Islands of Destiny: RA 5.0 Japanese Side

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

It is time to fight.

Don't forget to give ample time for your crews to 'repair' all your new planes, before plunging your CVs into battle. What's consensus on this with so many new plane types with SR=2? 7-10 days?

Good Note. Everyone is resting and SHOULD be good in about 5-6 days. KB arrives at Batavia this turn and refuels. Will slowly advance NW (avoiding several SS near Oosthaven) tomorrow.

Totaled Aircraft on board: 654 Available for use.

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
December 20, 1942

It sometimes amazes me that the--seemingly--slowest turns can have the most work time associated with them. Heavy planning turn this day.

North--Central Pacific
Calm

South Pacific
Noumea
Supply jumps from nearly ZERO to 4,000 and so I order an Deliberate attack by the two Brigades of 56th ID. We'll see what state those four Regiment-Brigades are in. Want to force Dan to move back in this direction if possible.

Lots of Air Search flying. I'll know when he comes out to seriously play. Should give me two days of warning. Looks like he's sending a TF of DDs up to mess with Noumea. Order Vals and other bombers to ready themselves. They should be in range tomorrow. Should also have reformed my STF (2 CL and 7DD) at Noumea tomorrow.

Koumac
11th Air Fleet in fully unloaded and we are ready to PLAY! Loaded 100 Torps so we have plenty to play with...

Naval Components
1. CVEs (6 CVEs, 3 CA, and 9 DD) are just west of Horn Island. Order Zeros back up for CAP and establish way points for the TF to move (hopefully not to be spotted/identified) alongthe southern coast of New Guinea. Wish I had the time to move them along the north side but felt they needed to get over ASAP when they left seven days ago.

2. CVLs (3 CVL and 5 DD) are halfway between Truk and Rabaul heading for Koumac.

3. AS soon as they are in supporting range of each other I am going to adjust their air groups so my Kates/Jills on on CVL/CVEs with Torps. These ships could enable the Empire to score one heck of a surprise and, potentially, a BIG victory...

Port Moresby
A small group of SBDs have established themselves at Cooktown. On the 19th they hit two AKs and sank one. This day I set a CAP Trap and 12 Zeros shoot down ALL of the American planes. NICE.

Sumatra
TJB
The 10th ID is now one hex north of the base. I bombard and find a beat-up ID, Brigade, and two smaller units present.

The 14th (returned from Sibolga) moves into the hex NW of TJB and will attack the retreating Allied units that fled Sibolga.

2nd ID is moving to TJB to continue refitting with the aid of 2nd Area Army and 40,000 supply there.

Nias
The Nias IF departs Padang for its target. Two Assault units are at about 35-40% Prep and will land under the cover of BB Fuso's guns as well as 2 CAs. A separate Bombardment Force will strike ahead of the landing.

Malaya
Wow. Moving LOTS of units to Taiping, Alor Star, and Georgetown. Set three Sentai of Tojo to rest for the upcoming battle over Sabang.

Supply TF
I cannot believe it but it appears that I will slip all three of my supply convoys right under Dan's nose! Two of the three pass Phuket and are home free. The third one is just a hex behind so things look excellent here. Man---If I can transport and unload 150,000 supply in Burma the situation may just change.

Burma
Port Blair
Hit by the normal 28 or so 4EB. Cannot repair the facilities fast enough! Really need to bring the CVs close enough to provide LRCAP and smack those planes down. Not going to happen so we'll just be patient here.

54,49
The hex between Prome and my 21st ID east of Ramree has one Allied unit in it. Bombarded and found the 254th Armored Brigade. I have seriously beat on this unit a couple times in the last two months. It is about to happen again! Order a Shock Attack by my two Inf units and 2 TK Reg present.

If this attack is successful, then I am really going to up the ante. The 2nd TK Div and two Inf Div are headed to Prome and will then move to 54,49 and, finally, then attack the 3 units (plus 254th if driven back) in the hex north of Prome. Could be a VERY important move...

China
I finally begin driving out the Chinese units in hex 76,53. Shock Attack this turn and crush a Chinese Corps inflicting 2,103 Casualties. Will drive the other one out tomorrow.

Notes:
1. Already Posted on SS OPs.
2. I am highly aware that January 1, 1943 is about here and, with it, operational American TTs. Have been arranging my convoys to make sure there at least 2-3 escorts present as well as lay a carpet of ASW planes along the choke point areas.

[pws1225]

This is going to be fun to watch!

