Groundhog Day! - No NJP

[Mike McCreery]

In the afternoon not less than 85 bombers got to take a shot at my carriers.

[Mike McCreery]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy


You must have stocked your CV fighters with superb pilots!

Well, they didnt fall off a turnip truck this morning ;]

This is probably the best squadron, this one is stationed on Saratoga, but most are mid 70's or higher in both experience and air combat training.

Thanks to NJP the board looks like Christmas!! A bunch of flyboys learned something today!

[Mike McCreery]

Here is the score in early October of 1943.

I am seriously behind my previous game schedule although I am not taking the same path. NJP also knows a lot of my tricks. And China has fallen which presents a completely different game.

Recently I moved above 1-2 in points on the Allied side.

Last game was won in January of 1945 by a land invasion of Japan. If I am that sucessful this time it will take more than luck. I think my opponent is much more ready for me.

[Mike McCreery]

Combat Recap...

I think after taking a long hard look at the data... Ok, I glanced at it for like 45 seconds...

Ultimately, the weather was probably the biggest player in the above drama. The severe storm condition must have made it nearly impossibly for his bombers to hit anything.

One of the secondary factors was that the KB was largely absent from combat for most of the war. It showed up occasionally and smashed a convoy or two but did not seem to get much less real world combat experience than in the last war.

The fight happened over Manokwari which he owns so he probably didnt lose 200 bomber pilots. But I am guessing his experience is going to take a hit.

Overall, I just got lucky... There was no sign of where his carriers were and he had me dead to rights.

Got to be more careful in the future... Oh hell, who am I kidding ;]

[zuluhour]

ORIGINAL: Wargmr

Got to be more careful in the future... Oh hell, who am I kidding ;]

[:D] That gets me in a lot of trouble.

[zuluhour]

moral must have suffered as well, guessing they will not fly for a bit.

[Mike McCreery]

OOf... Just lost over 100 combat aircraft due to a screwup in carrier plane settings.


A question for the experts out there.

If I fly in torpedo and dive bombers to a carrier group this turn, will they fly combat missions in the coming combat turn or will it take a day for them to transfer and be operational?

[Mike McCreery]

Ok, so here is a long overdue update. Mid-January 1944, I am lagging behind last game badly but NJP is doing a much better job at defense and particularly with his air groups.

My carrier groups are up north of Sarmi screwing around.

I took Talaud Elandien SP on the cheap with a number of groups but neglected to includ the division that was prepped for it. So, the landing had only 12AV of troops. I immediately landed a paratroop unit which bumped it to 40AV but was still concerned that NJP may try an assault to take it back. Over the next few days I have managed to get the AV up to over 150 by landing the division that should have been there at the base east of Sorong and then airlifting them into place.

So, it was my intention to just scare him off any amphibious landings for a few days to a week and thus really get a good foothold on the island.

I have a large amphibious force moving to take Lolobato which is likely undefended as he has troops and aircraft on both of the islands east and west of it. That force could land as early as 4 days from now.

I had hoped that his surface task forces would have moved further north out of my 4 hex attack range but miscalculated what NJP is doing. His nice CAP trap has worked twice now.

250 bombers and torpedo planes went in on an attack unescorted and they all got through but not one of them landed a bomb or torpedo hit. In addition, about 100 got slaughtered on the way back out.

Now, I am hoping to turn this defeat into a victory.

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: Wargmr
If I fly in torpedo and dive bombers to a carrier group this turn, will they fly combat missions in the coming combat turn or will it take a day for them to transfer and be operational?

If you fly planes in there is no reason for them to not fly combat missions next turn. Unless you overstack the CV of course =)

[BBfanboy]

Good to see you back!

Lolobato looks like a little pocket that might be a trap for any ships going there.
The dot base west of Talaud Eilanden (Sangi?) looks like it flipped. Could be a supporting base for T.E.

[jimh009]

In your carrier battle, I noticed you had 6 CV's and 4 DD's in one task force. Just was curious why you have a CV task force with that composition?

[Mike McCreery]

ORIGINAL: jimh009

In your carrier battle, I noticed you had 6 CV's and 4 DD's in one task force. Just was curious why you have a CV task force with that composition?

Because I had about 12 CV's and I am lazy about optimizing my carrier fleets. Currently they are running around with 1 BB also.

[Mike McCreery]

Why there is no smoking aboard Submarines....

[Mike McCreery]

February somthing somthing 1944...


A goof by me will lead to an interesting next couple of turns in my game here.

I set my carrier dive bombers and torpedo planes essentially off and left them as such. It was my intention to have them set to 4 hexes as NJP is working the CAP trap angle of the game. It would have been perfect for this turn as 2 large surface combat forces showed up just next to my carriers.

However, the CAP trap was from 5 bases and hundreds of fighter aircraft so my carrier losses would have been high.

