The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

[Canoerebel]

Here's some of the information about capital ships sunk and currently on map (or believed to be):

I. Neither side has lost a fleet carrier in the game. The Allies have lost CVE Prince William. CVL Zuiho is recovering from a torp take about six weeka ago (repair may be complete). So, basically, both sides have their complete carrier OOB.

The Allies get two Essex class, CVL Princeton, and a CVE in the next week to two weeks. In the Pacific, the Allies will have 9 USN fleet carriers, CV Victorious, three CVL, and 10 CVE.

II. BBs: Japan has lost three (Yamashiro, Hyuga and Fuso). Mutsu took heavy damage nearly a year ago and was stranded at Port Blair and Malysian ports during most of the Sumatra campaign. I don't expect her active for awhile. So currently Japan has 8 BBs and two CBs. The Allies have lost four slow USN BBs (Arizona, Mississippi, New Mexico and California, fast BB Indiana, and the RN's PoW and Repulse. Three Allied BBs have take single torp hits in the current Marshalls campaign (Revenge, Washington, South Dakota). In addition, I have fast BBs North Carolina and Massachusetts, slow BBs Maryland, West Virginia, Tennessee, Idaho, Nevada, Okahoma and Colorado, and RN Resolution currently in the Pacific, with BB Pennsylvania in the IO. BB Alabama is about to arrive on map.

III. CAs: I believe John has lost nine of his 20 CAs in game. Two of the surviving 11 are currently in shipyards after recently taking singe torp hits in the Aluetians. The Allies have lost 18 CAs (6 RN, 3 RAN, and 9 USN) and currently have 6 USN and 1 RN in the Pacific and 2 US and 1 RN in the IO.

IV. CLs: Ships loss screen says John has lost 9. I've lost 23 CL and 2 CLAA. Currently on map I have 9 CL and 9 CLAA.

V. I think in the RA Mod John ends up with a total of 240 +/- DDs. When I last counted a few months back, he had receive 160 of those as of that date. He had lost 80+ in battle. Since then he's lost more, but I'm not sure how many more. But if that count is right, John has less than 150 DDs for the balance of the game. Of that number perhaps 90 are on map right now. The Allies have lost 91 DDs and currently have 100 on map. The Allies get 39 more DDs in the next 90 days.

The biggest Allied weakness is probably in CA/CL. As things currently stand, the Allies have equal or more BBs, are nearing Japan in CV power, and I think may be stronger than Japan in DDs (if not, should be soon).

John's biggest weakness is probably CAs and DDs.

[Canoerebel]

Regarding crsutton's question about rebuilding units, I will do so.

Right now I'm saving PP to buy out a restricted USA division prepped fully for Attu Island. I'll have the PPs in about 15 days. Thereafter, buying destroyed units will be a relatively high priority, though I won't pay crazy PPs for units that aren't essential.

I think 1st US Marines and a US Army division or two will be the highest priority. Likewise American AA and tank units. SWPac HQ and some of the air HQs are obvious targets.

At this moment, I have enough infantry in the Pacific to wage war for the balance of the year (I think). So I have time to rebuild units. I haven't checked my pools recently, but they should be in decent shape since I turned off replacements to the units in Sumatra many months ago.

[Canoerebel]

A look at the current pools. The Allies have a start on rebuilding an infantry division and a Marine division. But the rebuilding projects will take awhile.

[Canoerebel]

It looks like the pools are sufficient to rebuild the Indian division, but not the UK division.

It might be a good idea to rebuild that Indian div. as John may be looking that way. Alternatively, though, I could instead flesh out a bunch of Indian brigades and one division already on map that were purchased back in January. I stationed them at interior bases subject to para assault as rearguard units.

[traskott]

Disbanding one indian brigade plus some replacements can get that division up and running in 6 months. Remember split those LCUs to got replacements faster.

[Canoerebel]

7/10/43

Operation Roller Coaster: A major synch bug strikes, so that what I view is very different than what seems to be on the map. But the ships lost screen helps me cobble together a report that should be pretty accurate.

There was hard fighting in the Pacific yesterday and a Japanese combat TF and massed waves of land-based strike aircraft bedeviled Allied shipping at Mili and between Mili and Making. The combat TF (four DDs) seemed to cause the most problems, sinking two DE and two AO (two Allied combat ships were at Mili, but one left in the morning to bombard Majoro and the second actually arrived in the PM phase). Strike aircraft encountered a lot of CAP but seem to have sunk or damaged half a dozen xAP and half a dozen xAK. The Japanese lose 165 aircraft on the day. The Allies lose less than 10.

