains involved after the fact. With the right leaders battles are rarely disasters and often get better results than you might expect from the on paper comparison of the forces involved.
PS - Check out Palliser for Force Z.
Some experienced forumites have posted different ideas, but here is what my experience tells me:
Leaders in rear area HQs need high admin and leadership skills and some (~60) skill in their land, sea or air element. Their job is to get the fighting units what they need and give some general direction.[no pun intended]
Admirals at sea with a SCTF need high naval skills, leadership, and aggression appropriate to the types of ships in the TF. BB TFs should not be extremely aggressive [over 65] if that means charging into enemy torpedoes. They should stand off and use the power of their big guns at ranges where lesser guns are not very effective.
An all-DD TF commanders should have very high aggression [70+] so it will close the enemy and launch torps - DDs are expendable.
For cruiser TFs, it depends on the opposition - when enemy BBs are expected, aggression around 60 is good while 70 is good for meeting equal or weaker enemy TFs. The commander should engage and decide whether to close or disengage based on what happens in the first couple of exchanges.
For Air Combat TFs the admiral should have high Air skill - just check out Halsey and Mitscher. I think this affects strike/CAP targeting and coordination. Naval skill is not so important for the Admiral as his maneuvering is not supposed to be for the purposes of firing guns.
Ship captains all need high naval skills and leadership/inspiration at least in the 50s. Aggression depends on ship type - higher for DDs, a bit less for CLs and CAs, moderate for BBs and on the skittish side for CVs.
Naval skills seem to help target acquisition and hitting [gun or torp], dodging enemy salvos, and damage repair efforts. Not sure if leadership or naval skills help avoid collisions - maybe a bit of both. Inspiration may help with damage control and firing back after being damaged.
As you can tell, some of the above is conjecture, but it is based on observations of many battles and review of the admirals/captains involved after the fact. With the right leaders battles are rarely disasters and often get better results than you might expect from the on paper comparison of the forces involved.
PS - Check out Palliser for Force Z.
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
-
uncivil_servant
- Posts: 200
- Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2013 10:55 pm
RE: wrt your strategy post#71
January 26th
The BB Colorado ends its repairs and refits from Dec 7th and rejoins the fleet in Seattle.
BB Revenge arrives at CT
Enemy Air Forces bomb everything.
Darwin bombed - need to move fighters here.
P-40's at PM give much needed air cover while a unit of Banshees give PM a chance to strike at attacking ships.
Ground Combat near Nanyang causes the IJA unit to retreat SE.
Ambon under attack
Bataan peninsula still clear of IJA forces
At Nanning I outnumber the attackers considerably so I am counter-attackign to free a unit to head SW and end the stalemate near Lang Son
Singapore is on its last legs. Still plenty of supplies but fewer and fewer people shooting back.
January 27th
Fortress Singapore Falls
I am using Blenheims and B-17s from Calcutta to bomb IJA forces at Moulemein.
Bettys visit Darwin again.
Landings continue at Ambon. IJ forces land at Baker island.
Moulemein fighting on the ground - right now 18k attackers versus 13k defenders.
At Nanning I perform a shock attack - and suffer zero casualties.
round combat at Nanning (72,55)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 12387 troops, 122 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 431
Defending force 1756 troops, 15 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 6
Allied adjusted assault: 854
Japanese adjusted defense: 1
Allied assault odds: 854 to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), leaders(-), disruption(-)
preparation(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
Japanese ground losses:
2616 casualties reported
Squads: 110 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 138 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 16 (16 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1
Assaulting units:
55th Prov Chinese Division
66th Chinese Corps
9th Chinese Base Force
35th Group Army
18th Artillery Regiment
Defending units:
1st Ind.Inf.Group
Niceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.............
Singapore falls to a shock attack of some 52k combat attackers and the 23k defenders surrender.
after the turn the number of enemy's seen at Singapore is 99k and change
Near PM enemy CA commanded SCTF nails some transports.
January 28th
Indomitable arrives at Aden
Enemy landings at Ambon continue, start at PM. Tulagi and Baker Island taken.
Using three units of CHN bombers to attack IJA forces out in the open E of Nanyang.
Banshees at PM light up a xAK and place a bomb on the CA Chikuma.
otherwise quiet
January 29th
I get intel:
8th Engineer Regiment is planning for an attack on Noumea.
