Sqz stands down. The AAR is now concluded. Sqz (A) vs. obvert (J)

[SqzMyLemon]

I was hoping to provide regular AAR updates on recent events, but I just don't have time available to do it justice.

Oct. 4 sees the Allies landing on Woleai...and it doesn't go well. I know invading atolls is tough and you just can't try and take them on the cheap as I attempted to. Granted, Erik has recently reinforced the base and my original invasion force was based on a weaker garrison. Despite heavy pre-invasion battleship bombardments and 100% prep, my assault force of 127 raw AV gets adjusted to 0 and I get slapped with 1-99 odds. The 8th NZ Bde. is crushed with all squads destroyed or disabled. I thought the bombardments would be enough, but the reinforcement of the defending garrison was decisive. I suffer so many disastrous attacks even when I'm 100% prepped for a target that I'm starting to think prep is meaningless.

However, I'm not out of the fight yet. I have a Marine defense unit fully intact with 40 AV on the base. The 8th NZ has recovered 6 AV. It's an atoll and perhaps a counterattack by the Japanese won't go so well for them either. If Erik allows me the time to rearm my BB's at Manus, I'll head back to hammer the defenders, land some armour and see how things go. If my troops are wiped out prior to being able to support them, I have a plan B. The capture of Woleai is an attempt to establish a forward patrol base for early warning of an approach by KB, nothing more.

In the meantime, preparations for the amphibious assault against Noemfoor are underway. Troops are loading up at Rabaul, the fleet is rendezvousing at Manus and then it's on to Noemfoor. I will not delay for any setbacks. My planned landings will go ahead regardless of success or failure. The main objective here is to put constant pressure on the Japanese and draw KB out for an engagement. I expect things to be messy, bloody and chaotic over the next three months. As long as I inflict more losses on the Japanese than I suffer myself and eventually get established on Mindanao before the end of the year, I'll be happy.

My opening salvo didn't go as planned, but this is just the beginning. [8D]

More to follow when I can. I'll try to go into more detail when time permits.

[dave sindel]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

I was hoping to provide regular AAR updates on recent events, but I just don't have time available to do it justice.

Oct. 4 sees the Allies landing on Woleai...and it doesn't go well. I know invading atolls is tough and you just can't try and take them on the cheap as I attempted to. Granted, Erik has recently reinforced the base and my original invasion force was based on a weaker garrison. Despite heavy pre-invasion battleship bombardments and 100% prep, my assault force of 127 raw AV gets adjusted to 0 and I get slapped with 1-99 odds. The 8th NZ Bde. is crushed with all squads destroyed or disabled. I thought the bombardments would be enough, but the reinforcement of the defending garrison was decisive. I suffer so many disastrous attacks even when I'm 100% prepped for a target that I'm starting to think prep is meaningless.

However, I'm not out of the fight yet. I have a Marine defense unit fully intact with 40 AV on the base. The 8th NZ has recovered 6 AV. It's an atoll and perhaps a counterattack by the Japanese won't go so well for them either. If Erik allows me the time to rearm my BB's at Manus, I'll head back to hammer the defenders, land some armour and see how things go. If my troops are wiped out prior to being able to support them, I have a plan B. The capture of Woleai is an attempt to establish a forward patrol base for early warning of an approach by KB, nothing more.

In the meantime, preparations for the amphibious assault against Noemfoor are underway. Troops are loading up at Rabaul, the fleet is rendezvousing at Manus and then it's on to Noemfoor. I will not delay for any setbacks. My planned landings will go ahead regardless of success or failure. The main objective here is to put constant pressure on the Japanese and draw KB out for an engagement. I expect things to be messy, bloody and chaotic over the next three months. As long as I inflict more losses on the Japanese than I suffer myself and eventually get established on Mindanao before the end of the year, I'll be happy.

My opening salvo didn't go as planned, but this is just the beginning. [8D]

More to follow when I can. I'll try to go into more detail when time permits.

