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

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

Isn't that just a Fecta?

Smart-Alecks don't affecta me.

[topeverest]

tell me more about the lady lex. Why did you move her from the safety of Sydney? really hard to move ships with high sys and floatation...

Things are going well. You've scored a number of bombardment victories. I think this is indicative of a lack of naval attack aircraft coverage for the empire. I expect he will try to amend that error. Agree that PT's out soerabaja or Zingers in an excellent idea, especially in coastal waters at night and low moon. Always look to use them in those conditions. you can do base swap if a large base has an American force, you can change the HQ on the base to American, and then activate PT's and switch back. Something to remember.

I still think you should consider scraping together a few dozen transports and going for Kwaj in next few months, if KB stays in DEI. Perhaps with Hornet and Saratoga. It isn't really about success, its about making him divert from DEI. There is no point in fighting a CV battle, just to make him divert.

Please think about dedicated recon on Jone baru. if he is massing there to overwhelm, then all your supply will be taken by the enemy in short order. HOw is your fighter coverage in PB and Zingers?

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

21 January 1942
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

So here comes 3000 words.







I will add, "While the KB's are away, the SBD's will play!"

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

ORIGINAL: topeverest

tell me more about the lady lex. Why did you move her from the safety of Sydney? really hard to move ships with high sys and floatation...

Things are going well. You've scored a number of bombardment victories. I think this is indicative of a lack of naval attack aircraft coverage for the empire. I expect he will try to amend that error. Agree that PT's out soerabaja or Zingers in an excellent idea, especially in coastal waters at night and low moon. Always look to use them in those conditions. you can do base swap if a large base has an American force, you can change the HQ on the base to American, and then activate PT's and switch back. Something to remember.

I still think you should consider scraping together a few dozen transports and going for Kwaj in next few months, if KB stays in DEI. Perhaps with Hornet and Saratoga. It isn't really about success, its about making him divert from DEI. There is no point in fighting a CV battle, just to make him divert.

Please think about dedicated recon on Jone baru. if he is massing there to overwhelm, then all your supply will be taken by the enemy in short order. HOw is your fighter coverage in PB and Zingers?

If I had know about the effect of SYS damage on pumping, I would not have moved the Lex.

I will watch for those conditions for the PT boats, that makes good sense.

I have not ruled out a move on Kwaj, actually I have been looking at it. The Sara has 82 more days in the yard, so that is the earliest I could expect to make a move. That is plenty of time to get transports where I need them.

My fighter coverage at PB and Singapore is not very good, although PB will be getting a squadron of Hurricanes in a couple of turns. At Singapore I have about 25 Buffaloes, about half are in flying condition, but the pilots are very good.

I knew that fighters would be hard to come by so I have concentrated a respectable amount of AA at PB. IT won't stop an air raid, but it will make it expensive in bombers damaged.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

Question:

Approximately how fast will Japan run out of oil in this situation? The only major DEI source of oil he has captured is Miri.

Also, I fail to see the tactical sense in running the two KB's together at this stage of the war, especially knowing that one US CV has been sunk and two others at least damaged.

[Flicker]

Regarding your forces at Umnak Island, which include the 110th and 112th USA Base Forces - these units do not have engineers, although they do have support and aviation points. IMO - unless you need the aviation points soon, perhaps these guys could be better used elsewhere rather than eating supplies waiting for the airfield to be built. YMMV

I like to sail an AR to Abadan to repair lightly damaged ships. Abadan is a major source of fuel but has no repair yard, so the AR adds repair points to help maintain tankers and escorts. The following link is to a post by 'Alfred' entitled 'Ship Repair 101 Guide':

tm.asp?m=2990845&mpage=1&key=ship%2Crepair

RTR

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

ORIGINAL: Flicker

Regarding your forces at Umnak Island, which include the 110th and 112th USA Base Forces - these units do not have engineers, although they do have support and aviation points. IMO - unless you need the aviation points soon, perhaps these guys could be better used elsewhere rather than eating supplies waiting for the airfield to be built. YMMV

I like to sail an AR to Abadan to repair lightly damaged ships. Abadan is a major source of fuel but has no repair yard, so the AR adds repair points to help maintain tankers and escorts. The following link is to a post by 'Alfred' entitled 'Ship Repair 101 Guide':

tm.asp?m=2990845&mpage=1&key=ship%2Crepair

RTR

I pride myself on recognizing good advice when I see it, and that is excellent advice. Thanks.

WDE
28-27

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

ORIGINAL: topeverest



Please think about dedicated recon on Jone baru. if he is massing there to overwhelm, then all your supply will be taken by the enemy in short order.

