The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

[Canoerebel]

3/11/43

Battle of Sumatra: Still the quiet before the storm. No Kongos at Sabang. Bombers concentrating on Langsa. KB has moved west, back into the IO. Supplies at Sabang down to 231k with Langsa holding another 10k. In two weeks this might start being worrisome. Hopefully, though, John will commit first and get stymied. (So, I'm confused: do I want him to invade or not? I argue both ways with myself.)

SigInt continues to show 16th Div. and 2nd Tank Div. aboard marus bound for Langsa. This may be true, but I can't imagine now that he'd prefer Langsa, with 2x terrain, over Sabang with 1x and no minefield. So I'm moving a few units around to make sure Sabang isn't overwhelmed by sudden onslaught.

My Ships Lost screen shows that John has lost 81 DDs. I need to open the Mod from Japanese side and check to see if this is a significant number or not. The tally also shows 10 CAs gone, though I think it's just 9. It shows 4 BBs sunk including Musashi hit by a torp after we resumed the game. I have no memory of Musashi being hit. Unless it was during a sync bug episode, I entirely discount this listing (though it has been persistent for many weeks now).

[Lecivius]

Also, keep an eye on his carrier build-out. This is his mod, and he loves the dang things. KB is here, but by now his next wave of carriers are coming off the slips, and your pilot pools took a beating. He also made sure to have escorts for them.

It's the one thing I disagree about with this game, the fact that the allies are predicated on The Miracle At Midway, and all that followed. I was also a bit disappointed that the HR's were not loosened a bit, considering the changes made in this mod since you guys started it. It really put you behind the curve. But the game is sure fun [;)]

[Canoerebel]

I'll have to take a look at the carrier build out. I'm not sure what he has coming online in this mod.

By the way, the Allied pilots are in fantastic shape. I lost alot of fighters in A-2-A over Sabang, but only a handful of pilots (while John probably lost alot since he was fighting over my base). The bombardments destroyed alot of fighters too, but didn't tough the pilot corps.

So, once I'm able to replace the air frames, the Allied air force will be as good as new.

[Canoerebel]

3/12/43

Battle of Sumatra: Sabang is open to enemy bombardments now, so John sends in six CAs that do modest additional damage to an already shut-down airfield. Supply and infantry aren't touched, as usual. I think this will be John's target, so I've arranged things to bump up the defense from 450 AV to about 900 AV, when the time comes, in just a turn or two. I think Langsa and the hex to the south will still be good unless John hits either of them in huge numbers (like five to six divisions).

Bombers are still concentrating only on Langsa. SigInt continues reporting an infantry division and a tank division inbound to this hex. But I think it's a ruse with them actually heading to Sabang. It doesn't matter much since the defenses are in place and contingencies thought out and operational either way.

KB combined an still just NW of Sabang.

I look at the calendar and smile that it's already this late in March...and then I grimmace at how long it's going to take to get my ducks ina row for future offensive action.

It looks like John gets roughly 250 DDs in this Mod. I'm guesstimating that he might've started and gotten replacements totaling about 150. If he's lost 80+, that's signficiant but not critical. I think the CAs are the more critical number. I think he's lost 9 and gets something like 20. So if he bombarded Sabang with six, that's nearly the entire Japanese cruiser force accounted for. Doesn't leave much for the Pacific at the moment, does it?

The flip side is the Allied navy has been beaten up to. Numbers are slender enough that I can't afford to blunder into a Nettie nest or an IJN CVE force out in the mdidle of nowhere.

[ny59giants]

When this version of RA came out, it was the only mod John had been working on and completed. Since then Treaty, Between the Storm, and BTS Lite have come out. Also, RA was probably too much in Japan's favor and he dialed it back some while I advocated and got small ways to increase the Allied forces. Remember, these series of mods have been almost exclusively on the IJN side of things. The two BTS mods are a combination of RA with Treaty so there are many new toys for both sides. I still think John's losses in warships will hurt him more than what you have lost. Mr Fletcher should be coming out in greater and greater numbers in the months ahead. [:)]

[Canoerebel]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

When this version of RA came out, it was the only mod John had been working on and completed. Since then Treaty, Between the Storm, and BTS Lite have come out. Also, RA was probably too much in Japan's favor and he dialed it back some while I advocated and got small ways to increase the Allied forces. Remember, these series of mods have been almost exclusively on the IJN side of things. The two BTS mods are a combination of RA with Treaty so there are many new toys for both sides. I still think John's losses in warships will hurt him more than what you have lost. Mr Fletcher should be coming out in greater and greater numbers in the months ahead. [:)]

I'm better familiar with the evolution of the mods now, Michael. This is in large thanks to your explanations.

I wish some of the changes had been retroactive - especially the bumps in the Allied fighter pools and the ability to buy additional fighters using PP. But I'm stuck with the early version and all its warts.

The drawback is that it has hobbled Allied efforts. The payoff is that there's more glory in beating John if I can manage that feat.

Fletchers are online in numbers. But I need more ships: here, there, everywhere!

[Lowpe]

Not one man more!


If we are mark'd to die, we are enow
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires.
But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England.
God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour

[Canoerebel]

Henry V!

