Groundhog Day! - No NJP

[Mike McCreery]

ORIGINAL: Rio Bravo

Perhaps, NJP will withdraw from Australia now?

The most likely conclusion is that he stages a fighting retreat up the east coast of Australia. On the west I am not sure how much he will keep at Geraldton/Perth. It really doesnt matter. I just continue to push in the areas I can. 2 days until the October upgrades. 2 months until the subs get their new torps. The allies just continue to gain strength.

[Mike McCreery]

October 4, 1942

NJP is not even bothering to put up a fighting retreat along the coast of Eastern Australia.

[Mike McCreery]

I caught a note of heavy radio activity south of Australia but didnt take it seriously enough. I thought it might be some subs or a picket to pick up any convoys trying to traverse really far south.

It turned out to be the KB and mini-KB that were moving east northeast. They caught a mid size tanker convoy by surprise. The convoy was returning after fueling Sydney for almost 80,000 tonnes of fuel. Several tankers got away.

I now know where he is. He is covering the retreat of troops from Norfolk Island I imagine.

[Mike McCreery]

NJP sent some ships to Ndeni and I thought it was going to be another attack with the same group that killed the 2 initial transport groups here. It turned out to be an APD force with a CM attached. He dropped off some troops but I have about a regiment already on the ground so his little surface raid is not going to be enough to cause me too much trouble.

Also, I have another 2 regiment equivalent that almost landed last turn but I diverted.

It was disappointing that I had a surface group that just decided not to engage. It was set to amphibious and unloading marines along with a cruiser and light cruiser escort. They are now on surface patrol hoping to catch a return of the ships. I think that the CM spells trouble so I have sent some mine sweepings. Ndeni will go to lvl 2 within a few days and is important to me so I will fight for it.

NJP is going to have to start making choices on where to cover with his carriers and whether to split them up or not. I havent seen much of that from him and he has absolutely no idea where my carriers are which I like. There is a possibility he may make a run on Sydney to see if he can catch any ships in port for upgrades. There are 4 cruisers there but the cap would make him pay dearly for a port attack.

[Sangeli]

Don't invest too heavily in Ndeni. It can't be held in the long term but you can force NJP to divert and prep more resources to it. I wouldn't try to build up the air base past level 2 or bring more support units but certainly if you could get more LCUs in there safely that could be a good idea. There simply isn't enough depth behind the position for you to hold it forever without CV support.

[Mike McCreery]

Battle of the Coral Sea - October 4, 1942

The night begins with the sinking of the mine layer previously discovered. Maybe he couldnt lay them the night before due to him being in an amphibious task force?

[Mike McCreery]

The engagement continued with Admiral Dodd and a light cruiser TF running into a destroyer TF.

The outcome was the Amagiri taking a shell and the Sagiri taking a 6" to the guts. On the allied side the preston got hit and the honolulu took about 4 hits with only 1 that did not bounce and no significant apparent damage.

[Mike McCreery]

Combat replay said I did good then said I did meh then said I did good again. This may change when I get the turn file. LOL!!

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Wargmr

NJP sent some ships to Ndeni and I thought it was going to be another attack with the same group that killed the 2 initial transport groups here. It turned out to be an APD force with a CM attached. He dropped off some troops but I have about a regiment already on the ground so his little surface raid is not going to be enough to cause me too much trouble.

Also, I have another 2 regiment equivalent that almost landed last turn but I diverted.

It was disappointing that I had a surface group that just decided not to engage. It was set to amphibious and unloading marines along with a cruiser and light cruiser escort. They are now on surface patrol hoping to catch a return of the ships. I think that the CM spells trouble so I have sent some mine sweepings. Ndeni will go to lvl 2 within a few days and is important to me so I will fight for it.

NJP is going to have to start making choices on where to cover with his carriers and whether to split them up or not. I havent seen much of that from him and he has absolutely no idea where my carriers are which I like. There is a possibility he may make a run on Sydney to see if he can catch any ships in port for upgrades. There are 4 cruisers there but the cap would make him pay dearly for a port attack.

When you see a CM with APDs, it is likely part of the FT TF since the big IJN CMs can carry a lot of equipment and supply. That means it was not likely to be planting mines.

[Mike McCreery]

ORIGINAL: Sangeli

Don't invest too heavily in Ndeni. It can't be held in the long term but you can force NJP to divert and prep more resources to it. I wouldn't try to build up the air base past level 2 or bring more support units but certainly if you could get more LCUs in there safely that could be a good idea. There simply isn't enough depth behind the position for you to hold it forever without CV support.

What's with all the negative waves man??

[Crackaces]

In my very first game I invaded Tarawa early June 1942. At first the attention it drew seemed overwhelming. But
the continual use of the KB and BB's overtime used up resources that by late 1943 the results become very apparent. Much
like somebody in their twenties spending like a drunken sailor and then retirement comes and nothing is saved up.

Dropping a division and supplies on a critical base with the intent of presenting a severe threat has the ability
to implement both strategic maneuver as well as operational exploits (like submarines in a created concentrated area) that
one knows will be a tactical nightmare until late 1943.

Just my .02 ...

[Mike McCreery]

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

In my very first game I invaded Tarawa early June 1942. At first the attention it drew seemed overwhelming. But
the continual use of the KB and BB's overtime used up resources that by late 1943 the results become very apparent. Much
like somebody in their twenties spending like a drunken sailor and then retirement comes and nothing is saved up.