So the op became much bloodier for the Allies today. I've lost a meaningful number of ships now.

John's lost 400+ aircraft (mostly Zeros, Judys and Bettys) while the Allies have lost less than 50).

The Allies take Majuro today and will try Maloelap tomorrow. The carriers are sliding up the east side of the Marshalls to provide some LRCAP. But John still has his Marshalls fields loaded up.

Most of the op is complete now. But there's one troubling thing left undone. Jaluit is seriously overloaded. It will take what amounts to a major amphibious op to detail ships to that port to load extra troops. I'm not sure I want to chance it right now. I'm giving that further thought. The big TF of APA and AKA carrying 41st Div. made it out of the Tabituea air umbrella and is en route to Pearl Harbor, as are many other TFs. All Allied bases in the Marshalls and Gilberts are strongly held (except Makin). John might be thinking counterattack, but I think that's a Tar Baby Operation. I'm leaning towards returning to the Marshalls soon, but still weighing options. Tarawa is the strongest position with a level 3 airfield and 200 aviation support, but it will take another five days or so of repairs before it can host meaningful numbers of aircraft. Mili, Wotje and Ailinglaplap have decent numbers of aircraft. I've been using a CVE to shuttle P40Ks and Corsairs to the Marshalls from Johnston Island. Three squadrons down, two to go.

Operation Circus: Lots of enemy movement in the western isles. I think John is reinforcing as opposed to preparing to go on the offensive. The Allied positions are too strong for him to take, I think.

Elsewhere: I've been attending to small details in China, India and Oz. Mainly that's been some tinkering with troop concentrations. Whenever I move troops from heavily defended spots to lighter ones, I also change prep. The Allies are not uber strong any theater, but I have been attending to defense in depth - especially in India and Oz - sinze January '43.

[Canoerebel]

Half KB North remains at Attu, showing 300+ aircraft. What happens next depends in part on whether that changes.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Regarding crsutton's question about rebuilding units, I will do so.

Right now I'm saving PP to buy out a restricted USA division prepped fully for Attu Island. I'll have the PPs in about 15 days. Thereafter, buying destroyed units will be a relatively high priority, though I won't pay crazy PPs for units that aren't essential.

I think 1st US Marines and a US Army division or two will be the highest priority. Likewise American AA and tank units. SWPac HQ and some of the air HQs are obvious targets.

At this moment, I have enough infantry in the Pacific to wage war for the balance of the year (I think). So I have time to rebuild units. I haven't checked my pools recently, but they should be in decent shape since I turned off replacements to the units in Sumatra many months ago.

If you have the same experience as me. PPs are always in short supply. I would find a middling restricted Indian division and disband it. You will get it back in six months but it will come back as a skeleton so changing it's HQ will cost only a handful of PPs. Meanwhile use the disbanded squads and devices to rebuild the lost Indian division which you can purchase back in 30 days for virtually nothing. In 3 months you will have a fully rebuilt. unrestricted Indian division that cost you virtually nothing in PPs. Indian army had a good squad replacement rate but Indian divisions are constantly expanding and shedding their British squads so Indian squads are always in short supply. I find myself disbanding a lot of independent brigades due to the shortage of squads. But it does not pay much to build up restricted Indian divisions as you will then have to pay more PP to buy them out later.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

A look at the current pools. The Allies have a start on rebuilding an infantry division and a Marine division. But the rebuilding projects will take awhile.

You are really in pretty good shape. I would start stockpiling 57MM guns and turn off upgrades for your on map units. Any American Infantry division that you buy back will have the 57mm gun and you can't afford to waste them by upgrading units that already have the 37mm gun. You might want to disbands an infantry regiment or two if you can spare them. Divisions are much more useful. Don't go hog wild in buying back AA units as you really do not have the pools to build back more than one or two at a time. Americans have plenty of other devices though. They are so cheap that I would buy back everything you can afford right away. (that you eventually intend to rebuild) That way even if you do not build the unit right away they can accumulate target points and be fully trained when you do decide to rebuild them.

[Canoerebel]

Thanks for the suggestions and insights.

Thus far, the disbanding of ground units on map is a process that has eluded me. Over the past few months, I've looked at several score units with the idea of possibly disbanding them. But every time, the "Disband" button is greyed out. I've never seen it as an actual option on my map. Am I overlooking something integral in the disbanding process?

[Canoerebel]

Bullwinkle gave me the same advice about stockpiling 57mm AT guns a week or so ago. He mentioned another unit or device too. I'll look up what he said and act on what both of you said.

