Avian aggression leads to murder most fowl - Sqz(A) vs. Chickenboy(J)

[SqzMyLemon]

Here's the losses to date from the Intelligence Report as of 22 March 1942.

[SqzMyLemon]

Timor:

Well, that was a bust. Andre pulled everything back from Koepang into Betty/Nell range. The two British CL's engaged one of the two destroyers attacked by CV Formidable from the day before in an inconclusive night battle. CL Glasgow takes two non-penetrating 12.7cm hits while the Japanese DD suffers no damage.

Daylight air search spots two Japanese DD's at Koepang, including the one just engaged during the night. SBD's from one of the American CV's sinks both enemy ships. AAR follows:

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Koepang at 68,116

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 7
F4F-3 Wildcat x 30
SBD-3 Dauntless x 32

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Yudachi, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
DD Samidare, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
5 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
9 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Massive explosion on DD Samidare
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Samidare

Thoughts:

Detection levels of the British and American CV TF's are at 4/4 and 5/5 respectively. It's time to get out of Dodge.

I'm bummed. Thinking back on my Japanese PBEM's, I often had poor combat results whenever my CV's were committed after surprising my opponent. The trend continues. Despite sinking two Japanese DD's, the big fish all got away thanks to bad luck with the previous days movement. I can only speculate what might have happened had all three CV's been in position to launch against massed surface and transport TF's unloading at Koepang.

Andre indicated in his e-mail that only one American CV was present in addition to the British carrier. I can only hope that Andre interprets the numbers from the combat report indicating only one American CV. However, with a 5/5 DL I'm thinking he might glean there could be a total of two CV's in the American TF. Regardless, my forces are withdrawing southwest to skirt the coastline and rendezvous with the other British CV to the west. Supporting oilers will refuel the TF's and they will return to Cape Town for replenishment and upgrades. I can only hope this serves notice that I'm out there, not conducting a total 'Sir Robin' and cause Andre some concern. My spidey sense is tingling though. I believe Andre will try to intercept my withdrawing forces with CV Kaga and friends. There is a distinct possibility, now that I have done the math, that interception of my force by enemy carriers off the northwest coast of Australia is a real threat. Initially I thought I'd be able to make a speed run with both TF's, but the short legged British DD's make that impossible. Will four Allied CV's be enough to handle an attack by one Japanese Fleet CV and all the CVL's and CVE's, if caught? This could turn ugly in a hurry. [:D]

[BBfanboy]

Japanese CVE and CVL at this stage are fragile and have poor AA.
I think your four CVs would take some survivable damage but deal a lot more.
Beware the accompanying BB/CA SCTFs though!

[Richard III]

Thanks for the losses update. Looks like your trading him 2:3 in airframe losses, and likely he`s losing many of the bomber Squadrons pre war elite aircrews.

I`ve avoided Andre`s AAR completely from the start, so I might drop a comment here sometime, if OK ?

I`m an admitted nervous old lady so all I will say is that getting the big US CV`s pinned against OZ`s North coast strikes as High Risk.


Thanks for a great AAR and luck with the painting, wish I had a booth when I was doing the old resin 1/700 dreadnoughts years back.[:)]

[SqzMyLemon]

A large number of Japanese ships are spotted near the Andaman Islands heading northwest. Is it Ceylon or Madras? I know Andre loves taking Ceylon.

Great timing on Andre's part. With my CV's out of position it's going to be really hard to make an impact on this latest move. However, Andre will finally be bringing Japanese forces to my doorstep where I can finally use the Allied air forces. I've got 6-8 4E bomber groups in India so I definitely have some punch.

Bring it on!

[SqzMyLemon]

Quick supplemental update.

With the Japanese moving on Ceylon or Madras the risk of my CV's being intercepted is low, unless Andre has re-deployed KB west. CV's Saratoga and Yorktown are nearing Exmouth, but the threat of Japanese submarine attack will be high as these waters are routinely patrolled. If I can avoid attack, I will head WNW towards Diego Garcia. CV Hornet is arriving at Cape Town tomorrow and will await escort DD's to become available and will join the fleet in the IO. I will look to defend an invasion of Diego Garcia.

Andre in an earlier e-mail let slip that he attacked his other PBEM opponent in the IO with a full KB, so I'm starting to think he'll try to repeat that success. I'm going to have to be extremely cautious moving forward.

