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

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

The Butchers Bill for today. Would like to kill more 4Es, and I bet I see this strategy from now on, the sacrificial Avengers flying in front of the 4Es.

First time for the FM2 Wildcat too.

Japan destroyed more than she lost, but really I need to destroy more. The refineries, and some engine factories got hit.

The P-38J arrives at 50/mo from 12/43 until 5/44. Don't remember what his other P-38 losses were, but losing 20 on the day, assuming he caused damage with the raid, isn't awful... merely bad.

He should have some groups with the P-51B soon... I doubt you'll see many P-38s on escort again.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Crackaces


I do think the Allies are pulling off a Goering .. First going after Manpower and subsequently LI/Supplies then shifting targets. I think the game's sophticated treatment of the IJ economy allows for a concentrated effort at one weak point or the rope for the Allies to waste resources spreading attacks over a spectrum.

Currently he is on a refineries kick, plus plane engines, but he seems to jump around on the engine factories. He very well might go back and hit the runways again too? Maybe he will go back to night bombing (although I think he is pretty frustrated there[;)])?

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna
The P-38J arrives at 50/mo from 12/43 until 5/44. Don't remember what his other P-38 losses were, but losing 20 on the day, assuming he caused damage with the raid, isn't awful... merely bad.

He should have some groups with the P-51B soon... I doubt you'll see many P-38s on escort again.

It was the 4Es at the very end of the day that did damage. The Lightning escorted Avengers all died, but they did help to wear the CAP down.

I think he is basically almost out of P38s of any flavor.

[vicberg]

Victory Disease on his part. He would be on Honshu right now if he had focused his air on supporting an invasion. He had the opportunity while you were weak (and still somewhat are). Wasted opportunity on his part.

[Lowpe]

Looking at upcoming reinforcements, and at Iwo Jima I get this little gem! I had thought it was simply a naval guard unit, boy was I mistaken.[:)]

These guys are just packed with goodness! Now, the question is do I bring them back to Honshu, and send them to Akita?

Allies really love using SBDs against those bases, and the 25mm really shine on defense. Plus more DP guns are never bad!



There is quite a few of these named reinforcements coming, including a monster CD unit for Naha in 48 days. I really need these kind of troops! Very pleased.

[vicberg]

This AAR plus others is making it clear. You need a strategy from day 1 of the war for both sides and you need to stick with it. Once he invaded Hokkaido, he had two choices: 1) invade Honshu or 2) focus on ONE aspect of the Japanese economy to blow into oblivion while invading PI, etc.. He's done neither to date.

[Lowpe]

Allied plane pools and losses (according to Tracker):

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: vicberg

This AAR plus others is making it clear. You need a strategy from day 1 of the war for both sides and you need to stick with it. Once he invaded Hokkaido, he had two choices: 1) invade Honshu or 2) focus on ONE aspect of the Japanese economy to blow into oblivion while invading PI, etc.. He's done neither to date.

I'll say you need a strategic goal, not so much a Grand Plan that you stick to At All Costs. Adapting to changing circumstances is best.

[leehunt27@bloomberg.net]

In response to Crackaces post above, while using the sledgehammer inefficiently is definitely not a great strategy, the US was prepared for massive casualties in Operation Olympic and without the atomic bomb it probably would have happened. If this Allied player subdues Hokkaido and shuts down the Honshu economy, basically winning the war a year early, that's worth substantial extra casualties. I won a game as the Allies once in late 1942 by taking Marcus Island, Iwo Jima and then some islands SW of Japan. My opponent probably could have massed and retaken them, but he was shaken by the surprise and the game ended. But i lost at least 40,000 troops, about 50 transports, and a few carriers in the assault. My casualties in that short war were far higher but in the long run still better than a longer conflict.

So anyway, that begs the question, what level of casualties worth a 1944 win in Hokkaido? Though i tend to agree with most on the forum here that the Allies are better off now cherry picking Singapore, Taiwan, Manila, etc. And scouring the seas to sink every last Japanese ship...

