The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

[JohnDillworth]

he can mercilessly pound Adak with BBs until it submits.

now that you mention it the BB's have been missing for a bit. If he can reload and you get lots of bad weather the air advantage would be minimized. Interesting and yet another way for John to burn fuel.

[catwhoorg]

In a few years when this is wound down. It will give me great pleasure to have both AARs open in different tabs and scroll through them at the same rate,

[Mike McCreery]

ORIGINAL: catwhoorg

In a few years when this is wound down. It will give me great pleasure to have both AARs open in different tabs and scroll through them at the same rate,

I love dual AAR's because you can see both sides and the mentality of each player with only 1/2 the information. Totally fascinating.

[Canoerebel]

9/14/43

This game is veering into the Twilight Zone. Japanese assets are popping up all over the place...and others keep going right into the teeth of storms when by all reason they should have turned around to flee home. John is inhaling something legal in Colorado but not in Georgia. I don't know exactly what he's up to and what will happen next. It sure is fun.

Thin Man: KB continues on its southeasterly course another nine hexes - fast enough to pose a threat but slow enough to permit many Allied TFs to reach port already. But a surface combat TF showing as 10 DDs suddenly pops up two hexes SE of Johnston Island. I don't know if it was detached from KB or if it is a separate TF. It is close enough to go hunting slow xAKs if John chooses...and perhaps to find more valuable ship if John has a bit of luck. The most worrisome thing is that one TF (I'll be posting a map) well to the SE of these "DDs" reports being sighted by Judys. But this TF is nine hexes from the DDs and 18 from Steroid KB. Judys don't have that kind of range, do they? So where are they coming from? Is there another carrier TF out here somewhere?

Most of my exposed TFs are fleeing at flank speed to Pearl, but a few are going east, hoping to cross up John a bit.

Pearl is protected by mines, shore guns, a handful of DDs, and a mishmash of strike aircraft that isn't likely to do a lot. I don't think John will hit Pearl, but it's going to be a nail-biter for a few turns.

Meanwhile, Death Star continues to replenish sorties in the Marshalls. All TFs have already topped off fuel. If KB expends sorties or loses a fair number of aircraft, Death Star will be ready for battle.

Circus: Meanwhile, a combat TF comprised of Maya and some CLs moved east close to Umnak Island. I don't know if this was purposeful or accidental. But the TF ended up close to Umnak's big airfield and had no LRCAP. Several dozen B25s with decent NavB pilots sortied...but managed only a single hit on Maya with a 500 pounder. Most of the decent Allied strike aircraft are back at Adak, which is too distant for strikes (those aircraft are set to range three to avoid blundering into CAP traps near Amchitka). Tomorrow, Arleigh Burkey will lead three Fletchers in the hunt for Maya and friends, and three PT TFs will move north of Adak, hoping to slow Maya and Friends enough for strike aircraft to get a shot. Kind of maddening!

Oh, and Maya and friends sank 14 barges loaded with supply heading for Adak.

Recall a few post back that I mentioned thinking I had spotted some kind of IJ TF south of Kodiak? Well, today a YMS encountered a solo Japanese xAK south of the Aleutians. This has to be a probe. Perhaps John was (is?) feeling for week points for a possible carrier or combat ship raid.

So John is active here, there and everywhere. He got away with something with Maya so exposed. And he may get into some of my merchantmen in Pearl (and possibly in the Gulf of Alaska). But I think he's playing with fire. He may come out looking good or it might burn him eventually.

As for the Allies, the main preparation is to have Death Star ship-shape and ready for action if an opportunity arises. And, when Steroid KB finally pulls back to refuel, there are some plans to move boldly in her wake.

Finally, John sent this cryptic email message with the turn: "Shaking fist at the sky!" I don't know what he's referring to. It can't be Maya's crazy exposure, because she led a charmed life. Perhaps he's referring to that combat TF near Johnston Island, knowing he's so close to Allied merchants. Or maybe there's something else I don't know about.

[Canoerebel]

9/14/43 - Steroid KB approaches Hawaii.

[Canoerebel]

9/14/43 Thin Man

[Canoerebel]

9/14/43 - Maya's crazy ride in NoPac.

