The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

[paullus99]

Every sub you sink is another tooth pulled....good luck.

[Canoerebel]

12/14/43

Big Tent: A very good day - even the one disappointing thing offered an unexpected hint of promise.

The day began with undefended Babar auto-flipping to the little Allied garrison. This was most fortuitous, because the next event was John landing a detachment of 90th Regiment via fast transport. Had those troops arrived first, my handful of guys wouldn't have been able to dislodge them. As it was, his troops were messed up by landing at what turned out to be a hostile beach, so my guys deliberate attacked (ordered to take the base) and pretty much wiped out the Japanese.

But John's effort to reinforce here, combined with his ongoing shipments in to Darwin and his efforts to defend Dabo, contrast sharply to his neglect of his garrison at Ambon. It's as if he has mentally written off Ambon but has focused his attention on the Timor/Darwin area. If so, I had better expect a sharp reaction. My little garrison can't withstand any decent attack, so I'll have to commit my carriers if I wish to preserve this lodgment.

Saumlaki fell to deliberate attack later (it didn't auto-flip) and is held by a decent garrison now.

John's position at Darwin is threatened. He'll probably commit ships and perhaps KB to address this situation. Peril plus opportunity here.

At Ambon, the Allied deliberate attack comes off at a disappointing 1:2 (hey, my guys have 80% prep and are well rested, so why did AV drop from 450 to 125???) The attack doesn't drop forts, but losses are light and suggest a weakness among the defenders: Japan takes 3x losses. More importantly, the sync bug version of this attack came off at 1:1 and dropped forts to 3. I'll rest my guys a day or two and then shock attack.

A CV TF is shown up near Makassar - I'm nearly certain it's fraudulent (NavSearch didn't announce "sighted enemy carriers"). But I'll watch this.

Allied air ASW reported three hits on enemy subs south of Ceram. That's a good day's work, if accurate.

[BBfanboy]

Talk about serendipity at Babar! If John complains he has a right to! [:D]

Canoerebel: Saumlaki fell to deliberate attack later (it didn't auto-flip) and is held by a decent garrison now.

Only one enemy base will auto-flip per turn, in my experience.
I also have the impression that vacant island bases are more likely to auto-flip to the Japanese when they have forces nearby than they are to flip to me when I have forces nearby. I have had strong forces for months in Malaya close to Langkawi and Phuket (which have not Japanese troops, ships or aircraft) and those places will not flip. I even moved regiment sized units through the jungle to the coast to get one hex away from these islands and no flip occurred. Ditto for some islands in the Central Philippines off southern Luzon.

[jwolf]

How long to build up airfields so you can have fighter cover in the Babar-Saumlaki-Taberfane-Dobo area?

[Mike McCreery]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Talk about serendipity at Babar! If John complains he has a right to! [:D]

Canoerebel: Saumlaki fell to deliberate attack later (it didn't auto-flip) and is held by a decent garrison now.

Only one enemy base will auto-flip per turn, in my experience.
I also have the impression that vacant island bases are more likely to auto-flip to the Japanese when they have forces nearby than they are to flip to me when I have forces nearby. I have had strong forces for months in Malaya close to Langkawi and Phuket (which have not Japanese troops, ships or aircraft) and those places will not flip. I even moved regiment sized units through the jungle to the coast to get one hex away from these islands and no flip occurred. Ditto for some islands in the Central Philippines off southern Luzon.

Might it have to do with air control or another factor as well?

BBfanboy is right about auto-flip. You get 1 per turn if you are lucky.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Wargmr

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Talk about serendipity at Babar! If John complains he has a right to! [:D]

Canoerebel: Saumlaki fell to deliberate attack later (it didn't auto-flip) and is held by a decent garrison now.

Only one enemy base will auto-flip per turn, in my experience.
I also have the impression that vacant island bases are more likely to auto-flip to the Japanese when they have forces nearby than they are to flip to me when I have forces nearby. I have had strong forces for months in Malaya close to Langkawi and Phuket (which have not Japanese troops, ships or aircraft) and those places will not flip. I even moved regiment sized units through the jungle to the coast to get one hex away from these islands and no flip occurred. Ditto for some islands in the Central Philippines off southern Luzon.