[Lowpe]

Problem is, he can't shut down Honshu's economy from Hokkaido alone, at least not in 1944. He can hurt it, can't destroy it. At least I don't think so. We will see, I guess!

[morejeffs]

Is Nemo still around? I remember reading his AARs and just been blown away/intimidated by all the thought he put into planning...

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Problem is, he can't shut down Honshu's economy from Hokkaido alone, at least not in 1944. He can hurt it, can't destroy it. At least I don't think so. We will see, I guess!

He probably could have if he had focused on the right thing from the start. So a boon for you! [:)]

[Lowpe]

March 12, 1944

More under performance by my Super Es.

[Lowpe]

Just a little nuisance raid. Get the Allies to spread their fighters some.

[Lowpe]

No morning raids or sweeps on Tokyo, but this comes in the afternoon targeting the heavy industry.

[Lowpe]

Plane losses for the day. The Frank sweep of Muroran nets no opposition. The Helen Kamikazes send a few planes after a destroyer squadron and they all miss. No fighter opposition, trained to the 70s in low naval and not a single hit. Sigh.

I lost one Ha45, one Ha33, and 2 points of HI.

[mind_messing]

ORIGINAL: morejeffs

Is Nemo still around? I remember reading his AARs and just been blown away/intimidated by all the thought he put into planning...

Nemo had a good grasp of the theoretical side of things, but I seem to remember his AAR's having a fair share of drama. Plus, he mostly played (or at least AAR'd) the Downfall scenario, and I seem to remember that the only GC game he played from the start was against someone who was hopelessly mismatched against him in terms of skill level.

For me, I think the gold standard for AE should be getting a game to the point where the Victory screen pops up in 1945 or later.

[Lowpe]

And, returning for a repeat performance, the long cruise of the Allied Deathstar.

I am of two minds about this.

First and foremost, it signals no really large invasion of Honshu for a while. So that is great. If he circumnavigates thru to Hong Kong and then back to Luzon a waste of time and assets. If it is cover for an invasion of Naha, Formosa, etc., that would kind of stink.

On the other hand, I have so far proven wholly ineffective at fighting against the deathstar. Now, Alfred gave me a thorough strategy a while back to try and nail it...perhaps I can try that.

[Lowpe]

Allies still jiggering their lines, moving thru jungle at a snails pace. We continue to nail the Allied forces at Rahaeng, where the Allies stopped bombarding or attack a month ago it seems. His supply there must be weak, tomorrow I will probably fly some planes in to CAP it, perhaps I can nail some transports?

Allies continue to bombard on the Bangkok/Moulmein road (slight advantage to Japan), and the Allied bomber forces continue to hit the jungle hex west of Bangkok. Soon I will have some AA there.

[Lowpe]

The big picture...

Thailand: The Allies sending their tank army off road in a misguided attempt to seize Rahaeng has got to be one of the bigger blunders the Allies have made in this theater.

Words can't convey how shocked I am that my defense held here for so long, and really it is thanks to a poor Allied tactics. He broke his 6000 AV stack in the west down into parts, and then moved his tank army into the jungle.

Allies outnumber in gross AV by 2-1 everywhere, but thanks to good terrain, forts, and plenty of artillery I have him stymied for now. Won't last, but then neither will Japan.[:)]

I think he is in the process of moving some more troops hit the jungle position west of Bangkok, certainly they are getting bombed every day very heavily. I have more units and reinforcements headed there, but it is always slow going thru the jungle.

At some point, the Allies will start leap frogging forward with small landing craft exapanding their bases. Phuket for example is undefended...so many opportunities for the Allies to advance without banging their head against me where I am strongest (so to speak).



I don't have enough recon planes in this theater anymore, and I am forced to bounce my targeted recon around each day. More clicks, what joy.