The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

[Canoerebel]

Thanks to all, including Loka and BB, for all the helpful comments and insights.

I think I'll stick with my original plan - my gut tells me it'll work. This is callous, but I'm not concerned about 50 or 100 aircraft here or there. Getting the troops ashore and protecting valuable ships is the objective.

[Canoerebel]

10/21/44

Fancy Pants: D-Day tomorrow at Ningpo. This could be the last "tense" invasion of the war. Hereafter, most or all invasions will take place where the Allies really dominate the environment.

There will not be a pre-invasion bombardment. Chances of enemy shoreguns are pretty remote. If a bombardment turns out to be necessary, I'll do it on D+1. But I want to save as many combat ships as possible to bombard Shanghai or other targets.

[JohnDillworth]

Your in shallow water. I think that cuts sorties. I expect John has to react. maybe not he KB, but he has a huge airfiled, interior lines to keep adding aircraft and plenty of aircraft. I can't imagine why he would not come out swinging

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

Make that a range of 1 instead of zero as you want your carrier CAP to cover the invasion hex without having to enter it.

Only your CVEs can operate in the invasion hex with full air ops capabilities.

The fleet carrier air ops will be reduced 50% in a port hex.

Nein!

Make that a range of 0, and set dedicated LRCAP squadrons with range 0 to cover the invasion hex! Ideally, a mix of range 0 CAP on the CVs(layered), range 0 LRCAP on the invasion hex (layered), and only a couple at range 1 based on the CVs (not so layered). If you have enough squadrons for that.

CVEs obviate the need for the LRCAP groups, which is why they're just so damn valuable to have.

Sometimes you make me feel like a rank amateur.
Well done sir!

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: JohnDillworth

Your in shallow water. I think that cuts sorties. I expect John has to react. maybe not he KB, but he has a huge airfiled, interior lines to keep adding aircraft and plenty of aircraft. I can't imagine why he would not come out swinging

Was originally all coastal hexes that reduced fleet carrier ops, but was changed to port hexes including dot (0) ports.

[Canoerebel]

John should come out swinging...and how often have I thought that before? He's seen this storm developing for days now but a lot of his carriers remain far to the south. So I don't know if he's coming, as I think he should be, or standing off, as he's done in the past.

The possibility that he is coming is why I'm keeping my carriers and most of my combat ships together. His carriers can't stand up to mine. His combat ships can't stand up to mine (in numbers, anyhow). His air can be thorny. The combination of all three is what has me worried. But then there are all those carriers far, far away. Thank goodness.

[Canoerebel]

Orders entered and turn sent.

All the Mitchells and some of the Liberators are supposed to provide ground support tomorrow, if weather permits.

A pretty tense moment. John has a lot of forces configured. I think he'll try something. But I feel pretty good about Allied defenses and the move on Ningpo. Let's see if that confidence is well placed or misplaced.

[JohnDillworth]

He's seen this storm developing for days now but a lot of his carriers remain far to the south

Oh I don't think he will brink the KB. What if one of the carriers gets a dent? I mean a big one. Can't just buff it out. Who is going to pay for that? He should have tons of kamakazi units. It's time to flood the zone . Even the best CAP gets worn out after a while

[Canoerebel]

He's loaded up Shanghai, a level 9 airfield, but I think the next biggest airfield within 10 hexes are level 3s! This is not a carefully built interlocking defensive network.

To this point, he's usually had roughly 500-600 fighters at Shanghai. Unless he puts a lot more there I doubt airpower alone will be effective for him. I have 2206 fighters on about 65 carriers. There are a handful of Seafires and even one squadron of Wildcats, but all the rest - perhaps 2,150 aircraft - are Corsairs and Hellcats.

That's why I feel like he needed interlocking, mutually supporting airfields with carrier air, combat ships, subs and mines included in the mix. A one dimensional attack may be doomed. But perhaps this won't be a one dimensional attack.

[Canoerebel]

John sent email an hour ago that he is running the turn.

He just logged onto the Forum and made his first post. I held my breath. Would the title be "Banzai!" or "Re: October 1944"?

It's "Re: October 1944."

[BBfanboy]

Seeing the herd move past Wenchow might make him think Shanghai could be the invasion target, forcing him to withdraw all those fighters! [:D]

[Canoerebel]

John just sent this email: "Goodness.  I thought you were heading somewhere VITAL.  Will gladly take this as an option."

The poor boy has no idea how vital Ningpo is - and that it might represent the furthest point of advance of the Allied armies (probably not, but possibly). He has no idea how Ningpo's airfields loaded with B-24Js, P-38s and P-51s will complement Formosa's airfields stacked with B-29s.

He's got a lot to learn.

[Canoerebel]

10/22/44

Invasion of Ningpo: Off to a fine start.

John's comment about Ningpo not being vital is pretty indicative of how he and I see "vital places" differently.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: JohnDillworth

Your in shallow water. I think that cuts sorties. I expect John has to react. maybe not he KB, but he has a huge airfiled, interior lines to keep adding aircraft and plenty of aircraft. I can't imagine why he would not come out swinging

Shallow water does not affect sorties. Only fleet carriers (CVs CVL) in a base hex suffer from the effect. CVEs do not. Any other shallow water hex or even partial land hex is just fine.

[Canoerebel]

10/22/44

Fancy Pants: Another invasion of the Heartland. Another non-appearance by enemy forces. Different perspectives on what's vital and what isn't.

[Canoerebel]

10/22/44

Ningpo Invasion Ships Sunk: In addition to those listed, I have one DD heavily damaged.

[Canoerebel]

John just sent this email: "Well…you picked a fight here.  It should be a very interesting turn."

But then he closed it: "BUT I am headed for bed now.  We’ll see in the morning."

That aint right. I told him to run the turn, hit the sack, and finish the next turn tomorrow. He declined.

I don't know what he's referring to. My best guess (and this is truly only guesswork): He powers up all available kamikazes; he probably doesn't commit combat ships; he might commit carriers; Ningpo falls to the Allies.

We'll see tomorrow. Have a good'n.

[BBfanboy]

The first map for 10/22/44 shows no aircraft at Shanghai but the second one with the same date does have aircraft at the base - what gives?

Re: those DDs seeking to get the TF at Canton - don't try it, you need to go through minefields at both HK and Canton (and maybe in between) plus there may be a CD unit at HK.

[Canoerebel]

The first screenshot of the map was done during the movie replay, so it isn't the "set map" used while entering orders for a turn.

[JeffroK]

Its JIII showing that he runs the game, you only get what he chooses to release.

I hope it doesnt turn onto a Sumatra, while you own the sea & sky its the boots on the ground that hold onto the base. JIII can heavily strip his inland MLR and pile them into Ningpo (subject to stacking).

But this could give you a chance to make the China theatre active, even if only to pin or threaten to swamp him.

If JIII doesnt think a potential L9 airbase within LR Fighter range of the Home Islands does he expect you to land at an obvious target, maybe sail into Tokyo Bay (probably find he hasnt garrisoned Tokyo!)