Might it have to do with air control or another factor as well?

BBfanboy is right about auto-flip. You get 1 per turn if you are lucky.

I have complete control of the air in Malaya and the Philippines - Japanese air has been wiped out except Formosa and the Home Islands(an AI game, obviously!). A few shattered squadrons remain in Indo-China where they manage to repair an aircraft or two before they are shot down or damaged again.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Wargmr

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Talk about serendipity at Babar! If John complains he has a right to! [:D]

Canoerebel: Saumlaki fell to deliberate attack later (it didn't auto-flip) and is held by a decent garrison now.

Only one enemy base will auto-flip per turn, in my experience.
I also have the impression that vacant island bases are more likely to auto-flip to the Japanese when they have forces nearby than they are to flip to me when I have forces nearby. I have had strong forces for months in Malaya close to Langkawi and Phuket (which have not Japanese troops, ships or aircraft) and those places will not flip. I even moved regiment sized units through the jungle to the coast to get one hex away from these islands and no flip occurred. Ditto for some islands in the Central Philippines off southern Luzon.

Might it have to do with air control or another factor as well?

BBfanboy is right about auto-flip. You get 1 per turn if you are lucky.

Whether or not your opponent has strong enough forces in the area also matters.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: Wargmr

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Talk about serendipity at Babar! If John complains he has a right to! [:D]



Only one enemy base will auto-flip per turn, in my experience.
I also have the impression that vacant island bases are more likely to auto-flip to the Japanese when they have forces nearby than they are to flip to me when I have forces nearby. I have had strong forces for months in Malaya close to Langkawi and Phuket (which have not Japanese troops, ships or aircraft) and those places will not flip. I even moved regiment sized units through the jungle to the coast to get one hex away from these islands and no flip occurred. Ditto for some islands in the Central Philippines off southern Luzon.

Might it have to do with air control or another factor as well?

BBfanboy is right about auto-flip. You get 1 per turn if you are lucky.

Whether or not your opponent has strong enough forces in the area also matters.

In my case there are no enemy units within 10+ hexes. I opened the IJ side to check. A couple of dot islands in the Gilberts/Marshalls did autoflip to the allied side but a few others like Bikini have been obstinately Japanese. Must really like rice balls ...

[Canoerebel]

ORIGINAL: jwolf
How long to build up airfields so you can have fighter cover in the Babar-Saumlaki-Taberfane-Dobo area?

Quite some time. All these fields are level 0, and I have no engineers or base forces available to serve them. I won't divert any from the main bases taken, because I need those fields at maximum operational capacity.

I have many engineers and bases force (and other units) prepping for these very bases while at Normanton. They are part of the Third Ring operation. Thus, I now am even more anxious to head to Normanton and pick up those units.

But first thing's first. I'm going to try to secure control of the Babar area by deploying carriers and combat ships and sending in the marines. I only have the two whipped, unhappy units almost destroyed at Namlea, but they'll at least give the appearance of solidity. And Japan is just going to have trouble cobbling together viable counterinvasions, I think. I have solid infantry units prepping for both bases at Normanton, so I could eventually turn the defense over to them. But all of this is going to be a dance that draws out longer than I'd like.

I may airlift in a cadre base force and gets some patrols up and running from Saumlauki, which has a decent amount of supply.

[Canoerebel]

I mulled this over during a seven-mile hike this afternoon. I decided to try to preserve the lodgments at Babar and Saumlauki. The carriers are returning to that vicinity immediately. Two marine units will load aboard APA/AKA at Boela and move on the bases. This may take a few days. I think the threat to Darwin is provoking John. Let's see what happens.

[Canoerebel]

Next turn took a lot of thought before deciding on a course of action. Then it involved a great deal of clicks as units were shifted around to aid in the pending Banda Sea operation.

[ny59giants]

Bathurst Island is a dot base 1 NE of Darwin. Can you hit Darwin with DS before you retire to Normanton? Then, come back and land some troops, constr eng, and BFs to semi-isolate Darwin's influence on your western flank.

