Turnaround? Lowpe (J) vs Tiemanj (A) Stock

[Lowpe]

Nauru Island. If you remember, when I took over, there was nothing here and no hope of getting anything here for almost 3 weeks.

However, I managed to reinforce and now at least it is a speed bump. In addition to the troops listed here Nauru is getting the 1st Base Force this day. I plan on potentially fighting here if given the chance thru 1943.

The mini KB and Nagato class BB are around to help, plus Nauru now sports 50 well trained planes half Zeroes and half Vals.

Can't believe I still have this atoll given how the Allies are so aggressive in this game, and on my very first turn I lost Tarawa...

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna
Disband in port and hope for the best is my usual course of action. I think ports provide more assistance than you get from an escort TF (if any escorts even provide assistance). Obviously, bigger ports are better.

It's still largely dependent upon crew and system damage. I might look at the ship's commander in this case - DMS hulls are valuable. I believe Inspiration is the attribute that affects damage control rolls. Check to see if the skipper has good stats?

With 66 Sys and 25 Fire, I'd say 50/50 you lose her.

I think you are right. I tried earlier in this game to save a 2 point minelayer that was on fire by putting it into a rather large small ship task force and she went up like a torch. Better off in port as soon as possible.

I put the odds at 80 percent I lose here...the system damage is getting very high, but I did swap out her Captain to a very good one. Will see if that helps.

[Lowpe]

The game probably will be on hold for a while. Tiemanj has been transferred at work and has to move in 2 weeks.

Will update as we run turns...

[Lowpe]

Ever had one of those turns were the replay just makes you absolutely cringe in horror, and then, after the replay and you start investigating the damage done it was quite minor?

In the Indian Ocean the CL OI tangles with the CL Ceres and Sumatra at 1000 yards and she is thoroughly manhandled and later sinks, and does only minor damage to the the Ceres.

Not a good start to the day, however the Oi's distress calls are heard, in fact a task force drops everything to respond...

[Lowpe]

The Ceres and Sumatra were obliterated in the Indian Ocean by Japan's secret weapon's first naval engagement:

Main guns expended three rounds of ammunition.[:D]

[Lowpe]

And then three ships hit his minefields, two DMS sweeping in the Kuriles, and a sub chaser near Merak. The Sub Chaser goes down, the DMS hurt badly.

However, after three mine hits, several mines are cleared and the IJN catches a DM loitering in the Kuriles and puts her down like a bad dog.

[Lowpe]

Allied night time bombing raids on Magwe are disrupted by Oscars for no damage, but here is where I start to really cringe, because night time bombing runs usually point to an all out bombing attack by the Allies and I have a poor track record of stopping him...

I was getting nervous about Batavia, and the quiet Allied bombers, and decided to send almost everything I had, bomber wise, against the airfield there.

And, surprise, surprise the sweeps go in first clearing the skies of Hurricanes for equal damage and then the bombers go in.

The bombers net 28 runways hits, 6 airbase hits, and 3 airbase supply hits. Not great, but none lost and the Helen IIa, armored, didn't even have any planes damaged.

[Lowpe]

But here is where I really start to cringe: Allied bombers hit Singers, the port, from Batavia.

As fate would have it, I had just shipped out a slug of AA units and weakened the CAP to get some more fighter units training.

[Lowpe]

And then, in the Kuriles I had two surface groups meet at Paramushiro. My planes did not fly (could not locate target or bad weather), much, but his did and he pummels me by racing his CV's into range.

Another smaller group snares the CL task force for a hit or two, too.

Argh...what was I thinking?

[Lowpe]

And finally, my Rufes don't fly and his bombers hit some destroyers fast transporting some troops into Ocean Island in the Pacific.

[Lowpe]

Wow, I got trashed....thoroughly.

But, then I got to looking at the actual damage done...I lost the Oi, a sub chaser, and 2 victory point CM. Damage on all the other ships, except for the two DMS, was relatively minor.

On the down side this performance doesn't bode well for the lilly db being effective with her small 100 kg bombs...[:(]

[Lowpe]

So, I dodged a bullet...

The situation in the North. I have two fairly strong surface groups at Paramushiro: 2BB & 5 Destroyers (Fuso damaged), and 1 CL and 6 Destroyers. The other CL damaged and needs to retire with 20 system...

I don't think there is anyway I could close with his carriers, but I am tempted to try. Planes flying from Paramushiro are really unreliable, but there is 30 Zeroes there and 70 bombers.

Results like today will encourage him to work this theater more I hope -- the KB is three days away...

[Lowpe]

Disbanded in a level 1 port with a high inspiration leader...the DMS W-21 looks doomed, but we will hold out hope for her. I am going to race an AG there, maybe that will help.

[mind_messing]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

On the down side this performance doesn't bode well for the lilly db being effective with her small 100 kg bombs...[:(]

I wouldn't be so sure. Some AA guns and light damage will force some downtime. Plus, the Lily dive-bombers should be after amphibious ships and the like - not battleships.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: mind_messing
I wouldn't be so sure. Some AA guns and light damage will force some downtime. Plus, the Lily dive-bombers should be after amphibious ships and the like - not battleships.

I hope so...and I am set on that path now, no going back.

I was so cringing and groaning thru the last replay, and then I run tracker and find out I picked up well over 20 victory points...with no strange base vp fluctuations. I actually shot down a B17 in air to air combat...go Tojo! [:)]

I am now at 420 Ha-35 engines, only 4 more days and I can start building fighters again. So far, I have managed to accelerate three months (twice for the A6M5C and one for the Oscar IV) -- in about 50 days of game time. What a pitiful accomplishment for a realistic R&D off pdu on game. I will get the Myojo, Betty 3a, and Tojo IIc so things are a changing.

[Lowpe]

After giving it a fair amount of thought I have decided to retreat in the Kuriles and not seek a night engagement. I want him to hang around for a few more days. To this end I started loading a division, a brigade, 2 anti-tank units, 2 engineers, and 3 armored units on to transports that were all previously prepping for his base (between 30-60 percent).

I hope this triggers his sigint and gets his mouth watering...he is so aggressive, surely sticking around and hitting loaded transports will be a temptation to great for him to deny.

Setting up for some coordinated submarine raids in a day or two, plus the usual cap traps, will be ready to attack Soerabaja in two days again. Should take 3 bases this turn.

After looking more at depth this most recent turn, my DMS were shelled by his coastal battery as they cleared minefields and not hitting his mines. My bad.

[Lowpe]

Sept 19, 1942

I lose an AV, and AG and a SC all to submarines this day. The entire 9 plane Pete group went down even though it was during the day and they were flying ASW.

On the good side of the ledger, took Merak and Babo causing the 7th RAA Coastal Artillery Regiment to surrender. Tankers are already filling up with oil at Babo which was full and undamaged.

In the Kuriles the Yankees retreated...

[Lowpe]

My poor little DMS is still burning. The trend is definitely not good. An AG, if that will help, is one or two days out.

What is DEV?

[Lokasenna]

It should be short for 'devices'.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

It should be short for 'devices'.

Thank you, and that definitely makes sense.