The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

[Canoerebel]

It's tough to balance this just right. Right now, I have Langsa at minimum and Sabang at maximum. Langsa is drawing a bit more supply than I'd like, but it's not to the point of being a real problem yet. Next turn I'll turn on the "hoard supply" feature at Sabang. This should prevent any supply from going to Langsa. Then Langsa can use up that 10k over time. When Langsa gets low again, I'll turn off "hoard supply" at Sabang. That's the best way to manage it from what I've seen.

[HansBolter]

I don't have a lot of experience using the hoard supply setting.

Will ordering the base to hoard it prevent the base from distributing supplies to the troops or just prevent other bases from drawing supply away from it?

[BBfanboy]

That 3X supply can disappear in a turn in combat. Trying to keep Langsa at the minimum 1X supply will not leave them enough to fight with. I don't think the supply movement happens until the end of the turn so they will not be able to draw more supply to fight with until after the first battle is over. So giving them a small hoard to work with is not a bad idea.

[Canoerebel]

My experience with "hoard supply" is that it prevents supply from going out to other bases, but that supply continues to tickle out to troops in non base hexes. I had "hoard supply" set at Sabang for weeks at one point. Eventually, supply dried up at Langsa. But the troops in the field seemed to maintain sufficient supply (though that was beginning to change once Langsa went to zero; but at that point I opened the supply spigot so I don't know how bad things would've gotten for troops in the field.

I should have enough supply in Sumatra to last until there's a paradigm shift. Unless John wins the land battle in the meantime, there will come a day in April in which the Allies are ready to reinsert ships and fighters in numbers. That may require use of the Allied carriers in a joint operation. The exact nature of how this will happen is unknown, because it will depend on things like the size of nearby enemy airfields and whether the KB is present.

Here's the balancing beam I'm trying to walk. The worst thing that could happen is for John to overrun Sumatra and wipe out Sabang's garrison. I cannot allow that to happen. The second worst thing would be for him to ignore Sabang for the next six weeks while focusing on building the surrounding airfields to isolate Sabang so that he can send his carriers elsewhere. The best thing that could happen is for John to remain focused on reducing Sabang in the short or medium turn, so that Friction can continue doing it's thing.

[Lecivius]

He's moved into Nicobar, so you can count on him attempting to put up satellite airfields there and Sinabang for LBA to enforce a blockade of Sabang and freeing KB. I have to admit, I don't understand his delay in trying to push you back. It would seem that after you bloodied his bombers, he may be trying to come up with another plan. All this delay, with you so far forward, can only be a good thing.

Be careful with the idea of moving troops via air transport. The boots will go where you tell them, but it's hard to get the heavy gear into a PBY [;)]

<edit>

Here is something to keep in mind from PaxMondo , who plays and mentors Japanese players

"You need to watch the number of days/month that your capital ships are not at anchor. Anything more than 10 days sailing/month and you are running a fuel deficit.
Sure, early on you have to do that, but once past 3/42 you need to really curtail your sailing ... there simply isn't enough fuel for all your ships... especially when the Yamato class comes and then all the rest of your CV's.
All of those ships are real fuel pigs."

John is literally burning the midnight oil right now. Keeping him at sea, building all those fighters, and bringing the rain with these BB runs is hurting him, just in more subtle ways. John gets a shiny fleet of toys in this mod, but those toys need gas...

[Andav]

Lecivius makes a very good point. This is somewhat mitigated by operating out of Singapore because it is so close to his oil resources. Maybe the fuel/oil levels were raised in this mod. Seems like since there are new toys, there might be increased fuel available. I do not know. On the other hand, if John lets up on Sabang, B-24s will soon be able to cut off the flow from Palembang. the balancing act is what makes this game so much fun.

Wa

[Lecivius]

The resources available were not changed in this mod. IIRC, the resources available to Japan were curtailed somewhat to account for the change in inventory, making the need to get to the DEI more imperative. And HR do not allow for strategic bombing until 1944.

[witpqs]

Hitting the port facilities at Palembang would not be strategic bombing but would certainly reduce oil & fuel loading there.