[zuluhour]

I believe US torpedo's gain 10% of reliability per month or so. They do not turn suddenly deadly.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: zuluhour

I believe US torpedo's gain 10% of reliability per month or so. They do not turn suddenly deadly.

As I recall, in January '43 torpedoes above a certain dud % have 20% subtracted from that %. In September '43 they are all reduced to 10% dud rate.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: zuluhour

I believe US torpedo's gain 10% of reliability per month or so. They do not turn suddenly deadly.

As I recall, in January '43 torpedoes above a certain dud % have 20% subtracted from that %. In September '43 they are all reduced to 10% dud rate.

Yep. It's sudden. On/off. Poof. Can't wait. [:)]

[Chickenboy]

39th Division looks terrible. The others are marginally better. Are you planning on taking 39th out of the line for recuperation?

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

39th Division looks terrible. The others are marginally better. Are you planning on taking 39th out of the line for recuperation?

High--High disruption. Yes: that ID is headed back to Kweilin. Already given the orders.

[SuluSea]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

It is time to fight.

Don't forget to give ample time for your crews to 'repair' all your new planes, before plunging your CVs into battle. What's consensus on this with so many new plane types with SR=2? 7-10 days?

Good Note. Everyone is resting and SHOULD be good in about 5-6 days. KB arrives at Batavia this turn and refuels. Will slowly advance NW (avoiding several SS near Oosthaven) tomorrow.

Totaled Aircraft on board: 654 Available for use.

In the future when heading through sub infested choke points you may want to consider putting all your CV air (save escorts/CAP) on naval attack with 40% sea search 2 to 6k while passing through . You'll send a good amount of SS limping home if they're lucky.


Once the enemy knows you're in the IO he'll probably turn apprehensive, especially if he doesn't know exactly where the KB is. Turning out the lights for a few turns or more may give your bombardment forces a few extra passes while the CVs sail west. You also have the advantage of sea search with your float plane equipped I boats make sure they have good search skills and get them in the area if they aren't already and you may be able to ping his CVs if they are still operating in IO and bag something.

I understand I'm a rank amateur when it comes to some of the JFBs here , I apologize if I'm posting repetitive stuff.

[zuluhour]

That's news, I thought it was a gradual increase in reliability. This is good news for me.

ps nice to see ya around Sulu.

[John 3rd]

GOOD comments Sir. I am not leaving Batavia until next turn so we'll see if we can get a few of those SS. I REALLY like the idea of letting my opponent KNOW we're back and then make him wonder WHERE we'll come from. Nice thinking.

[Sangeli]

I read both yours and Dan's AAR and I have to say that I find yours to be much better. Sometimes its hard to believe that you guys are playing against eachother because what he talks about often has no correlation to what you discuss. But it seems to me that you cover a lot more and often times Dan mentions nothing about what I consider critical and important actions which you discuss. Which is interesting because his thread is more than twice as long as yours.

Anyway keep up the good work. I have to say that I'm rather impressed how you are handling the Malaya and Sumutra situation. Dan surely has his work cut out for him!

[John 3rd]

Appreciate the thoughts Sangeli. Dan has a great following within the Forum. We go back nearly a decade from Uncommon Valor to WitP and finally AE. He is a gentleman with a fine turn of wit and reading his early AAR from our previous match was something else. We each have out own styles of writing an AAR. I am one who hates Posting endless combat reports and prefer a narrative with honest thinking and commentary as to what is happening, planning, and reactions to good or bad developments. This AAR might have more discussion and twists in it if I had more tiem to write and work on the game. Life is still frightfully busy and it really is a chore sometimes to get a turn in (let alone add to the AAR).

The Malaya and Sumatra situation has improved because Dan allowed it to. He should have gone even further where I couldn't have had any chance of responding to him. There was a window of 4-5 days where NOTHING really stood between him and ANYTHING he wanted in the Sumatra area. After that time I had air assets redeployed, however, my vulnerability continued for another full week before the Kaigun arrived. He should have gone way farther in that time then he did. I truly feared that but, luckily, he didn't. This has given me the chance to make this competitive. Still a tough and difficult row to hoe but there is hope now in at least getting things pretty well under control...perhaps...MAYBE!

[zuluhour]

As you can probably guess, a great deal of Dan's AAR deals with other topics. I would venture 25% of it is devoted to unrelated topics. Sometimes the reading of both (which I do) seems completely incongruent to me. I have discussed this war with several on the forum by PM and one by phone. The strategy employed is immensely interesting. Keep up the great read John.

