Makee-Learn: Good one. I was scratching my head about your name until I started reading "The Fast Carriers" a couple of weeks ago. Now I know where your name comes from.
I first saw it in "Titans of the Sea", it has a chapter titled "Makee Learn". The book is about the development and operations of American and Japanese carrier task forces during WW2. American carrier task forces often had a admiral, that was slated for future air command, along as a observer in "Makee Learn" status. Combat is a environment that puts all combatants in a constant "Makee Learn" mode.
It looks like the Allies have lost three CVE, one CVL, two CL, and two DDs. John may press forward tomorrow, so the damage could increase. He'll want to bag CA Sussex and BB Pennsylvania.
This battle is a quick and stinging Japanese victory from two aspects: (1) it gives John a big boost in victory points; and (2) it gives John a big morale boost.
This battle is probably an Allied victory in that John detached a significant carrier force to a remote and unimportant location, leaving him unable to commit KB in the Luzon/Formosa region. I don't think I'm making too much of this. I recognize the tactical and operational aspects of this, but from a strategic standpoint it gains him helpful victory points at the cost of leaving his heartland open.
The combat report shows no enemy air raids on Death Star and the Herd today. And while John may pull something soon, it will be at least a week to ten days before the SoPac KB could return to Luzon/Formosa. It absence may further enable Allied expeditionary activity in the Peep Show region.
I'll post a full combat map centered on the Luzon/Formosa region later. There were some developments there and more activity in the Miri area.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
So KB is split into (at least) 3 groups: Main KB, mini-KB, and "south-seas" KB. Since you've seen both mini-KB and south-seas KB you know what can't be with Main KB. I'd imagine that if Main KB showed up now, it would be crushed by the Death Star.
Yes, I have a good idea as to KB's makeup. When I got good sightings on her last week, her plane numbers were pretty obvious. (I suspect now that John showed KB to satisfy my curiosity as to it's location, while slipping SoPac Mini KB off to the southeast; it worked by and large, though I did have patrols flying out of Efate, Koumac, and a dot hex north of Luganville that didn't pick up the raiders; I looked carefully again last turn).
This probably doesn't impact the timing of Peep Show. Preparation is a key component of that, now. I need about another 10 days or two weeks for the beachhead infantry divisions to reach at least 50% prep. At that point, I'm willing to invade. I plan to use that window to get the units to ports, to get the ships to Manila (making sure the channel is open), and to then get things going.
But the scattered locations of the IJ carriers may allow expedited operations around Formosa, perhaps including one contested invasion that a division is 100% prepped for. And, perhaps most significantly, it gives me more security in positioning Death Star in such a way as to give John fits around Formosa.
To make clear: I would willingly take on Consolidated KB at this point, though I'd try to configure the battle to minimize the impact of enemy LBA. By the time John is able to consolidate his carrier TFs, if he ever does so, the Allies should have Aparri's level seven (perhaps level eight or nine, by then) airfield. Allied bombers will begin attending to Formosa's airfields, so that the equation will be changing rapidly. John has probably missed the chance for decisive battle in this theater that didn't involve Allied LBA in a meaningful way.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
Kind of a Jeb Stuart at Gettysburg move...daring but ultimately stupid. I honestly admire those who play this game, as its akin to a Japanese fantasy in that to survive Japan either is augmented or the Allies nerfed. Sorry for the rant, I just don't get the pull in playing alternative history in this sense.
EDITS:
1. This post is not directed to anyone, its only my thoughts.
2. My reference to Stuart is just that...I meant to say prior to...
3. My reference to alternative history perhaps is better phrased alternative reality in that if Japan was so well run, there would have been a commensurate response by the Allies. In the games view of reality, the Allies make the real life Japanese look like military geniuses.
4. Not trolling or inciting fights here...that is not the motive for this post. If anyone wishes to discuss, you have my permission to take this post and post it into its own thread. I respect the author of this AAR, and had no thoughts of hijacking it.
Well, a nice little surprise but the Hermes and Long Island are obsolete ships. That with the loss of two CVEs will not really impact you much. You just put is past you and stay the course. Those ships are way out of position.
Kind of a Jeb Stuart at Gettysburg move...daring but ultimately stupid. I honestly admire those who play this game, as its akin to a Japanese fantasy in that to survive Japan either is augmented or the Allies nerfed. Sorry for the rant, I just don't get the pull in playing alternative history in this sense.
Not sure what you meant, I was joking that a combined KB may scatter as oppose to fighting, as a combined KB covered by Kamikazes is THE SEA BATTLE.
Stuart was skedaddled before Gettysburg and for the first 2 days. His actions on the third day was inconsequential. Instead of providing the Army of Northern Virginia with vital reconnaissance, Stuart was busy raiding those fat Pennsylvania farms. Dereliction of Duty was Stuart's move at Gettysburg, he knew it and even offered to resign. Thankfully it was rejected by Lee. Lee may have realized that prior to the Gettysburg Campaign there had been a "Communication Breakdown" that even he himself had contributed to.
Does not any change to events result in alternative history?
John was so overjoyed by yesterday's attack in SoPac that he forgot to send the turn. I finally dropped him an email at midnight, asking if that was what happened.
