The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

[DRF99]

You're concentrating your force, John is dispersing his.
You can choose the time and place of attack. John can only react after the fact and, since his CVs are so dispersed, late.
You know where his various KBs are. He probably has an idea of where the DS is but doesn't know where it is going.

I can't see any other outcome but John being crushed at the point of attack.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

No turn from John today, as he's fallen into one of his occasional forget-to-communicate lapses. He requested a turn for last evening, but I didn't hear from him til this morning, when he implied a turn would come this afternoon...and that was the last I've heard from him.

To close out the day, here's a screenshot I'd offer as an exhibit in a presentation about why AE (and, more specifically, this Mod) is a game, not a simulation.

I'm pretty sure "sorties" counts things like search missions.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Is it a mistake for John to not have KB assembled to oppose the next invasion? Far-flung detachments of KB are threatening the main Allied LOC in the DEI area. They're also harvesting points, in the form of vulnerable Allied shipping. From a VP standpoint, that makes sense. He may also believe that LBA - based on "unsinkable carriers" like Formosa - are sufficient to handle the threat, without risking his valuable (Victory Points!) carriers to attack. He'll also be configuring a layered defense - mines, subs, motor torpedo boats, kamikazes.

If his defense is successful, he'll bleed the Allied invasion badly, while also creating problems out on the flank - the LOC.

If he's wrong - if the Allies handle the opposition reasonably successfully - then they take that next step forward, closer to the Home Islands.

I'm not positive I'm right or that John's wrong, but the possible consequences of not having those extra 900 (or so) aircraft available on a mobile platform not subject to Allied 4EB seems questionable.

Death Star will steam north with a lot of escort TFs and support TFs - combat, ASW, minesweepers, minelayers, DEs and DDs to deal with riff-raff. There will be subs on combat patrol and subs loaded with mines.

Death Star is configured mostly with defense in mind - lots of extra fighter squadrons. Most of the inferior FM2 squadrons have been replaced by Hellcats now. The few that aren't will switch out in two or three days, even while at sea.

The amphibious forces include about five divisions, tanks, combat engineers, HQ, amphibious force HQ, and engineers. There are four potential beachheads. I have solid information about one (I think), while the other three are unknowns but seem promising given location and lack of SigInt for any troops. I don't need all four beachheads to be weakly defended - just two - or even one - will be sufficient.

No recon has visited these bases - ever. That'll change in about three days.

I think it is a strategic mistake, although as you note it is netting him a couple of advantages - points and forcing you to pay more attention to some rear areas than you would otherwise.


...Swatow? Amoy? Maybe even Foochow? Although I'm not sure 5 divisions is enough to send into China... Basing that guess solely off you mentioning to recon on those targets, yet I see in the screenshot that you have DL's on a lot of Formosa. The Formosa bases are worth a hefty number of points...

[ny59giants]

Formosa should be worth lots of VPs due to the fact that Japan has controlled it since end of Sino-Japanese War of 1894-95.

[MakeeLearn]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Shangri-La

Japanese mainland....

[Simonsez]

The Kuriles/Hokaido.

Mainland Japan seems to be a bridge too far at this point, but with a major portion of John's fleet assets far to the south and west there is a window to get in and get bases built before any effect action can be taken.

Hit em where he ain't. Also allows for a northern SLOC that John cannot really interfere with considering a split KB and lack of surface forces to provde effective bombardment runs in coordination with air strikes. This presumes a gleaning from intelligence reports that the Kuriles have not been a recent focus for reinfircements and or base buildings and a corresponding draw down in John's dispositions in the Aleutians.

The world awaits......

[Canoerebel]

7th Division, which begins on Hokkaido, has been "marooned" in the Aleutians for more than a year; as far as I know it is still there.

There may be another division in the Aleutians also, I think at Buldir Island.

There are weaker garrisons of the Kuriles. Hokkaido has strength...and weakness.

And then there's Sikhalin Island....

[Lecivius]

.

[Canoerebel]

7/22/44

Southeast Asia: Bangkok and Mergui fall to the Allies. The Allies won't advance down the Malay peninsula yet; the core of the Allied army will move east, sniffing out opposition and opportunities around Hue, Vinh and Saigon.

I don't think John will defend southern Indochina, but I don't have hard information yet.

In six months, the Allied overwhelmed the Japanese army in Burma, took Rangoon and Moulmein, and galloped through the jungle to take Bangkok. John went from fighting hard in this theater to retiring meekly. Where will he turn and make his next stand?

[Canoerebel]

7/22/44

Torres Strait: KB splits, sinks an ARD fleeing from Horn Island, but mainly just patrols and looks menacing.

[Canoerebel]

7/22/44

Fun House & Peep Show: Death Star and the Herd are already at sea - one day to load an army (Manila's level-9 port has been incredibly beneficial in so many ways).

Transports arrived at Vigan today, where they'll load 93rd Div. (standing down from strat mode, one more day), a big engineer unit, and a tank unit. That loading will commence day after tomorrow.

So Peep Show is off to a quick start.

No helpful SigInt today.

Addressing supply (more than fuel) will become an issue in the medium or long term, after Peep Show. So that becomes a priority once Peep Show is finished.

[JohnDillworth]

redacted

[Canoerebel]

John is seeking to flip a turn; this has been very rare behavior since the close of his Celebes campaign, four months or more back. Something's up. It's probably a strike on Portland Roads, where CVE Manila Bay is holed up.