Currently at Noumea is:
Cavite USN Base Force - 1av
New Caledonia INF - 27av
21 Nells visit Kalidjati in Java, 1 shot down, 16 damaged out of 21 visitors.
CVL near Batavia again - Batavia visited by Zeros and Kates
IJ lands at undefended Palembang. Palembang was down to less than 10k supply as I was stripping it of everything I could.
OUCH
round combat at Moulmein (55,55)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 21315 troops, 209 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 751
Defending force 11422 troops, 117 guns, 65 vehicles, Assault Value = 403
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2
Japanese adjusted assault: 631
Allied adjusted defense: 133
Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Moulmein !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(-), preparation(-), morale(-)
experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
Japanese ground losses:
1778 casualties reported
Squads: 63 destroyed, 75 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
6750 casualties reported
Squads: 132 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 351 destroyed, 44 disabled
Engineers: 47 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 77 (77 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 79 (79 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 2
Units destroyed 1
Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
I did not catch the reinforcements arriving
I see 30K in the square after. I begin to udnerstand why holding Rangoon is not a realistic possibility. Simply too many ground units coming their way.
Palembang falls naturally.
January 30th
Brunei bombed. Little Brit unit stuck there is only allied place left on north side.
CVL Zuiho brazenly stops off at the base beside Batavia. Dutch AF mauled trying to bomb her.
Banshees at PM continue to light up xAKs dropping men to attack PM.
Landing stil continue at Ambon. Little CD unit earning its pay and then some.
PT TF meets Zuiho TF but under 96% moonlight the Zuiho evades.
I am grinding up the IJA 32nd division near Nanning as I outnumber it fairly well.
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 16096 troops, 76 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 535
Defending force 4693 troops, 98 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 49
Allied adjusted assault: 364
Japanese adjusted defense: 24
Allied assault odds: 15 to 1
PM and Ambon under attack.
January 31
CAP at Rangoon holding up fairly well. AVG 1st flying tigers and 67 sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb's
Landings continue at Ambon... new landings at Terapo west of PM. PM surrounded. Sea lane to Darwin deemed - hazardous.
PTs revisit the Zuiho - and she again avoids. She's headed back north as she meets xAKL remnents taking the last allied plunder from Palembang.
CHN land forces chew up:
Defending units:
6th RGC Division
8th RGC Route Brigade
22nd RGC Temp. Division
near Chengchow, they retreat across the river
attacks continue at Ambon and Port Moresby.
End of January.
The BB Colorado ends its repairs and refits from Dec 7th and rejoins the fleet in Seattle.
BB Revenge arrives at CT
Enemy Air Forces bomb everything.
Darwin bombed - need to move fighters here.
P-40's at PM give much needed air cover while a unit of Banshees give PM a chance to strike at attacking ships.
Ground Combat near Nanyang causes the IJA unit to retreat SE.
Ambon under attack
Bataan peninsula still clear of IJA forces
At Nanning I outnumber the attackers considerably so I am counter-attackign to free a unit to head SW and end the stalemate near Lang Son
Singapore is on its last legs. Still plenty of supplies but fewer and fewer people shooting back.
January 27th
Fortress Singapore Falls
I am using Blenheims and B-17s from Calcutta to bomb IJA forces at Moulemein.
Bettys visit Darwin again.
Landings continue at Ambon. IJ forces land at Baker island.
Moulemein fighting on the ground - right now 18k attackers versus 13k defenders.
At Nanning I perform a shock attack - and suffer zero casualties.
round combat at Nanning (72,55)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 12387 troops, 122 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 431
Defending force 1756 troops, 15 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 6
Allied adjusted assault: 854
Japanese adjusted defense: 1
Allied assault odds: 854 to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), leaders(-), disruption(-)
preparation(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
Japanese ground losses:
2616 casualties reported
Squads: 110 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 138 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 16 (16 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1
Assaulting units:
55th Prov Chinese Division
66th Chinese Corps
9th Chinese Base Force
35th Group Army
18th Artillery Regiment
Defending units:
1st Ind.Inf.Group
Niceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.............
Singapore falls to a shock attack of some 52k combat attackers and the 23k defenders surrender.
after the turn the number of enemy's seen at Singapore is 99k and change
Near PM enemy CA commanded SCTF nails some transports.
January 28th
Indomitable arrives at Aden
Enemy landings at Ambon continue, start at PM. Tulagi and Baker Island taken.
Using three units of CHN bombers to attack IJA forces out in the open E of Nanyang.
