Into The Unknown Taxcutter vs. Ironman

[BBfanboy]

Nice haul! Great plan! [&o]

I'm not sure, but I think the scripts for KB tell it to retreat if it does not have clear superiority in a carrier duel. If you can surprise it or corner it, you can get a duel. I think part of the script-writer's game plan was to preserve KB as long as possible to give you a longer game with possible opposition.

[Bif1961]

Sounds like the historic attack on Truk in Feb 1944. However, at least historically had about 60 fighters at Truk, here how could he leave that many ships there without CAP?

[adarbrauner]

Do you think is it possible to play Ironman with an Allied AI? I know there are some who challenge it as Japan, even though the Scenrio description clearly states it was coded specifically for the Japanese AI only.

[Taxcutter]

Thanks. As pointed out in Post #201, I stole the idea from the OTL attack on Truk.

Why Ironman had so many ships and no CAP at Rabaul mystifies me - especially when he had literally hundreds of fighters at Truk and a daitai of Saburo Sakai clones at (now) Buna).

The sheer size of Ironman's KB (at least 8 big CVs with no doubt really experienced air crew) keeps me cautious, especially when they are at a base with 500+ bombers. Maybe by the end of the year I'll get frisky.

I did catch one of Ironman's augmented BBs (the Hotaka?) at one of the islands SE of Rabaul for some reason. My Dauntlesses laid 20 bombs on him and last I saw the ship was "heavy damage, on fire" but still alfloat. I'd like to send Ching Lee to investigate but that is in Betty range of Truk. Not just yet.

I have no idea if Ironman can be played with Allied AI. I don't code 'em. I just play 'em.

[BBfanboy]

It normally takes over 25 bombs and a "heavy fires, heavy damage" result before a Japanese BB will sink from the fires and system damage. A few bad die rolls for the Japanese side could result in runaway fires, but I would expect that BB to have about 60 system damage and a bit of minor float and engineering damage by the time the fires are out. Still a few months in the shipyard though!

[Taxcutter]

Update June 15, 1943

The Battle Of Rabaul is over. Ironman moved all his shipping out and left me with no targets. The air base is at 79% damage and the port is at 56%. A BG of B-24D1s at Rossell Island can keep Rabaul suppressed (just as my B-17Es and Fs keep Port Moresby smothered.)

My CVs are on the way to Brisbane for rest and refitting. I have a pretty good pool of Hellcats and SBD-5s to replace current aircraft. Essex is just east of new Caledonia. I intend to stnd down my carriers for 10-20 days for refitting (I'm way behind on flak upgrades) and subbing in newer aircraft.

My Woodlark Island dive bombers and Corsairs are gonna have a good at Saburo Sakai and his clones at Buna. If I can beat this bse down (and I now have the planes to do so) the Solomon Sea is my lake. I have invasions prepped for Bougainville and Kiriwina/Buna and a subsidiary invasion for the Ellice islands is in prep phase. after I take the Ellice Islands and flood the Pago pago/ Suva are with older ASW ships to suppress Ironman's subs I can straighten out the kink in my shipping lanes between SF/LA and Noumea/Brisbane.

Yet another hellacious furball going on at Chittagong. I fully filled out the 23rd and 51st FGs (all P-40K with high-experience pilots) at Chittagong and ran three small xAKs loaded with supply in to lure his bombers. That's good bait. I've had two days of 300 plane dogfights. The ships made Chittagong and I went to range zero for my CAP, so I rarely lose my good pilots. Unlike before i have 125 Hurricanes in reserve. There is a bottom to his barrel of Oscars and pilots. I just have to find it.

Logistical work is slightly slowed down as my 6/43 refit cycle hogs up my ships - particularly tankers.

[jwolf]

June 43 is the last month -- I think?? -- with really massive amounts of refits or conversions due. After that, it is much easier to handle. Congrats on your successful ops in the Solomons, though even with Japanese air power curtailed or eliminated, it's still a lot of work to take some of the bases.

I'm curious just how deep you have to dig to find the bottom of Ironman's Oscars. [;)]

[Taxcutter]

Quote:
I'm curious just how deep you have to dig to find the bottom of Ironman's Oscars.


Taxcutter says:
I am too.

As of mid-June 43, I've shot down about 4,500 Oscars (all versions) almost all in the Burma theater.

He's shot down about 1,100 P-40s (B, E, and K models). 80% shot down in Burma. Rest in NE Oz.

His pilot quality seems to be tailing off. I'm getting a 3 or 4 to one kill ratio on Oscars the last month or so.

Ironman continues to attack Chittagong (I have two xAKs in there) and he's outnumbered 4:1.

My RAF fighter squadrons have perked up as well.

[Taxcutter]

June 17, 1943 Mini-Update

USS Rasher reported hitting a ship identified as the Scharnhorst with a second torpedo off Nagoya.

The Burma fighter grinder grinds on.

