Command Decisions: Yeomen vs. Samurai RA 6.4

[moore4807]

ORIGINAL: pws1225

ORIGINAL: robinsa

May I ask what resolution youre playing in? I like the size of your counters!

In some circles, this could be a very effective pickup line.[8|]

I won't, I just will not, respond to that softball pitch... [:D][:D][:D]

Good one pws1225 LOL!

[Mike McCreery]

ORIGINAL: moore4807

ORIGINAL: Encircled

What they said.

If you are going to go for Palmyra, I'd make bloody sure that the KB is nowhere near before even attempting it.

The example you quoted of not being able to use 4 USN DD's to escort an ANZAC Troop convoy because of house rules is just mental btw. Its a daft rule, on a massive pro-JFB scenario against a really good player. You don't need the extra complications at this stage of the game.

You know the line about laying awake at night thinking about it... well the KB I mean![;)]

First I'm glad to see you back around and posting. [:)] With the Kaga and Soryu down around Palmyra, he doesn't have a "full" KB left... but what is left is fully capable of smashing me if he finds me. I see CV activity over by Singapore which is where I think he has another CV component, so its possible he has split the CV's into three groups since I'm getting some intel reports from the search planes of CVE's west of Johnston Is.

It's not that i can't use the USN DD's to escort Larry's ANZAC shipping, I didn't want to pay 24 PP's X4 DD's to do it. [;)]

Well then. Easy work around. Have the ANZAC troop convoy follow the DD's because they happen to be going in the same direction

[moore4807]

ORIGINAL: neilm85uk

Hi all,
I'm not an experienced player so feel free to ignore me as some kind of newb but...

Let him come. Let him have Palmyra now he's there. S-boats from Pearl can screen in front and sink his supply, B-17's on search can see everything going on and help you direct your subs. The further he stretches the more vulnerable he is when you have proper amphibious groups and supply is his soft underbelly. Reroute as many ships as possible to EC - CT - Perth and get troops up to Port Hedland area and Charters Towers area and offer him cross country down the middle of Oz when he comes. by then you'll have the troops to cut off significant forces in the desert.

I've written this like it instructions when it is supposed to be a strategic idea. He might go for India of course in which case...carry on!

Welcome aboard neilm85uk!

Glad to have you and we hope you can learn just as we are learning as we go along! Feel free to post and ask away!

My opinion is he really can't have Palmyra Is because if you look at the map it is one of the choke points to send supply & fuel to Australia and any offensive that starts in the Southern Pacific!

I need Palmyra as an early warning base for Search, ASW and refueling ops down there and really above all to take it back from him, will speak volumes as to early Allied intentions, sorta the psychOps saying you can take it but you can't keep it!

[moore4807]

ORIGINAL: Wargmr

ORIGINAL: moore4807

ORIGINAL: Encircled

What they said.

If you are going to go for Palmyra, I'd make bloody sure that the KB is nowhere near before even attempting it.

The example you quoted of not being able to use 4 USN DD's to escort an ANZAC Troop convoy because of house rules is just mental btw. Its a daft rule, on a massive pro-JFB scenario against a really good player. You don't need the extra complications at this stage of the game.

You know the line about laying awake at night thinking about it... well the KB I mean![;)]

First I'm glad to see you back around and posting. [:)] With the Kaga and Soryu down around Palmyra, he doesn't have a "full" KB left... but what is left is fully capable of smashing me if he finds me. I see CV activity over by Singapore which is where I think he has another CV component, so its possible he has split the CV's into three groups since I'm getting some intel reports from the search planes of CVE's west of Johnston Is.

It's not that i can't use the USN DD's to escort Larry's ANZAC shipping, I didn't want to pay 24 PP's X4 DD's to do it. [;)]

Well then. Easy work around. Have the ANZAC troop convoy follow the DD's because they happen to be going in the same direction

Yeah except I sent them to Dutch Harbor and they caught up and escorted some phillipine AKL's up there... its surprisingly the best I've ever done against AI or player in the Thundering Herd move...[8D] DD John Ford (I think its either them or the Pope) is going back to Seattle for repairs but the other three DD's are going to stay and harrass the "borrowed" Aleutian Is' up there, maybe draw J3 into sending some more forces up there...

[moore4807]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jan 02, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm pretty sure these are Larry's ships, but another reason to eject J3 from the area. [;)]

Submarine attack near Palmyra at 181,127
Japanese Ships
SS I-9

Allied Ships
xAK Iron Knight, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Submarine attack near Palmyra at 181,127

Japanese Ships
SS I-9

Allied Ships
xAK Iron Chieftan, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage


Sub captain elects NOT to shoot at me! Ohhh the temerity (yeah I had to look the word up [8D]) !

Sub attack near San Diego at 226,79
Japanese Ships
SS I-4

Allied Ships
PC Cahoone
PC Diligence

Captain of SS I-4 elects not to launch torpedoes at this target


I finally remembered to send these poor souls back to Manila after this... D'oh!

