NFC East Slapdown: NY59Giants (A) vs 1EyedJack & Rysyonok (J) - BTS

[ny59giants]

Go dark and hit from the shadows again...I bet you get plenty of opportunity to do so.

Time to re-engage the cloking device and go dark again. Got to keep Cribtop guessing.

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

John,

I don't see too much beyond an historical expansion by Cribtop at this pace. There are pro's and con's by doing what he may end up doing. Time will tell.

One obvious con is the potential for Allied mischief in the DEI.
Everyone knows I play the AI and do things I would never consider trying against a thinking opponent, but with the Japanese pace in Malaya rivaling what the AI does one might consider a trying a radical strategy.
Your opponent, like the AI has not moved quickly to take and establish an early fighter base at Singkawang. This move by most players cuts off the escape route from Singapore.

Without the fighter escort from Singkawang, Netties can be held at bay by the Singapore and Dutch air forces to cover a naval escape route from Singapore to the Sumatra coast and on to Oosthaven.
Against the AI it is entirely possible to evacuate the entire III Indian Corps, all of the air bases and the two Aussie brigades. I transfer them to what I refer to as the Timor Barrier.
Prior to stacking limits I would pile everything in Koepang. Now, with limits I spread them out across Timor and the islands between Timor and New Guinea.

It is possible to concentrate the Brits land and air forces from Malaya, the American air force from the PI and the Dutch army, air force and navy at the Timor barrier. I add a half dozen PBY squads from the Pacific to the Dutch flying boat corps for the Dutch army transfer to Timor.
The Allies have two huge handicaps (among others) at game start. Inferior LCUs and dispersion.

Anyone who has ever played an Eastern Front game knows that the best way to counter qualitative superiority with inferior units is overwhelming quantitative superiority. Quantity is a quality in itself. This cannot be achieved with dispersed units. By concentrating the triad of dispersed units from the Malaya, DEI and PI the Allies overcome the problem.

Again, most players are going to cut off the shipping transfer from Oosthaven to Timor that the AI allows. However, evacuating III Indian Corps to Palembang for a real fortress might be something to try against an opponent who moves slowly to cut off the escape route.

I hate losing the armies in locations where I know I’m going to lose the base anyway. A Sir Robin, only to facilitate concentration, is, in my mind, the best way to concentrate a counterpunch that has a real chance of giving the Japanese a bloody nose instead of the scratches normally applied by dispersed and weak Allied units as they die on the vine.

[ny59giants]

When it comes to Malaya its best to prepare for a quick landing at Mersing and an attempt to cut off any troops getting into Singapore. Cribtop landing massively at Kuantan and has now marched inland. Singapore now has 900 AV behind level 3 forts. I've used what few xAKLs I've left behind to move parts of three small BFs from Singapore to Palembang along with Dutch transport planes. The latest DBB OOB changes have left The Dutch without Aviation Support in northern Sumatra and very little at Palembang. Its hard to keep your fighters at Singapore as the British Buffaloes are only good enough to take on Nates. [:D] I got them up to India now training up their pilots.

Fortress Timor is good vs the AI, but is difficult vs a human. Now that Ambon is his and being built up, his Zeros can reach out 14 hexes with Nell/Betty.

American PBYs are spread out to provide Naval Search. I have one at Darwin and Horn island. I have three still at Pearl and two will move west once they fill out.

My "Death Star" in SRA is to slow him down and force him to be very methodical. He will need both LBA (tactical placement of Air HQs) and KB3 & 4 to advance here now. The longer it takes the closer I get to April 1st and his loss of landing bonus.

[Lowpe]

Good strategy. Japan without the amphib bonus is a horse of a different color indeed.

What did you do with the torpedo bombers at Singers?

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

When it comes to Malaya its best to prepare for a quick landing at Mersing and an attempt to cut off any troops getting into Singapore. Cribtop landing massively at Kuantan and has now marched inland. Singapore now has 900 AV behind level 3 forts. I've used what few xAKLs I've left behind to move parts of three small BFs from Singapore to Palembang along with Dutch transport planes. The latest DBB OOB changes have left The Dutch without Aviation Support in northern Sumatra and very little at Palembang. Its hard to keep your fighters at Singapore as the British Buffaloes are only good enough to take on Nates. [:D] I got them up to India now training up their pilots.

Fortress Timor is good vs the AI, but is difficult vs a human. Now that Ambon is his and being built up, his Zeros can reach out 14 hexes with Nell/Betty.

American PBYs are spread out to provide Naval Search. I have one at Darwin and Horn island. I have three still at Pearl and two will move west once they fill out.

My "Death Star" in SRA is to slow him down and force him to be very methodical. He will need both LBA (tactical placement of Air HQs) and KB3 & 4 to advance here now. The longer it takes the closer I get to April 1st and his loss of landing bonus.

