Western Civilization in Grave Danger - AU Tiger (A) vs. Skyros (J)

[bradfordkay]

I use search vectors heavily with my land based search squadrons. I do not use search vectors with my carrier based search planes. This seems to be the best compromise for me - my land based search arcs are pretty understandable because most bases will have a particular threat arc whereas carriers are often moving forward into less defined threats.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

You don't have to set search vectors. I almost never do. I just leave them at 360 and it works like a charm. (I have, on very rare occasions, tinkered with vectors when I had time and the situations obviously called for it - IE, there was land for 270 out of 360 degrees of arc), but I didn't detect the slightest improvement in performance when I did so.

That is nice to know. It was driving me crazy.

[Canoerebel]

Well, you ought to exercise "due diligence" by looking for input from other players. I tend to cut corners, and sometimes my information may be out of date or not 100% on target. But 98% of my search arcs in my current game with John III have been 360 degrees and I think it's working with complete efficiency.

[topeverest]

I agree with my Georgian co-patriot. I don't set search arcs, and I don't have any problems spotting the enemy. IMHO, I think search arcs leave a player who is not extremely meticulous open to skimping on searches to the point where he/she risks missing the enemy. While some of us are the extremely meticulous type who can exploit search arcs with minimum number of airframes, I am not that person.

Searching is a foundational activity in the game. I take confidence in over searching. I am rarely surprised what I face when I engage. Surprise usually leads to bad outcomes. Please take my word on that! Without feeling good and 'knowing' what you are up against, how can you decide if and how to engage?

[geofflambert]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

You don't have to set search vectors. I almost never do. I just leave them at 360 and it works like a charm. (I have, on very rare occasions, tinkered with vectors when I had time and the situations obviously called for it - IE, there was land for 270 out of 360 degrees of arc), but I didn't detect the slightest improvement in performance when I did so.

I'm in full agreement with the subversive who hates canoes (for some reason). I gave up setting vectors a long time ago. Just choose good commanders and leave it to commander discretion and I think you'll get good results.

Now, would you please slow down? I'm having trouble following your AAR.

[geofflambert]

ORIGINAL: AU Tiger

19 December 1941


However before I do, I would like to tell you that I am about to spring my CV trap on two TF's nearing Rabaul. The Lex and the Enterprise, and a small CA TF are poised at Woodlark Island; the CV's will round the west side of New Britain at high speed while the CA TF will move at high speed to Rabaul. The next turn will be interesting I hope.

I'm not sure if you're being literal about moving at "high speed", I never order full speed, it damages your engines and before you know it you're out of fuel.

Oh, RIP CV Enterprise.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

Yes I did mean full speed literally. Using full speed for short stints you can easily achieve tactical surprise. A fast TF can move 18 hexes in one turn, you just need to make sure everyone is fueled up and "refueling" is off. The Allies have a bunch of AO's, and with some forethought you can insure you are always retreating to your supplies. If the Japanese choose to give chase, they have to run at high speed away from their supplies, and can never be sure where you went. And damage to the ships can be repaired quickly. In the early war, the Japanese need to maintain operational tempo with their carriers, but the Allies can "take a break" if they need to.

I just got my first turn in two days; my opponent had to deal with some of the joys of home ownership......

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

25 December 1941
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

The Japanese have moved into Johore Bahru, cutting Singapore of from the mainland while the 8th Indian Brigade is unpacking its gear in Malacca. Unfortunately the cupboards there are bare so they are have their curry and Tandoori flown in from Singapore via Hudsons, although this will not be a long term effort. I would like for them to eat well before they are marched off into captivity.

Speaking of Singapore, forts are at level 3 plus 23%. Supplies are 71,400, resources are 60,200, and fuel is 105,500 so the industries in Singapore will continue to generate supplies for some time to come. More supplies and resources are enroute, but the waters around the island are probably about to become more hazardous. So far the “Tea and Crumpets” run into Singapore has been relatively safe from air attack.