[Canoerebel]

This is a turn of 1,000 clicks, as I am dealing with ships and aircraft in the Aleutians, Hawaiians and Marshalls, some fleeing, some seeking battle, etc.

Amidst all the hustle and bustle, I found one encouraging item. A lot of Allied transports arrived at Pearl today, but I thought they hadn't had time to begin unloading. When I checked Pearl's roster a few minutes ago, however, I learned that 7th USA Div. has 245 AV ashore. The rest should be ashore tomorrow. That's a big step in the right direction, as that's the single unit that I was most concerned about as the line of merchantmen made their way home.

7th Div. and 33rd Div. (also at Pearl) are 100% prepped for Ponape. But 7th was divided during the original Marshalls invasion to reinforce at multiple bases. Getting her back home and reunited is an important part of Thin Man.

[BBfanboy]

Nine hexes is within normal Judy range, so those sightings were probably search aircraft from KB. I doubt he would split off another carrier to go down near where the Judy was sighted. He is still being quite tentative - I think the 10 DDs were a CAP trap for any naval strike in the area. Still casting bait when the fish aren't biting ....

Edit - I misread your post to say nine hex range but that was the DDs - you said 18 for the Judys from KB to the TF sighted. I am not sure of the range of a Judy with drop tanks, but search is not usually effective at that range. Perhaps FOW on the type of aircraft and it was a Glen sighting?

Do you know yet how much of 7th Division was lost in that AK that was sunk?

[KenchiSulla]

Detection but no strike so probably a Glen!

[Canoerebel]

Re: 7th Division, all of it will be ashore today. At that point I'll know the total AV lost during the campaign. I'm not positive the AK lost two days back was carrying a cadre of 7th (I didn't go back to check), but it's possible. But based upon AV still aboard ships and AV disabled ashore, I think 7th will have something more than 300+ AV when it comes ashore. So it will need some replacements.

Replacement pools are uniformly good. I am currently rebuilding 1st Marine Division. I'm about to commence rebuilding of the Indian division lost at Sabang. And several Army divisions are making good units lost during campaigning. The pools have more then enough for each task and for losses in the foreseeable future.

I think, but I'm not certain now, that multiple sightings at very long range were by Judys (so reported). I'll know more today. With a few exceptions, all the high-value TFs are already at Pearl or will arrive there next turn. One exception is a large (and empty) APA TF that will make for the east side of Hawaii (no detection showing on it). The second TF is three empty AOs. I've split it into three single-AO TFs and they are dividing to run east and SE from the DDs. There is a small chance that a chase could lead John's ships to the soon-to-arrive-on-map CV Bunker Hill TF. But the more likely scenario is for John's TFs to be somewhat depleted by campaigning, risking an encounter will a fully replenished and refreshed Death Star on their way home.

There is also a slight chance KB could turn north, between Hawaii and Midway, and report for duty in the Aleutians. That might explain why there was a probing IJ xAK halfway between Hawaii and the Aleutians.

Let's see how this next turn develops.

Today, my youngest son and I will be hiking 10 miles of Appalachian Trail from Woody Gap to Neels Gap in north Georgia. This is the only stretch he hasn't done between Springer Mountain and Hampton, Tenn. Once he has these 10 in, he'll have done the same 425 miles that me and his older brother have done. Then, in July, the three of us will do the stretch from Hampton to Damascus, Virginia. At that point, the boys will have covered 475 miles of AT from the start (Springer) to the Virginia line. That was our original goal as a family when we started this in 2007.

Next turn report likely late tonight.

[Canoerebel]

Very long and lovely day in the mountains, so very tired tonight. I'll post a few screenshots. The regular textual summary might come tonight but more likely tomorrow.

[Canoerebel]

Death Star and Mini KB.

[Canoerebel]

CA Maya gets hit pretty hard, but not hard enough.

[obvert]

That's another major ride into the unknown with the KB there. Does this guy have any fear?

I have to hand it to John for making this one of the most entertaining and odd months in AE since I've been on the forums. Although a few of your other opponents have done similarly strange things, this is the most extreme. What is it about you Dan that lures out this frantic out on a limb for a fruit you can't reach Japanese play?

