The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

[Capt. Harlock]

And the same with John's, too. He's excited about something. He sent this email: "I am really trying to find an appropriate Christmas present for the Allied forces. Do you have any worthwhile ideas? Still have a couple of shopping days left for planning and inspiration…" There's a reasonable chance he's doing just that, but he engages in this kind of joshing only when he's jazzed.

But not jazzed enough to update his AAR . . . [:-]

[Canoerebel]

12/24/43

Captain Harlock, what you are saying is that John is the enemy of good writing in addition to being the enemy of the free world.

Today was another good day for the Allies. Tomorrow is Christmas Day. John has been hinting at something in the plans for the holiday. It is the day of maximum exposure/vulnerability for Death Star, as it happens, so I'm at least a little concerned.

Third Ring: The AKE/AE at Normanton do their job, replenishing the one CV TF in port. The CVs and CVEs will remain in port. The other two CV TFs will come in to replenish. I think they'll do so tomorrow. If so, Third Ring really gets underway the day after.

It is very encouraging and reassuring to see the fighter squadron fatigue levels at 5% or 10% instead of 25% or 30%.

No sign of KB or imminent threat. Here's hoping for a quiet Christmas.

Big Tent: Four USN DDs visit Ambon and clash with a fast transport TF consisting of CL Nagara and two good DDs. One of those DDs is sunk outright, the other two with "heavy fires, heavy damage." Given the weakened state of Kaigun, that should be a relatively sharp repulse for John. But he's not showing dismay in his emails. I think something is up, and soon.

Perhaps this is France, December '44. The weakened German Army (Kaigun) has been battered and in retreat, but is concentrating and preparing to turn on the aggressor like a wounded cat.

[Flicker]

Merry Christmas!

"The pressure of our united attack is constantly increasing on every front. That pressure will engulf our common enemy. The steel walls of Hitlers and Hirohitos brutal empires will draw tight about their throats. Our plans are made and we are united."

President Franklin D. Roosevelt Radio Message to the Fighting Men of the Merchant Marine, Christmas 1943

http://www.usmm.org/fdr/christmas.html

[Canoerebel]

12/25/43

Third Ring: Thank you, Flicker. It was a Merry Christmas, full of tidings of good news and a silent night in all places that I craved silence.

All Third Ring amphibious TFs are loaded, Death Star is 100% replenished, rested, and refueled, and all ships embark Normanton tonight, heading for Merauke.

NavSearch picked up KB (or part thereof) up north of Kaeving. Those carriers are out of position to molest Death Star en route to Merauka, though they could arrive in time to contest the invasion. I doubt John will seek battle there, but he might.

Mornington Island (dot hex in Gulf of Carpentaria) fell yesterday, the first gain of this operation. Barge-led troops are now moving to Groote Eylandt.

I don't detect any reinforcements or additional supply at Merauke, Horn Island or Port Moresby. If that's true, John's closes major airfields are Gove Island and interior New Guinea: far enough not to provide him any assurance of concentrated, mass attacks. KB is unlikely to attack by itself, so subs will probably be the biggest threat to his op. Subs and the garrison at Merauke. I have no idea what to expect, but I'm not expecting any kind of quick conquest. I want to see what's there, then decide whether to keep the carriers and combat ships there to reduce the garrison or, instead, retire to Big Tent and deal with Merauke later (after Ambon). I don't want to get tied down to two stalemates, so I'll consider my options carefully.

Big Tent: CA Baltimore TF sank two PB at Namlea on the way to checking out Ambon. The Allied attack at Namlea comes off at 1:2 and does equally modest damage to both sides. The Allied units will be 100% prepped in a few days. They'll attack again if John hasn't succeeded in reinforcing.

[jwolf]

Can you detach a modest surface force to destroy Japanese shipping at Horn Island? Or are those ships all subs?

It was a Merry Christmas, full of tidings of good news and a silent night in all places that I craved silence.

That was a great line, and perfect for this spot in your game! [:)]

[Canoerebel]

The shipping at Horn Island is MTB and perhaps a sub or two. I haven't sent any combat ships that way due to the sub threat and the possibility of mines. All I've done is bomb the base for two months.

Allied shipping may transit the Torres Strait in two days. I'm moving Micro Death Star, combat TFs, and two fuel TFs from Cooktown to Portland Roads tonight. CAP will be provided by LBA from Cooktown, though I don't have enough aviation support there to provide maximum protection. So Death Star's orders are to take station two or three hexes west of Cooktown to supplement CAP. This is a fairly complicated and hazardous maneuver due to tight waters, proximity to enemy airfields, and the possibility of enemy subs, combat ships and even carriers. But the move is necessary. I want to get these ships into the Gulf, because eventually they'll remain behind in Big Tent to provide security while the "real" Death Star and herd breaks out to the east. Or something like that.

[Canoerebel]

The opening acts of Third Ring underscore AE's complexities and depth - and the kind of tremendous advantages that an experienced player would have over a gifted newbie.

Months ago, I knew that Big Tent was likely to use Normanton. This morphed into Third Ring (the invasion of Merauke, etc.), in which I'd pick up new invasion troops at Normanton. That meant pre-positioning troops there, spreading them out through several hexes to not exceed stacking limits, and building the port as big as possible as quickly as possible. Engineers got to work, so that by the time Death Star and the Herd arrived (months later), Normanton had a level six airfield (excellent for local CAP purposes) and a level four port (the maximum level, and just reached a week back; this helps with loading and with replenishment).

Ten days ago, knowing that replenishment would be vital at Normanton, I remembered (belatedly, but just in time) to send the AKE and the AE. That's the kind of detail I missed all too often in the past.

