The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

[Lomri]

I've been following along - but I don't read the othersides AAR. My comment on air supremacy came from the fact that the divs that just got routed were under heavy air bombing. Don't get me wrong I'm impressed with the grounds you've made and the air loss ratio - and certainly a vet of the engine such as yourself has nothing to learn from a newb like me. I just felt like feeding the peanut gallery on squad pools and such.

[Cribtop]

Are you concerned about disruption on your NG invasion units piling up from the long time at sea?

[Canoerebel]

Cribbit, yes, disruption will be a factor. But this is one of the necessary compromises we all make - I need my ships loaded and at "Point Luck" so that I can pull the trigger at the propitious moment. I have so many gazillion troops that I couldn't load them efficiently anyhow - it took a good ten days, so keeping them ashore while awaiting a green light risked missing a window of opportunity by a week or ten days.

[Canoerebel]

The list of IJN capital ships sunk.

Note: I don't think the BB or the CV went under. I do think the CA list is accurate.

Note 2: The Japanese have also lost some 33 destroyers - many of these modern (13-pointers and 10-pointers).

[Canoerebel]

List of Allied ships sunk.

Note: In addition, the Allies have lost 39 destroyers. Only two of these were worth more than six points: DD Selfridge (7 points) and La Triomphant (11 points). So, in terms of cruisers and destroyers, the Allies have faired particularly well against Japan to this point in the game.

[Canoerebel]

If John has ten (or more???) divisions in Burma, that's a huge percentage of his fighting force. Ordinarly, that would be the kind of force you might see committed to India or Australia in March '42 in an major offensive push. When a boxer is caught off balance leaning too far to his right, a strong left hook can be devastating. I think John's leaning too far to his right. The question thus becomes whether the Allies are prepared to administer a strong blow to his left.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel
The question thus becomes whether the Allies are prepared to administer a strong blow to his left.

Well? [taps foot...looks at watch...taps foot...looks at watch]

[Canoerebel]

Rome wasn't burned in a day!

A stitch in time saves haste!

Act in curiosity, repent by killing cats!

[Bullwinkle58]

None are so impatient as those who eat for free!

[Canoerebel]

None are so ungrateful as indigent folks who receive free counsel appointed by the court!

[zuluhour]

Thanks for the post, I've watched the air and ground war so closely, I lost track of the naval actions. I was pretty sure you had both hung on to the flatops.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: zuluhour

Thanks for the post, I've watched the air and ground war so closely, I lost track of the naval actions. I was pretty sure you had both hung on to the flatops.

Not only hung onto them, but given them a couple of new coats of paint, some nice AA detailing, and refurbishment of most of the decorative air units!

[Cribtop]

CR, let's play out the boxing analogy, because it does seem John is leaning right in Burma. Assume your NG invasions come off successfully, with acceptable losses. What next? How will you exploit the hard left? Does success in NG, if it happens, at all change your overall strategic plan for a Nimitz style CENPAC campaign?

[Canoerebel]

I suppose its common for all of us players to begin a game with certain strategic notions. Then, as the game develops, we modify our strategies to suit the circumstances. That's certainly the case here. If the Allied move on New Guinea is a big success, John will find himself with a two-front war. Time of crisis generally require quick and decisive decisions to meet the crisis, which in turn can yield mistakes and new opportunities. So, if New Guinea succeeds, I'll look for chances wherever they might be. I'm still looking at a CenPac strategy, though, and have troops prepping both at Pearl Harbor and West Coast.

[Canoerebel]

10/24/42

Bay of Bengal: Quiet. CL Mauritius is two days away from Colombo. Ramree airfield at 5.72. SigInt of more IJ troops inbound (this a base force going to Moulmein).

Burma: Two large Tojo sweeps of Akyab meet the full contingent of Allied CAP, the Allies winning the day. Weather stood down alot of bombers for both sides, as a few Helen raids hit small Allied units in the far north jungle and some B-25s hit 16th Div. over near Magwe. Tomorrow, Allied CAP remains mostly at Akyab while the bombers target what appears to be a vulnerable ground unit near Mandalay.

NoPac: DD Helm prods enemy detection south of Attu. More flanker DDs will approach the Aluetians from the south tomorrow. Three "feint amphibious TFs" are spread apart and slowly approaching from the same direction.

SoPac: Enemy sub tangles with two USN DDs near Townsville. Lots of enemy shipping all around New Gunea, but still no disturbing SigInt or signs of the main battle fleet. Kanga paratroops drop on vacant Cloncurry, recapturing that base (and now they'll rail-move back to Cairns). The Allies will go "dark" in SWPac beginning day after tomorrow. I expect the NoPac feint to draw full attention over the next week. More ships are also moving to Perth to draw some attention that way. I think things are coming together well.

