The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

[Canoerebel]

Tough decisions. The situation cries for action. But at this point, in this position, there's always something crying for action. Some enemy vulnerability. Some juicy target. Some opportunity to strike. So many opportunities. The end result is that Death Star tends to remain at sea perpetually, burning fuel while on various important missions: supporting the invasion of Miri, meeting Mini DS on its way in from Oz, moving up to Luzon to intercede in John's Dunkirk operation, and now something new.

The situation cries for action, so Death Star shall return to sea after a single day in port. The mission is a good one. I won't give details until tomorrow.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Is that an oddity? It's been generating about 3.5k per day since it's fall some two or three weeks ago.

Gents, I'm reading and considering your thoughts. You bring up most of the issues I'm mulling, sometimes expressing them in ways that bring a new clarity or insight into an issue.

The original Peep Show target has units 100% prepped and can go as soon as Bataan falls. But the other primary possibilities have roughly 25% to 33% prep. I don't have to wait for 100%, but at least to 50%. I'll be giving this further thought as things develop over the next week. In the meantime, I won't be "still." Alot's going to be happening.

Paulus, I don't think John would risk Mini KB against Death Star. So I really doubt he takes any chances. He'll probably back away tomorrow, so that any sortie by Death Star uses fuel to no good purpose. I don't mind a showdown, but I don't want to spend precious fuel that can later be used for "non-moving" targets that offer much more certainty and permanence.

In stock, it is size 300/300, so even if fully repaired it should only be producing 2700. Perhaps more is flowing from elsewhere?

[Bearcat2]

Miri in RA, should be producing 1350 fuel/day. It is a 150 size refinery in my version of RA. What is the size of the Refinery?
I have seen the Miri refinery in various mods as high as 500 [Focus Pacific]

[paullus99]

That's going to continue to be a huge boon for you - your own private Shell station right on the front lines.

[Canoerebel]

Here's the stats for Miri. I'll post the same screen shot next turn, which should answer how much the fuel level increases each turn.

[ny59giants]

Oil/Fuel, Oil/Fuel, Oil/Fuel - I spent the night at a Holiday Inn Express, so I'll talk about my part time position as a Japanese economics minister. [:D] I'm in early Feb '42 as Japan vs Gen Patton and have all but Magwe captured, so this is a focal point then and now. IMO, your next series of invasion should have the primary objective of cutting off John's access to the Oil/Fuel in the DEI from the Home Islands. At this point in the game both sides have to manage fuel. While you cut off John's access to fuel, I would try to get Tarakan and/or Balikpapan to help alleviate your shortages. If not, then bomb his Oil centers back to stone age. Its a long way from California to Luzon.

[Lowpe]

This is a fascinating decision point in this game.

The choices CR makes will determine the tactical focus of the rest of the game.

[Canoerebel]

In regards to NYGiants oil/fuel point, an interesting decision had to be made about two months ago. The Allies had drawn within 4EB range of Miri and Balikpapan. The first raid against Miri was quite effective (see Miri details above). Then I stopped the bombing, on the belief that these bases would be taken relatively soon and because I'd need the fuel generation capabilities. I thought John would have some difficulty in extracting oil and then getting fuel back to the Home Islands. That proved the case with Miri, which John stopped using and which then fell to the Allies quickly. He's still using Balikpapan heavily, but I don't think he has any way to get the fuel back to Japan. A US division is 100% prepped for the base and that invasion will likely take place in six to eight weeks.

Lowpe is right: a fascinating decision point in the game. Interesting and complicated options, each with pluses and minuses. The decision was made last night, and the first steps will be taken over the next two or three turns. Death Star is going after enemy islands rather than enemy carriers. The islands are closer and less likely to take evasive action to avoid Death Star, wasting it's fuel.

[jwolf]

The islands are closer and less likely to take evasive action to avoid Death Star, wasting it's fuel.

It's more fun to see enemy carriers get thrashed, but I have to concede you have a good point here. And if any of your air crews complain of islands taking "evasive action" ... then it's time to check what happened to all the booze.

[Canoerebel]

I know a carrier battle would be good theater, but I think we'll end up with a close second. John will probably commit his kamikazes when Death Star nears Formosa. And it's possible he'll commit KB too.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Termite2

Miri in RA, should be producing 1350 fuel/day. It is a 150 size refinery in my version of RA. What is the size of the Refinery?
I have seen the Miri refinery in various mods as high as 500 [Focus Pacific]

Termite2, even in stock Scenario 1, Miri starts at 150 oil and 150 refinery, but take a closer look and you see (150) in brackets beside each of them - meaning there is another 150 points that can be "repaired" (no one damaged them - it just simulates they are under development). So max potential for each is 300/300, as Loka points out. And if the refinery produces 10% supply in its output (stock scenario, maybe not in DBB or John's mod) the max potential output is 2700 per turn.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: Termite2

Miri in RA, should be producing 1350 fuel/day. It is a 150 size refinery in my version of RA. What is the size of the Refinery?
I have seen the Miri refinery in various mods as high as 500 [Focus Pacific]

Termite2, even in stock Scenario 1, Miri starts at 150 oil and 150 refinery, but take a closer look and you see (150) in brackets beside each of them - meaning there is another 150 points that can be "repaired" (no one damaged them - it just simulates they are under development). So max potential for each is 300/300, as Loka points out. And if the refinery produces 10% supply in its output (stock scenario, maybe not in DBB or John's mod) the max potential output is 2700 per turn.

I was mostly just asking because I was curious if this mod also included a beefed up Miri (and therefore presumably other oil sources and refineries as well), which changes the strategic calculus overall.

[Panther Bait]

Makes sense to capture Tarakan and Balikpapan for the fuel and trash/interdict/isolate anything else. Capture of Formosa, China coast, or Vietnam coast should allow interdiction of the coastal convoy route. As effectively as Luzon/Palawan interdict the central/southern routes.

Mike

[DRF99]

You could even just capture the bases north, south, and east of Formosa, build them up, and nothing could move by sea.

DRF

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: DRF99

You could even just capture the bases north, south, and east of Formosa, build them up, and nothing could move by sea.

DRF

Pescadores has a nasty fort - could take a while to reduce.

[Canoerebel]

7/2/44

Raid Over Singapore: Superforts flying at extended range from Legaspi hit shipping at Singapore, doing good work. This is reminiscent of the B24 raid in late '42 or early '43 that caught a goodly part of KB in port there.

John doesn't have any real safe havens south of the Home Islands any longer. He has to rely on fighters to protect ports, and that isn't full proof.

[Canoerebel]

7/2/44

DEI: Mini KB disappears, probably having pulled back towards the Java Sea.

[Canoerebel]

7/2/44

Fun House: On the three-month anniversary of its first amphibious assault, this operation is gaining momentum and seemingly nearing completion, months ahead of schedule.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

I know a carrier battle would be good theater, but I think we'll end up with a close second. John will probably commit his kamikazes when Death Star nears Formosa. And it's possible he'll commit KB too.

It makes sense for John to do both at once provided he can coordinate them, and of course you will try to thwart that coordination.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

7/2/44

Raid Over Singapore: Superforts flying at extended range from Legaspi hit shipping at Singapore, doing good work. This is reminiscent of the B24 raid in late '42 or early '43 that caught a goodly part of KB in port there.

John doesn't have any real safe havens south of the Home Islands any longer. He has to rely on fighters to protect ports, and that isn't full proof.

Nice one!