Just before the amphibious ships arrived at Normanton a few days back, all units in surrounding hexes moved to the base, temporarily exceeding the stacking limit by a huge amount, but only for one day. In that one day, the amphibs loaded 35,000 soldiers, drawing down the number at the base from 67k to 32k. The next day, the final loading took place, drawing that number down to 27k. So, in two days, the amphibs loaded 40k troops.

These are fairly simple and straightforward moves, but it took months of preparation to make it fairly simple and straightforward. If Normanton hadn't been identified as a key base months ago, this would've been a more difficult transaction. Ditto with the other small things that give experienced players an advantage in implementing strategies that any player can devise.

I would not enjoy being a newbie taking on an experienced player in this monster game.

[ny59giants]

Where are your big advance naval BFs that have 108 in Naval Support? They are great at assisting in loading troops and supplies. I would have had at least one at Normanton.

[Canoerebel]

I have 6th RAN Base Force at Normanton, with 50 naval support.

Most of my USN naval bases have been committed to frontline action in Big Tent, the Marshalls, and the Aleutians. I've been using them at key bases early in invasions to help unload troops fast, before KB shows up (Adak Island and Morotai), and/or to help with replenishing (as at Jaluit).

[HansBolter]

I agree with ny59giants that base forces with high naval support are essential for turning otherwise mediocre ports into forward hubs.

In late '42 against the AI I have a campaign underway to reclaim Adak and set up Kodiak as my forward hub putting a one of the port base forces with 108 Nav support there along with a port maintenance battalion.

Not to mention the two AEs, 6 AKEs, AD, AS, AG, AR and even two ARDs, one a 3 tonner and one a 10 or 20 tonner.

Loading times can be inexorably slow at small forward ports if you don't get substantial Nav support there.

Babes mods have shore parties as well as Nav support.

[BBfanboy]

If John sprints that SCTF at Tagula Island to Cooktown, do you have the wherewithal to keep it from getting to your CVE/CVL bait?

[ny59giants]

The screen shot shows the BF I'm talking about. You should have at least 4 of them by now. Where are they? I would use them in places like Normanton and Boela where you will be doing lots of loading of troops and supplies. They will make any size 4 or 5 Port a lot more efficient and assist in minor ship repairs. You will need to strategically place them as you move further into enemy territory.

[Canoerebel]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

If John sprints that SCTF at Tagula Island to Cooktown, do you have the wherewithal to keep it from getting to your CVE/CVL bait?

Three good combat TFs are accompanying Micro DS.

[Canoerebel]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

The screen shot shows the BF I'm talking about. You should have at least 4 of them by now. Where are they? I would use them in places like Normanton and Boela where you will be doing lots of loading of troops and supplies. They will make any size 4 or 5 Port a lot more efficient and assist in minor ship repairs. You will need to strategically place them as you move further into enemy territory.

Those aren't part of the Allied OOB in the game we're playing. Not yet, anyway. I haven't ever seen such a unit before.

[ny59giants]

Huh?!? [&:]

I just opened up a DBB scenario and they are there with even bigger fleet naval BF. RA and BTS are based on JWE's mod, so they should be there. Have you opened up your Ground reinforcements, selected just Engineers, and then sort by load cost? It should have some large Naval BFs there.

[BillBrown]

I'm playing a BTS scenario and there are even bigger ones available.

[Mike McCreery]

ORIGINAL: BillBrown

I'm playing a BTS scenario and there are even bigger ones available.

Those are luv!!

[Canoerebel]

They're not in my OOB, unless I'm not looking in the right place. Here are my USN engineers with load costs above and below that you show (around 4800).

[Canoerebel]

Six weeks after D-Day, Big Tent and Third Ring are about 50% complete now. The operations are on schedule to wind up sometime in late January. Things are going very well, at the moment. They might continue to go well or the wheels could come off. For weeks, I've been looking at best case and worst case scenarios, just in case. Now we're deep enough into both ops, and things are going well enough, that certain preliminary decisions had to be made: objectives and the issuing of preparation orders to units. Here are the general outlines for worst and best case scenarios:

1. Worst Case: If I suffer a lopsided carrier loss or the loss of a catastrophic number of combat ships or APAs, the DEI will become the center of attention. Darwin and Timor will become the primary targets. Taking Merauke and Horn Island will be of paramount importance. Securing the west coast Oz bases will be important, though not essential. Fuel deliveries to Oz must be enhanced. Troops will be shifted to Oz from Pearl and West Coast. Big Tent is strong, but not impregnable. I'll fight but should be prepared to lose Morotai and possibly Manokwari. If necessary, trade time for those objectives. I think Sorong and Boela could be defended indefinitely.

2. Best Case: The Allies will leap forward, bypassing John's next line of defense. Mobility, carrier power, and fuel and supply transport are critical (and more fuel than I carried for Big Tent). The targets should be close enough to draw reinforcing air (especially fighters, if necessary those with ranges of 30 ore more) from Big Tent, Midway, the Aleutians or China. If fighters can make it, bombers are a snap. As with Big Tent, be prepared to stay for months to establish and build bases. The targets should enhance the ability to interdict the Japanese sea lanes to the DEI and/or to allow strategic bombing of Home Island bases. It will be helpful (and in some cases necessary) to perhaps take intermediate bases to secure the LOC and to provide NavSearch as the Next Generation Herd moves into Indian Country.

The central area of the best case scenario targets have been identified and unit preparation has begun. The earliest such an op could get underway is March. At the latest it should be April.

The most important thing that could be done to enhance the chances of success? Win a carrier battle and/or further attrit John's capital ships.

Code Name: Operation Fun House

[BillBrown]

I remember that you started using an older version of RA. Maybe the next few iterations of the mod included the larger BFs.