Rise of the Sheep! JocMeister(A) vs. Obvert(J)

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

Agree. And fire-destroyed can't be repaired.

Pick the closest targets to keep fatigue down, but targets with good Manpower numbers. A bigger Manpower base seems to burn better than a large base which has a low Manpower total to start. Maybe just an impression . . .

Watch your B-29 Planes tab like a hawk. Airframe fatigue will lose you a lot of planes if you don't stand down at these ranges. Pilot fatigue makes them not fly; airplane fatigue makes them crash and burn.

But that is only if they are destroyed in a fire storm. Right?

I have been sandboxing this a little. It seems VERY hard to achieve a firestorm. At least at night!

Yeah, but so far as I know "firestorm" has never been defined.

If you're sandboxing do us all a favor and play one H-to-H and see if industry repair is an option after any destruction by fire, and if so what levels.

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

Yeah, but so far as I know "firestorm" has never been defined.

If you're sandboxing do us all a favor and play one H-to-H and see if industry repair is an option after any destruction by fire, and if so what levels.

I may be wrong here but I seem to recall seeing a screenshot where the mouseover showed "FIRESTORM"? Could it be from one of aztez AARs?

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

Yeah, but so far as I know "firestorm" has never been defined.

If you're sandboxing do us all a favor and play one H-to-H and see if industry repair is an option after any destruction by fire, and if so what levels.

I may be wrong here but I seem to recall seeing a screenshot where the mouseover showed "FIRESTORM"? Could it be from one of aztez AARs?

Maybe. I've never seen it. In AI games I've had Fires at about 500,000 in the HI. The manual talks about levels in the millions.

[1EyedJacks]

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

Yeah, but so far as I know "firestorm" has never been defined.

If you're sandboxing do us all a favor and play one H-to-H and see if industry repair is an option after any destruction by fire, and if so what levels.

I may be wrong here but I seem to recall seeing a screenshot where the mouseover showed "FIRESTORM"? Could it be from one of aztez AARs?

Maybe. I've never seen it. In AI games I've had Fires at about 500,000 in the HI. The manual talks about levels in the millions.

I think its based on the target. The manual says the greater the target manpower - the easier it is to get a fire storm going.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: 1EyedJacks

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

ORIGINAL: JocMeister



I may be wrong here but I seem to recall seeing a screenshot where the mouseover showed "FIRESTORM"? Could it be from one of aztez AARs?

Maybe. I've never seen it. In AI games I've had Fires at about 500,000 in the HI. The manual talks about levels in the millions.

I think its based on the target. The manual says the greater the target manpower - the easier it is to get a fire storm going.

That makes sense, but it would still be nice to have some boundaries. The issue is non-trivial in a late-war VP sense.

[1EyedJacks]

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

ORIGINAL: 1EyedJacks

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58




Maybe. I've never seen it. In AI games I've had Fires at about 500,000 in the HI. The manual talks about levels in the millions.

I think its based on the target. The manual says the greater the target manpower - the easier it is to get a fire storm going.

That makes sense, but it would still be nice to have some boundaries. The issue is non-trivial in a late-war VP sense.

Well - wind might make a difference too... And dry weather...

Actually - if you keep targeting the hex I think the fires merge together. The level is divided by 10 every 12 hours as the fire is put out so the only way I can see a firestorm getting to that size (as high as 40 million)is continual bombardment. Ordnance probably makes a difference too - so 4E are probably gunna be more effective than 2E.

Added: Day bomb, Night bomb, rinse and repeat...

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: 1EyedJacks


Actually - if you keep targeting the hex I think the fires merge together. The level is divided by 10 every 12 hours as the fire is put out so the only way I can see a firestorm getting to that size (as high as 40 million)is continual bombardment. Ordnance probably makes a difference too - so 4E are probably gunna be more effective than 2E.

Added: Day bomb, Night bomb, rinse and repeat...

