Pacific Debut - PetrOs (A) vs Arto K (J), no Arto K please

[PetrOs]

So, its time to start. My very first PBEM game. We agreed on using the scenario 2, latest beta.
Agreed settings are
• Turn cycle: 1 days
• Fog of war: yes
• Adv weather effects: yes
• Allied damage control: yes
• Player defined upgrades: yes
• Historical 1st turn: no
• Dec 7th surprise: no
• Reliable USN torpedoes: no
• Realistic R&D: yes
• No unit withdrawals: yes

Now, its time to go to drawing board and see what is it like to play a real opponent. I am gladly open to any tips and ideas

[Lokasenna]

I'm also playing Arto. Good luck [;)].

[PetrOs]

Thanks!
Is it actually safe to post my plans in the thread here?

[Lokasenna]

I would say so, yes. I think you can trust Arto not to come into the thread.

[PetrOs]

Okay Thanks!

Well, my general plan is - hold firm, and let enemy die out of supplies, then finish him off. I am going to try the following:

China - pull out as much as I can to India. I would probably attempt holding the central plains and fight a lot of delaying actions. Most likely, I would try not giving up anything for free, except for northern china - there I would evac.

India - delaying action in Burma, but more or less no big risk there. Defending the Akyab-Ledo line, with Calcutta as backup fortress. Most likely, keep heavy garrisons in Ceylon. I would then flatten the industry targets in Burma by my 4engines to make Burma either a supply eater if he repairs, or useless if not.

Pacific - I would try to hold Wake island by air/fast transport ferrying reinforcements. Especially if KB would not go to Pearl. Else - rush US troops to Noumea and Suva, protect NZ as the back base. I am not yet decided whether to run the convoy system by West Coast->PH->Suva->Australia way, East Coast->Panama Channel->along lowermost map edge to NZ->Australia, or offmap to Capetown and then to Perth. Most likely, the second variant, as I could use NZ as a supply dump and distribution hub. Probably, the third variant would also be run for supply of India, and additional supply for Australia.

Philippines, Singapore, HK, etc - evac (air, sub, ship...) as much as I can, while sacrifycing the rest to delay the Japs. First prio - either base forces, or fighting units which could be rebuilt, squads being available long enough for rebuilding.

Naval - Build an allied KB Pull all carriers including british together, and use them for minor raids at first. Avoiding Kido Butai guys at least until the end of Zero bonus, at best until I get Hellcat and Corsair on my decks.

Actually, is destroyed unit recall working the same as in AI games?

As we play in non-historical first turn, I would try to rush all precious ships out of the bases. I would likely spread the BBs towards all directions, with some DD/DMS/DM escorts, fly most planes out, etc. Same for the subs in Manila, etc...

[Cribtop]

Good luck - playing against a human opponent is fun and challenging. You can recall destroyed units in PBEM.

[Erkki]

No surprise + non historical + letting Allied player move units, create TFs etc. pretty much means you wont suffer great losses anywhere on turn one. There wont be a KB strike. Do you compensate by other means - which scenario do you play?

If I were the Japanese player in this game I'd use the warping TFs to land at Mersing on the first turn and probably also do a deep landing or two elsewhere as you probably dont have a house or gentlemen's rule against them. Say, Singkawang and Jolo or Ambon in the DEI, maybe Rabaul. Prepare for deep pushes into Allied-held territory in the first couple of turns, dont panic.

[PetrOs]

ORIGINAL: Erkki

No surprise + non historical + letting Allied player move units, create TFs etc. pretty much means you wont suffer great losses anywhere on turn one. There wont be a KB strike. Do you compensate by other means - which scenario do you play?

If I were the Japanese player in this game I'd use the warping TFs to land at Mersing on the first turn and probably also do a deep landing or two elsewhere as you probably dont have a house or gentlemen's rule against them. Say, Singkawang and Jolo or Ambon in the DEI, maybe Rabaul. Prepare for deep pushes into Allied-held territory in the first couple of turns, dont panic.

We play stock scenario nr. 2 - japan prepared. So the japs have some other stuff. Plus, its my first PBEM, so I would be prone to doing errors... From what I saw in AARs, PBEM playing is different in many aspects.

From the house rules, we got only one - no way off landings on first turn - like direct landing in southern DEI, etc. Quite vague formulated, so I guess Jolo and Mersing are definitely at risk.

[Lokasenna]

I would be surprised if Arto landed at Mersing on turn one, but not surprised if he does it soon after...

No surprise will be interesting. I'm guessing he's not going to hit Pearl Harbor, and instead use KB to really get the DEI. Or maybe he'll sail for Alaska.

Good luck!

