A family affair - Speedy vs El Padre

[Speedysteve]

Hi All,

Unfortunately I'm going to have to stop this AAR as my time is really limited/to non-existent now I'm starting a new job.

My thanks to All who have read and contributed!

[obvert]

[:(][X(]

Too Bad! I hope your gas with dad continues! Let us know later what's happening if you get some time.

[Speedysteve]

Hi Obvert. The game's continuing just no time for the AAR I'm afraid

[Speedysteve]

Hi All,

This game has continued and due to having a bit more time I thought I'd resurrect this AAR if there was enough interest?

I'll provide updates as to what's happened and the state of play shortly[8D]

[JocMeister]

Welcome back Speedy! [&o]

[witpqs]

Bring it on, fast one! [:D]

[Speedysteve]

LOL. Thanks guys. Here we go.....

[Speedysteve]

So....where to start....the game is currently up to 19th May 1943.

I'm naturally a better Allied player than Japanese after playing exclusively with them since UV, WITP and now AE days (good to get the caveats in now[:D]). However, Dad has only played UV and 3 scenarios and 1 Allied campaign vs the AI on AE. As such it was figured it would be a good contest since I should have been understanding of the game mechanics (and probably the tactical side) but the Allies have so much stuff....

I managed to take all of the SRA with minimal loss and on track like history. What I didn't manage to do was expand too much beyond this except in SoPac and northern Aus. I easily took Northern Aus with the aim as purely a buffer and Port Hedland's resources.

In SoPac I took all of New Caledonia but it was a prolonged fight from August-September 1942 as Dad had landed 2 divisions worth at Noumea behind level 5 forts! At the same time the Allies were ashore at Luganville, Efate and Tanna with circa. 300AV at each and with LBA. It meant it took a prolonged fight, utilising KB and BB's to finally take Noumea with 5 x Divisions worth.

Dad had tried to intervene with this by retaking Tarawa in September 1942! This distracted KB from it's support task at Noumea for a month. This led to our main CV battle to date to take place near Tarawa.

I felt luck was against me in this one as Cloud prevented 1/3 of my planes reaching the enemy and my CAP reacted poorly to the Allied attacks. This meant after a tough day I lost CV Kaga/Akagi, CVE Hosho and CVL Zuiho and Shoho. In return I sank CV Saratoga, Yorktown and Wasp.

The other CV losses before then were:

CV Lexington and Enterprise both by Subs in the first 2 weeks of the war near PH and Palmyra.

CV Indomitable was sunk by KB at Columbo in April 42 in a repeat of the historical raid.

On my side CV Soryu was sunk near Lunga in July 42 by a sub attack and SBD's finishing her!

I have done well in taking out BB's though. 3 were lost at PH and 4 more have been taken out in the 2nd half of 42 in SoPac (1 by sub). I've lost none.

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Dad re-took PM and more recently Terapo over the past month (I only had a light garrison). I can't let this stand though so a counter-attack is planned. More on that soon.....

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The other area of activity has be in Burma.

I took all of Burma by mid-42. Dad massively counter-attacked here with Brits and Aussies and re-took down to Mandalay. By this stage I has brought in substantial Division and Bde reinforcements from across the Empire. We've had a stalemate at Mandalay for the past 3 months (2,500 Allied AV vs 3,400 Japanese).

I tried to suppress Mandalay and achieve Air superiority but the presence of Spits, P40's and Hurri's meant my Zeros, Oscars and Tojo IIa's could not win the war of attrition. I stood down in April with an aim of rebuilding, bringign in 2 other Sentai's....and waiting for George's to arrive. I'm giving it 1 last go trying to gain local air superiority over Mandalay now. If this fails I'll disperse and retreat my Army into the jungles hexes as a defensive line.

Fighter wise I now have:

Meiktila - 36 x George
Toungoo - 42 x Tojo IIa
Prome - 42 x Oscar IIa
Rangoon - 36 x A6M2 and 36 x Oscar IIb

Current Burma sit rep is below:

[Speedysteve]

Mandalay forces.

400 AV is heading SE to Taung Gyi too:

[Speedysteve]

The other action area is SoPac.

Here's KB and 2 x BB Div's patrolling near Noumea. They're here as there's a Amphib TF 4 days out from Noumea to collect 2nd Tk Div, 10th Division and Guards Mixed Bde which will assault PM. KB is to provide cover as 4E, P38's and Corsairs roam over New Caledonia.

KB heading SE to 'investigate' a large reconned Transport TF.

KB Consists of:

KB1:

Shokaku
Zuikaku
Ryujo
Taiyo

KB2:

Taiho
Junyo
Unyo

Hiryu and Hiyo are in HI upgrading. Unryu has just arrived and CVL Ryuho and CVE Chuyo are in HI awaiting planes. CVL Mizuho, Chiyoda and Chitose are converting at Tokyo.

[Speedysteve]

Summary screen:

[Speedysteve]

As those who know me on here realise I like sub warfare. I've done pretty well as the Japs too IMO.

Here's what I've sunk to date:

CV - 2
BB - 2
TK - 15
AK - 48
KV - 3
AP - 7
AVP - 2
SS - 2
AO - 1
AM - 3
DM - 1
DD - 3
AD - 1
AG - 1

[Speedysteve]

The one area I feel I haven't done especially well in is the Economy. Not so much in terms of Aircraft production/planning/prioritisation but in terms of have experience of reasonable fuel use, what ships to use for which convoys at which bases etc.