Thats excellent info! Thank you for sharing! [:)][&o]

[JeffroK]

Its been very interesting to read back through the last 20 pages, well done in getting back into such a superior position.

Some comments on questions/strategies.

You mention "more B29 arriving, where do I use them. - Have you any bases in India/Burma which can fit them in? As well as hitting the deathstar you could also hit Saigon, Cam Rahn Bay, Haiphong, Singapore etc to support your move through IndoChina or Malaya.

Where to go after Luzon? - I'd add my vote to Formosa, with a next stage of moving along the island chaind through Okinawa towards Anami Oshima. Cherry pick the island with smaller garrisons and leave the big ones to wither.

There were suggestions of Honk Kong and push on Chunking, seems to be heading in the wrong direction!

After Formosa, maybe some Chinese port bases which are not on the rail net to support a puch out of North Vietnam if that fits your strategy.

PS Support Erik if he gets despondent to the Allied Steamroller. While the AFB goes through this in 1942 he has a shining light in the coming years, the only shining light the JFB has gets dropped from a B29!

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: JeffK

Its been very interesting to read back through the last 20 days, well done in getting back into such a superior position.

Some comments on questions/strategies.

You mention "more B29 arriving, where do I use them. - Have you any bases in India/Burma which can fit them in? As well as hitting the deathstar you could also hit Saigon, Cam Rahn Bay, Haiphong, Singapore etc to support your move through IndoChina or Malaya.

Where to go after Luzon? - I'd add my vote to Formosa, with a next stage of moving along the island chaind through Okinawa towards Anami Oshima. Cherry pick the island with smaller garrisons and leave the big ones to wither.

There were suggestions of Honk Kong and push on Chunking, seems to be heading in the wrong direction!

After Formosa, maybe some Chinese port bases which are not on the rail net to support a puch out of North Vietnam if that fits your strategy.

PS Support Erik if he gets despondent to the Allied Steamroller. While the AFB goes through this in 1942 he has a shining light in the coming years, the only shining light the JFB has gets dropped from a B29!

Hi Jeff! [:)]

Yes, I have sufficient infrastructure in place to base B29 in Rangoon atm. But most of the stuff in range have already been bombed in a prior B29 campaign. I rebased the B29s from India to Mindanao just a month ago. [:)]

I´m glad many here agree with my assessment of Formosa being a good next target. I still havn´t decided and may skip a Formosa landing and go straight for something in mainland China. As I mentioned earlier to get the Chinese army in supply would be a wet dream come true! [:D]

Erik has be a model opponent. And probably a better sport than I deserve. We have had our differences but almost always can sort them out. And if you havn´t been able to we still have a sound respect for eachother. He has put up with a lot of crying and me feeling sorry for myself through this game. Yet he has hardly mentioned the (almost) certain loss of 15 divisions in Thailand. If that had happened to me I would probably lay sobbing in the shower in a fetus position for 2 weeks.

Like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN0XRkSyhwM

[:D]

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]28th-29th November -44[/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

The eerie calm continues. But some interesting things in Thailand.

------------------------
Mindanao/Luzon
------------------------
The first troops will probably enter Manila within two weeks. Right now we shuttle troops from Cotabato/Iloilo to Luzon.

------------------------
Marianas
------------------------
I´ve started a small "air bridge" between Wake and Tinian. I have 2 empty CVEs parked outside Wake. The short legged Hellcats can now jump via the CVEs to Tinian where there is no plenty of AS.

------------------------
Thailand
------------------------
Interesting happenings. Erik has turned his superstack around to the NE instead. He probably realised I will close the hexside before he can shift. While this move gets him even farther away from his lines its the only logical one. Had he not shifted he would have been completely surrounded within a single hex in 2 weeks. This is a nuisance for me as I have to keep more troops in the area to make sure he doesn´t escape. I do have a plan though as outline in the screen.