Makes me sorry I wasted so much time typing that post for you to discount it with a couple of flip responses.
I believe I made the point that the sea route to Timor would likely be compromised.
Nor do I leave the Pacific uncovered with NAV search from PBYs. Every Allied held base in the Pacific has at least a half if not a full squad of PBYs. There is still enough extra to send 4 to the DEI to supplement the 2 from the PI.

The main point I was trying, unsuccessfully, to make was that with the Japanese player moving so slowly to cut off the escape route from Singapore, the door is open for much mischief.

Might that 900 AV in Singapore be of more value in Palembang? Might it be of more value in Burma? Just some "outside the box" ideas to consider instead of always sticking to the vanilla approach.

That's one huge benefit of playing the AI...experimenting.

[ny59giants]

It wasn't my intent Hans to offer flipant remarks. My last two PBEMs were against Mr Kane and BigBadWolf who were more aggressive that Cribtop in Malaya and SRA. Both went for Mersing and mr Kane landed in Java before end of December with over two divisions. Thus, I started to get out with the most shipping I could. Now, with hindsight, I wish I had kept more back.

PBYs - right now I have them training, filling out, or working. Op losses keep mounting for the groups at Canton and Ellice Islands as they work at extended ranges keeeping an eye on KB1 & 2. With the extra warships both sides get in BTS, I wanted to watch more than normal. If you look at BTS, the new Dutch OOB is much different. They have adequate Aviation Support on Java, but in the eastern SRA almost none. I did think about what to do with the 2 American BFs with TF at Darwin and decided to send them to Townsville.

Timor - Cribtop is an experienced player, so I was trying to figure out where to defend. Java is the place their at and I could have used PBYs (American and Dutch) to Makassar and then Timor, but with me not knowing what Cribtop was up to, they are out on Naval Search. I didn't know how he was going to employ all 6 heavy CVs and the 6 CVLs (and hybrids), so I did do anything major here.

I want other players feedback and respect yours.

I did play some of Andy Mac's latest mod and saw CVs off Seattle and Canada, so I know his AI can throw you off your game. [X(]

[HansBolter]

On the point of air support.

Have you noticed there are also several American base units in the PI that can be bought out and airlifted out in BTS?

Another way to get some early air support build up going at Darwin.

[topeverest]

Those extra CV platforms are playing out as decisive

[Lowpe]

Isn't there a stronger French fleet presence in this mod starting at Noumea? What are you doing with them? Or am I confused?

[DOCUP]

Lowpe, the French fleet was scaled back at the beginning of the game.  A CL and 3 DDs are at Tahiti with another few warships off map.  I think more French ships come in over the span of 42.

[John 3rd]

A significant French reinforcement occurs in 42 as the French Fleet begin to arrive with additional ships. Perhaps more importantly the French start with some very capable support ships and some decent SS.

The additional CAV and CLVs are proving to be far more valuable then I really thought they might be. I cannot WAIT to convert my pair to CVs when allowed.

The real problem that Cribtop has allowed to occur is more soooooooooooooo slowly as to let Michael concentrate a massed and highly capable force in the DEI. He is seriusly screwed at this point. Add the much lower amounts of Japanese supply, resources, fuel, and oil in the Home Islands and there is real time pressure for CT to get a move on. Michael has really thrown the gauntlet here and it must be picked up ASAP.

[topeverest]

What does the scenario start with? Stock 1 only has 1100 AV on all Malaya. It seems incomprehensible that the empire let you get that much in Zingers. Is that right?

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

When it comes to Malaya its best to prepare for a quick landing at Mersing and an attempt to cut off any troops getting into Singapore. Cribtop landing massively at Kuantan and has now marched inland. Singapore now has 900 AV behind level 3 forts.

[Lowpe]

Thanks guys for the info on the French. LeTriomphant is one of my absolute favorite ships, but I usually lose her to an Iboat early on it seems whenever I played the Allies, so I have a warm spot in my heart for their ships. Maybe I just like their names.

I will have to get auto victory in my game so I can play this mod.[:D]

[ny59giants]

Date: 42 Jan 3rd -
Pending CV clash off Balikpapan doesn't happen [:@]

Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; f = fuel hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft; If odds are italics, they are the Allies; BG = Bomber Group of 48 planes (4 x 12 bomber squadrons); FG fighter group = 25 fighter planes if American

Landings:

CVs:
KB1 & 2 - Both at 143, 132 (8 NE of Baker)
KB3 - 71, 9 (7 East Balikpapan)
KB4 - MIA
CVEs - MIA

Allied Mini-Death Star - 1 SE of Balikpapan

Subs:
I-21, I-23, & I-170 find the minefield at Christmas (two sinking sounds heard). [:D]
I-153 misses American warships leaving Soerabaja.
S-35 is damaged 8 NE of Baker as KB1 & 2 run over her.

India/Burma:
Rangoon -
Pegu -

China:
Trail to Ankang -

Malaya: -
Singapore - 12 Lily come in at night.
Kuala Lumpur -

Philippines:
Manila -
Clark -

Borneo:
Balikpapan - Allied DS is 1 SE of base (only moved two hexes due to refueling efforts).