[Canoerebel]

B-24Ds hit Palembang port a few weeks back, doing a bit of damage and hitting an xAK. They'll be back once the Allies regain control of Sabang's port and airfield and can provide adequate protection against Kongos and other vermin.

I haven't done a very good job of shepherding my 4EB. I've used them frequently and in small numbers, losing alot. They have performed well recently in damaging enemy shipping at places like Singers and Tavoy and even Hong Kong, but the raids are small numbers. Now that B-24D1s are online, I'm trying to marshall these assets a bit so that I can use them in more robust numbers when the time comes.

[Encircled]

He's not going to be short of fuel this close to Palembang and the DEI.

Long term yeah, but don't count on it having any effect on his operations.

[Lecivius]

ORIGINAL: Encircled

He's not going to be short of fuel this close to Palembang and the DEI.

Long term yeah, but don't count on it having any effect on his operations.

I agree completely. But as I understand it his economy may come off the tracks by mid 44-45. And if Dan manages to come from another direction on the other side of the world....

[Lowpe]

You can run the KB 14 days a month or so and not generally have fuel problems, I think. Less in a Scenario 1 environment, and less if you really steam the battleships and all those 14 knot pb.

Course in this game, there has been plentiful ship losses I believe, or at lest a lot of large ships hanging out in drydock.

The Nagato and Mutsu are your most fuel efficient battleships, you can use them a fair bit.

Then there is the opportunity cost of not running the KB.

It would be bad for John to lose Palembang oil in 43, but I don't think it is going to happen thanks to the HR and the terrain. It will be less bad to start losing it in Jan 1 of 1944, but still bad. If John fills up those bases with AA, it maybe nicer to hit the less protected bases in China.

[IJV]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

3/2/43

Mines as Sabang dropped from 951 to 949 over the past few days. The mines have never decreased unless hit by an enemy vessel (since there are ACMs in port). I never heard "vessel-hitting-mines sounds in the past few turns. This is a mystery. I'll watch the mine numbers more closely every turn now and scour combat report for damage to enemy vessels whenever the number drops.

Possibilities:

- Destroyers often clear a mine or two when passing through mined hexes - these events don't show up for the other side during the animation but will be recorded in the combatreport_daymonthyear file - ie accessible from the game if necessary. Check through the last few days and/or search for "encounters mine field at" - never know what you might find passed by in the night...

- ACMs iirc require fuel to maintain minefields - how's Sabang for burny stuff? (or, alternatively, are the ACMs themselves fueled?)

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Lecivius

ORIGINAL: Encircled

He's not going to be short of fuel this close to Palembang and the DEI.

Long term yeah, but don't count on it having any effect on his operations.

I agree completely. But as I understand it his economy may come off the tracks by mid 44-45. And if Dan manages to come from another direction on the other side of the world....

Yeah, guys, I meant for long term effects as a substitute for strategic bombing before the HRs allow that. I know it can't be done right now, but if Sabang is allowed to "fester" it could be nasty. Of course those 4EB chew up loads of supply when operating.

[Canoerebel]

3/3/43

The wind blew out of the north that afternoon, bearing low, sullen clouds. Clint looked up to get his bearings, not from sunlight, which couldn't pierce the cloud deck, but from the feel of the wind against his face. He drew his lamb-skin coat tight and began walking south. "It's an ill wind," he thought. " An ill wind." And he shivered beneath the lamb-skin.

Battle of Sumatra: Patrols report a host of enemy shipping all around Sabang, but I can't tell if anything is inbound or if this is, instead, a variety of TFs performing more mundane activities. The KB is close to the west. ASW TFs are taking on the Allied subs guarding the gate to the port. Plenty of merchant TFs around. No sign of the Kongos, but my NavSearch and Recon have low morale after enduring those bombardments.

Recon and SigInt do indicate a build-up at Sibolga on the west side and Tandjoen-magoo-mcgee-olustee (or something like that) on the east side. 48th Div. is aboard ships inbound to the latter. These are possible signs of an overland campaign.

Sabang supply looks good. The airfield is repairing nicely. Each turn, more aircraft leave for the healing grounds of Ceylon and Assam. I forgot to check mines, but I did note an IJ TF in the hex today - perhaps it's patrol craft and minesweepers.

