The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

[Canoerebel]

John used night bombers at Sabang on the 19th (30 or 40 Betties). This caught me by surprise. Not that they were effective - they weren't. But I told John again over the past few days that my understanding was that we had mutually agreed not to use them back in 2103 (later I found that post from July 2013 as quoted above, which covers the issue pretty well). At a minimum, I would have expected him to approach me for clarification before proceeding. I am surprised that he didn't do so. In fact, I am disappointed. I won't express my disappointment to him. I will ask him for clarification of what rules we are operating under, if any. Then I'll bide my time and one day get even.

[Canoerebel]

2/19/42

A great deal of sync issues this turn (for instance, my replay showed Pensacola eating a TT south of Ceylon - but she's now well SW of Ceylon with no issues. Also, the replay didn't show Wichita taking damage, but the Combat Report shows her taking a TT from a Nell coming in from Port Blair. So I'm hampered a bit in understanding exactly what's going on. I'll do my best to report. Overall I think today went well for the Allies.

Battle of Sumatra: First came the night-bombing Bettys targeting Sabang airfield. I had a few Beaufightes up. Flak and the fighters got a few bombers, harrassed the rest, and there were not hits. (My concerns about John employing night bombers are addressed in my previous post.)

The IJN battlewagons didn't return, thank goodness, but a CL/DD combat TF did. CL Tama and two DDs hit mines and then tangled with the Birmingham led TF (the meager walking wounded TF left to defend port). I think Tama ultimately went under after taking further damage. I think, but I'm not sure, that the Allies lost one DD to a sub and Judys from KB. Wichita took damage from Nells and is disbanded in port with Hawkins. They are not capable of fighting. But CL Cleveland and a DD or two, also walking wounded, have joined Cl Birmingham to defend the port. It's not much, but it might hold off the wolves until the enemy BBs come back. Man, I hope that's three or four days or more.

So we have four mine hits in two days. May the mines play a bigger role in events yet to come.

Massed enemy sweeps of Sabang. Again sync issues leave me confused. Overall, the Allies did okay, I think. This time John used lots of Zeros, which seemed to do well. Also, there were several Nettie raids from Port Blair. But for reasons I cannot fathom, John employed his bombers en masse against Langsa, doing little if any damage to anything except the airfield. I figured he'd go all out against Sabang, but by dividing his forces he doesn't quite have his foot squarely on my neck.

I do note increased numbers of IJ units at Medan. That suggests John may prefer an overland campaign. He'll have to get through the hex south of Langsa, where the Allies have something like 1500 AV with several divisions behind three forts. More importantly, an overland campaign takes the maximum amount of time.

4EB from Ramree Island targeted Mergui port and scored a hit on an AV (sync originally showed several other similar ships hit).

Allied combat TFs have spread out hoping for a window to head to Sabang at flank speed, but of course John will employ the KB to prevent that from happening. So this is going to be the status quo for awhile. More dark days. A very tough campaign.

[Lecivius]

I read both AAR's, and I am 100% terrified of breaking OpSec, even by enuendo or accident. I tossed in a suggestion with the fighters conversion because that is an existing mechanics question that you asked. The CAP question is as well, as all I am doing is trying to improve your mechanics of what you already have in place, as well as my understanding of what you have in place & how it operates.

That said, a call to John would help.

Before you do, and staying withing game past historical mechanics, do you want to? He came at you with 40 bombers. "Flak and the fighters got a few bombers, harrassed the rest, and there were not hits" I would hope that type of attrition continues, and you would not want to change to a perhaps more effective daytime bombing campaign. Just thinkin....

[Canoerebel]

Lecivius, I"m not sure what to do. I told John my understanding was that we agreed not to use night bombers. The he uses night bombers. [&:][&:][&:]

Now I don't know what he's capable of doing. I made it clear to him that my understanding was that we wouldn't use night bomber. Then I sent him the quote from my AAR (which did seem to leave open nuisance use, although that's pretty vague). I would have expected him to seek clarification before sending in 30 or 40, which clearly exceeds nuisance numbers (though the effect turned out to be nuisance only).

