Tale of the Sheep! - JocMeister (A) vs. Lowpe (J)

[JocMeister]

Sorry guys. Most families in Sweden doesn´t do Halloween. [:'(] Its called "all saints day" here and we visit the graves of our relatives to light candles.

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]May 22nd[/font]
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Home sick today. So if you have any questions of want screens let me know.

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NORPAC
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Recon noticed there were 60 bombers and no fighters present at Allford Bay. Thought I´d let the B17s go to work. Sadly in turns out the opposite was true. No bombers and lots of fighters. Bloody day in the air. We do well shooting down 37 Oscars and Zeroes for 20 own losses. Good but not good enough.

Morning Air attack on Alliford Bay , at 199,46

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 32

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 5 destroyed

A coordinated sweep. That is only the 2nd or 3rd time I´ve seen it. Think its a bug though as only 1 squadron seems to participate in combat.

Morning Air attack on Alliford Bay , at 199,46

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 33
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 20

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 68

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 6 destroyed

This makes a huge dent in my fighter pool and I´m now down to only 18 Warhawks. No Japanese bombings today.

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SOPAC/OZ
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Jeff bombs Cairns hitting the resources there. I wonder if this is Jeffs next target? Oz rather then SOPAC? Interesting. SIGINT is still quiet.

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India
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Jeff moves his main stack towards Calcutta while smaller units head North. I´ll let him do that as I´ll focus on his main stack.
-17 units 44k troops, 565 guns and 200 AFVs spotted. Not sure what to make of it? 1 ID with lots of smaller units?

I´ve started hunting Japanese subs more aggressively in the Bay of Bengal. Managed to nail one. [:)]

Submarine attack near Jaffna at 34,44

Japanese Ships
SS I-122, hits 10, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DE Starling
PG Lawrence
PG Clive

SS I-122 is located by DE Starling
DE Starling attacking submerged sub ....
SS I-122 forced to surface!
DE Starling firing on surfaced sub ....
PG Lawrence firing on surfaced sub ....
PG Clive firing on surfaced sub ....
DE Starling firing on surfaced sub ....
PG Lawrence firing on surfaced sub ....
PG Clive firing on surfaced sub ....
Sub slips beneath the waves

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China
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Big problems here as the Ankang roadblock falls in the first attack. The "overstacking snowball" have now started rolling and I´m not sure it will stop somewhere. The first retreat overstacked the next place which burned all supply. This meant the next roadblock also fell (due to lack of supply) and now all those troops retreated to Ankang which is now MASSIVELY overstacked (as two hexes has been pushed here) and all supply was instantly burned up. So now Ankang will fall in the first attack.

This will most likely continue until Jeff stops (which he won´t). The snowball will just grow and grow. This is the same problem I had in my game with Tom and its whats made him able to roll straight through China. He just built a ball of broken Chinese units and then pushed it infront of him. The overstack penalty then did all the work for him.

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]May 23nd[/font]
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Little happening.

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NORPAC
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Bombers are back. Only some odd 20 hits the repair yard at Victoria for a single hit. Sadly the AA BDE havn´t unpacked yet but 1 bomber is shot down and several doesn´t make it back.

KB is still missing. I think he is going to try and hit SF or something similar.

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China
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The overstacking ball is rolling towards Ankang. I won´t be able to get out in time so it will fall too. All I can do now is hope that the stack retreats into the wilds rather then upwards on the road.

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India
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Jeff suddenly hits Diamond Harbor with a BB force. Very successfully despite 3 CD units there.

Night Naval bombardment of Diamond Harbour at 52,38 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

36 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
BB Kongo
CA Suzuya
CA Ashigara
CA Atago
CA Takao
CL Tama
CL Jintsu

Allied ground losses:
489 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 48 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 21 (3 destroyed, 18 disabled)

Not really sure what the purpose is though? With his troops only 3 hexes from Calcutta an invasion would make no sense. I´ll try to put some subs in the way.