[Bullwinkle58]

The No Unit Withdrawals Yes is a big advantage for you in 1942. A bunch of ships--RN CLs and BBs especially, plus some planes you can use for pilot training in CONUS. The ground withdrawals aren't that big a deal either way early. But keeping those ships in the IO can be a very big deal.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

The No Unit Withdrawals Yes is a big advantage for you in 1942. A bunch of ships--RN CLs and BBs especially, plus some planes you can use for pilot training in CONUS. The ground withdrawals aren't that big a deal either way early. But keeping those ships in the IO can be a very big deal.

My understanding is that some of the pilots and aircraft go back in the pools from some units that have mandatory withdrawals when that is in play? Does the non-withdrawal cause pilot shortages and shallow aircraft pools?

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

The No Unit Withdrawals Yes is a big advantage for you in 1942. A bunch of ships--RN CLs and BBs especially, plus some planes you can use for pilot training in CONUS. The ground withdrawals aren't that big a deal either way early. But keeping those ships in the IO can be a very big deal.

My understanding is that some of the pilots and aircraft go back in the pools from some units that have mandatory withdrawals when that is in play? Does the non-withdrawal cause pilot shortages and shallow aircraft pools?

I've never played with it on Yes. I assumed it meant "no withdrawals." If it only means the ships that's still a big help in 1942.

[Bif1961]

Good luck, looking forward to your experiences as it is your first PBEM. Many find a human opponent to be very challenging and you might be subject to moves that would never happen against the AI. Don't lose heart if things get a little rough at first, the real commanders shared the same problems of keeping up with the tempo of the aggressor who didn't fight to their timetable.

[PetrOs]

Thanks guys! I guess it would be fun.
Do you think it would be clever to try and hold port blair? I want to airlift the 2 brigades from north malaya using chinese Dc2 and dutch lodestars... and then use a stream of lone akls to resupply it, as at least vs ai netties rarely trigger on lone transports..

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: PetrOs

Thanks guys! I guess it would be fun.
Do you think it would be clever to try and hold port blair? I want to airlift the 2 brigades from north malaya using chinese Dc2 and dutch lodestars... and then use a stream of lone akls to resupply it, as at least vs ai netties rarely trigger on lone transports..

Holding Port Blair makes life around Rangoon much easier, but it's doubtful you will be able to do it. Most Japanese players use one of the big parachute Raiding forces to take it in the first few days. And if you take it it's expensive in terms of ships to keep it supplied.

[PetrOs]

Time to get some characters in

Ens. John Jackson, from a small ranch in Texas, who just came from the academy and currently serving as a Mine officer at the fast minelayer Gamble, was relaxing at one of the Honolulu bars on thelate saturday evening with several other young officers. Suddenly, a seaman courier appeared at the doorway, who then came to Jackson and his buddies, showing them the order signed by Adm. Kimmel to return to their ships immediately. Back to the ship, John found it nearly ready to sail, with a full load of mines. The ship was to go to Wake island together with 3 other DMs and lay a defensive minefield there, as fast as they can. A real gamble for the Gamble!

[PetrOs]

Major Thomas Lynch was in a difficult state of mind. Just ten days ago, he was a member of the 31 Pursuit group's 39 PS, stationed at Baer Field, Indiana. Suddenly, he received an order to responce to the airfield transport officer in no more then 12 hours, fully packed. He was first crammed to a civilian Dacota plane to San Francisco, and then into one of the PanAm clipper flying boats, landing in the Phillipines just today. He was reassigned to the 35 PG's 21 PS as an emergency measure, with dozens of other pilots from the continental USA, to replace the greenhorns in the Philippine based pursuit squadrons. He was assigned as the squadrons' XO, but he had no chance yet to even check his assigned plane or talk to his ground crew. Just a small chat with a few fellow pilots, who did their best to explain Tom that the Phillipine girls are at least even to the Indiana ones. He was not sure about that, so he was planning to rest for a day or two, and then go to check out one of the massage clubs so advertised by his new mates. As he was falling asleep after a 10 days trip, he went to sleep, just to be woken up very early in the morning by a courier, ordered to rush to briefing room. LTC Valentine, squadron's commander, briefly greeted him, then started a talk to the bunch of pilots gathered. The Army apparently got some information, that the japs would strike today. Thus, all men and planes of the squadron, were to go to full alert, flying the combat air patrol above the base. Tom's flight was to take off immediately, any japanese plane must be shot upon.

[PetrOs]

Sergeant Rajiv Singh was a member of 4/6th Gurkha battalion in Rangoon, being the Bren-gun section leader, the only infantry machine-gun of his battalion. Rest was equipped with just some worn down rifles of WW1 vintage, and some grenades. A few more machine guns were used in AA role. Most men were nearly untrained conscripts, only a few experienced NCOs and officers were there, like Rajiv. He fought in Egypt in 1940's campaign, until being wounded in a hand to hand fight with 3 germans. He was sent home to recuperate, and then reassigned to Burma. His head injury was still hurting, and his leg not yet quite fit after the wounds, but he was trying his best to provide his section's men with some experience.