Define "overwhelm". The troops there are behind forts 4 with good, and increasing morale from all of the new leaders. What kind of force would it take to "overwhelm" 1355 good troops behind level 4 forts? I am not trying to be a smart ass, but I AM trying to visualize what kind of force that would take.

[Quixote]

ORIGINAL: AU Tiger

ORIGINAL: topeverest



Please think about dedicated recon on Jone baru. if he is massing there to overwhelm, then all your supply will be taken by the enemy in short order.

Define "overwhelm". The troops there are behind forts 4 with good, and increasing morale from all of the new leaders. What kind of force would it take to "overwhelm" 1355 good troops behind level 4 forts? I am not trying to be a smart ass, but I AM trying to visualize what kind of force that would take.

If you have 1300+ AV behind level 4 forts in supply, then "overwhelming" would need to be 7 or 8 full IJA divisions, plus extra combat engineers and tanks. He probably doesn't have it right now...

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

ORIGINAL: Quixote

ORIGINAL: AU Tiger

ORIGINAL: topeverest



Please think about dedicated recon on Jone baru. if he is massing there to overwhelm, then all your supply will be taken by the enemy in short order.

Define "overwhelm". The troops there are behind forts 4 with good, and increasing morale from all of the new leaders. What kind of force would it take to "overwhelm" 1355 good troops behind level 4 forts? I am not trying to be a smart ass, but I AM trying to visualize what kind of force that would take.

If you have 1300+ AV behind level 4 forts in supply, then "overwhelming" would need to be 7 or 8 full IJA divisions, plus extra combat engineers and tanks. He probably doesn't have it right now...

And he certainly doesn't have it behind the creek. I actually feel for Skyros right now, the whole western side of the DEI is buttressed with forts and only getting stronger. That is the main reason why I am not too concerned about a possible push into Oz, I will just reinforce Burma with the new Aussies and start moving south.

I may be unfamiliar with AE, but I do think my strategic situation is quite good. Sure, the KB's are about to come through and lay waste to units, but it will cost him in irreplaceable pilots, and with my supply runs coming in from the west, I can replace the losses pretty quickly. I am basing this opinion largely on my old WitP experience, but I think I have already beaten him; he just doesn't know it yet. Please correct me on this impression if you think I am wrong, remember I am still running the WitP mindset.


EDIT: An explantion, it looks like by the time he invests Batavia, Soeabaja, and Palembang, they will be at least forts 4 with significant forces behind the forts. Any way you cut it, it will take valuable time to reduce them.

[topeverest]

Since the empire doesn't have to pay to pull units out of Manchukuo or china, a very large force could quickly be against zingers, that's is a force that could get the 2 to 1 quickly and the battle could be over in just a few combats without a protracted siege. This is what I don't know and fear for on your behalf. Not that there is much you can do about it if he does that, but at a minimum, if you know he has heavily committed to zingers through repeated recon missions, you can plan accordingly by concentrating other supply and reinforcements to PB. The way the game is developing to date, Skyros is moving slower than many empire players, and that indicates this over-mass may not occur.

In any event, with the news out, you should consider how you can get as many combat aircraft to zinger and PB. You wont be able to resist his fleet, so you will have to concentrate subs and use air to extend the life of PB (and launch strategic diversionary naval attacks elsewhere). I think he has to make a mistake, even at this stage not to take PB and zingers, but you have the advantage in the long run, because he should be slowed down considerably, and you might just hold PB.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

ORIGINAL: topeverest

Since the empire doesn't have to pay to pull units out of Manchukuo or china, a very large force could quickly be against zingers, that's is a force that could get the 2 to 1 quickly and the battle could be over in just a few combats without a protracted siege. This is what I don't know and fear for on your behalf. Not that there is much you can do about it if he does that, but at a minimum, if you know he has heavily committed to zingers through repeated recon missions, you can plan accordingly by concentrating other supply and reinforcements to PB. The way the game is developing to date, Skyros is moving slower than many empire players, and that indicates this over-mass may not occur.

In any event, with the news out, you should consider how you can get as many combat aircraft to zinger and PB. You wont be able to resist his fleet, so you will have to concentrate subs and use air to extend the life of PB (and launch strategic diversionary naval attacks elsewhere). I think he has to make a mistake, even at this stage not to take PB and zingers, but you have the advantage in the long run, because he should be slowed down considerably, and you might just hold PB.

Actually the Empire does have to pay PP to pull units from Manchuko "5. PP's must be paid to cross borders", otherwise I would have Chinese flooding into Burma.

I do have more fighters on the way, some just entered from Aden a couple of turns ago. Many more are enroute from the East Coast but will take a while to arrive.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: AU Tiger

Question:

Approximately how fast will Japan run out of oil in this situation? The only major DEI source of oil he has captured is Miri.