With nothing else cooking (due to refitting and re-organizing air units) I dispatched a 106,000 ton all-fuel convoy LA to Pearl. Ironman has been dogging me with AMCs operating in the air gap between the west Coast and Pearl, so I have to escort these convoys with more than ASW escorts. Two WWI BBs should do well.

I did sink an AMC in the Battle of Rabaul.

[jwolf]

ship identified as the Scharnhorst

[X(] I am a bit skeptical about this report ...

I don't think there are all that many AMCs the enemy has available for surface raiders. Maybe 3 or 4? Or is it a lot more with Ironman? Anyway, perhaps it would be worthwhile to send out a few midsize SCTFs on a search and destroy mission. What Japanese base is near enough to supply these ships?

[GetAssista]

Ironman has lots of surprises in the maritime department That report was perfectly in line with how stuff happens there

[Taxcutter]

July 7, 1943 update:

Starting to get ahead of the 6/43 refits. While these have been going on, I've taken the chance to optimize some aspects of the war.

All of my main logistics hubs are well-stocked and I've moved some smaller cargo ships into the hub ports and relegated my Liberty ships to long-haul duty.

I am getting a handle on air superiority, at least where land-based air is concerned. From an air standpoint the Solomons Sea is my lake. Unescorted bombers pummel Port Moresby, Buna, Rabaul, Torokina, Shortlands and Gasmata. Ironman has a 15-plane fighter sentai at Lae but he is not aggressive with it.


My two stud FGs in Burma seem to be getting the better of Ironman. He still has plenty of Oscars, but the aircrew quality is diminishing. I'm maintaining a pretty steady 5:1 kill ratio on fighters, even though I keep siphoning 30-kill aces into TRACOM. I now have 20 such aces in TRACOM and could double that in a week. I now cn even use Beaufighters as bomber-killers without excessive losses. I have six Beaufighter (day) aces. Probably when newer airframes become available I'll use these guys s the cadre of a more aggressive fighter scheme. For now, I'm stuck with slow-filling pools.

Now that the pool is filling I loaded my FG of P47s and shipped them to the Noumea. I'm not entirely sure what to do with these clumsy, short-legged beasts. Probably top-altitude CAP for now.
Pratt Double Wasps over the Solomons Sea. P47s, Hellcats, and Corsairs.

I've developed two auxiliary air combats TFs. five 18 knot CVEs loaded with fighters were sent via Panama to Aden. I'll use these to help cover convoys into Rangoon when the Burma Road opens.

I loaded up six 16 knot CVEs with fighter and torpedo bombers plus the USS Independence in order to (for now cover) by counter-invasions of Attu and Kiska. Ironman occasionally launches nuisance raids in the Adak area with a force of five CVL and about 80 planes.

Once refits are done I'll use my CV force (now 7xCV) to smash Lae and generally crunch coral around the Solomons Sea to build up carrier plane crew experience. I've lost track of KB again but last time I spotted them KB had 8xCV and his air crew have to have astronomical experience ratings. For now I'll welcome any visits he cares to make into the Solomons Sea with its clouds o fighters

I used some smaller Marine units and picked off the Ellice Islands. In the near future, I have invasions planned at Kiriwina Island, Buna, Torokina, and Shortlnds. Buna will set up a mega-invasion of Port Moresby with the entire Aussie I Corps.

I have seven (sorta-supplied) Indian divisions being down on Rangoon and three big Chinese Corps moving to clear out the northern end of the Burma Road. Ironman's position in Burma is brittle.

In China, Ironman is rolling back some of my over-extended units along the Formosa Straits ports. Machts nichts. They were targets of opportunity taken mostly for nuisance value. at least I'm forcing Ironman to attack against double and triple terrain.

Busy time in the Pacific. After months of a slack tide, I'm beginning to roll.

[jwolf]

Is the KB fully intact -- that is, have the Japanese lost any carriers? I'm wondering when you could reasonably hope a big carrier battle would go in your favor. If you can lure the KB into your home field, with friendly land fighter cover that would be ideal, but what do you have in mind if they don't come?

[Taxcutter]

Post #213 raises some valid questions.

For now it looks like Ironman has thrown Rabaul/Lae/Port Moresby to the Yankee wolves. He hoard huge assets in Truk while I pick off one island at a time. I have scads of SeaBees, base forces and short-range fighters. Give me a few months and the Solomons Sea area will be untouchable.

What to do after taking Manaus, etc if Ironman doesn't counter-attack? Moving up the north coast of New Guinea is risky as it exposes me to a quick sortie by the KB, maybe supported by Zeroes and Betties.

From past experience I know the Gilberts and Marshalls are not really defensible. I have enough amphib shipping i can drop four complete Marine divisions plus tanks and combat engineers at a single island unless his augmented KB stops me. So the historical approach still has validity.

In other games (against regular AI) I have surged up into eastern DEI from Darwin, getting into his Borneo oil fields. so fr this has been impossible as he holds Moresby and could interdict the Torres Straits. I don't have an operation in planning to attack PM with the entire Australian I Corps, but I have to seal off the back door a Buna first. Once tht is done I can surge onto those islands east of Darwin. All of them can support at least a level 4 port and level 6 airfield. By doing that I exceed his range and support for land based air. He'd have to commit KB.