Dropping a division and supplies on a critical base with the intent of presenting a severe threat has the ability
to implement both strategic maneuver as well as operational exploits (like submarines in a created concentrated area) that
one knows will be a tactical nightmare until late 1943.

Just my .02 ...

I like your thinking sir!! Also, massed mines and/or other support islands with torpedo bombers, etc. There are too many dot islands out there to cover if he does not use carrier resources. And if he splits his carriers he could be in danger. And if I want him out of the area I just present a carrier force elsewhere and make him move.

I see plenty of opportunity here above and beyond the 5 destroyers and 1 CM I sent to the bottom.

[Sangeli]

ORIGINAL: Wargmr

ORIGINAL: Sangeli

Don't invest too heavily in Ndeni. It can't be held in the long term but you can force NJP to divert and prep more resources to it. I wouldn't try to build up the air base past level 2 or bring more support units but certainly if you could get more LCUs in there safely that could be a good idea. There simply isn't enough depth behind the position for you to hold it forever without CV support.

What's with all the negative waves man??

Well, the situation is a little better here than I first thought once I realized how there are no Japanese bases nearby. Still, I think my analysis is correct. Right now Ndeni is out on a limb but seeing as how poorly NJP has allocated resources you may be able to get some depth behind the position before the Japanese can assault the base. If you can take Suva in early 43 Ndeni may just have a chance. But the air base there is more of a liability than an asset. Should the Japanese make a concerted effort to suppress the base with the KB nearby, there is nothing you can do to stop that. All of that damage will need to be repaired and a larger air base makes it take longer and use more supply. Better off just building up the fort and trying to get more LCUs there. Eventually you can build up the base and make good use of it but not for some time.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Sangeli

ORIGINAL: Wargmr

ORIGINAL: Sangeli

Don't invest too heavily in Ndeni. It can't be held in the long term but you can force NJP to divert and prep more resources to it. I wouldn't try to build up the air base past level 2 or bring more support units but certainly if you could get more LCUs in there safely that could be a good idea. There simply isn't enough depth behind the position for you to hold it forever without CV support.

What's with all the negative waves man??

Well, the situation is a little better here than I first thought once I realized how there are no Japanese bases nearby. Still, I think my analysis is correct. Right now Ndeni is out on a limb but seeing as how poorly NJP has allocated resources you may be able to get some depth behind the position before the Japanese can assault the base. If you can take Suva in early 43 Ndeni may just have a chance. But the air base there is more of a liability than an asset. Should the Japanese make a concerted effort to suppress the base with the KB nearby, there is nothing you can do to stop that. All of that damage will need to be repaired and a larger air base makes it take longer and use more supply. Better off just building up the fort and trying to get more LCUs there. Eventually you can build up the base and make good use of it but not for some time.

I was under the impression that a base had to have supplies to do repairs, but that the repairs do not use supply. Can anyone confirm which is the correct description of what happens during repairs to a base?

[Mike McCreery]

:]

[Mike McCreery]

October 5, 1942

First Direct attack goes in against Manila. Major disablement on the Japanese side.

[Crackaces]

That looks like sys < 50% to me as no flames in the black smoke .. but the belt armor penetration means float damage
and somebody smarter than me like Alfred can tell you the parameters given the smoke level (I think there [are] four distinct levels)
and the critical hit message ...

But the Shoho will be out for sometime .. I do not think it will sink given no flames in the black smoke ...or dark black smoke ..

It will be interesting if a separate escort TF is created .. if so that will give a clue to how much damage has been taken ...

[Mike McCreery]

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

That looks like sys < 50% to me as no flames in the black smoke .. but the belt armor penetration means float damage
and somebody smarter than me like Alfred can tell you the parameters given the smoke level (I think there is four levels)
and the critical hit message ...

But the Shoho will be out for sometime .. I do not think it will sink given no flames in the black smoke ...or dark black smoke ..

It will be interesting if a separate escort TF is created .. if so that will give a clue to how much damage has been taken ...

She was smoking before the torpedo hit ;] The torpedo penetrated the belt armor below the water level and caused serious damage. I doubt she will sink either but it is now a problem for NJP to escort her to be repaired. One more thing to worry about.

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

That looks like sys < 50% to me as no flames in the black smoke .. but the belt armor penetration means float damage
and somebody smarter than me like Alfred can tell you the parameters given the smoke level (I think there is four levels)
and the critical hit message ...

But the Shoho will be out for sometime .. I do not think it will sink given no flames in the black smoke ...or dark black smoke ..

It will be interesting if a separate escort TF is created .. if so that will give a clue to how much damage has been taken ...

Depends on when in the animation the screenshot was taken. That light smoke may be the system damage she was carrying when the fish hit.

The flame/smoke results of the hit likely wouldn't display until after the report shown in the image.

[Mike McCreery]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

That looks like sys < 50% to me as no flames in the black smoke .. but the belt armor penetration means float damage
and somebody smarter than me like Alfred can tell you the parameters given the smoke level (I think there is four levels)
and the critical hit message ...

But the Shoho will be out for sometime .. I do not think it will sink given no flames in the black smoke ...or dark black smoke ..

It will be interesting if a separate escort TF is created .. if so that will give a clue to how much damage has been taken ...

Depends on when in the animation the screenshot was taken. That light smoke may be the system damage she was carrying when the fish hit.

The flame/smoke results of the hit likely wouldn't display until after the report shown in the image.

Beat me to it ;]