You posted the soliloquy (right word?) at a good time. In my daytime job, at the moment I'm writing a story about the Battle of Kettle Creek, Georgia, February 14, 1779. It was 800 Loyalists against 450 Patriots. All of them were Americans. The number of Loyalists and their motivation and purposes have largely been lost to history (I was never taugth anything about it in high schoool or college - it's been through self study that I've delved into this subject).

[Canoerebel]

3/13/43

Battle of Sumatra: The Kongos return to Sabang. Each day its a bombardment. The field is totally wrecked now. Cl Birmingham succumbs to its many wounds (actually a blessing as she was due to withdraw in a couple of weeks). The support troops are disrupted. But supply and combat troops remain in fine shape. The bombers focus on Langsa. No sign of imminent amphibious or overland campaign. SigInt turns completely quiet about Langsa on this day. But my spidey senses tell me something's going to shake loose (and probably at Sabang) soon.

No sign of the KB today. NavSearch is not performing well. First time I haven't known KB's position in weeks.

SWPac: Peanut 1, Peanut 2 and Peanut 3 will all reach 100 in short order. Peanut 3 is nearing Check 2. Peanut 1 and 2 are 10 days shy of Check 1. Airfield building is accelerating. Portland Roads field just went to level 2.

[Lowpe]

I would be interested in reading what you write about Kettle Creek. What is it going to cost me?

Some great Loyalist vs Patriot fights during the revolution...I just toured Cowpens recently which had plenty of loyalists there, too.

[Canoerebel]

The story is for a program I'll be presenting to the Daughters of the American Revolution this Saturday. Then I'll turn the story into a magazine article, probably for our next issue. When it's done (I'll have a rough draft later this week), I'll either post it or send it to you.

I've been to Kettle Creek (back in my days working for a timber company, just as a shady place to eat lunch), Cowpens and Ninety-Six. This summer, while backpacking on the Appalachian Trail, I reached Yellow Gap, where the Overmountain men crossed the Blue Ridge enroute to King's Mountain.

Have you read Kenneth Roberts's historical fiction set during the Revolution? Arundel, Rabble in Arms and Oliver Wiswell are fantastic reading (they were written in the late '20s and '30s).

[JeffroK]

Somewhere in my Family tree we had some unfortunates go to America and fight in the revolution, not sure on what side or where. I'll have a look.

Worst wars are Brother against Brother, and you guys had 2 of them.

[Lowpe]

Last book I read about that general area is the Road to Guilford Courthouse.

I also have a Fort Leavenworth Army publication on Cowpens for Majors...the Army case study in effect.

I have another neat paperback I rediscovered lately that I thought of taking a few pictures and posting on the board here, it was a book for an Uncle put out by the Army on what you can do while stuck on a ship transport during WW2. From astrology to ship identification to building new skills it is a fascinating book to wile away the time with.

Oh, I am in the SAR. Daughter and Grandmothers for a while back in the DAR. Past Regent. The hunt for speakers is always ongoing.[:D] I hope you give the ladies a crackerjack talk.[&o]

[Canoerebel]

I spoke to an SAR group in northwest Georgia last week. I think I pissed off about a third of the group - I was telling them how we - as a general interest history magazine - are handling the current political and social unrest about anything touching on the Confederacy. Some of the most hardcore southerners thing I am not a loyal southerner given my research and writing on things like the percentage of slave owernship in the Confederate Army and the fact that there cannot be such a thing as "consensual" sex between a master and a slave.

[ny59giants]

Ninety-Six, SC - I lived in Greenwood, SC for over 5 years so I knew that area well. [;)]

[Canoerebel]

Ninety-Six is a great battlefield park. If you want a magnificent portrayal of the Siege of Ninety-Six, you have to read Oliver Wiswell by Kenneth Roberts. But don't you dare buy an e-version. Find the book. It's a large one that you can read deep into the night before laying it on your chest as you fall asleep. The smell is the smell of a real book. The heft is a promise of quality writing.

[ny59giants]

I don't own a tablet yet, so everything is still old fashion. [;)]

Speaking of books...I'm re-reading Eisenhower's "Crusade in Europe" after re-reading "Overlord." Is there a good book on General George C. Marshall?? I know he had a very important role in WW2 as Army Chief of Staff, but I don't know much about the guy.

Edit: Ticonderoga is still well preserved fortress that is next to the bridge between NY and VT. I've walked it a few times.

[richlove]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

I don't own a tablet yet, so everything is still old fashion. [;)]

Speaking of books...I'm re-reading Eisenhower's "Crusade in Europe" after re-reading "Overlord." Is there a good book on General George C. Marshall?? I know he had a very important role in WW2 as Army Chief of Staff, but I don't know much about the guy.

Edit: Ticonderoga is still well preserved fortress that is next to the bridge between NY and VT. I've walked it a few times.

There's this book:

http://www.amazon.com/General-Army-Mars ... 0815410425

It's quite good. I was surprised by the work he did during WW 1.

[Canoerebel]

I don't have an e-book reader either. I also don't have a cellphone, smartphone or any other kind of portable electronic device. I am working on my Boy Scout Anachronism merit badge.

[Lecivius]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

I don't have an e-book reader either. I also don't have a cellphone, smartphone or any other kind of portable electronic device. I am working on my Boy Scout Anachronism merit badge.

I can sign off on that, ya know...