Fortress Palembang:
The 44th, 45th, and 46th Indian Brigades are moving into Palembang via rail from Oothaven, and the 18th British Infantry Division is offloading in Oosthaven now. Dutch transports are flying from Palembang picking up selected isolated base forces in the vicinity, and will soon pick up some extraneous units in Singapore such as the Air HQ’s stranded there. Aviation support is extremely valuable to me about now.

The Saratoga has finished with its chewing gum and baling wire repairs to the ship and is beginning the long journey home. Shortly after the torpedoing of the carrier, the KB abruptly disappeared from the Rabaul vicinity, and I suspect now it has gone ‘ahunting’ for the Sara. She is detouring far south in her journey across the Pacific; fortunately she is meeting with one of the recently arrived pre-staged AO’s that are being placed at intervals in the South Pacific, so fuel will not be a concern. I considered flying Sara’s air wing off and sending them to the DEI, but chose not to do it. It just seemed a little too gamey to me – the US Navy never would have done that.

China is a mess….. Units are attempting to run for the hills, but it is unclear how many will make it…… A stack of 649 Chinese AV’s near Loyang has just been joined by what appears to be 2 small armored units, blocking the Loyang garrison retreat. A desperate attack has been ordered to clear the trail.

The best US Army Air Corps fighter pilots have been skimmed from the pools and sent to strengthen the AVG, as mentioned before. They last will be arriving in 7 days. Again, my reasoning for this is to use them in the air frames and organizations that have the best chances for survivability and opportunity to bleed the Japanese, and that chance is coming soon. The AVG (minus fragments still scattered across the breadth of China and Burma) are in Rangoon with 60-75% of their combat power available to fly. The Japanese hit Moumein last turn – lets hope they do it again.

Japanese troops have materialized at Pontiniak. Transports were not spotted so Fast Transports are suspected. Force Zulu will be paying a visit shortly on a bombardment mission. 15 PP’s were spent to place a commander in charge who uses a wheelbarrow to tote his “boys” around.

[Bullwinkle58]

You're doing very well. He will rue the delays in Malaysia.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

You're doing very well. He will rue the delays in Malaysia.

I appreciate it.

I just noticed that Sumatra is a Malaria Zone. That should make things a little tougher at Palembang I think.
[:)]

[topeverest]

Let me say the obvious. Fortress Palembang is only worth the losses if you hold it for an extended period. Not sure how long you are thinking, April?

can you be more specific on your FP planning and extended force placement?

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

ORIGINAL: topeverest

Let me say the obvious. Fortress Palembang is only worth the losses if you hold it for an extended period. Not sure how long you are thinking, April?

can you be more specific on your FP planning and extended force placement?

Understood. I believe the losses I will suffer at FP are a worthwhile gamble when looking across the strait to Singapore. Singapore is setting up nicely to incur a high cost in time and treasure to the Japanese, and I am thinking of Palembang as being an adjunct to the Singapore siege. How long can FP hold out? I don't know - that is out of my hands, but the way I see it is that the Japanese will either have to wait for the fall of Singapore before moving on Sumatra, OR divert forces from Singapore to reduce Palembang. Either scenario is fine with me because it will buy the Allies the time they need. Also, losing 2 divisons worth of infantry, meant for India, in Sumatra is being accounted for. Like I mentioned previously, the Central Pacific is not a priority for me so I plan to divert those US Divisions to India.

As to the defense of FP I am playing it a little by ear for now. I am considering leaving the 18th British at Oosthaven while the Indians go to Palembang. On the other hand however, I am not keen on leaving the British in range of BB bombardment. The route I choose to pursue may be for the British to continue on to Palembang while I bring some other, more expendable troops, to garrison Oosthaven.

I just looked at my dispositons, and one of the Indian brigades will still be in Oosthaven next turn. and its commander was good enough to volunteer to provide the garrison forces at the port.

Contrary to SOP, I am building up the Palembang airfield, although I normally frown on building infrastructure the Japanese are eventually going to use for their own.

[BBfanboy]

If your opponent makes the mistake of trying to keep his invasion schedules for other locations before taking Palembang and Singers, you could end up keeping FP as Canoerebel did in one of his AARs.

Edit: portion removed per request.

