Playtest of Pacific at War 3 25 14

[larryfulkerson]

Okay........I moved all the units and set up my attacks and pulled the trigger and here's the results of an airstrike on 2 Allied ship
units. Turns out there was 8 DD's in those units and I sank all 8 of them. Just by dint of sheer numbers I got through the CAP and
got the ships. It was prohibitively expensive though. I don't think I'll do this again real soon.

EDIT: I think this may set the record for our game for the biggest furball so far in terms of numbers of aircraft.

[thomasharvey]

The loss of 8 DDs for the Allies is a serious loss since they are limited. There are also many battles to go leading up to even the invasion of Japan. Finally the P-47, F6F Hellcat and the F4U Corsair are entering service to resist the large bomber groups of Japan. Due to the recent bases captured at New Guinea an air raid was sent against the IJN fleet just north of New Britain which resulted in the sinking of 2CVE and 4DD. The Marine torpedo bombers were nearly wiped out. Nevertheless, a victory for the Allies.

[larryfulkerson]

I'm trying to evacuate all the Jap forces from north China, blowing bridges behind me etc. I've got to concentrate my troops so they
can support each other and so the arty can protect more troops with their tubes. Better arty support efficiency. Also, I've got the
ships gathered up and I've got several that are repairing in the home islands.

[larryfulkerson]

Those late model planes are starting to pull their weight. Look at the number of Zeros shot down. Whoa.

[thomasharvey]

Here is a screenshot of the battle for Hanoi and Haiphong. For the first time I have taken a single hex from his defensive screen. Now I am adjacent to Hanoi. If this continues he may be in for a real battle to the death in this area. Otherwise, I can rest for a while and try again later.

The Japanese do not have enough sea movement to arrange a "Dunkirk" style retreat here. That would be very difficult to pull off.

At any rate, soon the Allied carrier fleet will come out for the next naval engagement.

[larryfulkerson]

I'm trying my hand at multi-tasking by making this picture attempt to show two things simultaneously. First, the Allied carrier
fighter groups are transitioning to the newer aircraft types and the Allies gained a hex in the Hanoi area and I'm not sure
my dudes are strong enough to evict them.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's what the Battle Planner said the odds are. Not even parity. I'm thinking there's virtually no chance of success in this kind
of attack. So I'm thinking I'll just save the strength of my dudes and not attack. I need to move the biggest units to Hanoi and dig
them in and so on. This could just turn out to be a short siege.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the results of a furball over Madang.

[thomasharvey]

This screen shot shows the US Fleet moving north to "pull the stinger" from the Bettys and Nells. This movement caused several strikes against the fleet that did not get a hit on the carriers but did sink a few DDs.

Now it will be the Japanese turn to decide if surface action is in order or more air strikes.

Maybe surface action if the weather is overcast as that would reduce the effectiveness of the air power.

[larryfulkerson]

The perimeter is getting smaller in the Hanoi area. The Allies captured another hex and it looks like there's no stopping them.
Haiphong is the only port out of there and Hanoi is the only supply point. So this is the make or break stance, there's no backing
up.

[larryfulkerson]

Thomas has made another incursion around the Guadacanal / New Georgia area so I thought I'd drive one of the little boys down
there to investigate and the Allied TBF's intercepted me and sank my brand new CL. But there's no fighters in the gaggle so I'm
thinking maybe I can use my aircraft on this group.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's what the incursion looks like now. It looks to be about 5 carriers with it's surface escorts. I feel like a mosquito at a nudist
colony......I don't know where to start. I guess I'll go after the closest carrier group.

[larryfulkerson]

Hey.......in T100 I receive my first Rex. It's looking like it's a pretty good fighter and it's got some anti-armour capability. And it's great
against infantry. It'll do it all. It's the F-15E of 1943.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the results of my best effort at sinking some ships and killing some troops floating in the water. No joy. I barely got a punch in.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's another attack next turn. This time I scored an Allied CVE.

[Chattez]

From now on the Imperial Air Force won't be able to do much to the allied fleets,
unless they get very, very careless.

The best idea might be to horde your planes, stack them out of the range of allied
fighters, and wait until you can unleash truly massive raids, accompanied by kamikazes
and new types of fighters.

Follow that up immediately with surface action. (Think:Battle of the Philippine Sea)
Nothing is equal to the Imperial fleet in surface action; it's the one trump the Japanese have.

And stack your islands (the "ladder" of the Solomons") full with troops; that will
cause delays in the allied advances. Troops there are worth far more in delaying
the Americans than troops in China.

Finally, use your surface ships as "bait" to draw the allied bombers into areas where your
own fighter cover is strong -- strong enough to severely punish the allied naval fighters.
After that, you can try attacking their fleets. But first, "draw the stinger".

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: Chattez
From now on the Imperial Air Force won't be able to do much to the allied fleets,
unless they get very, very careless.

So far most of the IJA planes are in China trading airfield strikes with the Allied bombers. Most of
the IJN planes are in the Rabaul area trying to hold the hordes back. The spotter planes are almost
in the way so I've flown a bunch of them to the home islands.

ORIGINAL: Chattez
The best idea might be to horde your planes, stack them out of the range of allied
fighters, and wait until you can unleash truly massive raids, accompanied by kamikazes
and new types of fighters.

Sounds like a good idea to me. I can see huge furballs coming in the future.

ORIGINAL: Chattez
Follow that up immediately with surface action. (Think:Battle of the Philippine Sea)
Nothing is equal to the Imperial fleet in surface action; it's the one trump the Japanese have.

Most of the Jap fleet is at the bottom of the sea. I'm down to approx. 14 ships including one
BB.

ORIGINAL: Chattez
And stack your islands (the "ladder" of the Solomons") full with troops; that will
cause delays in the allied advances. Troops there are worth far more in delaying
the Americans than troops in China.

Yeah, Thomas said the same thing. Sounds like a good idea to me. I've already started
by moving a division to Iwo Jima and one to Kwaqalein ( sp ?). I'm getting ready for the
Allied big push(s).

ORIGINAL: Chattez
Finally, use your surface ships as "bait" to draw the allied bombers into areas where your
own fighter cover is strong -- strong enough to severely punish the allied naval fighters.
After that, you can try attacking their fleets. But first, "draw the stinger".

What's draw the stinger, exactly. Thomas mentioned something about that too. I'm
guessing that you park your ships under your air cover umbrella and dare your enemy
to approach your ships. Right?

[larryfulkerson]

I only just now noticed that there's an enemy unit in my rear area because the Allies captured Hollandia and didn't tell me. I missed the
memo. And I've only noticed after I've run out of shipping. D'oh. Now he's going to have a chance to beef it up some more.

EDIT: I must be tired. It's time for my nap. Hollandia is in Jap hands of course. I'm halloucinating or something. Don't mind me.

[thomasharvey]

While did take New Georgia's two airfields, it was very costly in ships. I lost 4 CVEs and all their escort vessels. I can't do that all the way to Japan for each objective.

The fleet has left the area and now will leave it to Army air and Marine air to defeat the Japanese in the Solomons area. Attached is a screenshot showing the area. It is nearly even in airfields now.

If the Allies have Hollandia, it was a mutiny by the Japanese forces since no allies have attempted to take it yet.

[Chattez]

What's draw the stinger, exactly. Thomas mentioned something about that too. I'm
guessing that you park your ships under your air cover umbrella and dare your enemy
to approach your ships. Right?

As you suggested, get him to attack a minor ship, but one which has massive air cover.
After his air attack is (hopefully) shredded by your superior forces, you can then
counter-attack him, when his air is in a weakened state.