Looks like Erik is definitely out of supplies. I have been able to drop down to 10k with the 4Es and losses are are just 3 damaged 4Es and roughly 1000 casualties caused in the last turn! [&o]

Sorry for the REALLY crappy screen. Didn´t turn out very well and I don´t have time to redo it. I´ll do better next time! [:D]

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]Bunker Hill[/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

I forgot to mention the good news! She arrived at Seattle where she will have the whole shipyard dedicated for her alone. In just two months she will return to combat! Very happy with this as I expected a lot longer after taking two TTs. [&o]

I also have some very nice reinforcements coming online in just a few days.

Bennington - 21 Days
Randolph - 22 Days
Shangri La - 56 Days
Indefatigable (81 AC Capacity) - ETA Sarmi 18 Days

This together with Bunker Hill will add 441 Carrier aircraft to the next major Allied amphibious OP. Not too shabby. Thats half a KB (whats left of it)! [&o]

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]Luzon[/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

I put together a screen of the situation. Luckily this one turned out a little bit better then my last screen! [:D]

Judging by what Erik has at Luzon this is probably pretty much what he has left. The only other major troops concentration I have found is 65k troops on Formosa. And that is small potato at this stage of the game. I´m quite happy Erik has decided to make Luzon a major effort. Its close to some excellent allied bases and only a few days sailing from the main allied port of the SW/SOPAC front (Cotabato).

I think Manila will be a beast to deal with. But with most of Erik AA stuck in Thailand my 4Es will hopefully have almost a free reign once Manila AF is closed. Most of the allied Arty will gather here to help pound Manilla to pulp. While it is in no way necessary for me to secure the base having the repair shipyard would be oh, so sweet! [&o]

I won´t burn myself trying to secure it though. If it proves too tough I will simply bypass it. The real price is not Luzon. I just need some bases here to help with the next jump. Its still too far away from the HI to REALLY matter.

I´m again nearing the point where the coil has reached full tension and is ready to explode. But I need to be patient. I lack a lot of the pieces to the puzzle. And rather than taking a chance and do something that could end in disaster I´m going to hedge my bet and wait until success is inevitable. There will be some smaller amphibious landings before 44 is up. But the main show won´t be until 45.

[DOCUP]

Box him up in the PIs hold him tight land on Formosa and let his troops rot in the PI as you move towards Tokyo.

[JeffroK]

Agree,

Take the easy land in south Luzon, land in the north at Aparri, Laoag and grab Vigan & Tugararao. Extra bases on Batan Is & the other one??.

Bring in your big invasion and feint for Lingayen but take a right and land on Formosa. Only take Hengnam as an extra airfield, it takes months to move from there to Takao.

You mention China again, what is of any value there? Great sideshow/diversion but a worse road/rail net than Burma.

If I recallyou have a ceasefire in China, what agreement did you have?

Add that to maskirovska about a landing site, [:D] Ask if HK is considered part of the ceasefire [:D]

[DOCUP]

Oh, I like the HK part.

[ny59giants]

Can we get into Manila Bay with a Bombardment TF to lay waste to his airforce?? How many old, slow BBs do you have left?? Don't forget to include DMS in TF. [;)]

Like others have mentioned, be MacArthur and by-pass some of his strongholds like Manila and keep moving forward.

[JocMeister]

Hi guys!

There will be some bypassing. As I wrote I´m preparing for the next big jump. ETA mid January. Right now I´m looking into the possibility of 2 major landings early 45. The second one looks hard though as much of my troops will be tied up on Luzon. I may find a way though! Stay tuned for target(s)! [8D]

Sorry for the lack of updates and answer. Have my nose buried in the books for the exam tomorrow morning. Electric architecture and delivery systems. Fun fun fun!

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]30th November -44[/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

Another quiet turn. Only action was in Thailand.


------------------------
Thailand
------------------------
Erik flew in some supply to his stack. Not much though. Despite being down at 10k now I only lost 8 4Es and 4 2Es. So I´ll keep going. I´ll probably do the first deliberate attack in a couple of days. Just a feeler to see in what shape his stack seems to be. Erik is still sitting at Bangkok.