Also, I fail to see the tactical sense in running the two KB's together at this stage of the war, especially knowing that one US CV has been sunk and two others at least damaged.

In Scenario 2, it's not that short of a time. He begins with a stockpile of ~100 days or so. He already has Miri, and I expect he'll have Balikpapan within a reasonable time? And Tarakan. Since BP and Tarakan are "self-sufficient", with refineries matching the oil amounts, between Miri and Samarinda he'll have approx. +250 oil centers per day. It's nowhere near what he needs long term, but it's enough that his position is not dire yet.

You've got a good start, but I think he could still turn it around on you if he uses his naval superiority (and air superiority in the DEI area) to support his ground ops, and at this point I think he's going to have to postpone Burma in order to bring the Imperial Guards and 33rd Divisions down to deal with Singers and Palembang.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: AU Tiger

Question:

Approximately how fast will Japan run out of oil in this situation? The only major DEI source of oil he has captured is Miri.

Also, I fail to see the tactical sense in running the two KB's together at this stage of the war, especially knowing that one US CV has been sunk and two others at least damaged.

In Scenario 2, it's not that short of a time. He begins with a stockpile of ~100 days or so. He already has Miri, and I expect he'll have Balikpapan within a reasonable time? And Tarakan. Since BP and Tarakan are "self-sufficient", with refineries matching the oil amounts, between Miri and Samarinda he'll have approx. +250 oil centers per day. It's nowhere near what he needs long term, but it's enough that his position is not dire yet.

You've got a good start, but I think he could still turn it around on you if he uses his naval superiority (and air superiority in the DEI area) to support his ground ops, and at this point I think he's going to have to postpone Burma in order to bring the Imperial Guards and 33rd Divisions down to deal with Singers and Palembang.

The interesting thing is that he seems not to care about oil. It is kind of weird really.

And it is Scenario 1.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

22 January 1942
Aerial Carnage

After a few turns of rest on the ground, the weary remnants of the Singapore Buffalo groups too to the air again today to contest the skies. In a very fortuitous turn of events, the daily Oscar sweep followed the bombers.

Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 21
Ki-30 Ann x 18

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27b Nate: 1 destroyed
Ki-30 Ann: 10 destroyed, 2 damaged

No Allied losses




Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 20
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 30

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed, 15 damaged
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 6




Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 25 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 28

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed

The Buffalos are standing down next turn because intelligence anticipates a day or two without bombing. I am looking forward to moving some Hurricanes to Singapore, and would have done so this turn if it weren’t for the KB’s west of Java.



IJN carrier aircraft hit Soerabaja today, apparently hoping to neuter the base’s air strength. They came in two waves:

Afternoon Air attack on Soerabaja , at 56,104

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 9
A6M2 Zero x 14
B5N1 Kate x 12
B5N2 Kate x 26

Allied aircraft
B-339D x 5
CW-21B Demon x 12
75A-7 Hawk x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A5M4 Claude: 1 destroyed
B5N1 Kate: 1 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-339D: 1 destroyed

Runway hits 2




Afternoon Air attack on Soerabaja , at 56,104

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 33 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
D3A1 Val x 16

Allied aircraft
B-339D x 3
CW-21B Demon x 11
75A-7 Hawk x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 3 destroyed, 13 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-339D: 1 destroyed
CW-21B Demon: 3 destroyed
75A-7 Hawk: 2 destroyed


All in all it could have been far worse. I do not know if the Japanese intend further attacks on Soerabaja or not, but Batavia and Palembang are both on full alert. I really hope he hits Palembang with his carrier aircraft, I REALLY REALLY do! That place is wall to wall AA guns:

2 - 20mm
100 – 40mm Bofors
4 – 80mm Bofors
47 - 3.7” MkII


Many thanks to the Bullwinkle for the PT boat suggestion! The lone Dutch PT boat managed to intercept the KB 3 times and cause much consternation to the Japanese command. No torpedoes were fired, but watching the CV’s flee three times was worth it! The Philippine PT boats achieved a different result:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Clark Field at 78,76, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Chohakusan Maru, Shell hits 2
CM Shirataka, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Jinshu Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
PT-36
PT-37
PT-38
PT-39
PT-45

Reduced sighting due to 28% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 28% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 2,000 yards
CM Shirataka sunk by PT-45 at 2,000 yards
PB Chohakusan Maru engages PT-45 at 2,000 yards
PT-39 engages PB Chohakusan Maru at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
PT-45 engages PB Chohakusan Maru at 2,000 yards
PT-45 engages xAK Jinshu Maru at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
PB Chohakusan Maru engages PT-45 at 3,000 yards
PT-45 engages xAK Jinshu Maru at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
PT-39 engages xAK Jinshu Maru at 2,000 yards
PT-37 engages PB Chohakusan Maru at 2,000 yards
PT-45 engages xAK Jinshu Maru at 2,000 yards
PT-45 engages PB Chohakusan Maru at 2,000 yards
PB Chohakusan Maru engages PT-39 at 2,000 yards
PT-37 engages PB Chohakusan Maru at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
Task forces break off...