[geofflambert]

Dump a lot of supplies at Oosthaven, and I mean a lot! 70k or more to sustain the coming siege. When the end does come, bomb the crap out of the oil facilities there, if you can.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

Dump a lot of supplies at Ooshaven, and I mean a lot! 70k or more to sustain the coming siege. When the end does come, bomb the crap out of the oil facilities there, if you can.

AK's are enroute as we speak.

[geofflambert]

Remember to keep your Dutch squadrons full and draw as many recruits as you can while you can. Build up a good reserve. Set some of your less valuable aircraft to just training and drawing more raw recruits. I hadn't done that in the past and don't know when you'll have exhausted the recruit pool.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: AU Tiger

ORIGINAL: topeverest

Let me say the obvious. Fortress Palembang is only worth the losses if you hold it for an extended period. Not sure how long you are thinking, April?

can you be more specific on your FP planning and extended force placement?

Understood. I believe the losses I will suffer at FP are a worthwhile gamble when looking across the strait to Singapore. Singapore is setting up nicely to incur a high cost in time and treasure to the Japanese, and I am thinking of Palembang as being an adjunct to the Singapore siege. How long can FP hold out? I don't know - that is out of my hands, but the way I see it is that the Japanese will either have to wait for the fall of Singapore before moving on Sumatra, OR divert forces from Singapore to reduce Palembang. Either scenario is fine with me because it will buy the Allies the time they need. Also, losing 2 divisons worth of infantry, meant for India, in Sumatra is being accounted for. Like I mentioned previously, the Central Pacific is not a priority for me so I plan to divert those US Divisions to India.

As to the defense of FP I am playing it a little by ear for now. I am considering leaving the 18th British at Oosthaven while the Indians go to Palembang. On the other hand however, I am not keen on leaving the British in range of BB bombardment. The route I choose to pursue may be for the British to continue on to Palembang while I bring some other, more expendable troops, to garrison Oosthaven.

I just looked at my dispositons, and one of the Indian brigades will still be in Oosthaven next turn. and its commander was good enough to volunteer to provide the garrison forces at the port.

Contrary to SOP, I am building up the Palembang airfield, although I normally frown on building infrastructure the Japanese are eventually going to use for their own.

There are (at least) two ways to make a FP "work."

1. Hold it/deny it as long as possible.

2. #1, then 2. Leave it wrecked.

#2 is aided by forcing him to Shock attack to take it down, and by having lots of engineers there when it falls.

Oosthaven is the classic way into PBang, but not the only. It is a negative route in that the port is pretty small, and it is in range of large Java air bases if you still have them. It's also easy to mine from many directions. Take a look at alternate land routes into Pbang. Even a frontal assault up-river can freeze in-hex oil production and in the long run hurt PBang's supply generation. (Very long run, but still . . .) If he gets a division in and sits he gets defensive terrain bonus if you try to eject him.

I personally wouldn't leave a whole, premium, Brit division sitting at Oost to hold it open, at least once PBang is pretty strong. Not sure without looking, but that division probably has some good engineer numbers internal too, and you can't have enough engineers at PBang.

[topeverest]

IMHO, if you are going to do it, then go all in. Anything less probably will be quite disappointing against a skilled opponent.

It can be quite a nail biter if the empire uses his forces appropriately to dismantle it. Good luck admiral.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

ORIGINAL: topeverest

IMHO, if you are going to do it, then go all in. Anything less probably will be quite disappointing against a skilled opponent.

It can be quite a nail biter if the empire uses his forces appropriately to dismantle it. Good luck admiral.

Define "All In".

Two infantry divisions on the ground, and support troops are coming as well as lots of supply. What more should I do?

[topeverest]

4-6 inf division IMHO in Palembang, all training up skill.
pull out as much oil as possible (does no good to leave it there for capture)
engineers to build forts
200K supply.
Aviation support for 100 planes, all fighters, the best you can put in the air.
british and American fleets nearby. Make empire move massive force there to take it.

Others above have offered good ideas too.

Don't forget to force up Batavia and watch for the end run...you want him to have to starve out the garrison.