Best I can tell Ironman has 8-9 CVs. I think my subs got on after Midway. I currently have 7 CV working together. USS Independence is currently reinforcing my Aleutians support force. I get some more more Essex class carrier this year but their air crews ain't ll that sharp. I intend to do some coral crunching to increase the air groups' experience level. By March 1944 I'll be strong enough to go island to island looking for KB.

[jwolf]

The problem with the Gilberts and Marshalls is that you need good prep for each landing you do. If you also need a lot of force then that slows down operations to a crawl. There is a bootstrap sort of effect once you make some progress, but it is still slow if the opposition is robust and has the potential for KB support among other things.

I like your term "coral crunching" for training your carriers. [:)]

[BBfanboy]

Coral crunching - best done with bombs, not carrier hulls ... [;)]

[Taxcutter]

Re: Post #214

"Coral crunching" as a game term harks back to the days of Pacific War - the old MSDOS ancestor of WitP-AE. Late 1980s, early 1990s. Played on a 486.

[Taxcutter]

July 18, 1943 update

I left a Sea Bee battalion, an AV and an AM plus a squadron of catalinas to watch into the Gilberts and lower Marshalls.

Also my Australian commandos liberated Terauki on the cheap. Again, nobody home. Again, I left an AVD nd six Aussie Catalinas to scope out the northern NG bases.

I also sent Aussie commandos to visit the base in the middle of the southern coast of NG, but this time Ironman had a reception committee - a brigade of IJ infantry. fortunately he did not immediately counterattack and I got my commandos out with minimal losses.

As I re-form and refuel my warships at Noumea, I sent most of my transports to Brisbane to load the 24th ID and a battalion of tanks. Objective: Kiriwina Island. Recon shows 4000 men at the island. My fully-prepped force attacking out of APAs and LSTs should handle these guys fairly quickly. I've had my (not terribly experienced) Marine Dauntlesses crunching coral at Kiriwina. By time invasion forces land, I should have the air base flattened and the port at least 75% reduced.

I have another US Army division and some tanks and combat engineers set to get ashore a Buna. Recon shows 10,000 men at Buna. Once ashore, I have 20 battlions of artillery set to land. I had good luck using artillery at Guadalcanal. There the garrison thumbed its nose at my Marines but once all those guns got to wok the battle was over (40,000 man garrison) in five days. I want to attritte this garrison down before I make my main attack. I want to minimize the bunch that retreats into the Owen Stanleys. If i can drive them toward Milne Bay rather than PM or Salamauea I can bottle them up and let them starve the rest of the war. I have the entire Australian I Corps prepped to assault PM.

I have multi-divisional forces prepped for Bougainville and Green Island. I have short-range planes pummeling those islands now.

Three of my subs are claiming hits on a CVL - either Shoho or Zuiho. Nothing confirmed. Sub war around Japn going well. 4-8 hits reports per day.

War in Burma is going OK. I have beaten down his Oscars (going 5200 deep into his pool). He still has planes but the pilot quality is poor. I'm shooting down steady 7:1. I'm relieving my P-40Ks with Hurris and a single squadron of Spit Vs. P-40K production is drying up and I'll convert some squadrons to P-40N variants. Against Ironman, air war means managing your replacement pools. Against stock AI, the Japanese have rolled over and died in the air by this time. Not so with Ironman.

Saburo Sakai and his super-sentai are still at Lae and as even CAP are burning up a (EXP=63) Corsair squadron and B-25D1s. When I land up that way I'll have my carriers pay them a visit.

[BBfanboy]

Defeated troops will retreat along a supply path to the nearest friendly base. If Milne Bay is Japanese, there is a chance they will go that way but if it is Allied they will not.

Did you have those Corsairs acting as escort for those B-25s? That handicaps them severely and they are much to valuable to lose that way. Use Corsairs to sweep and put P-39s or P-40s on escort.

[Taxcutter]

Milne Bay is held by the Japanese. It is one of my planned "self-supporting prison camps."

Perhaps what I need to do is grab the base just to the west. I think it is unoccupied. If I do his shortest path is toward Milne Bay. If I can get the Buna and PM garrisons to retreat toward Milne Bay, I'll have 60,000 men penned up and out of supply.

Right now the closest base I have to Buna is Woodlark Island which is too far for P-40E fighters. Corsairs reach. Ironman is using Zeros out of Lae on LRCAP, but so far I can't entice him to come up and play with a sweep. For now I have some stood down B-17F squadrons at 40% strength with a squadron of P-38Gs (which have been OK escorts), but my longer term approach is have the CV fleet visit with hundreds of Hellcats and blast Lae to bits. Once I get Kiriwina, all my fighters can escort all the way to Buna.

My British engineers at Ramree Island are making no progress at all. Salt water crocs must be eating my elephants.