Search planes can find no Japanese shipping in the northern PI now, and interestingly enough, all of these PT boats are at Bataan and showing torpedoes loaded.

An attack, meant to be highly annoying, in the Timor vicinity since the KB’s left did not come off this turn but there is always tomorrow!

[topeverest]

gotta love PT's in restricted water at night...

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

23 January 1942
Blockade

It looks like the Japanese are finally getting serious about a blockade of the DEI, but they seem to be placing their main efforts on Java. The two carrier groups are straddling Java, the mKB to the south and the KB to the north. There is also a BB TF just to the west of Singapore. I have given orders to flood the area with subs.




One of my cargo/auxiliary TF’s was caught fleeing to the west:

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 45
B5N2 Kate x 44
D3A1 Val x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged
D3A1 Val: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
AO TAN 6, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
AD Black Hawk, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
AO TAN 3, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
AVP Pollux, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
TK Semiramis, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AO TAN 5, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
AMc Ceram, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AS Zuiderkruis, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
TK Manvantara, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
AO TAN 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AMc Bogor


Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
B5N2 Kate x 62

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 4 damaged

Allied Ships
TK Semiramis, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
TK Manvantara, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
AO TAN 5, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
AO TAN 6, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
AMc Cheribon, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
AMc Bogor, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Nells, after several unsuccessful attempts the past few days finally hit and sank the Express, one of my British ASW DD’s near Singapore.

The bright spot of the day was an air attack on Batavia by carrier aircraft:

Afternoon Air attack on Batavia , at 49,98

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
D3A1 Val x 84

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 14
B-339D x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 9 destroyed, 16 damaged
D3A1 Val: 4 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
B-339D: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
DD Van Nes, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
SS Pickerel, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk

Port hits 1
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 1

The Hurricanes are claiming 15 kills! [8|]

The Van Ness and the Pickerel both already heavily damaged and in the shipyard; all other shipping had flown the coop.

[topeverest]

the expected finally is happening...

Prob should get your shipping outta there. This you were a turn or more late getting them away, and it cost you. There will be no more supplying via status quo. You can send troops and supply overland from further west on the island if you desire, but in general, here is where your air comes into the fore. IMHO get all your air there and start an attrition war with the KB air compliment. Also mine PB if you can.

Also a really good time to do an invasion elsewhere. Even one American CV is enough to cover an invasion. Will be interesting to observe the next game month, because you are fighting your war, not his. [;)]

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

ORIGINAL: topeverest

the expected finally is happening...

Prob should get your shipping outta there. This you were a turn or more late getting them away, and it cost you. There will be no more supplying via status quo. You can send troops and supply overland from further west on the island if you desire, but in general, here is where your air comes into the fore. IMHO get all your air there and start an attrition war with the KB air compliment. Also mine PB if you can.

Also a really good time to do an invasion elsewhere. Even one American CV is enough to cover an invasion. Will be interesting to observe the next game month, because you are fighting your war, not his. [;)]

I have another TF trapped in the Celebes that I will probably lose also, but most of my shipping got away.

And yes, I am looking at options!

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

27 January 1942
PT Boats – My New Best Friends


Again many thanks to Mssr. Bullwinkle for the PT boat advice:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Iba at 78,75, Range 5,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
TB Kamo
DMS W-11, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DMS W-12
xAK Tenzan Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Yamadori Maru
xAK Yomei Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Allied Ships
PT-36
PT-37
PT-38
PT-39
PT-45, Shell hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 167 (165 destroyed, 2 disabled)

The Japanese have pulled back from the Allied held Western Chain in the DEI to, I assume, refuel, and I am trying to take advantage of the opportunity to run some more supplies to the west coast of Sumatra and to finish unloading Koepang reinforcements. The airfield there is too badly damaged still to base planes out of, but with these reinforcements perhaps I can get it operational again.

More attrition is taking place in the air over Bataan and Singapore, but the Hurricanes are taking a beating also. More air reinforcements are aboard ships heading south but are still back by Ceylon.

Forces will rendezvous for Operation (x)Fecta next turn at Rangoon, unfortunately they had to retreat from the air threat, but the Operation will move forward, although greatly modified for the current tactical situation.

Initial orders have been given for Operation San Francisco, which is to make a small countermove in the Eastern Pacific. This operation is still some weeks from taking place. As a side note to this, APD’s have arrived in PH from Seattle to try to abate the submarine threat around Hawaii; their improved ASW ratings are dearly needed.