The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

[Canoerebel]

First, the strategic map to give an overview of carrier locations.

[Canoerebel]

Thin Man north.

[Canoerebel]

Thin Man south.

[Canoerebel]

Trying to see through this glass darkly, trying to learn to jitterbug while I'm on the dance floor, trying to come up with metaphors that fit like a glove, my best hunch thus far is this:

John sent that combat TF to dot hex north of Wotje in hopes that I'd see an opportunity to ambush. Then he deployed Steroid KB to handle such an ambush. If that's true, then John's moves today may not be as aggressive as I had thought at first. Yet, Steroid KB's position offers him several new opportunities. The glass is dark.

And this leaves me in the dark about Mini KB's mission. I don't have any hunches yet as to why she's out there in Indian Country.

I'm going to sleep on things, but I'm leaning towards maintaining a defensive posture, this time moving Death Star between Mili and Makin. I may also send some supply xAKs to Tarawa under the cover thereby provided.

Through a glass darkly.

[KenchiSulla]

He knows your position, right?

Or is he just hunting for shipping...

[Canoerebel]

He knows the position of my carriers. He hasn't had particularly high detection levels, but each turn a half dozen or more of his patrol aircraft get shot down by CAP.

This turn, for instance, four carrier TFs show no detection, one shows 1-5, and the sixth shows 2-6. But he knows (and has known for five or six days) the location.

[obvert]

Just nail the mini-nerd-with-glasses-KB he's hung out to dry and be done with it. Japan can't be so foolish with expensive assets.

[Encircled]

Just nail the mini-nerd-with-glasses-KB he's hung out to dry and be done with it. Japan can't be so foolish with expensive assets.

+ 1

Even on full speed the Main KB can't get down in time to support him

[DW]

ORIGINAL: Encircled

Just nail the mini-nerd-with-glasses-KB he's hung out to dry and be done with it. Japan can't be so foolish with expensive assets.

+ 1

Even on full speed the Main KB can't get down in time to support him

+2

Isn't this the sort of setup that allied fan boys dream about? A chance to hit a portion of the enemy fleet with your main body, while his main body is too far away to interfere?

[Miller]

ORIGINAL: DW

ORIGINAL: Encircled

Just nail the mini-nerd-with-glasses-KB he's hung out to dry and be done with it. Japan can't be so foolish with expensive assets.

+ 1

Even on full speed the Main KB can't get down in time to support him

+2

Isn't this the sort of setup that allied fan boys dream about? A chance to hit a portion of the enemy fleet with your main body, while his main body is too far away to interfere?

+3 Several turns back John could have merged the main and mini KB into one hex by setting one or the other on a full speed run, now he does not have that option. If I was in your position I would take a full speed run at his mini KB, but of course you have to weight up the potential gains against losses if he sends the main KB south towards your transports....

[Canoerebel]

There is opportunity...there is danger.

There is a stunningly beautiful woman standing on the street corner....waving and calling, "Yoo hoo!"

Does she flatter only to deceive?

Should I remain focused on the mission...or should I swing for the fences?

Those questions made for a restless night. Then I awoke to a chorus of Forumites whipping me forward.

There were two course of action I was torn between.

Then the decision was made.

Then a thousands clicks followed.

And the turn is off to John.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

There is opportunity...there is danger.

There is a stunningly beautiful woman standing on the street corner....waving and calling, "Yoo hoo!"

Does she flatter only to deceive?

Should I remain focused on the mission...or should I swing for the fences?

Those questions made for a restless night. Then I awoke to a chorus of Forumites whipping me forward.

There were two course of action I was torn between.

Then the decision was made.

Then a thousands clicks followed.

And the turn is off to John.

On these kind of tactical struggles....heed your mind and your playstyle (and your enemy's)over conventional wisdom offered by the board.

In chess the rook is worth more than the knight, but some players are very crafty with the knight and those players can punch above their weight by using an inferior piece to devastating effectiveness - despite the conventional wisdom.

[Canoerebel]

Thin Man South orders for August 24 turn.

[Lowpe]

How have you set up your CV fighters for CAP and for Escort?

Percentages, ranges, altitudes, etc. Are you using the F4Fs differently than the Hellcat? Hellcats for CAP only?

[Canoerebel]

All carrier fighters are set to two main CAP percentages: (1) Hellcats to 40% CAP (balance Escort), and (2) F4Fs (and 18 Martlets) to 50% CAP (balance Escort).

The F4Fs and Martlets are mainly set at 10k and 15k (with one or two set at 8k and probably one or two at 20k). Hellcats are mostly set at 15k and 20k.

On the island, Corsairs and P38s are mostly set to 25k to 35k. The Hellcats there are at 20k. These are mostly set to Escort, but the Lightnings are set at 20% LRCAP.

P40Ks and Kittyhawks at Tarawa are set from 8k to 15k and 50% CAP.

[Canoerebel]

I have the turn back from John in record time. That was a sure indication that nothing big happened. And it didn't, though things are in a remarkably weird state now, partly due to some problems I'm having with the computer. I'll post about the turn later, but let me tell you about the problem to see if anybody knows what's going on.

My carriers have been set to follow a big combat TF (TF 402) and have done so from the day these ships left Pearl Harbor. Today, though, the carriers remained stationary (!), declining to follow TF 402. This left the carriers all in the hex east of Mili (they never moved!) while TF 402 is down near Tarawa.

I've never seen anything like this before (though, as I've posted in recent days, I have had some squirrely TF behavior).

It's unacceptable to have TFs in proximity to most of the Japanese navy and to not know when and if they'll follow orders.

TF 402 was set to steam south nine hexes, following an three-DD ASW TF. It did so, although it only made 5 of the expected 8 or 9 hexes. 402 was set to Mission Speed, Remain on Station, Direct/High.

The carriers were all set to follow TF 402. All set to Direct/High. Retirement allowed (with Tarawa set as Home Port, since that's where all the ships were supposed to end up, and since Tarawa offers CAP to damaged ships).

Also, there's a CL/DD force with the carriers. It too was assigned to follow TF 402 with the same settings, but it elected to remain immobilized, with the carriers.

I can't figure it out.

[Canoerebel]

TF 402 settings. These combat ships followed orders (though only making five hexes on the turn), but left the carriers behind.

[T Rav]

Just another lurker, but I want to say thank you for your great AAR. As well, I want to thank the forumites for their thoughts on how all this is shaping up. Simply fantastic. T Rav

[Canoerebel]

Example of one of the carrier TFs that declined to follow TF 402. All carrier settings are the same, including Direct/High.

[poodlebrain]

If you look at the Move:(m/c) stats you will see 6/3. That means at mission speed the TF will only move 6 hexes during the day or 3 hexes each phase. Mission speed is not full speed, which would be required to sail the distances you desired. Also, the 22 knot speed of the Idaho will prevent the rest of the ships from sailing at faster than 22 knots.