If I can locate KB within the next few weeks, there may be a window of opportunity to retake Christmas Island in the Pacific with CV's Enterprise and Lexingington in support with much of the battleship force. I will land a Marine Division and as much support and supply as I can to make re-conquest extremely difficult for the Japanese.

I have to admit, I'm rather looking forward to trying to get to the Japanese now. I realize now I pulled back prematurely and in too much strength, which has allowed an easy advance for Andre. However, we'll see if conserving my forces to date will pay dividends over the next few months.

I am looking forward to the next few weeks/months where I attempt to slow the Japanese advance and increase the butcher's bill.

[SqzMyLemon]

Bad turn.

CV Saratoga is torpedoed off the coast of Exmouth. I tried to get too cute in my movement to avoid submarines and got burnt. The CV is in trouble as a fuel storage explosion caused severe damage and at cruise speed she can only make 6kts. I'm also reminded of the brutal AI routine that only assigns one escort to support a stricken ship. If she's torpedoed again, which is likely since she's been assigned only one DD, she's a goner.

Another adverse side affect is the original TF with the undamaged ships has had it's movement orders overridden by the AI. Instead of rendezvousing with the oilers and other British CV, the TF has headed towards Perth, completely in the wrong direction. Now it too is at risk and in a location I am not happy about. I've formed an ASW TF of four DD's to try and meet up with CV Saratoga to render some form of help, while my remaining ships try and get away. I'm not optimistic.

I'm reminded this turn of why I hate this game sometimes. I can handle being torpedoed, but why do I always suffer such catastrophic damage in all my games whenever my CV's get torpedoed and the AI does me no favours with its decision making process. Simply bad luck.

I've already scratched Saratoga from the Allied OOB.

[BBfanboy]

Tough luck as you say about Saratoga.
Re: the remainder of the TF changing orders, I always set mine to "absolute" threat
tolerance when it is critical that they do exactly as I want. The game seems to treat lack of fuel as a threat and will override
orders if you don't set absolute tolerance.
Did you also have "Meet TF" set for meeting the oilers?

[Richard III]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

Bad turn.

CV Saratoga is torpedoed off the coast of Exmouth. I'm reminded this turn of why I hate this game sometimes. I can handle being torpedoed, but why do I always suffer such catastrophic damage in all my games whenever my CV's get torpedoed and the AI does me no favours with its decision making process. Simply bad luck.

I've already scratched Saratoga from the Allied OOB.

Bummer[:(], not you tho..just Bad Luck and Sara was always a Torpedo Magnet in game.

At 6K it probably has enough floatation to get away. Is Perth Lv 4 port no good because Jap CV`s are around it ? Is that why you don`t want to send the Sara TF CA escorts there with her as well ?
The CA float planes set on ASW arcs ahead might help, as would her TBF`s and SBD`s set on ASW. ( IF there are no Jap CV`s near !! ) any LBA should be flying Search/ASW with reduced arcs near her.

Don`t Give Up The Ship !

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Tough luck as you say about Saratoga.
Re: the remainder of the TF changing orders, I always set mine to "absolute" threat
tolerance when it is critical that they do exactly as I want. The game seems to treat lack of fuel as a threat and will override
orders if you don't set absolute tolerance.
Did you also have "Meet TF" set for meeting the oilers?

Fuel was good, but I only use "absolute" threat level when in combat, which this situation was not. I may have to start though if it eliminates the AI imposing orders on my TF's.

My TF's were moving by patrol points and the destination hex was where the oilers were located. Instead of being able to refuel this turn as intended, I'm now forced with a two day delay before I can coordinate the refueling again. This is what drives me crazy.

Anyway, tomorrow is another day and I'll try and salvage the situation and get back on track.

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: Richard III

Don`t Give Up The Ship !

I may get frustrated on occasion, but I never give up. [8D]

The TF's were all set to naval search with DB's while all the patrol planes and TB's were set to ASW search. CV Saratoga still has 13% fires raging so can't conduct flight Ops. With only one DD of ASW value 2 she is essentially a sitting duck. I can only hope she survives the next turn so the ASW TF can meet up with her and provide some protection. These are British DD's so should provide the best ASW available.

[SqzMyLemon]

Well, the vaunted Allied damage control does not apply in my case. This will be the second game I've lost a fleet CV to a single torpedo. Just no luck when it comes to having CV's torpedoed.