SWPac: SigInt showing a little more movement into the Solomons chain, including engineers to Munda. I'm keeping a close eye on all the SWPAC regions, because Peanut 1, Peanut 2 and Peanut 3 are looking good.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel


Mines as Sabang dropped from 951 to 949 over the past few days. The mines have never decreased unless hit by an enemy vessel (since there are ACMs in port). I never heard "vessel-hitting-mines sounds in the past few turns. This is a mystery. I'll watch the mine numbers more closely every turn now and scour combat report for damage to enemy vessels whenever the number drops.

In stock scenarios I believe each ACM has a limit on how many mines it can tend. I think, from memory, 150 per hull. It should be on the ship detail screen.

There might be a lag when the field is new, and then a random each turn for mine wear-out. I don't know inside the code if the ACMs in the hex, those with fuel, have their max-tend capability added together and math then done on the random or what. I know more ACMs are better than fewer. If they were infinite in tend capacity one would be as good as 10, and that isn't true.

I also never looked to see if deterioration accelerates as the field ages, or if it's linear. At the rate of loss you're seeing you have a lot of time. But not forever.

[HansBolter]

Moose is correct on the 150 mines of upkeep per ACM.

They also burn fuel while disbanded.

You have to occasionally examine your ships in port at locales with them and refuel to keep them from running dry.

[Canoerebel]

Mines dropped this turn from 949 to 948. The combat report shows why: an MTB hit one.

My experience with mines at Sabang has been interesting. I disbanded two ACM in the port at the start. As many of you know, the Allies then deposited 960+ mines between D-Day and roughly D+50. The mine level then held constant for about five weeks until Japanese ships started coming into the hex. As best I can tell, there's been no attrition to mine numbers other than enemy ships hitting them.

Sabang is a level 2 port with lots of Nav Support. Perhaps the support augments the ACMs in effect?

The minefield has been instrumental in the defense. That's one of the reasons I left the vulnerable ACMs there despite the absence of CAP. And that's one of the reasons I left 25-30 merchants - to hopefully draw most of the attention of Japanese strike aircraft, thus preserving those ACM as long as possible. Lo and behold, John stood down from air attacks. So the ACMs are still in good shape and have used little fuel.

[poodlebrain]

It is a pity you do not have a CD unit in Sabang. They defend minefields from enemy minesweeping efforts quite effectively.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Mines dropped this turn from 949 to 948. The combat report shows why: an MTB hit one.

My experience with mines at Sabang has been interesting. I disbanded two ACM in the port at the start. As many of you know, the Allies then deposited 960+ mines between D-Day and roughly D+50. The mine level then held constant for about five weeks until Japanese ships started coming into the hex. As best I can tell, there's been no attrition to mine numbers other than enemy ships hitting them.

Sabang is a level 2 port with lots of Nav Support. Perhaps the support augments the ACMs in effect?

The minefield has been instrumental in the defense. That's one of the reasons I left the vulnerable ACMs there despite the absence of CAP. And that's one of the reasons I left 25-30 merchants - to hopefully draw most of the attention of Japanese strike aircraft, thus preserving those ACM as long as possible. Lo and behold, John stood down from air attacks. So the ACMs are still in good shape and have used little fuel.

The ACMs might have been altered for the mod. I guess you could compare to stock.

There is more than one class of ACM in stock. The big ones carry (and appear on map from the queue) a small on-board stock of replacement mines. I think maybe 20? They can be used as small, auxiliary minelayers, or the mines can be left onboard and used as replacements. That might be what you've seen.

My experience is ACMs when disbanded use fuel at a constant rate and nothing affects this. When they get to zero unless you refuel them manually they stop doing the ACM job. I review ports once a month and use the "refuel all ships in this port" button. My ACMs aren't in places where fuel is scarce; if Sabang is low you might want to hand-refuel them.

I don't think Naval Support affects minefields, but I've been wrong about this game many times. I think you've been seeing the ACMs repairing losses from their stock. I'd be interested if yours have one in this mod.

Edit: I took a peek and it looks like the Alder class doesn't have on-board mines, and the Chimo class does. The Alders are far more numerous in stock. YP conversions to ACM become Alders it looks like. The Chimos carry MK 6 mines.