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

[Lowpe]

Here you can see the Allies sending up river destroyer forces. Shanghai has CD guns, but I don't think there are any others on the river. Plus a total lack of mines.

Didn't think that thru.[:)]

Lots of worthless merchant ships upriver...victory points on the hoof so to speak.

[Lokasenna]

Disband to port! Disband to port!

[Encircled]

Sail further up the river!

[Lowpe]

B29s at low altitude on port strikes.[X(] Anything in range, disbanded in port dies.

I will hopefully get some mines in the river this day. I had always assumed there were some static CD guns along the river, and I never double checked.

[mind_messing]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

B29s at low altitude on port strikes.[X(] Anything in range, disbanded in port dies.

I will hopefully get some mines in the river this day. I had always assumed there were some static CD guns along the river, and I never double checked.

Shanghai has a couple of 8cm DP guns, but seeing as they're little more than glorified AA guns I wouldn't expect much. The argument can be made to move the Hong Kong CD unit to Shanghai - they might be of more use there.

It may also be worthwhile to check the manual regarding straits. I can't recall if Shanghai is a wide strait or a narrow strait, but I'm pretty certain that there are narrow straits further up the Yangtze.

Narrow straits = better CD gun performance.

[Lowpe]

I think you can enter the river from the east and avoid Shanghai.[&:]

I don't think I ever thought of that.

I sent a few xakls downriver to absorb air strikes and or naval destroyer task forces. Plus I laid a few mines, and I am searching for some CD guns I can get into the headwaters. There are some guns upriver. I will make a note of it and put it up in the AAR as time allows, as I don't really remember this happening in other games.

[mind_messing]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I think you can enter the river from the east and avoid Shanghai.[&:]

I don't think I ever thought of that.

I sent a few xakls downriver to absorb air strikes and or naval destroyer task forces. Plus I laid a few mines, and I am searching for some CD guns I can get into the headwaters. There are some guns upriver. I will make a note of it and put it up in the AAR as time allows, as I don't really remember this happening in other games.

After consulting the manual, there are no narrow straits in China, but the manual does state that the effects of a navigable river are similar to narrow straits. Might be worth clogging the river with mines. I do like the idea of using the Yangtze as a dumping ground for excess shipping - leaving them in undocked task forces up-river, protected by CAP, naval mines and some destroyers seems the best way to save your shipping from being farmed for VP's...

[Lowpe]

June 28th, 1944

A quiet day in the far west of the Empire...I guess stalemating the Allies here only means one thing, and that is an invasion to bypass the Vietnam.

Almost all Chinese coastal ports are now garrisoned with at least a division. However, all anti-tank units are in very scarce supply and a tank heavy invasion will easily open up the coast.

[Lowpe]

Chaos, death and destruction reign as Allied destroyers steam all the way to Hankow. Amazing. No mines hit, no CD guns fire, just a nice cruise up river.

Too funny![:D]

[Lowpe]

Allies bomb the industry of Honshu, sweep Port Arthur.

[PaxMondo]

I don't have much success with mines against DD's as they have inherent sweep capability. CD's have always worked best for me, but the Yangtze has diddly to start with, and you would had to have salvaged several from islands to have any. Other than LBA, I don't think you have any other real defense for the Yangtze at this time ... [:(]

[Lowpe]

I have sent a powerful destroyer task force on the hopes of catching his depleted destroyers on the way out.

I have identified two base forces that I hope to get into place, I need to set them up in opposite ports on the river to cover both approaches it seems to me.

There aren't that many mines in place yet, but I hope to get a fair amount shortly.

[Lowpe]

June 29, 1944

Lots of night night naval action. The Fuso sorties with a good destroyer escort, right into the teeth of the Deathstar, I hope, and another large destroyer squadron sorties to the west of the Fuso group.

The fireworks start immediately as Allied destroyers flee down river to Shanghai...they are very low on ammo.

Meanwhile a destroyer squadron runs into Admiral Burke leading four destroyers in the Yellow Sea. Perhaps this group will clear the way for the Fuso to savage the Deathstar!

Or I will settle for the destroyer group closing in on the cursed Deathstar.

[Lowpe]

Burke is here, he is there, he is getting pummeled. The Fuso group encounters Burke twice more in the night.

[Lowpe]

The Fuso then, might, happily, put an end to Burke. Is it possible he has gone down with his destroyer squadron?

The guy has had more Allied ships sunk under him...Burke orders the retreat, his destroyer has several 36cm holes however...

[Lowpe]

The other destroyer task force, which ran into Burke first finishes her run on the river, north of Shangha and catches two raiders....leaving one on fire with several good penetrating hits.

But Fletchers, if indeed this ship is a Fletcher, are very hard to put down with simple 12cm hits, no matter how well placed.

A good night, at least 3 Fletchers sunk, maybe 4. But the Deathstar is hugging the western coastline of the Yellow Sea, 10 hexes from Hankow, is the Fuso doomed? How about all those destroyers on the river?

[ny59giants]

Allied SC TF made up of too few DDs, IMO. I like 8 DDs (preferably all Fletchers), but at least 6 if enemy is likely to be encountered.

[Lowpe]

Hankow and Port Arthur are swept by the Deathstar fighters. Heck, the Hankow is a 10 hex sweep. There goes their CAP of A6M5c for the B29 followup.

Gadzooks.[X(]

[Lowpe]

Right before the B29 strike, the Deathstar hits with a 10 hex port strike. Luckily between the fighters, the flak, the damage is more than acceptable.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Allied SC TF made up of too few DDs, IMO. I like 8 DDs (preferably all Fletchers), but at least 6 if enemy is likely to be encountered.

Well, don't tell him! For goodness sake I am getting crushed...and I need little glad tidings.

Where are the Allied destroyers playing? Why here...bombarding the coast.