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister
The overstacking ball is rolling towards Ankang. I won´t be able to get out in time so it will fall too. All I can do now is hope that the stack retreats into the wilds rather then upwards on the road.

What happens if Ankang supply set to large draw-in + stockpile? Maybe those units can be tricked into getting the majority of their supply from somewhere else and retreat there as a result?

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: GetAssista
What happens if Ankang supply set to large draw-in + stockpile? Maybe those units can be tricked into getting the majority of their supply from somewhere else and retreat there as a result?

Hmm, Ankang doesn´t have any supply. With some luck they are drawing directly from Chungking in which case they should retreat towards the West? That would be perfect! But if that is the case why didn´t they retreat due west the last time...

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

ORIGINAL: GetAssista
What happens if Ankang supply set to large draw-in + stockpile? Maybe those units can be tricked into getting the majority of their supply from somewhere else and retreat there as a result?

Hmm, Ankang doesn´t have any supply. With some luck they are drawing directly from Chungking in which case they should retreat towards the West? That would be perfect! But if that is the case why didn´t they retreat due west the last time...

I don't think it matters where they get their shipments of supply from, just what the supply path is from the hex they're in when they are forced to retreat...which is pretty much towards the "easiest" terrain that is also towards a friendly base.

This Chinese snowball effect is just another reason why I disagree with what we always see in terms of LCU deployments in AAR pictures.

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

ORIGINAL: GetAssista
What happens if Ankang supply set to large draw-in + stockpile? Maybe those units can be tricked into getting the majority of their supply from somewhere else and retreat there as a result?

Hmm, Ankang doesn´t have any supply. With some luck they are drawing directly from Chungking in which case they should retreat towards the West? That would be perfect! But if that is the case why didn´t they retreat due west the last time...

I don't think it matters where they get their shipments of supply from, just what the supply path is from the hex they're in when they are forced to retreat...which is pretty much towards the "easiest" terrain that is also towards a friendly base.

This Chinese snowball effect is just another reason why I disagree with what we always see in terms of LCU deployments in AAR pictures.

That probably means the snowball will keep growing into an avalanche. 80k troops now... [:(] Its more of a SL problem then a game problem I think. Only consolation is that it will have the same effect on Jeff when he is defending.

PS. Still playing WOWS?

[JocMeister]

Heh, moving subs to interdict his bombardments payed off at once. [:)]

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: JocMeister



Hmm, Ankang doesn´t have any supply. With some luck they are drawing directly from Chungking in which case they should retreat towards the West? That would be perfect! But if that is the case why didn´t they retreat due west the last time...

I don't think it matters where they get their shipments of supply from, just what the supply path is from the hex they're in when they are forced to retreat...which is pretty much towards the "easiest" terrain that is also towards a friendly base.

This Chinese snowball effect is just another reason why I disagree with what we always see in terms of LCU deployments in AAR pictures.

That probably means the snowball will keep growing into an avalanche. 80k troops now... [:(] Its more of a SL problem then a game problem I think. Only consolation is that it will have the same effect on Jeff when he is defending.

PS. Still playing WOWS?

And a problem with setting up defenses in successive strings of hexes [;)]. I prefer my Chinese losses to be cut off and dead than retreating in any case.

Yep. Played for probably 3 hours last night. Had a blast. Still in Tier 7, though. Mostly. Am playing IJN BBs, IJN DDs, Kriegsmarine cruisers, IJN cruisers, USN cruisers, IJN carriers.... little bit of everything [8D].

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna
Yep. Played for probably 3 hours last night. Had a blast. Still in Tier 7, though. Mostly. Am playing IJN BBs, IJN DDs, Kriegsmarine cruisers, IJN cruisers, USN cruisers, IJN carriers.... little bit of everything [8D].

