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

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

...but it looks like I need 300 fighters to penetrate the CAP.

or more ... [;)]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Setback. If I would have flown the day previously I would have faced on 50 enemy fighters. Ah well.

During the rest of the day the Allies bomb Rangoon.

Ok any guesses on where the fleet is going? Ramree? Rangoon? Moulmein? Tavoy? Mergui? Victoria Point?

Emergency exit Burma plan initiated! Rebuild the air force...I still have plenty of bombers (Betty, Val, Kates, Lilly IIb) left to throw at them...but it looks like I need 300 fighters to penetrate the CAP.

As the war moves on the Allied defenses become much stronger between flak and fighters on CAP. It isn't possible to simply turn things on and exect them to get through anymore. You have to work the base a bit first. Sweeping even one day may cut the CAP in half, even if you suffer worse losses, especially in a base like this with no rail. You should be able to nullify Akyab once you wear down the defenders for a few days as the P-40s at least are service level 2.

Jab, jab jab ... right hook.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: obvert
Jab, jab jab ... right hook.

Thanks...the problem I find myself having is exceptionally limited intelligence in what the Allies plans are.

Is that 10 ship BB group contain troop transports or is it a very heavy shore bombardment task force for Rangoon or both? I have no clue as to what or how large it is. I know there are BB, CA, DD if I assume he has combined his two task forces.

So I guess I have to assume the worst and it is a huge task force looking to land at Tavoy in 3-4 days time. Which means I pretty much have to press the panic button all across Burma which I have done. But if it is Tavoy, and he relies upon LR CAP I have a chance yet to stop him with air and naval assets.

I still have 400 (100 fresh) fighters in the theater and probably 400 bombers (300 are fresh). Bangkok, Uttardit and Pisanuloke as big bases to base attacks against an invasion fleet which from what I can tell would only have long range CAP to contend with as there are no carriers spotted anywhere.

I guess I will need to send some ships in just to figure out what is there...and plan for the absolute worst.

I expect the big battleship task force to head south 6-9 hexes. I just can't see it as an invasion for Ramree, so that leaves Rangoon and Moulmein as being likely targets for the following day.

Moulmein will be overflowing with troops in two days, and has 500 AV with good forts there now so I don't think it is the point of attack. He could land troops at Rangoon and bombard heavily with the BBs seeking to break the line there and benefit from in hex CAP. So I guess 2 days I will know if it is either Ramree, Rangoon or Moulmein.

Three to four days for Tavoy and more for points further south which seems unlikely.

[Lowpe]

China: Another good attack, but time is running out...

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

...the problem I find myself having is exceptionally limited intelligence in what the Allies plans are.

I invest a lot of time, effort, and as much HI as possible into Recon and Patrol .... Dinah III and the 2nd Nel are my best friends ...

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: obvert
Jab, jab jab ... right hook.

Thanks...the problem I find myself having is exceptionally limited intelligence in what the Allies plans are.

Is that 10 ship BB group contain troop transports or is it a very heavy shore bombardment task force for Rangoon or both? I have no clue as to what or how large it is. I know there are BB, CA, DD if I assume he has combined his two task forces.

So I guess I have to assume the worst and it is a huge task force looking to land at Tavoy in 3-4 days time. Which means I pretty much have to press the panic button all across Burma which I have done. But if it is Tavoy, and he relies upon LR CAP I have a chance yet to stop him with air and naval assets.

I still have 400 (100 fresh) fighters in the theater and probably 400 bombers (300 are fresh). Bangkok, Uttardit and Pisanuloke as big bases to base attacks against an invasion fleet which from what I can tell would only have long range CAP to contend with as there are no carriers spotted anywhere.

I guess I will need to send some ships in just to figure out what is there...and plan for the absolute worst.

I expect the big battleship task force to head south 6-9 hexes. I just can't see it as an invasion for Ramree, so that leaves Rangoon and Moulmein as being likely targets for the following day.

Moulmein will be overflowing with troops in two days, and has 500 AV with good forts there now so I don't think it is the point of attack. He could land troops at Rangoon and bombard heavily with the BBs seeking to break the line there and benefit from in hex CAP. So I guess 2 days I will know if it is either Ramree, Rangoon or Moulmein.

Three to four days for Tavoy and more for points further south which seems unlikely.

