Tales from the First Time -DanSez (J) vs Przemcio231 (A) - no Przemcio231 please

[DanSez]

Here are the current Air HQs active as of this date.

Action this turn:
3rd Air (Army HQ) is packing - planning its move to Malaysia.

[1EyedJacks]

ORIGINAL: DanSez

Dec 10, 1941 post turn discussions:

The issue of Air Group resizing was raised.
I brought it up as it wasn't specifically mentioned.

The limit is 30 max on resizing any air units.
In the Kull spreadsheet it calls for a few larger resized units and I know that is a disputed subject - best to get it out in the open now.

Just curious - what's the largest air group the allies get? If it's greater than 30AC then maybe counter for allowing you to increase up to that number of AC in groups you can resize?

[1EyedJacks]

Cool - I finally caught up from page 1 to 5. Looks like you are having loads of fun <grin>.

Something else to consider - your FP can fly out of dot hexes with AVs providing support. The more aircraft you have looking the better your chances to increase the detection level of enemy TFs. The higher the enemy's detection level is, the better your attacks will be.

I like to flood the DEI with sub patrols at this stage of the game, and I like to have my subs with Glens patrol within recon/search range of enemy bases. Subs w/o AC can hunt where I think my opponent will be.

Your opponent is playing aggressively - not really doing the Sir Robin plan <laughter>. Figure out where his ships have to go for beans and bullets and then consider stalker-subs near those bases plus some recon missions. If you can catch some of his shipping in port that might-could take some wind out of his sails...

For bases in Japan that produce air frames and engines, have you bumped up supplies in those bases to about 5k? Plenty of supplies at your production sites helps out immensely. [:D]

[DanSez]

ORIGINAL: 1EyedJacks

Cool - I finally caught up from page 1 to 5. Looks like you are having loads of fun <grin>.

Something else to consider - your FP can fly out of dot hexes with AVs providing support. The more aircraft you have looking the better your chances to increase the detection level of enemy TFs. The higher the enemy's detection level is, the better your attacks will be.

I like to flood the DEI with sub patrols at this stage of the game, and I like to have my subs with Glens patrol within recon/search range of enemy bases. Subs w/o AC can hunt where I think my opponent will be.

Your opponent is playing aggressively - not really doing the Sir Robin plan <laughter>. Figure out where his ships have to go for beans and bullets and then consider stalker-subs near those bases plus some recon missions. If you can catch some of his shipping in port that might-could take some wind out of his sails...

For bases in Japan that produce air frames and engines, have you bumped up supplies in those bases to about 5k? Plenty of supplies at your production sites helps out immensely. [:D]

Welcome!
I appreciate your comments and interest.

I did bump up supply in most of the production cities - turned off any and all production for the first 3 days, then slowly started turning it back on. Now at Dec 27th game turn (just sent to the enemy), I finally have all the Air/Engine/R&D factories where I want them. Armament and Vehicles are also back on line. I have 14(something) NavSY and about 830 MerSY with Production on.
Those last two numbers are from memory as I am at a different computer typing this email.
I need to go back this next turn or two and recheck all the supply/city settings to make sure there is enough for factory repairs.

Allied High Command is very aggressive and has concentrated his subs in tight circles around Cam Ranh Bay, Takao, Babeldaob, Nagasaki and I am countering by running a lot of ASW planes and task forces -- which drains a bit on the number of float planes I can move to the forward edge for naval search. I have been beating them down, but it has been slow going.

I am surely not maximizing my resources at this point and any advice will be seriously considered and experimented with. I am slow getting Air HQs and support squadrons loaded and moved forward. I've lost a lot of transports already and there are never enough escorts. Lost not so much to subs, but to poorly coordinated invasion fleets getting caught.

I just got into trouble trying to jump a step by trying to snag Kendari instead of Termate or Manado.
Hopefully I can parry his surface task force with minimal loss until Akagi/Kaga can get into range.

Yes, exciting -- I am learning a lot about the game.
Thanks

[DanSez]

I am hoping the Allies think I will try to run past the North of Ambon toward Sorong and safety. If so, the the three Air Groups might be able to launch strikes and lay a bunch of Allied Iron at the bottom of the Ceram Sea.

It is going to be a long night waiting for the reply file.

[jwolf]

ORIGINAL: DanSez

It is going to be a long night waiting for the reply file.

Yeah, that's the hard part. It helps to put me in the mindset of the top commanders safe at home, but waiting on pins and needles to hear the news on some critical op thousands of miles away, over which they have no control once they give the orders to move. Good luck!

[1EyedJacks]

Hi DanSez - thanks for the warm greeting.

So for your bases that you are fighting enemy subs (Cam Ranh Bay, etc.) - if you fly a few naval search missions in the same area to increase the detection level of the enemy subs then your ASW TFs and air groups should see better results from their attacks.

And just in case you didn't know - ASW air missions are 2:1 ratio - meaning if you set the range to 2 they'll patrol 1 hex, if you set the range to 4 they'll patrol out to two hexes... I try to change out most of my FP to Jakes (because they have a better range than the Petes and Alfs) as early as I can in the war so I set my Jake production at 30 AC within the first few turns. I also swap Jakes onto my ships. Using FP in ASW missions to hunt subs rarely worked for me so I switched over to DB and later the Helens for flying ASW missions.

[DanSez]

ORIGINAL: jwolf

ORIGINAL: DanSez

It is going to be a long night waiting for the reply file.