SoPac was the locus of the most significant battle activity of the day. In looking at the actual condition of the ships and the location of KB, I think that the battle is indeed a curious mix of Japanese battle success that takes place far out of position. There's a fair chance SoPac KB continues the chase tomorrow. Each day it raids down here is worth whatever he hits and much more.
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"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
So, he's literally pulling a "Jeb Stuart at Gettysburg" while you are about to undertake an operation which will put you in excellent position to start bombing his industry?
He really is the embodiment of the Japanese High Command.
Never Underestimate the Power of a Small Tactical Nuclear Weapon...
Paullus, I know John sees it differently, and I understand that I've lost ships and stand to lose more. But I agree with you that this is strategically a misplay by him. I put it this way, two turns back, when I thought this raid consisted just of CB Ikoma...the fact that it actually includes so much more makes it all a much more helpful scenario.
ORIGINAL: Canoerebel
7/4/44
SoPac: John commits a capital ship (CB Ikoma) to a bombardment run at Luganville. She hangs up there and undergoes repeated attacks by LBA and a small CVE TF...but ends up taking modest damage (seven 1,000-pound bombs).
This was an extravagant use of this asset. Even had the bombardment accomplished everything possible, this remote area means nothing at this point in the game.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
Do you have a lot of AR/AD/AG/AS ships? I love those, and by combining them at a forward port you can make a super repair facility especially great at repairing system damage at pierside mode.
You are entering such a great aspect of the game with so much fun involved, and really fun for both sides but JFB's usually don't see it that way unfortunately.[:(]
One tactic I liked using with fletchers against M-M was to put 4-6 fletchers together, maybe with a CL, and run them in at flank speed into the chinese coast with a fair bit of night naval search. I would also put some AB on night naval strike strafe. Run the ships anywhere, right into Hong Kong, Nagasaki. I would use Lightnings and Mustangs for LRCAP. Of course the area was flooded with subs too. Flank speed, generous engagement range, and return to base. Heck, they are even great at bombarding runways.
You probably don't have the assets or fuel yet to be so extravagant, but you could plan for the day by training an AB squadron up for low naval and strafing (probably already has the strafing). In someone's AAR, Makee put up a great graphic of joint night action with Black Widows and PT boats.
You can even use the AB during the daytime with a little caution. It is a great way to deal with riff raff as you put it, but also E's, barges, MTBs, etc.
EDIT: Kudos for taking the island off Formosa. Simply amazing.[:)] 5-6 hexes to the Chinese Coast.
I have lots of auxiliary ships in theater now, but I can't detail them to Miri yet. That place is too hot. It's a level four airfield with 90 aviation support, but that's not enough to provide security if John really gangs up on the base. Too, I'd need robust combat TFs there to ward off bombardment runs.
Miri is an important base, so I'd do it...but as important as Miri is, it's is a sideshow compared to Formosa and vicinity. My major focus is on wrapping up the Luzon campaign (another week, perhaps) while keeping John off balance around Formosa. Then, in perhaps two weeks, Peep Show really gets underway (you can see why I'm hopeful that SoPac KB spends a few more days raiding in the Noumea region).
This is a fun aspect of the game. I used to say that 1942 and early '43 was the most fun for an Allied player. Apparently that's because I'd really only played that far. The time or two that I played deep into '44, AE vs. Miller and WitP against John III, I didn't really understand the game, so I was feeling my way as a blind man. But this current situation is the most fun I've had. It's just a blast to play deeply into the game, conceive and implement a very long-term plan, and deal with the day-to-day opportunities and surprises. It's just an awesome amount of fun.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
Regarding Peep Show, I have one division 100% prepped for a major target. I have about three divisions prepping for the beachhead target. They're all around 40% now, so they'll be minimally ready when it's time to go. I have another four or five divisions prepping for non-beachhead targets. They're mostly in the upper 30s. By the time they could conceivably reach their targets, they'll probably be at or close to 100%.
The beachhead target is open terrain that will be in proximity to Aparri's big airfield and others besides. John has the base strongly garrisoned, but it should be hard for him to make a protracted stand against the combined might of the Allied military forces available. He's going to need a Consolidate KB to assist. I bet he brings it in, eventually. This is going to be a tough, noisy and flashy campaign.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
It's easy for me to criticize John (and boy, have I done so) - but I do agree that there is a "method to his madness" that makes sense to him.
Now, that "sense" isn't helping him move towards the end-game that puts him in a good defensive position...I feel his raids are not necessarily "bad" but they are being used on such far-flung targets which don't actually prevent CR from continuing his operations.
A better strategy would be to consolidate his remaining naval assets closer to the HI & then try for smaller-scale raids (think operationally, not strategically) to actually disrupt your operations.
At least, in my mind, that makes much of a cohesive strategy.
Never Underestimate the Power of a Small Tactical Nuclear Weapon...
I have lots of auxiliary ships in theater now, but I can't detail them to Miri yet. That place is too hot.
I meant piling in all those repair ships to Manila. You would generate a ton of repair points and I am guessing it will become the primary sub base among other things.[;)]