Strategically, if you don't know what he's doing, try to present yourself with several possibilities and then begin to align them from most to least probable. I've gotten caught too many times assuming I know what my opponent is up to after going with my first instinct and then getting smacked with something completely different.

What else could he be doing? Do you have to act on what he's doing now or can you wait and see what happens? What that you can do now will help you to be able to react more effectively if he does move in? How can you make him perceive that you have defenses in place where you do not?

Remember the Allied recon is slightly better at each point than yours, but he has fewer recon planes and can't see everything either. Look at what has DL on it turn after turn, or what he was looking at consistently for a while and has stopped looking at now. What can you look at that will freak him out and make him think you've got something up your sleeve?

The psychology of the game ramps up the farther you get into it. Play with that in mind and learn to use it to your benefit. If you want examples search anything by Nemo, but also Canoerebel, Cribtop, rader, PzB, and GreyJoy. Actually koniu is ding this really well in his current game. There are many others but those are the first that come to mind who I felt used this kind thinking in their game. Actually, also Jockemeister against me, ([:)]) having now read some of his AAR, mused about these things a lot.

On top of all that, turn on everything to search and light up the whole gulf of India for a few days to really see what's happening. You've got the LR tools. Even take a quick look at deep ports like Colombo and Madras to see if something is staging there.

[Lowpe]

Thanks guys![&o]

I don't think it is my naval search falling down. My recon does when they don't fly because of the weather, but for the most part I think my search is good. There are still 100 units Akyab and south; for example.

However, it is the size 10 task forces detected. I have spotted two of the for the last 3 days; now there is one. Some ships got transferred into the port at Akyab, but other than that I don't know what makes up the fleet -- especially if it has troop transports.

I don't have this problem over in the Marshalls, where the Allies are operating with less than 10 ship task forces...but here in the Bay of Bengal I am quite confused.

I set two squadrons on night attack...I am not expecting any hits, but perhaps more information.

[Lowpe]

This turn I initiated the Burma evacuation stage 1 alert. Pulling everything back from Prome; reinforcing Rangoon with troops from north of Rangoon while the Prome forces flow into that hex; eighty percent of the north Burma forces are going into SR for a mass move potentially to Moulmein while other will hold the river line at Magwe and potentially fall back to Lashio Tuang Gyi and long, long road back to Indochina.

I am preparing for another aerial strike in case he does have an invasion fleet heading for Tavoy. A reserve division left Singers for points north on trains today; the IJN is moving into position; closely examining all enemy search patterns; I beefed up search even more...

I am expecting attacks at two places at once...Marshalls and Indochina. In the Indochina I think he will use his BB fleet backed up by land based air, and in the Marshalls he will use his CVs, 1 BB, and cruisers.

It would be nice if it were simply an amphibious invasion of Ramree instead! Anyway, I don't have naval superiority in the Bay of Bengal anymore so it is time to evacuate most of Burma to prevent the IJA from getting cut off.

[ny59giants]

Intel & Recon: As Japan, you have better recon asset until mid-44 when the F-5E comes out in numbers for the Americans. The Allies have better Intel. I would try some 20 to 30% Rest for my air groups on long range or extended range Naval Search or Recon missions. This will cut down on op losses and indirectly keep you best pilots alive. For some groups, I have 20% Rest and Training. This allows pilots to steadily train up and keeps the most fatigued planes grounded. Many players look at just Pilots and their skills. I often look at my Planes to see how much Fatigue they have.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Intel & Recon: As Japan, you have better recon asset until mid-44 when the F-5E comes out in numbers for the Americans. The Allies have better Intel. I would try some 20 to 30% Rest for my air groups on long range or extended range Naval Search or Recon missions. This will cut down on op losses and indirectly keep you best pilots alive. For some groups, I have 20% Rest and Training. This allows pilots to steadily train up and keeps the most fatigued planes grounded. Many players look at just Pilots and their skills. I often look at my Planes to see how much Fatigue they have.

Hmmm, I am using 40-50 percent rest, avoid extended range for all but the Judy Recon (and what few Irv recons I have). Emilies I usually use an even higher rest percentage.

My loss of recon planes is usually flying into heavily CAPed bases....

[topeverest]

I still like the aggressive play you have made. This coastal allied strategy is pretty effective.