Banshees at PM light up a xAK and place a bomb on the CA Chikuma.
otherwise quiet
January 29th
I get intel:
8th Engineer Regiment is planning for an attack on Noumea.
Currently at Noumea is:
Cavite USN Base Force - 1av
New Caledonia INF - 27av
21 Nells visit Kalidjati in Java, 1 shot down, 16 damaged out of 21 visitors.
CVL near Batavia again - Batavia visited by Zeros and Kates
IJ lands at undefended Palembang. Palembang was down to less than 10k supply as I was stripping it of everything I could.
OUCH
round combat at Moulmein (55,55)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 21315 troops, 209 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 751
Defending force 11422 troops, 117 guns, 65 vehicles, Assault Value = 403
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2
Japanese adjusted assault: 631
Allied adjusted defense: 133
Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Moulmein !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(-), preparation(-), morale(-)
experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
Japanese ground losses:
1778 casualties reported
Squads: 63 destroyed, 75 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
6750 casualties reported
Squads: 132 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 351 destroyed, 44 disabled
Engineers: 47 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 77 (77 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 79 (79 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 2
Units destroyed 1
Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
I did not catch the reinforcements arriving
I see 30K in the square after. I begin to udnerstand why holding Rangoon is not a realistic possibility. Simply too many ground units coming their way.
Palembang falls naturally.
January 30th
Brunei bombed. Little Brit unit stuck there is only allied place left on north side.
CVL Zuiho brazenly stops off at the base beside Batavia. Dutch AF mauled trying to bomb her.
Banshees at PM continue to light up xAKs dropping men to attack PM.
Landing stil continue at Ambon. Little CD unit earning its pay and then some.
PT TF meets Zuiho TF but under 96% moonlight the Zuiho evades.
I am grinding up the IJA 32nd division near Nanning as I outnumber it fairly well.
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 16096 troops, 76 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 535
Defending force 4693 troops, 98 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 49
Allied adjusted assault: 364
Japanese adjusted defense: 24
Allied assault odds: 15 to 1
PM and Ambon under attack.
January 31
CAP at Rangoon holding up fairly well. AVG 1st flying tigers and 67 sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb's
Landings continue at Ambon... new landings at Terapo west of PM. PM surrounded. Sea lane to Darwin deemed - hazardous.
PTs revisit the Zuiho - and she again avoids. She's headed back north as she meets xAKL remnents taking the last allied plunder from Palembang.
CHN land forces chew up:
Defending units:
6th RGC Division
8th RGC Route Brigade
22nd RGC Temp. Division
near Chengchow, they retreat across the river
attacks continue at Ambon and Port Moresby.
End of January.
It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion,
It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed,
The hands acquire shaking, the shaking becomes a warning,
It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.
It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed,
The hands acquire shaking, the shaking becomes a warning,
It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.
-
uncivil_servant
- Posts: 200
- Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2013 10:55 pm
RE: wrt your strategy post#71
February
February 1st
I get intel that an attack on isolated Brunei finally planned.
Bataan is still Jap free. But the supplies continue to be used. At 15K now.
Bettys visit cooktown is AUS and sink a xAKL. Fighters for defense already enroute.
Torps expended on xAKs in the strait between Palembang and Brunei obv. IJN transports hauling looted fuel.
Ambon and PM hold, but just. Fortifications at zero with defenders trying to rebuild.
February 2nd
MORE landings at Ambon. 10K Japs attack at wuchow and lose 2296 of them. I have no supplies to do anything but sit there.
PM and Ambon continue to be attacked. Situation in doubt.
February 1st
I get intel that an attack on isolated Brunei finally planned.
Bataan is still Jap free. But the supplies continue to be used. At 15K now.
Bettys visit cooktown is AUS and sink a xAKL. Fighters for defense already enroute.
Torps expended on xAKs in the strait between Palembang and Brunei obv. IJN transports hauling looted fuel.
Ambon and PM hold, but just. Fortifications at zero with defenders trying to rebuild.
February 2nd
MORE landings at Ambon. 10K Japs attack at wuchow and lose 2296 of them. I have no supplies to do anything but sit there.
PM and Ambon continue to be attacked. Situation in doubt.
It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion,
It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed,
The hands acquire shaking, the shaking becomes a warning,
It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.
It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed,
The hands acquire shaking, the shaking becomes a warning,
It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.