I've configured defenses as best I can. 180 fighters at the base, with another 100 or so (including good stuff) flying LRCAP from Cooktown. To try to ward off a nuclear bombardment, CL Mobile and two DDs will sprint from Cooktown to PR. That TF is steering into the paw of the lion, but it's a gamble worth taking.

I decided not to go sprinting after the South China Sea Mini KB; if it's heading south, good riddance; if it's heading north, Death Star will be close enough to tweak John's nerves next turn. Mainly, though, the combat ships are protecting the merchantmen, including the vulnerable assault ships at Vigan. Those ships need two days to load the last of the Peep Show troops.

Turn is away to John.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

7/22/44

Southeast Asia: Bangkok and Mergui fall to the Allies. The Allies won't advance down the Malay peninsula yet; the core of the Allied army will move east, sniffing out opposition and opportunities around Hue, Vinh and Saigon.

I don't think John will defend southern Indochina, but I don't have hard information yet.

In six months, the Allied overwhelmed the Japanese army in Burma, took Rangoon and Moulmein, and galloped through the jungle to take Bangkok. John went from fighting hard in this theater to retiring meekly. Where will he turn and make his next stand?

John has been using his CVs to do two things: cover his troop withdrawals and nibble at the edges of your LOC where DS cannot engage them.
Given the number of splits he has made I think he has no intention of ever going up against DS. He wants to keep his several CV TFs nibbling wherever he can and covering his troop convoys.

That CV TF could sprint back to the Formosa area to get out of the pocket, but if he is using it to cover troop withdrawals from Haiphong port (most likely to Formosa and islands east), he could stay in that area. Here's hoping your northward moving herd and DS run into his group in the Formosa environs!

[JohnDillworth]

As threatened I had the opportunity to revisit the grave of CSA General Archibald Gracie today. Had a great conversation with the cemetery geneoligist and the record keeper, who is the former NYC Commissioner of Public Records. As the grave is made of limestone it is almost unreadable due to acid rain. The plot is much improved as Hurricane Irene knocked his stone, and a few others over. The family plot is extensive. Hie lies with his wife in the back row in front of the tree.

[JohnDillworth]

the grave is made of limestone it is almost unreadable due to acid rain.

[JohnDillworth]

There are 3 CSA Generals buried at Woodlawn. Could only find 2 today but this one also fought at the Battle of Chickamauga. Gave Sheridan a bloody nose.

[JohnDillworth]

Deas had a hard war and fought from Manasas to the end. He was successful man after the war as I can tell From Wikipedia: Deas was born in Camden, South Carolina, a son of James Sutherland Deas and Margaret Rebecca (Chesnut) Deas. He was a cousin of future fellow Confederate general James Chesnut, Jr.. He was educated in South Carolina and in Caudebec, France. In 1835, his family moved to Mobile, Alabama, where he initially engaged in the mercantile business. He served in the army during the Mexican-American War. After the war, he became a prominent cotton broker in Alabama and amassed a significant fortune from his speculation. He married Helen Gaines Lyon on May 16, 1853.

With the passage of Alabama's ordinance of secession, Deas enlisted in the Confederate army in the Alabama Volunteer Infantry. He served as aide-de-camp to General Joseph E. Johnston during the First Battle of Manassas. He was commissioned as colonel of the 22nd Alabama, a regiment he helped raise and equip, purchasing 800 Enfield rifles with gold. He led his men at the Battle of Shiloh, where assumed command of the brigade on the first day of fighting before falling with a severe wound the following day.[1]

After recovering. he commanded a brigade under General Braxton Bragg in the Kentucky Campaign. His command consisted of the 19th Alabama, 22nd Alabama, 25th Alabama, 39th Alabama, 50th Alabama, 17th Alabama Battalion Sharpshooters, and Dent's Alabama Battery. He was appointed as a brigadier general on December 13, 1862, and fought at the Battle of Chickamauga, where his men routed the Union division of Philip H. Sheridan and killed Brig. Gen. William H. Lytle. They also captured seventeen artillery pieces.[2]

Deas continued to lead his brigade through the Atlanta Campaign and the subsequent fighting in Tennessee, where he was again wounded at the Battle of Franklin. He participated in the Carolinas Campaign, but took ill at Raleigh, North Carolina, in March 1865 and had to leave his field command prior to the surrender at Bennett Place.

[Canoerebel]

Wow, I had no idea that General Deas was buried in New York.

Deas Brigade, Manigault's Brigade, and Anderson's Brigade, Hindman's Division, were under command of Longstreet on the second day of the Battle of Chickamauga. Longstreet's wing broke through the Union lines, shattering the Union right Hindman's division was to the left of the breakthrough, and stumbled into William Lytle's Brigade. General Lytle, a famous poet, was killed.

Hindman's Brigade performed poorly at the Battle of Missionary Ridge, particularly Deas Brigade and Anderson's Brigade.

Had I been walking with you today, John, and had we stumbled across Deas marker unawares, I would've been delighted and dumbfounded.

Thanks for taking me along on your virtual tour.

[JohnDillworth]

Had I been walking with you today, John, and had we stumbled across Deas marker unawares, I would've been delighted and dumbfounded

I was thinking of General Lovell but his name slipped my mind so I asked for the "other" CSA General and the genealogist sent me to Deas. I was rather shocked myself. Deas wife outlived him by almost 40 years and died in 1927 at the age of 98. Oh, and the genealogist was nice enough to give me a photocopy of the deed to the grave . I have Lovells too, but his grave eluded me on my extended lunch hour. next time