Yeah, I'm disappointed in John.

[Canoerebel]

Mind you, not disappointed enough to want to make it an issue with him. I think I might just let it lie.

[Lecivius]

I can & will say "The game is Reluctant Admiral's new edition in the 5.0 format. It is a Da Babes-Based Mod".

Triple A is your friend in Da Babes. I hear 4E's come to hate the stuff.

[Andav]

When will he be back? There are probably smart people who can figure this out exactly. It always seemed like voodoo to me.

It is 16 hexes from Singapore to Sabang. I assume this is where he will have to rearm the BBs. They would move back to Singapore (2 day). Rearm (1 day) and then back into position to bombard (so 10 hexes 1 day) and then bombard the next. So maybe 5 days? Maybe 4? Subs all along this route, especially 6 hexes out, will help slow things down.

Wa

[Canoerebel]

I'm guesing for to six days on rearming (though he might have an AKE closer). Usually my nav search picks them up a day before they come back. I'm counting on that right now. For instance, I do not expect them back next turn, so I'm leaving my fighters in place and my walking-wounded TF to protect the port. When the BBs head back this way, I'll have to decide what to do.

[Canoerebel]

Speaking of AA it has proven very effective in this game to date. In particular the Brit/Indian units with the 3.7cm guns have proven devastating. A concentration of those guns at Ramree Island persuaded John to stop bombing despite there being no CAP.

Do the USA AA units (coastal artillery) have something similar to (or even better than) the 3.7cm? I think the US units have 90mm and something like 40mm guns with others included. I'm hoping the 90mm will be as good or better than the 3.7. Anyone know?

[poodlebrain]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

The airfield is in bad shape - 78 runway damage and about 56 airfield service. That's bad.

Playing the Downfall scenario I've made 100+ B-29 strikes on Lvl 9 airfields that haven't come close to that much damage. That is a huge amount of damage to a Lvl 9 airfield from relatively few ships. Bombardments of large airfields are supposed to be less effective due to them representing multiple landing strips and greater dispersion of aircraft. Your opponent should count his blessings.

How much damage was done to the port?

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Speaking of AA it has proven very effective in this game to date. In particular the Brit/Indian units with the 3.7cm guns have proven devastating. A concentration of those guns at Ramree Island persuaded John to stop bombing despite there being no CAP.

Do the USA AA units (coastal artillery) have something similar to (or even better than) the 3.7cm? I think the US units have 90mm and something like 40mm guns with others included. I'm hoping the 90mm will be as good or better than the 3.7. Anyone know?

Can't answer specifics about AA gun type effectiveness, but I wanted to add that in stock the Kiwis get several AA brigades that are awesome.

Not sure if they are in this mod,but it's worth a look.

[Canoerebel]

Poode, immense damage was done to the airfield but none to the port, supplies or ground troops. It's a level 9 field with 1150 Aviation support and it had roughly 500 fighters, 20 4EB, and a few recon/patrol planes.

ORIGINAL: poodlebrain

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

The airfield is in bad shape - 78 runway damage and about 56 airfield service. That's bad.

Playing the Downfall scenario I've made 100+ B-29 strikes on Lvl 9 airfields that haven't come close to that much damage. That is a huge amount of damage to a Lvl 9 airfield from relatively few ships. Bombardments of large airfields are supposed to be less effective due to them representing multiple landing strips and greater dispersion of aircraft. Your opponent should count his blessings.

How much damage was done to the port?

[Canoerebel]

Hans, the Brits/Indians also get a big AA brigade (it begins at Ceylon). That unit is currently at Ramree Island. One of the two Kiwi brigades is currently enroute to theater from New Zealand, though actually getting her into port will be problematic. If I can get her in, then conditions are probably such that she isn't needed anymore. But I will try.

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Speaking of AA it has proven very effective in this game to date. In particular the Brit/Indian units with the 3.7cm guns have proven devastating. A concentration of those guns at Ramree Island persuaded John to stop bombing despite there being no CAP.