48

[Canoerebel]

10/25/42

Bay of Bengal: Quiet. CL Maurtius is in port. BB Royal Sovereign reached Capetown and will need 100 days of repair. BB Ramilles, the last of the heavily damaged Battle of Assam ships, will depart Chittagong in about two days. After the battle, John pulled all of his carriers and many of subs away, apparently sending them to New Guinea. There are many important reasons and counter reasons for that move, but one side (but important) consequence was that all the damaged Allied ships could transit "the guantlet" to Colombo without interdiction by sub or carrier strike force.

Burma: Allied bombers get an unmolested shot at 12/C Div. near Schwebo and inflict alot of damage. IJ bombers mostly stand down (or weather keeps them at base). Massive (100+) Tojo sweep in the hex occupied by the main Allied army. That number of Tojos is a force to be reckoned with. Tomorrow, all Allied bombers to focus on IJA 21st Div. in the jungle, followed by an Allied shock attack. I think John's about ready to start whittling away at the main Allied stack army.

NoPac: Chain of flanker USN DDs picked up by patrols. John got an eyeful. Tomorrow he should also pick up some of the "feint" amphibious TFs. I am, however, withdrawing my little BB TF. At this point, no purpose served in risking it. I think John is taking the bait up here. He won't take it long - heck, he might even sit back and rely on his strong defenses rather than mustering the KB - but I can't do any more.

SWPac: Enemy sub does light/moderate damage to an AD nearing the south cape of NZ. Drat. That's one of those little "signals" that might mean alot to John. Allied 4EB target Horn Island in big numbers, while 2EB hit Daly Waters. I'll do this one more day before I shut down things in hopes that John will turn his attention away from New Guinea.

56

[BBfanboy]

When you start your feint near Perth, the AD at the south cape of NZ could be interpreted as support for the Perth area move. The curtain is not up on your show yet!

[Canoerebel]

I agree. I think the overall situation is pretty promising for the Allies. John has to be concerned about the Aluetians. He'll soon know that's a feint, but then he'll be hit with contradictory intel about Allied ships moving up both sides of Australia (and, if I can pull it together, some ships on a course threatening to either Port Blair or Moulmein). At this point, the Allied operation is "go" with D-Day in 15 to 17 days.

[Canoerebel]

10/26/42

Moves are happening within moves, it seems.

Bay of Bengal: Well, doggy! Enemy carriers are raiding in the Bay of Bengal. Reports are four CVE with 21 F and 71 B. Both Kates and Vals sortie, sinking picket DD Arrow and missing a second DD. No Allied shipping is presently making the transit (CL Mauritius escaped the ambush by about three days). Also, what seems to be a serious group of combat TFs is NW (true) of Port Blair, as though intent on hitting Ramree or Allied shipping at Akyab. After the stinging repulse John suffered at the Battle of Assam six weeks ago, he's had time to bring more - much, much more - to configure odds to his liking. Neverthless, my guys are going to fight. Four or five Aliled combat TFs are stationed at Akyab or will patrol thoe waters (coming from Chittagong). The stoutest TF is Ching Lee's, led by CAs Canberra and Cornwall. The second-best TF is CA Quincy led by Admiral John Henry Newton (I'm not sure how a Brit ended up in command of an All-American TF, but that's the beauty of AE: no repurcussions). Allied CAP will defend Akyab (ouch when those 130+ Tojos come to sweep). All Allied 2EB are on naval attack. Also, Akyab gets a squadron each of Beuforts and Avengers in hopes that torps will do some good.

Burma: Allied shock attack vs. 21st Div. really drives down raw AV, but adjusted AV still results in a 1:2 attack. Light losses to both sides, but things do appear promising long term. The good guys will rest a day or two and then try again.

NoPac: A Japanese CL/DD TF tangled with a lone American DD south of Attu. The USN DD took moderate damage but will try to make good her escape. To my surprise, John's patrols didn't pick up my two big feint TFs, so they'll move closer tomorrow.

SWPac: The Allies go dark starting tomorrow. Then I'll wait and hope that the KB moves into NoPac. If it doesn't, there's a fair chance that the feint up the west coast of Oz will do the trick. The Allied invasion ships and carriers are in position to sprint to the beaches as soon as they get the green light. So, John, show that KB far, far away!

59

[GreyJoy]

What about your subs Dan? I haven't hear you talking about them lately...are they achieving any success? Those slow CVEs are a juicy target for your british and ducth boats