Can you be more specific on your deployment changes around Burma.

CV's?

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

This turn I initiated the Burma evacuation stage 1 alert. Pulling everything back from Prome; reinforcing Rangoon with troops from north of Rangoon while the Prome forces flow into that hex; eighty percent of the north Burma forces are going into SR for a mass move potentially to Moulmein while other will hold the river line at Magwe and potentially fall back to Lashio Tuang Gyi and long, long road back to Indochina.

I am preparing for another aerial strike in case he does have an invasion fleet heading for Tavoy. A reserve division left Singers for points north on trains today; the IJN is moving into position; closely examining all enemy search patterns; I beefed up search even more...

I am expecting attacks at two places at once...Marshalls and Indochina. In the Indochina I think he will use his BB fleet backed up by land based air, and in the Marshalls he will use his CVs, 1 BB, and cruisers.

It would be nice if it were simply an amphibious invasion of Ramree instead! Anyway, I don't have naval superiority in the Bay of Bengal anymore so it is time to evacuate most of Burma to prevent the IJA from getting cut off.

[Lowpe]

Thailand:

Initial fall back line is in purple, Rangoon and north.

Secondary line is in yellow. Off road units will likely be lightly held depending upon Allied movements.

Retreat paths are shown.

Mergui and VP are more susceptible to my air attacks unless he brings carriers. Even Tavoy is since it would need LR CAP.

A division arrives today at Chumpion; Moulmein will start receiving forces from Northern Burma today by rail, but has 600 AV now there with coastal guns.

Concerns: Allied invasion. Allied paradrops. It is important to remember that I can railroad into a contested rail base hex, but I cannot rail out of a contested rail base hex.

[topeverest]

highly unlikely the allies will try to go overland to Moulmein. One of the toughest things to do in asia.

Tavoy and Victoria Point seem well in character for your opponent. pretty good use of the empire CV's and BB's IMHO, though Pacific is left open. I worry that he will play for Mariana's if he see's you divert and stop this.

Still you can only do so much. perhaps it is choice time and deal with the opportunity loss. I like the CV and LBA response to Burma far better than a CV battle in the PAC at this point in the war.

[Lokasenna]

I find that, with trained pilots, extended range recon works just fine with 50% rest.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: topeverest

highly unlikely the allies will try to go overland to Moulmein. One of the toughest things to do in asia.

Tavoy and Victoria Point seem well in character for your opponent. pretty good use of the empire CV's and BB's IMHO, though Pacific is left open. I worry that he will play for Mariana's if he see's you divert and stop this.

Still you can only do so much. perhaps it is choice time and deal with the opportunity loss. I like the CV and LBA response to Burma far better than a CV battle in the PAC at this point in the war.

Surely he would go for the Roi and Kwaj first. I think.

[Lowpe]

May 23, 1943

No night air attacks.

As expected an Amphibious forces showed up off Ailinglaplap. The hapless defenders never stood a chance...

26 PP to recall the wiped out units.

Nice, well orchestrated attack with covering CVs, BB bombardments, lots of troops landed with minimal disruption. Will make a nice bomber base for the Americans to bedevil me some more.

I lost 4 search planes flying into this CAP (2 Judy and 2 Jake).

[Lowpe]

Nice heavy bombardment of Rangoon by Allied bombers....

Taking bets on where the enemy task force is headed to. If I would have held off I could have hit his task force on the open seas with LR CAP and probably done batter.

I laid more mines in Rangoon...

Still no other task forces sighted in the area...

[Lowpe]

You know, I thought BB couldn't get into Rangoon...

[Lowpe]

Here is the invasion for Ailinglaplap. Very easy for me to understand...and know that it was coming, not nec. for Ailinglaplap, but one of the islands close by.

So different than Burma...which can mean that Burma simply is a bombardment task force? How do I take that risk?

Dare I do a flank speed engagement with my naval forces at Victoria Point -- those forces by the way are undetected? If they could engage after the bombardment it might be very favorable to me...I could then route them to Moulmein and have them disband in port or at the very least under 300 fighter CAP.

13 hexes is a long way to go.

Color me confused in Burma![:D]

[topeverest]

Can you help me understand why you wouldn't commit the CV's to either the marshalls or Burma?

What am I missing?