His unit was suddenly ordered to march to Pegu, to reunite with other battalions of the brigade. Rajiv wondered, whether it means war, or just another twist of mind of the politicians.

[PetrOs]

LtC Benjamin Donovan was an counterintelligence officer of the Adm. Kimmel's staff. His task was to find the japanese agents in Hawaii, and try to feed them desinformation. A few days ago, he found that a japanese officer, Ltn. Kimura, was working in the Honolulu's red lights district as a bartender. The place, frequented by junior officers of all services, was ideal for information gathering, as the young guys were not watching their speech when drunk or with girls... So, Ben became a frequent visitor since then, but it was a kind of a torture for him - he was married and had two kids, and not really a party guy. So he had to only play drunk tired staff officer at the bar, delegating the girls part to his assistant, Junior Lt. Malcolm McCormick.

[PetrOs]

Ok, the first turn is not that bad!
Kb surfaced just 160 miles to the east of manila, its planes sunk or damaged a few evacuating AKLs, one sinking, with 3-4 badly damaged and now hiding in different small island anchorages. 2 Big tankers running from Manila were torpedoed by and sunk by betties, together with AS Otus which was damaged. CL Boise took 3 bomb hits from KB's Vals, but is only lightly damaged. It was trying to breakthrough towards the japan-truk route, and then to Dutch harbour. Course is reverted however, now it will try to run to Darwin. I guess it would be out of range of KB by next turn, as I doubt Arto would take it into coastal hexes in Phillipines.
Only successful fighter action was when a pair of P35s Cap leaked to stop the afternoon attack on AO Pecos, downing 2 of 8 betties and driving the rest off.
P40s were somehow not all on CAP in Manila, despite no surprise! Only 3 were in the air, with others starting and being downed in that progress, loosing 10 P40Cs for one Zero. No P40Es flew somehow!
First successful attack of the day was when 4 of the Seagulls form Manila got 2 250lb bombs into APD Shimakaze near Vigan. Heavy fires and damage were reported, as well as many troops dead. In the afternoon the same seagulls put a bomb into a transport at the same location, leaving it also on fire.
The bombers did better - Vildebeests from Johore Bharu put 2 torpedoes into CA Chokai, for one lost to AA. Chokai now reported as sunk, but I doubt it. Vildebeests, Swordfishes and Blenheims going in with torps or on 1000 feet from Singapore had 2 decent low level attacks on transports at Kuantan. At least 7 large Yusen A/N/Kuyshu Cargo transports were hit, on all of them fuel cargo explodes was reported. Most were badly on fire and heavy damage. I heard one sinking sound so far, but if the fires are as bad as reported, some would eventually sink.
Near Philippines, I evacuated most ships, just in case. Several sub attacks were done, but only one hit home, damaging AV Wright badly. It dispersed in a dot base Lanai, to pump out. AR Vestal from the same TF got dispersed into the same base for help. Just 2 hexes from PH, I guess it would be ok in the end. My destroyers got at least 5 ASW attacks done, one big sub was hurt a little bit (near miss, taking in some water), and one SSX was obliterated by a direct DC hit from Ralph Talbot. Catalinas and Bolos, from Lahaina and Hilo, got 4 reported bomb hits on the subs. Most PBYs are now used to airlift reinforcements to Wake. A combat engineer regiment from PH is underway there, as well as the Midway's defense battalion.
With KB located, Lex and Ente would go towards Wake island, as I want to hold it.

Ben Donovan suddenly saw a young looking guy entering the bar, whom he however knew to be an FBI agent. After a short chat with the agent, Ben was requested to assist in Kimura's and the girls arrest, what was done. Kimuras's house was also secured, several critical papers were found there, proving he's an agent. Kimura resisted the arrest fiercely, as he had a gun behind the bar. He shot and killed one of the FBI men, and injured McCormick lightly, before being incapacitated by a gin bottle hit on the head, which thrown by one of Marines officers who wanted to help. The marine did not even release a kiss on the girl in his lap to do such a throw!

Rajiv's unit is still on march, the injured leg hurting.

Tom Lynch was upset. His flight just landed for refuelling, when the japs came. He had to watch helplessly, how several P40s spinned down. One Zero also hit the ground in flames, but surprisingly, noone really claimed it. Everyone was however congratulating 2nd Lt Jack Nicol, from the P35 squadron, who downed 2 Betties and damaged a few more over a tanker, saving that ship. He observed one more betty being downed by the tanker AA gunners.

John's Gamble is steaming at high speed to Wake. A report has been there that an invasion TF might be underways, so mines would not hurt being there!