[BBfanboy]

From the manual - Section 8.2.1 (which describes the LCU interface buttons and text):

" Disband Unit: If located at a base with greater than 100,000 supplies or in a key base (Delhi,
Auckland, Sydney, Vladivostok, San Francisco, Osaka or Tokyo), then the player may manually
disband units which will return 100% of active devices to the pool and 50% of disabled devices.
If in a key base this is free; if in a base with 100,000 supplies it will cost a portion of the units
VP value. The player is given the option whether or not to have the unit disbanded rebuilt in 180
days as an administrative cadre. "

[Canoerebel]

7/11/43

Thanks for help, gents, including BBFanboy and crsutton and all the others who are familiar with details way beyond me and who read the Rule Book.

Operation Roller Coaster: An IJN sub picks off a mortally wounded xAP at Jaluit, continuing the submarine reign of terror. The Allies get payback by downing 51 strike aircraft (mainly Jills and Judys with a few Kates and Helens mixed in). These strikes were unescorted, so the Allies didn't lose a fighter. The shock attack at Maloelap fails, but drops forts to 1. Death Star will take station just east of there in position to provide cover for reinforcing landings day after tomorrow.

For the first time, no reports of Mini KB North at Attu, and enemy search aircraft pick up two picket ships north of Marcus. I suspect John is moving KB south now. I probably won't hang around even with the new airfields operational. I think Death Star will retire to Pearl and await arrival of the two Essex class. They should reach Pearl in roughly two or three weeks. At that point the Allies will be ready to move again.

John is reinforcing his forward positions with alacrity. This is a good move on his part. But it's also what I want. I don't plan to go deep anytime soon, but I do plan to take the offensive. Since killing enemy ships and aircraft and men is a priority now, I like the idea of taking on Kwaj, Roi Namur and/or Amchitka so close to Allied airfields (and relatively close to big ports). I want to fight now, so I'd prefer that John come to my doorstep as opposed to laying farther back where I can't get at him if I'm not willing to go deep.

Operation Circus: Enemy cruisers and a CB bombard Adak Island again. There's alot going on behind the scenes here that is important but not sexy. I think the Dutch Harbor count is a representative way of portraying what's happening. The long effort to reposition the garrison to get it under the stacking limit is at 45k, from a staring point of 81k. 10k left to reach the 35k limit. (In the invasions, Dutch was the biggest port and got a big Nav Support unit, so it served as my point of disembarking because many of the units bound for Hokkaido were in Strat Mode under the peculiar circumstances of that operation). The plan was to unload units, convert to comabt mode, and then reload for dispersal. But Steriod KB arrived before I could fully implement that plan. The current dispersal operation has gone well.
I am wondering if Mini KB North is moving to CenPac, but I'm also watching for a raid against the Upper Aleutians or Gulf of Alaska or other point.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

From the manual - Section 8.2.1 (which describes the LCU interface buttons and text):

" Disband Unit: If located at a base with greater than 100,000 supplies or in a key base (Delhi,
Auckland, Sydney, Vladivostok, San Francisco, Osaka or Tokyo), then the player may manually
disband units which will return 100% of active devices to the pool and 50% of disabled devices.
If in a key base this is free; if in a base with 100,000 supplies it will cost a portion of the units
VP value. The player is given the option whether or not to have the unit disbanded rebuilt in 180
days as an administrative cadre. "

The LCU can't have a withdraw date either AFAIK. This makes many/most of the USA WC units not useful for crsutton's scheme.

[crsutton]

In short, the nation's home base is where you can disband. So San Francisco would be the Americans, Delhi for Indians. Funny thing is, I have wanted to disband a few Canadian units in the past but could not find any place where it was allowed. Might have to go the 100k supply route for them but it is probably not worth the cost. You can never disband ground units that are scheduled to withdraw. Nor can you buy them back if they are eliminated.

Commonwealth devices are a nightmare to manage (but fun too) Biggest problem for me is the shortage of 25 pounder guns and later in the war 3 inch mortars. You really have to be careful about upgrading those guys. For the life of me there are some things I do not get. The Commonwealth gets a flood of M3 Grant/Lee tanks that only the Australians can use. By late war, that means you have a pool of 300 tanks or so that can only be used by three small regiments. Likewise they get tons of American M8 AC when only a few Australian Infantry units can use them. Meanwhile you have British/Indian armor and AC units that are starving for AFV. I wish there was a little more flexibility. Best thing would be the ability to roll back upgrades for rear area units.