Fires never went out and from a low of 13% they are now in the 40's. Worse yet, system and float damage skyrocketed to 85% and 74% respectively from previously less than 40%. She's a goner. What a burn.

[Richard III]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

Well, the vaunted Allied damage control does not apply in my case. This will be the second game I've lost a fleet CV to a single torpedo. Just no luck when it comes to having CV's torpedoed.

Fires never went out and from a low of 13% they are now in the 40's. Worse yet, system and float damage skyrocketed to 85% and 74% respectively from previously less than 40%. She's a goner. What a burn.

[:@][:(][:(] Bummmmerrrrr..!

I`m convinced that in WITP AE luck is as important as skill...[;)]

I will now go and sacrifice a frozen chicken to the PBEM Game Gods...

[SqzMyLemon]

I expect CV Saratoga to sink tomorrow with all hands and the loss of all air groups. In hindsight, I never should have struck at Koepang after the failed movement. That one day delay directly led to the torpedoing of the carrier off the Australian coast. Every time I've torpedoed an American CV as Japan the damage has been negligible, yet here I am about to lose one due to a critical hit and a failure of Allied damage control. This isn't sitting well and just adds insult to injury.

India:

Simultaneous landings at Jaffna on Ceylon, and Cocanada and Vizagapatnam on the Indian coast. I must counter here. The American air units I've been able to reinforce India with are going to play a crucial role.

Thoughts:

I've made recent tactical errors which will have long term strategic consequences and risk AV. In hindsight, the Allied CV's should have been committed to the defence of Ceylon. I knew it was coming and is a favourite tactic of Andre's. With the support of LBA, four Allied CV's could have sprung a nasty surprise on CV Kaga and friends. Instead, I've thrown away any chance of influencing events in the foreseeable future. Losing CV Saratoga stings that much more right now.

Tomorrow's another day. I'll learn how extensive Andre's commitment to his Indian adventure is within days. I'm going to have to play without fault over the next few weeks to avoid digging my hole deeper than it already is. On a side note, Japanese forces have already landed on Pago Pago so it's going to be nothing but bad news for the next few months.

[Capt. Harlock]

Well, the vaunted Allied damage control does not apply in my case. This will be the second game I've lost a fleet CV to a single torpedo. Just no luck when it comes to having CV's torpedoed.

Fires never went out and from a low of 13% they are now in the 40's. Worse yet, system and float damage skyrocketed to 85% and 74% respectively from previously less than 40%.

Not that it makes any difference, but USN damage control didn't get really good until after the debacle of Savo Island in August. And IRL, Saratoga's sister ship Lexington was lost partly due to poor fire-fighting. Still, my sympathies -- murder most fowl indeed.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

Well, the vaunted Allied damage control does not apply in my case. This will be the second game I've lost a fleet CV to a single torpedo. Just no luck when it comes to having CV's torpedoed.

Fires never went out and from a low of 13% they are now in the 40's. Worse yet, system and float damage skyrocketed to 85% and 74% respectively from previously less than 40%.

Not that it makes any difference, but USN damage control didn't get really good until after the debacle of Savo Island in August. And IRL, Saratoga's sister ship Lexington was lost partly due to poor fire-fighting. Still, my sympathies -- murder most fowl indeed.

It was improved right after Lexington at Coral Sea with Yorktown at Midway. AFAIK it did continue to improve after that.

[wegman58]

As bad things happened, the USN learned. Lexington was lost due to AV GAS fumes. We (USN Vet here) started filling AV GAS lines with CO2 after that. Savo showed the negative impacts of lots of flammables, after than battle we started removing those. Survivors reported what went wrong and we tried to eliminate/mitigate that cause of damage.

And I think if I'm in my 90's in a nursing home I'd still know what a Class ALFA/BRAVO/CHARLIE fire is and how to fight it with 1980's technology.

[SqzMyLemon]

CV Saratoga sinks with all air groups. I failed to save the pilots doing the previous turn in a pissed off mood. I hope this is the only freebie. I really hate losing assets in this way.

Appreciate the comments, but anecdotal examples tend to mean nothing to me when trying to explain something that has happened in game. As far as I'm concerned, I got burnt by the AI. In my own game experience I've never seen this kind of damage, nor this kind of damage control whenever I've torpedoed an Allied CV in any of my Japanese games. They've always been lightly damaged and able to make port for repairs.