Do the USA AA units (coastal artillery) have something similar to (or even better than) the 3.7cm? I think the US units have 90mm and something like 40mm guns with others included. I'm hoping the 90mm will be as good or better than the 3.7. Anyone know?

Can't answer specifics about AA gun type effectiveness, but I wanted to add that in stock the Kiwis get several AA brigades that are awesome.

Not sure if they are in this mod,but it's worth a look.

[Lowpe]

Indiana went down swinging eh?

You were definitely outgunned, but it seems the Allied navy did very well. It is up to the next few weeks to determine who really won.

Kudos for fighting so early and hard.[&o]

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Speaking of AA it has proven very effective in this game to date. In particular the Brit/Indian units with the 3.7cm guns have proven devastating. A concentration of those guns at Ramree Island persuaded John to stop bombing despite there being no CAP.

Do the USA AA units (coastal artillery) have something similar to (or even better than) the 3.7cm? I think the US units have 90mm and something like 40mm guns with others included. I'm hoping the 90mm will be as good or better than the 3.7. Anyone know?

Without looking at the data on each gun, I am pretty sure the US 90mm is at least as good as the British 3.7" AA gun. 90mm is practically the same caliber as 3.7". Both are high velocity weapons with high ceiling and great accuracy.

[Canoerebel]

Yup, she went down swinging. I've lost track of all the ships I've lost and I'm in the shadows about Japan, but I think the Kaigun is bleeding a bit. The problem is the Kaigun is present in numbers while I'm down to those walking wounded in the hospital at Rourke's Drift in Zulu.

This is more fun than should be legal. Every turn is epic. Every time I sit down to watch the turn replay it's worth the price of admission to the best movies ever made. And I paid for this game some seven years ago? [&o]

But the coast? Sleep. Or lack of it. Man, I can't sleep at night. And it's not just occasionally. We jumped right back into the frying pan and it hasn't let up since.

[Canoerebel]

The Allies are in a tight spot. The best hope is friction. Friction of distance. Each trip by IJN BBs up "the slot" from Singers and them back down involves some friction - some risk that an Allied asset will strike. The main hopes are mines and subs. I think Japan has employed seven BBs in this operation and is now down to five (the other two damaged pretty severely). We need the mines or subs to damage another one or two...and then John may begin to sweat the cost. And if it gets harder, he'll begin to lose his relish for the fight. For, above all things, John loves his ships.

So friction is my friend. But it's not a reliable friend sure to come when I need her most. She's fickle that way.

[ny59giants]

The thing I'm trying to learn about and get a better handle on is, 'how to gain valuable night experience for my new American warships without getting them sunk or seriously damaged?' Its nice to see the new Fletchers, Clevelands, and 28 knot BBs come in, but I have to double check their captains and look at their experience levels when they arrive. I shake my head when I see their night is in the low 30s. John loves to use his warships and many have gained even more experience than you can deal with easily. You will need to be more aware of this as he will come back after a short visit to Singapore to replenish his warships.

[Canoerebel]

There's nothing to meet him when he returns from Singers, so it won't be an issue for awhile. But gaining night experience won't be a luxury I can afford. I've got to get my best ships and best captains to Sabang if and when the KB provides a window. That might never happen.

The Allies have out-performed the Kaigun in most surface combat battles in this game to date. Especially in several sharp engagements in Assam back in mid 1942. Most of the ship crews in the recent action had decent nighttime experience (60 to 70).

[Canoerebel]

With the KB in a blocking position, these are my options right now:

1. Flood the KB with merchant ships to soak off sorties. Then send combat ships to Sabang. This I won't do on general principles. Nemo, a crafty tactician, would do so without hesitation. But I'd hate that if it was done to me and I'm sure John would hate it if I did it to him.

2. Bring in the American carriers. No can do. I currently have five and fighter numbers are low. The odds of success would be remote.

3. Hunker down and take punishment until something gives, if ever. Let mines and subs do some work. There's lots of supply to work with. Try to dance with the CL Cleveland and Birmingham TF to prevent these last ships from getting wiped out. Even if John shuts down the airfield, he still has work to do to get to Sabang and take it.