So, NJP has 2 large forces, one consisting of 2 battleships and the other possibly 3 or so cruisers. I am guessing he was hoping to hit me as my task force of 90,000 men were moving across the ocean. I have 4 transport groups, 1 battle ship group, 3 cruiser groups and numerous light cruiser and destroyer groups moving along with me.

So, what does he do and what do I do?

Well, he doesnt know where I am going and being 1 hex off of Talaud-Elian might make him think I was moving reinforcements there and/or on to other places. What I am going to do this turn is land at Diegos and Dadjangas with 3 divisions, 2 armor units, etc. Going to send a battleship group and cruiser group east to tackle the surface combat forces if he remains. Setting the battleship group and carriers just southeast of Diegos to protect the harbor for my most important landing at Diegos.

Next turn I plan on bombarding Davao and hopefully taking down the airfield there. I have no idea where his carriers are but I think he believes that I am planning a massive invasion somewhere west. In reality I have simply ignored the india theatre for about a year now. Soon it will be time to get them moving but honestly it is not a big issue if I can cut the map in half diagonally and simply deny NJP the oil and resources that Japan needs.

[Mike McCreery]

The CrAP I put up with ;]

[Mike McCreery]

I zagged, he zigged and Japanese ships die on the north side of Mindano.

[BBfanboy]

No troop casualties in that TF you hit?

[Mike McCreery]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

No troop casualties in that TF you hit?

No.

You cannot see it in that picture but a division size force give or take 17,000 men is trying to move directly southwest from Butuan. I am guessing it was emergency reinforcements to Davao and he managed to get them all to safety but maybe not some of the supplies or that he got careless and left ships where they were in danger.

This last turn I managed to land some troops but 1/2 of them were disabled on the beaches at Diegos. I am a bit concerned about the condition. Still, raw AV is about 250 and ready was about 115 or so. It was the 11th Australian. Also managed to land 2 armor units. The 1st cavalry should offload with a bunch of other goodies onto diegos this next turn by APA's that are 1 hex away.

I abandoned the unloading at Dadjangas with only 70 AV of troops of which 1/2 are disabled so 30AV on the ground there. Moved the transports to Diegos to shelter them. I dont know how people usually manage decent landings without prep. These units were not prepped and it will take several months to get them back in shape.

He has about 8 surface task force groups that missed me when they went south. I have positioned all my surface task forces 1 hex southeast of Diegos and put my carriers and transports at Diegos. The one exception is that I sent a heavy cruiser force to bombard Davao where he has at least 100 fighter aircaft. If NJP comes north hopefully he will not hit anything but warships. I have no idea where his carriers are so that could also be a factor.

From what I have been able to gather he has 1 force with 2 battleships, 1 force with heavy cruisers and 6 or so forces comprised of light cruisers and destroyers.

My force comprises 1 battleship group of 3 fast battleships, 3 heavy cruiser groups of 4 heavy cruisers each and a handful of groups comprised of light cruisers and destroyers. My 2 carrier groups each have a fast BB embedded for defense.

These next few days will be quite intense ;] Turn away!!

[BBfanboy]

Wargmr: Turn away!!

I will NOT turn away! I want to see this! .... Oh, wait, .... you mean your game turn, not the verb turn! [8|]

You didn't say what kind of opposition you met at the two bases you landed at, but if they were unoccupied I would :
1. Set my Amphib TF with unprepped troops to :Do Not Unload
2. Select a small xAP with a dozen or so AV of troops on it and put it into another Amphib TF, set to unload
3. When the single ship unload is in place, have them DA to take the base
3. Unload the rest of the main convoy.

Instead of 1 & 2 above, you could send a small force by APD two days ahead of the main force to land and take the base, or drop paras to take the base a day ahead of the main landing. Paras will automatically shock attack so you gain a day in not having to issue the order.

[Mike McCreery]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Wargmr: Turn away!!

I will NOT turn away! I want to see this! .... Oh, wait, .... you mean your game turn, not the verb turn! [8|]

You didn't say what kind of opposition you met at the two bases you landed at, but if they were unoccupied I would :
1. Set my Amphib TF with unprepped troops to :Do Not Unload
2. Select a small xAP with a dozen or so AV of troops on it and put it into another Amphib TF, set to unload
3. When the single ship unload is in place, have them DA to take the base
3. Unload the rest of the main convoy.

Instead of 1 & 2 above, you could send a small force by APD two days ahead of the main force to land and take the base, or drop paras to take the base a day ahead of the main landing. Paras will automatically shock attack so you gain a day in not having to issue the order.

Sorry, There is a force at Dadjangas of 1 unit approximately 1500 troops. There is a unit at Diegos approximately 2500 troops. No empty bases unfortunately. Para's are waiting at Talud-Elandien if I need them for something.

Good suggestions!!