[JohnDillworth]

I read both yours and Dan's AAR and I have to say that I find yours to be much better.

Dan has been a bit out of character lately. Most of his posts are usually quite detailed and about the campaign in question but he seems a bit cranky lately. Hang in there, he is a verbose son of a gun, he will be back. As for the other conversations.....well some of us a bit verbose too. The movie thread was kind of my fault[:)] . Now if you want some interesting reading watch when GreyJoy gets cranked upped

[John 3rd]

Thanks Zulu. Am glad we're entertaining SOMEONE! I went back to when Dan originally landed andjust how depressed I was as well as--at that moment--sensing a true opportunity to make a decisive attack. With Malaya mine again, hew has NO SUPPORT from anything close while Singers is RIGHT THERE (as well as Batavia and Soerabaja. We'll see how this plays out but the initiative has definitely shifted some. He is still in control but my push back is really beginning to be felt (I hope).

John: I think what you are sensing in Dan being 'cranky' is his near to complete burnout regarding the game. Our phone chats have been quite enlightening and I respect his position. If he wants to stop at any point it will be granted.


On the other hand this is REALLY FUN at the moment!

[obvert]

Your return to the IO is something that should be veiled until he has to find out, IMHO. He'll find out soon enough, but what if he chances something just as you get in a day's range? Better let that happen than turn on the sirens before he has a chance to blunder somehow.

Keep your thinking where it's been lately. You've really been seeing the bigger picture well and I've been impressed with how methodically you've gotten back into this and begun pushing back. Make sure everything is done on your terms and at your pace. This is a huge opportunity. If you can push the Allies off of Sumatra those are some huge losses and it'll take a good bit of time getting anything else online. Plus, you may get to dance with the CVs, and right now if all of your are together, you have the lead in that one.

Sweep, sweep, sweep!

[John 3rd]

Good Morning All.

Things are on MY terms presently. If we have a CV Battle it will be of my choice. With Sibolga going to Lvl-2 AF, I have the chance to truly get after Sabang. Once again, we'll strike when Georgetown, Alor Star, TJB, and Sibolga are ready. I want the first day to be absolutely devastating. With over 1,200 planes in the area, PLUS KB, we can really bring some serious hurt to the Allied Force. Additionally the KB will positioned to SLAUGHTER his remaining vessels fleeing the area and have Betty--Nells to hit everything disbanded in Port. If we can seriously attrit his fighter force again and then launch a series of attacks described above, he will be forced to put up or shut up with his CVs. THAT will be the moment of decision in this game.

We have had to take 48 hours off due to my Mother making a semi-surprise visit to the Cochran Household. Got a call at the store Friday about 2:30pm saying 'do you want a visitor?' I said 'when.?' In about eight hours...

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Thanks Zulu. Am glad we're entertaining SOMEONE! I went back to when Dan originally landed andjust how depressed I was as well as--at that moment--sensing a true opportunity to make a decisive attack. With Malaya mine again, hew has NO SUPPORT from anything close while Singers is RIGHT THERE (as well as Batavia and Soerabaja. We'll see how this plays out but the initiative has definitely shifted some. He is still in control but my push back is really beginning to be felt (I hope).

John: I think what you are sensing in Dan being 'cranky' is his near to complete burnout regarding the game. Our phone chats have been quite enlightening and I respect his position. If he wants to stop at any point it will be granted.


On the other hand this is REALLY FUN at the moment!

I remember that Dan quit the game cold turkey for a while. He is a bit addicted as we all tend to be. You might offer to give him the month of September as break. Tell him to go and be nice to his family....[;)] and you can get some work done on that caboose...

[John 3rd]

If he wants to take time off that is fine.

This brings up the simple topic of much AE can one play? I stopped for 5-6 weeks due to a crazy schedule (and--CR--needing to get the caboose open). The break was welcome and I found, surprisingly, that I didn't miss it too much. There was withdrawal but not as much as I would imagine. Think it wasn't too bad due to working on RA 6.0. Was still working on the game just not playing it. The problem I really had was that my Australian Invasion game had ended and I still had the slow moving game with Viperpol (who was kicking my BUTT) and Dan's. Viperpol really got the short end of the shaft and I apologized for that. Had to make serious choices regarding just what I could afford to do and how much time I could allow for the game. These were, honestly, very difficult decisions. Reality is that I can barely handle one game right now. Unlike me, Dan has the time to play but has played SOOOOO much for so long I think he simply needs to walk away and charge his batteries some.

My .02...