There is something in the psychology of your games where you decline to be flustered and it seems to send the other player into a frenzy. You've mentioned it before, and I actually didn't see evidence of this kind of mental state in the game at that time (from the bleacher seats) but I do now. You probably had much more insight and could sense it building from those little daily decisions you see in game. This is starting to remind me of Chez and PzH.

Anyway. You've prepared for this. Seems like it might could be time to add a little extra weight to that fragile limb. [;)]

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: obvert

That's another major ride into the unknown with the KB there. Does this guy have any fear?

I have to hand it to John for making this one of the most entertaining and odd months in AE since I've been on the forums. Although a few of your other opponents have done similarly strange things, this is the most extreme. What is it about you Dan that lures out this frantic out on a limb for a fruit you can't reach Japanese play?

There is something in the psychology of your games where you decline to be flustered and it seems to send the other player into a frenzy. You've mentioned it before, and I actually didn't see evidence of this kind of mental state in the game at that time (from the bleacher seats) but I do now. You probably had much more insight and could sense it building from those little daily decisions you see in game. This is starting to remind me of Chez and PzH.

Anyway. You've prepared for this. Seems like it might could be time to add a little extra weight to that fragile limb. [;)]

This is quite a funny observation (having played John once). [:)]

[JohnDillworth]

Had dinner with some folks last night and heard the expression "he is looking for a fight in an empty room". Sounded like Johns latest adventure. He is lucky a sub didn't hurt one of his CV's so far from home. he would have had a hell of a choice to stay around or abandon it.

[Cap Mandrake]

Today, my youngest son and I will be hiking 10 miles of Appalachian Trail from Woody Gap to Neels Gap in north Georgia. This is the only stretch he hasn't done between Springer Mountain and Hampton, Tenn. Once he has these 10 in, he'll have done the same 425 miles that me and his older brother have done. Then, in July, the three of us will do the stretch from Hampton to Damascus, Virginia. At that point, the boys will have covered 475 miles of AT from the start (Springer) to the Virginia line. That was our original goal as a family when we started this in 2007.

That is really cool.

[Canoerebel]

9/15/43

Thanks for the comments, gents. I want to reply later, but want to first make a quick post to cover the events of that turn. I have a busy morning, but finally can relax a bit this afternoon to catch up.

Thin Man: From the recent screen posts, you can see that John divided KB and sent her further SE, where she picked off three empty xAKs (worth 13 points each). He has high detection on a few similar TFs well to the SE. He doesn't not have detection on a few TFs with higher value ships - there are three empty AOs that scattered and fled to the east or SE. But KB is now so far out there that any further penetration would be worth whatever John might sink.

I think all APAs and LSLs are now out of harm's way. There are 23 of those ships empty and disbanded at Pearl. There are 11 others that I sent north out of Pearl the turn before (I didn't want all my eggs in one basket just in case John did the unthinkable and hit Pearl). 7th Div. is fully disbanded at Pearl but doesn't want to recombine. It isn't HQ assignment, so I must have some incompatible devices. Anyhow, it looks like total AV of the unit is a bit over 300. It can repair quickly from the pools since Ponape isn't my next objective.

It'll be fun to see what John does with KB next. But I know what I'm doing. First, Death Star's third and last big CV TF will replenish at Jaluit tomorrow. Then Death Star is ready to go. At Pearl, APAs will begin loading troops for the next invasion. The plan is for the invasion fleet to ghost KB as it retires, eventually reuniting with Death Star. If KB loiters near Pearl, Death Star will move north into a blocking position between the Marshalls and French Frigate, forcing John to either accept battle in Indian Country or to see another route home.

Circus: CA Maya was heavily damaged - probably at least 50% in total. But she was ripe for the plucking and my LBA missed two golden opportunities to put her out of the game. That's a tough thing to swallow. The Pacific War phase of the game has been replete with Japan sinking Allied warships and the Allies, in return, damaging Japanese warships. That's not a happy equation, but eventually it'll change.

Arleigh Burke is returning to Adak with four fresh Fletchers. Five mine-laying subs are parked at Adak. Next time a bombardment TF approach, the exit lanes will be mined.

[BBfanboy]

After steaming that far east he must have AOs somewhere between your DS and KB's position. Dangerous play indeed ...
When the worm turns it will be nasty! [:)]