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Balikpapan at 65,98

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 32
D3A1 Val x 42

Allied aircraft
Fulmar II x 8
B-339D x 3
P-40E Warhawk x 4
F2A-3 Buffalo x 47
F4F-3A Wildcat x 23
F4F-3 Wildcat x 35
F2A-3 Buffalo x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 26 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F2A-3 Buffalo: 1 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat: 2 destroyed

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F2A-3 Buffalo (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 12 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
20 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-6 with F4F-3A Wildcat (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 11 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 48 minutes
19 planes vectored on to bombers
No.803 Sqn FAA with Fulmar II (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 4 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 45 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-103 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 9 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 43 minutes
14 planes vectored on to bombers
CLV F-1 with F2A-3 Buffalo (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 5 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
7 planes vectored on to bombers
CLV F-2 with F2A-3 Buffalo (2 airborne, 4 on standby, 6 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
Melbourne-F with F2A-3 Buffalo (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 4 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 45 minutes
5 planes vectored on to bombers
Wellington-F with F2A-3 Buffalo (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 4 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
9 planes vectored on to bombers
VMF-211 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 8 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
1-VI.G.V with B-339D (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
24th PG/3rd PS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers

KB3 ended being 7 hexes away. [:(] Thus, no naval strikes from Allies, but with fighters set at CAP 50% almost all ended up airborne for the fight.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Balikpapan at 65,98

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 44 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 19

Allied aircraft
Fulmar II x 6
B-339D x 3
P-40E Warhawk x 4
F2A-3 Buffalo x 40
F4F-3A Wildcat x 19
F4F-3 Wildcat x 23
F2A-3 Buffalo x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 10 destroyed

No Allied losses

More loss of highly trained pilots.

Sumatra:
Medan -

SRA:
Kendari -

New Guinea/Solomons:

Central Pacific:
Canton - transports arrived & unspotted (decided to leave them here and if needed be sunk by KB1 &2 to try to hold onto base).
Christmas Island - transports unloading

South Pacific:

North Pacific:
Umnak -

Australia:

Engineers:

Intel:

Notes/Plans:
Hindsight - Maybe I should have ordered the DS out without fully refueling every warship. If so it would have been an interesting battle as I would have gotten closer (6 hexes or less).

[ny59giants]

Date: 42 Jan 4th -
KB3 runs away!! [:D]

Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; f = fuel hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft; If odds are italics, they are the Allies; BG = Bomber Group of 48 planes (4 x 12 bomber squadrons); FG fighter group = 25 fighter planes if American

Landings:
Baker Island with elements of 1st Maizuru Assault Div (bases falls 54:1)

CVs:
KB1 & 2 - MIA (suspected headed west after DS was attacked off Balikpapan)
KB3 - 89,96 (2 NW Babeldoab) - FULL SPEED run!! [X(]
KB4 - MIA
CVEs - MIA

Allied Mini-Death Star - Heads SW from Balikpapan. Will head to Soerabaja to allow some minor repair work done on ships.

Subs:
I-162 sinks last small xAKL off Palembang that was doing the Singapore to Palembang run with the cargo parts of BFs.

India/Burma:
Rangoon -
Pegu -

China:
Trail to Ankang -

Malaya: - [>:] [>:]
Singapore - 912 AV, 53k supply, forts 3 (23%), engineers 223
Kuala Lumpur -

Philippines:
Manila -
Clark - 7 Nates with 10 Sally & 19 Lily

Borneo:

Sumatra:
Medan -

SRA:
Kendari -

New Guinea/Solomons:

Central Pacific:
Canton - transports unloading & unspotted
Christmas Island - transports mostly unloaded. See screen shot

South Pacific:

North Pacific:
Umnak -

Australia:

Engineers:
Bangalore - F3; Karachi- P6; Chengtu - AF2; Bremerton P7; Astroria - P3; Cochin AF2;

Intel:

Notes/Plans:
Looks like Cribtop was worried that I would try a Full Speed run with DS (Death Star) to try to catch KB3. Instead I backed off.

Christmas - Screen shot shows troops unloaded with about 4k left in supplies to unload. Forts are at 2 (51%) with 142 engineers now present. Another TF will come here later with AA, CD, and more construction engineers.

[ny59giants]

Thanks guys for the info on the French. LeTriomphant is one of my absolute favorite ships, but I usually lose her to an Iboat early on it seems whenever I played the Allies, so I have a warm spot in my heart for their ships. Maybe I just like their names.

I will have to get auto victory in my game so I can play this mod.[:D]

Screen shot shows what the French fleet looks like. I haven't done anything with it yet. Supplies and fuel are headed that way. [;)]

[ny59giants]

Then comes those two 'nice' BCs and escorts at end of April '42. [&o]

[ny59giants]

Dunkerque Class BC - Add these two to my two American BCs with 8 Fletchers and...

[ny59giants]

Constitution Class BC (just in case you're not familiar with her)

[John 3rd]

Would that be THESE BCs???!!!!