It's led to a key point in the past few weeks where I've begun to run out of oil and fuel in Japan! As such I posted in the War Room and rather than repeating the whole topic here; in summary I understand I must restrict KB and ship use (KB has been in virtual constant action since game start, attacking, raiding and sailing etc). Allied to that I've had virtually all ships at sea collecting resources and fuel. I'm now standing down all non-Aden, Lima, Kyushu and Yusen class AK's when the current convoys return to port. I'll just be collecting Resources from Korea/China and Hokkaido from now forth (unless needs change).

Here's an industry summary:

[Speedysteve]

This is a real high level summary and overview. There's so much I could post after 18 months of un-documented war. Please let me know if there's anything you want to see, any queries, comments or suggestions etc?[8D]

[PaxMondo]

Wow, the game is moving fast ... if you are using tracker, post some shots of the economy.

[Speedysteve]

Unfortunately Tracker stopped working for me about 6 months game time ago. I kept getting error message upon running Tracker. I posted in the Tracker topic but no one could figure it out[:(]

[JocMeister]

Thanks for the update Speedy!

Looks like your dad is doing real well for his first time. Especially so considering your experience with the game. [:)]

[Speedysteve]

Hi All,

Hi Jocke - Agreed. I have to give Dad credit. He didn't start off too great (IMO) and made several rookie mistakes and I also think (naturally) had gotten used to playing the AI and the inherent disadvantages that brings. Hence he was caught out by far reaching attacks, unexpected moves etc. He's gotten a lot better in the last 6 or so months of play though. Much tighter in his moves and strategy I'm finding.

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Today was a frustrating day for the Japanese and in particular KB.

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SoPac:

KB moved to the south of Noumea to investigate the spotted Allied TF from yesterday. It turned out to be an Allied SC TF containing BB Indiana amongst others. She was spotted by SS I-39 overnight which was driven off by the escorts.

BB Indiana had clearly fled eastwards overnight as by daylight she was nowhere to be found.

KB did find a 4 x DD TF SW of Efate though. Incredibly frustratingly a raid by Shokaku's and Taiho's B5N's was launched against them. I was slaughtered by a mixed cap of 45 Allied 1st line fighters. I lost 26 x Zero and 18 x Kate for nothing. Nice.....

KB is now heading NW to protect the approaching AP TF which will remove all but a token force from Noumea for the re-invasion of PM.

The other action in the theatre was over New Guinea where 4E from Aus targeted Buna. I guessed correctly and 28 x Nick A's from Milne Bay intercepted shooting down 16 B17/B24 for the loss of 6 in return. Nice.

Dad also has a transport TF unloading engineers at Terapo. It is only protected by CAP. I dispatched what I had on the scene at Truk - 3 x BB (Hyuga/Fuso class), a couple of CL's and a couple of DD's to intercept. They've just reached Milne Bay and were spotted by PBY's. We proceed anyhow!

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Burma:

The Japanese stood down again today as Allied LBA pounded my troops at Mandalay again. Even though they cause 100's of casualties every day the AV actually remains static most days.

One my George's have recovered enough I'll likely intervene again in 2 days time.

No further action up here.

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Submarine Warfare:

SS Paddle heavily damaged DD Yayoi, with a torpedo, which is escorting was of my returning convoys from Sakhalin back to Tokyo. It's touch and go if she'll make Hokkaido. She then missed an AK with 2 torps.

On the Jap side SS I-3 patrolling well east of Sydney detected a lone AK and surfacing proceeded to put 17 shells into AK Henry Dearborn leaving her listing and heavily damaged. I-3 later spotted another lone AK but missed her with 2 torps.

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Housekeeping:

The usual tonne of movement behind the scenes of convoys back and forth. It's going to be a particularly busy month for me on this front as I re-order all of them and send all of the non Aden/Lima/Kyushu/Yusen class AK's back to port and re-form relevant convoys just on them.

There's also several units awaiting movement across the Empire from 31st Division at Singers for Burma, 11th Division in Korea for re-assignment and many Engineers, BF and AA units to be moved to Burma and SoPac.

[Speedysteve]

Hi All,

SoPac:

KB moved to a position west of Noumea and little action in the area today. My Transport TF should be nearing Koumac tomorrow.

Over New Guinea 25 x A6M2 swept Terapo from Gasmata but suffered badly against 8 x P38G losing 9 of their number for 2 enemy.

Tomorrow they try again and Bombers will hopefully follow to keep the engineers busy repairing.

-----------------

Burma:


Allies do their usual of bombing my troops at Mandalay.

Tomorrow 30 x George and 32 x Tojo IIa will LRCAP my troops whilst 31 x Oscar IIa attempt to Sweep over Mandalay.

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Submarine Warfare:

A good day for my lads.

SS I-9 had fun tracking a convoy SE of Fiji reportedly sinking AK Arided and AK Cassiopeia both with 2 torpedoes.

SS I-3 tracked the lone xAK Gideon Welles nearer to Sydney sinking her with 2 torpedoes.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Unfortunately Tracker stopped working for me about 6 months game time ago. I kept getting error message upon running Tracker. I posted in the Tracker topic but no one could figure it out[:(]

ok, then the industry management screen (j), the intelligence report (i), and then whatever sub reports off of that you care to share.