Yeah, that's the hard part. It helps to put me in the mindset of the top commanders safe at home, but waiting on pins and needles to hear the news on some critical op thousands of miles away, over which they have no control once they give the orders to move. Good luck!

Hey, since you are driving buy -- you made some comments about your Ship Production.

Did you turn any ships off/halt/try to manipulate the production line other than the speeding up some carriers and shutting off the Shinano and the big battleships?

Here is what I have projected for DD production thru mid 43 -- I start getting Shimakaze Class DDs in Dec 42.


First batch before the first Shimakaze comes online:

[DanSez]

Then the next ship starts the Shimakaze Class - I get a few in 43.

Takakaze 23 Dec
Ishikaze 30 Dec
Hikokaze 31 Dec
Satsukaze 3 Jan 43
Arikaze 4 Jan
Susukaze 6 Jan

and then the name sake
Shimakaze 6 May

that is 7 Shimakaze by mid 43.

[ny59giants]

A good rule of thumb is to set your DBs to 10% Naval Search to help them find their targets regardless of which side your playing. Hope you made an appropriate sacrifice to the 'weather gods' to get clear skies. [:D]

[jwolf]

Dan, I'm playing the Allies in my game. I think you mean my opponent, Malagant?

On topic, I'm looking forward to a report on the shootout in the Ceram Sea.

[Malagant]

Hey, since you are driving buy -- you made some comments about your Ship Production.

Did you turn any ships off/halt/try to manipulate the production line other than the speeding up some carriers and shutting off the Shinano and the big battleships?

If you meant me, then yes, I turned off Shinano, acclerated 3 CVs, and acclerated some DDs (I don't remember which, I'm sure I had a reason at the time but I'm at work without notes at the moment).

I did not turn off the big Battleships...I get that they're of questionable value, but they're damned cool!

[DanSez]

ORIGINAL: jwolf

Dan, I'm playing the Allies in my game. I think you mean my opponent, Malagant?

On topic, I'm looking forward to a report on the shootout in the Ceram Sea.

doh....

I was very distracted by my tactical situation last night. Please accept my apology.

[DanSez]

ORIGINAL: Malagant

Hey, since you are driving buy -- you made some comments about your Ship Production.

Did you turn any ships off/halt/try to manipulate the production line other than the speeding up some carriers and shutting off the Shinano and the big battleships?

If you meant me, then yes, I turned off .... (sensitive information?)

That's why I didn't mention anything specific about your plans as the opponent can freely gather intel you provide in this thread.

Sorry for the mix-up, as I said the immediate threat to the Baby-KB was foremost on my stressed brain cells.

[DanSez]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

A good rule of thumb is to set your DBs to 10% Naval Search to help them find their targets regardless of which side your playing. Hope you made an appropriate sacrifice to the 'weather gods' to get clear skies. [:D]

Actually I have been using the longer legged Kates (TBs) for Nav Search and when not close to any battle area, I put the DBs (Vals) on ASW (about 20%).

I leave the Kates at 10% Nav Search all the time. Is it better to save the Kates for 100% strikes?

[DanSez]

Fortunately, the local task force commander is much smarter than Japan High Command. He dodged a night engagement with light loss and scooted full speed toward the Calvary which can now provide cover this next turn.

Sadly, the landing force was intercepted in the confusion and was destroyed (1 DMS 3 xAKs small LCU)[:(]

[jwolf]

ORIGINAL: DanSez

Fortunately, the local task force commander is much smarter than Japan High Command.

Heh. [8D]

[Lowpe]

Hey, you did great! And look, no fires![:D]

[Encircled]

Can't argue with that result.

Did you get any airstrikes off?

[DanSez]

Baby-KB launched a strike against the previously damaged CL Adelaide which sank in the combat replay. He rushed the Kendari landing site which is beyond the range of Akagi/Kaga at the moment.

No BBs in that task force, just a CA, bunch of CLs and DDs:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Taliaboe at 72,104, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CVL Ryujo, Shell hits 1
CVL Zuiho, Shell hits 1, on fire
CVE Hosho
DD Yugumo, Shell hits 1
DD Mikazuki
DD Shiokaze
DD Wakatake

Allied Ships
CA Canberra
CL Leander
CL Achilles
CL Perth
DD John D. Ford
DD Pillsbury
DD Stewart, Shell hits 1
DD Voyager
DD Vampire
DD Scout
DD Tenedos
DD Thanet
DD Electra
DD Express, Shell hits 1

Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 64% moonlight: 12,000 yards

Overall I got pretty lucky. Zuiho put out the fires quickly and they scooted within a couple of hexes of Sorong, which I did reset as their Home Port in the previous Orders Phase. Akagi/Kaga is just a hex or two East Sorong.

Question is, do I want to turn Baby-KB around with Akagi and Kaga and try to smit the SCTFs at Kendrai? He tends to just vaporize after an encounter like this and I would be
1. revealing my position (Akagi/Kaga)
2. punching at air, no real damage done without some surface forces to bombard and punish

still thinking about this.

I have a couple turns before I could build a decent SCFT to raid with the beefed up Baby-KB and I am thinking of waiting for that. Drive by and blow up some sheet...

Or just route them over toward Cam Ranh Bay, where Kongo and Friends are reloading, and go down by the Malaysia Penn with an heavy invasion force toward Palembang (that would be 6-8 or so turns to assemble).

Zuiho will detatch and travel with a couple of capital ships and escorts back to the Home Islands for repair.