Thats about it. Crazy silent right now. [X(]

No screen as there is nothing to show!

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]1st-2nd December -44[/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

Some action these two turns. I have some interesting ideas I might try in the coming days.

------------------------
Thailand
------------------------
Erik does some random sweeps nailing some of my LRCAP. I don´t like that and he actually wins today with 12-21 in A2A losses. Well two can play that game...Plan for tomorrow is to stand down the LRCAP and see if he goes all in with a massive sweep.

For now I have been happy to let Bangkok be. Erik have 600 Fighters there that he doesn´t dare do anything but pure CAP. He sweeps with a Frank group and a small Sam unit but everything else is on CAP. So in essence the base if sort of shut down.

He also does some bombing of my armor using Graces and Peggys. I´m happy with that. I´m going to let him as I want to encourage him to keep his bomber force here.

The superstack is once again out of supply. I´m going to try a deliberate here tomorrow and see how it does. My thinking here is that even if I do take lots of losses I can recover them. Erik can´t. So each destroyed or disabled squad will remain in that state.

------------------------
Okinawa (Felt really good writing that)
------------------------
I have been doing some long range recon lately trying to get a sense of Erik defenses. One thing I did find out is that Naha is virtually empty (20.000 troops). But I also found a HOARD of subs last turn. Taking a bit of a chance I sent in the B29s on a unescorted port strike. Boom?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Naha , at 95,66

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 83

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-1 Superfort: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
SS I-11, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
SS I-48, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
SS I-9, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
SS RO-47, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
SS RO-66, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
SS RO-56, Bomb hits 3, heavy damage
SS I-45, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
SS I-19, Bomb hits 2, heavy damage
SS RO-46, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
SS RO-36, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
SS RO-107, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
SS RO-109, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
SS RO-55, Bomb hits 2, heavy damage
SS RO-42, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
SS I-47, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
SS RO-45, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
SS I-37, Bomb hits 3, heavy damage
SS I-173, Bomb hits 1
AG Kiyoshima Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS RO-48, Bomb hits 1
SS I-164, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Naha , at 95,66

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 64 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 12

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-1 Superfort: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
SS I-164, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
SS I-19, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
SS I-39, Bomb hits 2, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Naha , at 95,66

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 52 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 13

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-1 Superfort: 4 damaged
B-29-1 Superfort: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
SS RO-48, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
SS I-173, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
SS RO-45, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
SS RO-55, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
SS I-39, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
SS RO-49, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
SS RO-56, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Naha , at 95,66

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 70 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 6

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-1 Superfort: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
AG Kiyoshima Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS I-19, and is sunk
SS I-37, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk

No subs are found in the morning after. Quite pleased with that. In addition to this I also found a big BB TF sitting at Naha. Erik is probably going to try a "kamikaze" attack with them. They are extremely hard to use in this stage of the war and I bet Erik would exchange his 10 BBs for 4 CAs in a heartbeat. The BBs are simply too slow to much use outside of atoll suppression or TT magnets. Just like in the real war actually!

Turns are going to be slow this week as Erik is on Iceland (lucky bastard!). He was hoping he could send a turn each evening and I got one last night. So it does look like some turns will be done.

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]Bangkok[/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

Look like Erik is really going to make a stand here. Not sure if its a good idea or not. I guess we will find out in a few weeks!

What I do know is that its a very bad idea to try and defend a clear hex. It sure looks like that exactly what Erik is trying to do. Tomorrow he will see why thats a bad idea!

He will reach the hex before my crossing troops will as I still have 4 days left. If it looks like he is shifting a lot I will postpone the crossing. I don´t have any support troops crossing right now. Only 5 IDs and the SEA command HQ. But Arty, HQs and combat engineers are moving down the road and will arrive in about 2 weeks. It might be worth the wait.