Anyway, that's the least of my problems. I just hope the AI will lighten up and not neuter me here.

[SqzMyLemon]

Here's what I'm dealing with in India so far. Jaffna on Ceylon, undefended, fell to 21 enemy units. On the continent, Cocanada and Vizagapatnam are captured while an amphibious landing occurs at Cox's Bazar. AAR reports follow showing Japanese dispositions on India proper:

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Ground combat at Cocanada (41,37)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 300 troops, 0 guns, 47 vehicles, Assault Value = 693

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 7

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Cocanada !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker:

Assaulting units:
2nd Division
2nd Raiding Regiment
16th Guards Regiment
5th Guards Cav Regiment
12th Base Force

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Ground combat at Vizagapatnam (42,37)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 870 troops, 21 guns, 114 vehicles, Assault Value = 274

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 8

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 8 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Vizagapatnam !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker:

Assaulting units:
5th Tank Regiment
90th Infantry Regiment
5th Amphibious Brigade
3rd RF Gun Battalion
22nd Ind. Engineer Regiment
37th JAAF AF Bn

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Amphibious Assault at Cox's Bazar (54,43)

TF 89 troops unloading over beach at Cox's Bazar, 54,43

Japanese ground losses:
152 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

17 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost in surf during unload of 21st Div /7
17 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost from landing craft during unload of 21st Div /7
17 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad accidentally lost during unload of 21st Div /9
17 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad accidentally lost during unload of 21st Div /10
17 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad accidentally lost during unload of 21st Div /10
17 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost from landing craft during unload of 21st Div /10
10 Support troops lost overboard during unload of 21st Div /10
17 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost in surf during unload of 21st Div /11
10 Support troops lost in surf during unload of 21st Div /11
10 Support troops lost from landing craft during unload of 21st Div /11
10 Support troops accidentally lost during unload of 21st Div /11





Southeast Pacific:

Pago Pago falls. AAR follows:

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Ground combat at Pago Pago (148,161)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 3791 troops, 42 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 130

Defending force 1128 troops, 33 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 33

Japanese adjusted assault: 220

Allied adjusted defense: 23

Japanese assault odds: 9 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Pago Pago !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
70 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1184 casualties reported
Squads: 66 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 90 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 20 (20 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 2

Assaulting units:
144th Infantry Regiment

Defending units:
Samoan Marine Battalion
7th Marine Defense Battalion


Burma:

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Ground combat at Lashio (62,46)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 16162 troops, 140 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 569

Defending force 3773 troops, 16 guns, 46 vehicles, Assault Value = 103

Japanese adjusted assault: 225

Allied adjusted defense: 49

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Lashio !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), preparation(-), morale(-)
experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
402 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 38 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
562 casualties reported
Squads: 40 destroyed, 41 disabled
Non Combat: 92 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 15 (15 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 22 (21 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 2
Units destroyed 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
113th Infantry Regiment
33rd Division

Defending units:
BFF Brigade
Burma Corps
1st Burma Auxiliary AA Regiment


Thoughts:

Well, a pretty heavy Japanese commitment to India. The goal here will be to limit the damage to Commonwealth forces while contesting as best as possible. I simply can't lose here. There is absolutely nothing I can do against such a heavy Japanese presence on Ceylon so whatever troops remain on the island are as good as lost. I simply didn't have the PP's available to buy them out. This is where Scenario 2 makes it so easy to steamroll Allied positions early with all the extra combat LCU's.

It may be a knee jerk reaction, but American 4E's have been ordered to target the port at Cocanada and the airfield at Vizagapatnam. I expect Japanese fighters to CAP Vizagapatam. The bombers could be in trouble if Andre has assigned CV LRCAP. I have substantial Allied fighter units in India and have withdrawn AVG from China to support. The lack of a size 7 airbase is preventing me from upgrading the AVG to P-40E's.

No sign of KB. I don't dare make a move in the Pacific until I know where the Japanese CV's are. I've already lost one CV under dubious circumstances, there's no point following that up by gifting Andre a chance to sink additional CV's.

[Lokasenna]

FWIW, you probably didn't lose all the pilots on Saratoga. When I've lost CVs to damage control rolls, the pilots were put into the general reserve with many weeks of delay - I want to say an average of around 30-50 days of delay. Check yours and see if you got any. Not all will make it off the ship, of course, but it's better than 100% losses.