[Lecivius]

If he is moving his KB-North group, then I suspect his repairs/upgrades are done and he is moving to consolidate. Your window is closing. Time to Up A$$ and head for safer parts. Are you ready for him taking a swipe at you in CenPac? NorPac?

[Canoerebel]

Lecivius, I agree. I'm not positive he was upgrading, but I'd wager much on it since he didn't respond to Roller Coaster with carriers.

I'm about as ready as I can be for a major counterattack in either location. All important bases are strongly garrisoned (and mostly by troops with high prep now), have multiple forts, and good supply (with one or two exceptions). The Allies have lots of good fighters in both locations and lots of PBYs. The Aleuts have plenty of strike aircraft. The Gilberts/Marshalls will begin to ramp up soon, especially once Tarawa is available.

I don't think John will try major contested counter-invasions, but who knows. As you can see, he's not ready to give up or pull back. There were some Forumites who expressed doubt that these invasions would trigger violent responses by John; that he'd shift his carriers back and forth; etc. I was sure that he would, given my experience with him.

So the Allied carriers will soon pull back to Hawaii. But not for long. When the reinforcements arrive in 20 days or so, I think Death Star can take on Steroid KB in the Marshalls where the Allies have more bases than John does. I think I'll go looking for a decisive battle (as Obvert put it).

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: crsutton

In short, the nation's home base is where you can disband. So San Francisco would be the Americans, Delhi for Indians. Funny thing is, I have wanted to disband a few Canadian units in the past but could not find any place where it was allowed. Might have to go the 100k supply route for them but it is probably not worth the cost. You can never disband ground units that are scheduled to withdraw. Nor can you buy them back if they are eliminated.

I bought back the two Canadian units eliminated at Hong Kong and they reappeared at Vancouver - so I think that is the National Base for Canada. It also has Canada Command and can easily accumulate 100K supply in any case.


Commonwealth devices are a nightmare to manage (but fun too) Biggest problem for me is the shortage of 25 pounder guns and later in the war 3 inch mortars. You really have to be careful about upgrading those guys. For the life of me there are some things I do not get. The Commonwealth gets a flood of M3 Grant/Lee tanks that only the Australians can use. By late war, that means you have a pool of 300 tanks or so that can only be used by three small regiments. Likewise they get tons of American M8 AC when only a few Australian Infantry units can use them. Meanwhile you have British/Indian armor and AC units that are starving for AFV. I wish there was a little more flexibility. Best thing would be the ability to roll back upgrades for rear area units.

I wonder if putting a British unit under Australian HQ would enable it to draw Australian Grant/Lees? Probably not, since the device numbers for the tanks are set in the TOE.

[Canoerebel]

I know how to ride a bicycle.

I know where I'm going. I know how to get there. I'm wearing the proper gear. I'm lithe and strong and able to power my bike uphill against a stiff wind.

But I'm unfamiliar with bicycle maintenance. My cycle therefore isn't in optimum condition and without the advice of experts my chain would seize up and I'd be walking. And even with their advice, sometimes I forget to oil the gear cables.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: crsutton

In short, the nation's home base is where you can disband. So San Francisco would be the Americans, Delhi for Indians. Funny thing is, I have wanted to disband a few Canadian units in the past but could not find any place where it was allowed. Might have to go the 100k supply route for them but it is probably not worth the cost. You can never disband ground units that are scheduled to withdraw. Nor can you buy them back if they are eliminated.

I bought back the two Canadian units eliminated at Hong Kong and they reappeared at Vancouver - so I think that is the National Base for Canada. It also has Canada Command and can easily accumulate 100K supply in any case.


Commonwealth devices are a nightmare to manage (but fun too) Biggest problem for me is the shortage of 25 pounder guns and later in the war 3 inch mortars. You really have to be careful about upgrading those guys. For the life of me there are some things I do not get. The Commonwealth gets a flood of M3 Grant/Lee tanks that only the Australians can use. By late war, that means you have a pool of 300 tanks or so that can only be used by three small regiments. Likewise they get tons of American M8 AC when only a few Australian Infantry units can use them. Meanwhile you have British/Indian armor and AC units that are starving for AFV. I wish there was a little more flexibility. Best thing would be the ability to roll back upgrades for rear area units.

I wonder if putting a British unit under Australian HQ would enable it to draw Australian Grant/Lees? Probably not, since the device numbers for the tanks are set in the TOE.

No, the pools are by nationality of the unit, not any HQ it reports to.