I played the US CAs up to T8 but got tired of getting one shotted by BBs and the repair cost of 110k. Started playing BBs instead which was great fun. Currently in a NC and having a blast. Have enough XP for the Iowa but lack 10 mil. Didn´t want to start grinding just for money so I started playing CVs instead. Harder then you think. Just got the ranger but the higher tier AA means my unupgraded TBs and DBs get mauled before they can drop anything. Probably going to have to free XP a bit.

Also have a Mutsuki in port. So I´ve been playing pretty much everything as well. Havn´t bothered with the German/Soviet CAs yet.

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]India[/font]
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Here is a screen of the situation. It will be a tough balance as I think my counter attack have about parity with what Jeff has in India. So I don´t think I can defeat him and I know he can´t defeat me. At least not in Calcutta. But I have to avoid getting cut off.

I don´t really expect to actually cut him off with this thrust. But rather to force him to stop his advance and defend his rear areas. I need him to realize he cannot bypass and leave Calcutta behind. I need time for the 32nd US, 2nd British and the US Marines to arrive in India. I don´t want an engagement with his main force outside Calcutta. Its too soon.

Thoughts?

[BBfanboy]

What has the air war been like in India? Can you use your air power against his attack? He must have had a lot in Alaska and you shot down quite a bit of that!

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

What has the air war been like in India? Can you use your air power against his attack? He must have had a lot in Alaska and you shot down quite a bit of that!

He doesn´t have much in the way of bombers. But he can quickly shift them out from China where most of the IJAAF is. I can jump in and out ambush bombings but if I´m caught in a sweep I´m pretty much done for.

Have 22 Hurries in the pool 8 P40s. So no staying power at all and almost no allied bombers. I think I have 30 Blenheims but thats it.

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]India[/font]
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This is turning out to be really interesting. Jeff is mover deeper and deeper into India with his main stack. Armor has advanced far, far up. Looks like my Corps will slot in between them.

I think he is moving to boldly here. Leaving 4000 AV in your rear/flank unchecked... I´ve stopped my advance until he shifts another hex so I can see what he has there in his stack.

A risky move could be to push down to Dacca possibly cutting off his supply from Chittagong. Risky though he can easily turn the tables on me...Another option would be to turn NE on a more direct approach towards his stack.

Thoughts? I can´t afford to mess this up.

[BBfanboy]

With all the possibilities for cutting each other off, I'd have to say this one will go to whichever side can bring more reinforcements. You have strong units at sea that will not get there for a few weeks, but can you scrounge a few from anywhere else? It doesn't look like he wants to commit his navy here so maybe the islands like Socotra can be stripped?

[JocMeister]

KB spotted outside San Diego! Invasion or strike? Planning for the 1st but preparing as well as I can for both!

Screen coming soon.

[BillBrown]

Look in Fort Ord. There should be some nice units to defend on the ground there.

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: BillBrown

Look in Fort Ord. There should be some nice units to defend on the ground there.

Already have everything forward at SF, SD and LA. But if he lands with 5-6 IDs he might overwhelm the defenses before I can reinforce.

I think he will try and bomb industry though. KB looks really bomber heavy with 370 bombers and only 120 fighters.

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]India[/font]
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Next turn will be decisive for how I play India. If Jeff has enough to defeat my counter attack I´ll have to pull back into Calcutta and turtle there until more troops can be gathered.

Last recon only showed 39k men though. But with 17 units? Doesn´t add up... I´ll know shortly I guess. [:)]

Having great fun with this. First time I had to fight in India! [:)]

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]KB[/font]
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Sadly Jeff has finally figured out how to really start harvesting VPs. Instead of hitting MAN he is hitting targets directly which is 10x more effective. He has currently parked a bomber heavy KB outside SD and is hitting undefended targets. He gained 200 VPs over the last 2 days.

I don´t really have a counter for this. I´ll have to start siphon off AA from the North and all subs will sprint down at full speed to SF and start hunting the KB.

I´ll try to ambush his strikes but it will be hard. Good play by Jeff! [&o]