Morning Air attack on TF, near Iba at 78,75
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 1 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 0 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27b Nate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
MTB 10, Shell hits 1, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
MTB 11
MTB 12
MTB 26
MTB 7
MTB 27
MTB 9


Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Iba at 78,75
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 3 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 0 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27b Nate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
MTB 8
MTB 11, Shell hits 2
MTB 27
MTB 26
MTB 12, Shell hits 2


Honorable opponent referred to my "Big Brassy Ones" after this action! BTW... I told him to call me BULL...[:D]

Morning Air attack on Midway Island , at 158,91
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 8
SBD-2 Dauntless x 12

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Hamburg Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Tenyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CM Okinoshima, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Nagara, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Otori Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Port hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
11 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb


Morning Air attack on TF, near Midway Island at 158,91
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
SBD-2 Dauntless x 14

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-2 Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Yunagi
DD Asanagi, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb


Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Midway Island at 158,91
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 8
SBD-2 Dauntless x 14

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Yunagi
DD Ushio, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Asanagi, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Asanagi


The inevitable is coming... probably try a bombardment next turn to see if I can slow him down some.

Ground combat at Manila (79,77)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 1275 troops, 90 guns, 93 vehicles, Assault Value = 447
Defending force 58136 troops, 756 guns, 791 vehicles, Assault Value = 1687

Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 15 (4 destroyed, 11 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
15 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



Means nothing, but a curious side note to an interesting day...

Ground combat at Iba (78,75)
Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 0 troops, 0 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 8
Defending force 5540 troops, 89 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 208

Japanese adjusted assault: 0
Allied adjusted defense: 163
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 99 (fort level 0)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-)
experience(-)
Attacker: op mode(-), leaders(+), fatigue(-), supply(-)

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 7 (5 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Combat Report enclosed

[Encircled]

Wagmr summed it up perfectly for me.

If you and Larry are happy playing with that HR then play away!

BTW, keep remembering that in all his AAR's John likes to sink ships. Loves it in fact. Probably takes risks that most player wouldn't to do it.

I'm not saying he will be waiting for you, but one of the reasons he's taken Palmyra is probably to tempt you out.

[neilm85uk_MatrixForum]

Thanks for the welcome. Try to think of me as a green lieutenant you've invited to the planning meeting to gain experience! I've already learnt a great deal.

Palmyra looks to me like an invitation to step outside... When you get out there you find the guys got three friends with baseball bats. I wouldn't do this unless I knew, and I mean could see on the map, where the KB is.

Could you retake / reinforce Johnston (can't remember if you still have it) instead of Palmyra. I'm trying to think of the best way to use his overextension against him. I understand the desire to hit back as I'm playing the allies in my own game but the risks are very high if there is another forward base available where your attack is not expected. I've not got the map in front of me and have a feeling Johnston is to far away to perform an effective blockade by air.

I'm not trying to force my point, just to look at it dispassionately, the way I can't in my own game

[moore4807]

Hey folks,

Today in an e-mail to us John may have inadvertently given up this intel tidbit... He was telling Larry not to worry so much about losses, as his CARDIV2 was parked outside Singers to ensure air coverage at Palembang. Ergo he has CARDIV1 and maybe CARDIV5 in the Eastern Pacific. CARDIV5 was seen approx 10 hexes southwest of Johnston Is. last turn. CARDIV1 is east of Palmyra Is. and only has 2CV and 2CVL's per Larry's suicide AP.

Conclusions:
1) of the six carriers, I'm facing likely 4 of them and another 2-3 CVL/CVE's between the two groups. I have 3 CV's at San Diego waiting on fighters to fill out the groups, Big E is diverting to Johnston Is. to intercept his Inv TF heading there. The Amp TF and the Bombardment TF are both going to Pearl to re-form...
2) I emailed Larry today regards to John's capabilities in Australia after he sweeps up the S.R.A. I think all of the northern facing Australian bases are vulnerable and we don't have the ability to stop J3 there right now. [8|]
3) I'm thinking about trying to find a place to attack J3 to get him to back up some... Maybe Wake or Tarawa/Makin Is.???

I am going to forgo the house rule about Larry and I needing PP's to use each other's ships, planes and troops. Other than the standard restrictions on restricted troops crossing borders. I have yet to actually tell Larry... so I will shoot him an e-mail as soon as this is done.[:(]

I'll get to posting the Combat Report tomorrow, I'm trying to upgrade the HDD in my Dell tonight and I'm only 2/3 done the back up after 3 hours! [8|] Replacing a WD 500GB 5400rpm with a 1TB 7400rpm... wish me luck!

[larryfulkerson]

Just a little bump to keep us on page one: This is ALL the non-computer off-map traffic and as you can see most of it is supplies headed
for Perth. A little fuel going to Perth also. There's still ships headed for Cape Town and I can't turn them around yet so I'll have to let
them get there and then decide what to do w/ them. I'm sending some traffic to Eastern USA for goodies. So the empty ships coming to
Cape Town will have to be redirected to EUSA until Cape Town replenishes itself. Probably about four days or so. I'm guessing.

[larryfulkerson]

I'm not sure what happened here but somehow the endurance of this computer-controlled TF turned red and the route code was
"Safer" instead of "Direct" like everybody else. So I changed the Route Code to "Direct" and the endurance is STILL in red and
I'm not sure what caused it to turn red and evidently nothing I do changes it non-red so I guess it will sort itself out in about 7 days
when it reaches the base it's headed for.