[Canoerebel]

12/15/43

Big Tent: Barring arrival of the KB to mix up the deck and throw uncertainty into the situation, I think the good guys will win the race to stabilize Babar and Saumlaki. John has positioned a lot of his subs there, but didn't try to send it troops today. Death Star took position NE of Timor and will move closer tomorrow. Combat ships and ASW will fan out to provide protection.

The two amphib TFs carrying the marine reinforcements departed Boela and could reach Saumlaki tomorrow and Babar the day after.

Av support is at Saumlauki now. PBYs report lots of shipping at Darwin. Recon numbers suggest John may be evacuating rather than reinforcing Oz. If things go well tomorrow, I might send Death Star after these ships.

Shock attack at Ambon tomorrow. It appears that the defense raw AV has dropped from 130 to about 85 over the past two days. If so, the Allied attack ought to at least drop forts.

Patrols give a "send main body" after sighting enemy combat ships down at Tabituea (south of Tarawa). I've been watching shipping down there for several days, wondering if John is up to something offensive or if he's simply evacuating forward outposts.

[jwolf]

What is the calendar flip you mentioned? What happens in January 1944 in game terms? [&:]

[Mike McCreery]

ORIGINAL: jwolf

What is the calendar flip you mentioned? What happens in January 1944 in game terms? [&:]

Allied carriers gain a better chance of not fragmenting when using larger groups.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Wargmr

ORIGINAL: jwolf

What is the calendar flip you mentioned? What happens in January 1944 in game terms? [&:]

Allied carriers gain a better chance of not fragmenting when using larger groups.

I mean.... I guess. After initially running multiple TFs, I've always run mine in 4+ CVs per TF and never had major issues. The only "issue" I've had is strike craft breaking off with minimal escort to attack disparate targets - which isn't a strike fragmentation issue.

I think maybe he meant 1944 as a symbol - even though it's only a few days apart, for those that think in "chunks" rather than a smooth continuum for time January 1, 1944, has a different "feel" to it than December 13, 1943.

[Andav]

I am pretty sure they have a house rule prohibiting strategic bombing until 1944.

Wa

[dave sindel]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: Wargmr

ORIGINAL: jwolf

What is the calendar flip you mentioned? What happens in January 1944 in game terms? [&:]

Allied carriers gain a better chance of not fragmenting when using larger groups.

I mean.... I guess. After initially running multiple TFs, I've always run mine in 4+ CVs per TF and never had major issues. The only "issue" I've had is strike craft breaking off with minimal escort to attack disparate targets - which isn't a strike fragmentation issue.

I think maybe he meant 1944 as a symbol - even though it's only a few days apart, for those that think in "chunks" rather than a smooth continuum for time January 1, 1944, has a different "feel" to it than December 13, 1943.

I seem to recall they might have a HR regarding strategic bombing that goes away January 1st ? Is that recollection correct ?

[Mike McCreery]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: Wargmr

ORIGINAL: jwolf

What is the calendar flip you mentioned? What happens in January 1944 in game terms? [&:]

Allied carriers gain a better chance of not fragmenting when using larger groups.

I mean.... I guess. After initially running multiple TFs, I've always run mine in 4+ CVs per TF and never had major issues. The only "issue" I've had is strike craft breaking off with minimal escort to attack disparate targets - which isn't a strike fragmentation issue.

I think maybe he meant 1944 as a symbol - even though it's only a few days apart, for those that think in "chunks" rather than a smooth continuum for time January 1, 1944, has a different "feel" to it than December 13, 1943.

The fragmenting is vaugely defined and might not be an issue although many people treat it as a very important rule. I agree with other people that he was likely referring to the HR regarding bombing now that it has been mentioned again.

[Canoerebel]

Yes, we have a house rule prohibiting strategic bombing until 1944.

That was a very bad house rule to agree to, by the way. It kind of gives Japan carte blanche to ignore defense of its strategic bases in '42 and '43. And that's exactly what happened in this game, when the Allies invaded Sumatra in November '42. John didn't have to worry about Palembang and didn't have to post fighters there.

I'd never agree to that house rule again, though I might be open to a more narrowly defined one that attempted to deal with the possibilities of excessive strategic bombing (by either side) early in the game. I'm not saying one is necessary, just that it's something I'd consider if an opponent mentioned it.