RE: wrt your strategy post#71
Hi uncivil_servant,
I would be interested to know if you would do anything differently on set-up now that you are a few months in? Did you find the Allied Set-Up spread sheet helped form a defence or have you adjusted it a lot? Anything you could have done differently to prolong Singapore's fall? And PM - I understand that you sent extra forces in there that were called for on the set-up spread sheet, have they made any difference to the overall defence?
Following closely to see if I can adjust anything prior to kicking off my own first campaign.
Cheers
I would be interested to know if you would do anything differently on set-up now that you are a few months in? Did you find the Allied Set-Up spread sheet helped form a defence or have you adjusted it a lot? Anything you could have done differently to prolong Singapore's fall? And PM - I understand that you sent extra forces in there that were called for on the set-up spread sheet, have they made any difference to the overall defence?
Following closely to see if I can adjust anything prior to kicking off my own first campaign.
Cheers
-
uncivil_servant
- Posts: 200
- Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2013 10:55 pm
RE: wrt your strategy post#71
A visitor! Good sir.. always know tht in THIS store we wont make you bang your parrot on the counter before letting you have a refund. No good sir, we'll just make sure you set in on fire with government approved and inspected friction sticks, sign forms 1024-AF for documentation of temporary permission to violate safe work conditions to be filed with RM and HQ, form 5483B-version 4, not three please it has the wrong address, sending one copy to central records and two to the offices of job security, and the office of inane jobs we pay people to do to verify that yes, the form says it an approved form, it is signed by something (legibility isn't required but you may be asked to complete a verification warrant in red ink with four witnesses no more than three may be related to the signee, which is you, etc......
*WHAP WHAP WHAP*
For singapore: I might not have reformed and moved out the two reformable 9th and 11th indian divisions but in the long run they might do me more good where I sent them (Calcutta and Batavia). I did also move out some air HQs and an heavy AA unit but I'd do it again in no time.
The allied set-up spreadsheet was a godsend for the, "I have three thousand things I can click and move.. now what.." now once a plan sees combat it isn't worth the paper it was printed on but having someone initially push in a direction is and will-be helpful even if one forgets what steps two and three might be with air unit X. You'll think of other potential uses for what units you can move around.
My problem has been the phillipines. Supplyless units, my defending clark and bataan at the same time splitting my forces now leaving me with IJA just looking at my forces as they slowly go through their supplies. Such a waste of AV. I'd want to do it differently but am unsure exactly how.
I'm building my supply lines now. So many bases, so many damn islands, too few base units and too few contruction units.
China i am learning much about land combat and the value of space and time. Because my opponent doesn't surge forward making me move from certain locales I am able to settle in into a sitzkreig but instead of one where I await destruction I am instead slowly, ever so slowly, growing in power whereas my opponents forces are not. Its just a matter of where they are sent. Resistance in various areas versus a full pull out allows me to use my frontline forces to abuse my opponent if and when he sends forth something agressively. I can try and pounce and use numbers to deal damage to valuable experienced units.
*WHAP WHAP WHAP*
For singapore: I might not have reformed and moved out the two reformable 9th and 11th indian divisions but in the long run they might do me more good where I sent them (Calcutta and Batavia). I did also move out some air HQs and an heavy AA unit but I'd do it again in no time.
The allied set-up spreadsheet was a godsend for the, "I have three thousand things I can click and move.. now what.." now once a plan sees combat it isn't worth the paper it was printed on but having someone initially push in a direction is and will-be helpful even if one forgets what steps two and three might be with air unit X. You'll think of other potential uses for what units you can move around.
My problem has been the phillipines. Supplyless units, my defending clark and bataan at the same time splitting my forces now leaving me with IJA just looking at my forces as they slowly go through their supplies. Such a waste of AV. I'd want to do it differently but am unsure exactly how.
I'm building my supply lines now. So many bases, so many damn islands, too few base units and too few contruction units.
China i am learning much about land combat and the value of space and time. Because my opponent doesn't surge forward making me move from certain locales I am able to settle in into a sitzkreig but instead of one where I await destruction I am instead slowly, ever so slowly, growing in power whereas my opponents forces are not. Its just a matter of where they are sent. Resistance in various areas versus a full pull out allows me to use my frontline forces to abuse my opponent if and when he sends forth something agressively. I can try and pounce and use numbers to deal damage to valuable experienced units.
It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion,
It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed,
The hands acquire shaking, the shaking becomes a warning,
It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.
It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed,
The hands acquire shaking, the shaking becomes a warning,
It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.