[EHansen]

I have seen this also, but it doesn't seem to make any difference. I think it might be just a display issue, not a problem with the TF.

[larryfulkerson]

Yeah, I agree it doesn't seem to make a difference and everything. I'm just used to finding things to worry about. It's just that the endurance needed is like almost 10K or so.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: larryfulkerson

Yeah, I agree it doesn't seem to make a difference and everything. I'm just used to finding things to worry about. It's just that the endurance needed is like almost 10K or so.

Red endurance numbers off-map are meaningless. Just about every TF of mine that leaves CT for EC at Full speed is red leaving the dock. They arrive just fine. All of the off-map "movement" is just math and tables. It's not the "x,y" math used on the map for fuel calculations.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: larryfulkerson

Just a little bump to keep us on page one: This is ALL the non-computer off-map traffic and as you can see most of it is supplies headed
for Perth. A little fuel going to Perth also. There's still ships headed for Cape Town and I can't turn them around yet so I'll have to let
them get there and then decide what to do w/ them. I'm sending some traffic to Eastern USA for goodies. So the empty ships coming to
Cape Town will have to be redirected to EUSA until Cape Town replenishes itself. Probably about four days or so. I'm guessing.

A suggestion; I can't tell enough from your screenshot to see if you have a problem.

Look at the LCU arrival queue for the auto-convoys arriving at CT over the next six months. Most carry a lot of supply, but little fuel. Often it's a ratio of circa 30 supply ships for two tankers (plus devices for the pool dump of course.) You will shortly have a lot of supply at CT for free. But it's very, very easy to pull CT dry of fuel getting everything onto the map and to Oz. I'd move a LOT of xAKs to hauling fuel from EC to CT. I have over 80% of my total fuel moving in xAKs and xAKLs in 1942. The tankers just don't exist to do the job, and you need them on map to efficiently use your limited escorts and get max fuel to operating bases. xAKs can run without escorts off-map.

In one of my games I haven't pulled one ton of supply out of EC and CT has over 400,000 supply on hand in mid/late-1942. Move fuel. You'll be glad you did.

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

ORIGINAL: larryfulkerson
Yeah, I agree it doesn't seem to make a difference and everything. I'm just used to finding things to worry about. It's just that the endurance needed is like almost 10K or so.

...Just about every TF of mine that leaves CT for EC at Full speed is red leaving the dock. They arrive just fine.....

I can see why you seem to win your games. You've got THAT kind of mind that looks for loopholes and seldom used rules etc. Running my task forces at full speed from CT to EC might just win the game for Jim and I and I thank you for your good idea. I, on the
other hand, am trying to fight this war with a realistic frame of mind. And I would tend to find your idea "gamey" ( used by those who
want to win ). To tell you the truth I'm not all that keen about Jim and John3rd using their floatplanes as offensive weapons. Jim likes
to use his PBY's that way a lot as I can tell you from previous games I've played w/ him. And it's true that PBY's did carry bombs and
mines etc. so it's not such a big deal. What strikes me as gamey is using floatplanes as weapons. Sorry that's just how I feel. It's not
like this is the last game I'm ever going to play and it's not a game stopper just a minor heartburn.

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58
In one of my games I haven't pulled one ton of supply out of EC and CT has over 400,000 supply on hand in mid/late-1942. Move fuel. You'll be glad you did.

Thank you very much for your advice. It's treasured. I'm learning a lot from this game and actually it's one of the better games I think.
I'm glad to be a part of it. Good allies and good opponent. And great advice from the community. Thanks.

[Encircled]

Larry, you have to run fuel from the EC to CT

You just have to

You don't have to do full speed if you think its gamey, but you have to follow Bullwinkles advice on this one. Oz just won't have the fuel otherwise and then you are in real trouble.

[EHansen]

The problem with using PBYs for Naval Attack is that their replacement rate is very low. I always seem to lose enough to ops and CAP over enemy bases that I can't afford to lose them on Naval Attack missions. Sinking a ship or two is not enough if you end up not having enough eyes to see KB coming to visit.

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: Encircled
Larry, you have to run fuel from the EC to CT
You just have to
You don't have to do full speed if you think its gamey, but you have to follow Bullwinkles advice on this one. Oz just won't have the fuel otherwise and then you are in real trouble.

Yeah, I was going to run the fuel alrighty, I just don't seem to want to go full speed from port to port. They didn't do that during the war
and it just strikes me as gamey and unrealistic. But the fuel is going to get through. I thank you for your interest and I appoligize if I've
hurt anyone's feelings.

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: EHansen
The problem with using PBYs for Naval Attack is that their replacement rate is very low. I always seem to lose enough to ops and CAP over enemy bases that I can't afford to lose them on Naval Attack missions. Sinking a ship or two is not enough if you end up not having enough eyes to see KB coming to visit.

And the Allies can't jack up the replacement rate like the Japs can. I agree completely. Something that comes to mind is that saying
about a craftsman uses the right tool to do the job. Something like that.