I feel your pain, Sqz. I have really struggled with atoll invasions. It took me 3 attempts to take Wake Island. The first one was too weak, the 2nd was stronger but I did not have enough combat engineers. The third time was way overkill, but it did the job. When I hit Marcus Island, I had lots of BB bombardments, a CV strike force hit the ground forces for 3 days, had plenty of armor and artillery along, and I thought enough engineers. But level 5 forts did me in. My forces werent wiped out, but seriously hurt. So now I am preparing another hammer blow...

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: dave sindel

I feel your pain...

It's all good. I honestly didn't think I'd suffer 0 AV and those odds. I expected to get hurt getting ashore, but not as thoroughly as the game demands. Considering the defender's AV was knocked down to 16, was less prepped and suffered a disruption penalty, I was hopeful. It's obvious the defense was hurting too with such a reduced AV. It seems to me it's the way combat works in the game. There's almost always a unit that gets wiped out in every combat. I don't like it, but I don't really understand how everything works anymore which is why I struggle and get poor results.

I didn't expect to take the atoll in the initial shock attack and figured it would be a case of who could best provide follow up support to turn the tide. In this case, I decided to pull back the battleships to rearm. It's a race now to hammer the defenders before my troops get destroyed.

[SqzMyLemon]

Oct. 6/44:

The main fleet continued to retire towards Manus to rearm the BB's. There are a couple of Japanese subs in pursuit so I've set a number of ASW patrols.

I bombard Sarmi with CA Wichita and a number of DD's. The day before Sarmi showed 129 Japanese fighters and of course when I bombarded they were gone. I should have stuck to my original plan of bombarding Biak or Noemfoor, because both bases had aircraft present. I know where the 129 aircraft at Sarmi rebased to...Noemfoor [8|]. A DD hits a mine at Sarmi with 45 flotation damage. Those Fletchers are tough.

I sent two Fletcher Class DD's to Manokwari and they sink a PB and two small xAKL's.

Allied troops have landed at Bathurst Island. The first deliberate attack doesn't clear the defenders, but the base will fall soon.

No Japanese air activity against any of my recent moves. No sigh of KB.

The next turn is away and I've decided to turn the fleet around and support Woleai. In light of previous amphibious operations, this is rather predictable of me and I wouldn't be surprised if Erik sends in KB for just such a move by me. I've been burnt every time I've done it so he may be set to pounce. I've set my CV's to a purely defensive role with CAP at range 0. If Erik does strike I'll be relying on my CAP to limit the damage. If there is no sign of KB I'll be sending 3-4 bombardment TF's against the defenders at Woleai. I'm bringing in a Tank Bn. to reinforce.

In the meantime, the Noemfoor amphibious forces will be approaching Hansa Bay. I'll divert my CV's to support the operations against Noemfoor right after the Woleai bombardments.

I also have another amphibious invasion force en route to Aru Island. I'm a little worried about this one because only 8 CVE's are providing air cover. I'll determine whether to go in based on when I'm detected and whether it may be more prudent to land at Aru after the Noemfoor operation.

The next amphibious TF will begin loading at Rabaul. Target...Yap. That should be followed by landings at Sorong and Peleliu. If all goes well of course.

[SqzMyLemon]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Manus at 99,111

Japanese Ships
SS I-16, hits 2

Allied Ships
CV Intrepid, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage
BB Indiana
CA Boston
CA Salt Lake City
CA Houston
CLAA San Diego
CLAA Juneau
DD Bullard
DD Nicholas
DD Newcomb
DD McGowan
DD Laws

SS I-16 launches 6 torpedoes at CV Intrepid



And just like that. I can't get an Allied submarine within 6-8 hexes of a Japanese base or ship without being sunk by air or naval ASW, yet it takes only one Japanese submarine to take out another of my CV's. I have the crappiest luck in this game when it comes to getting CV's torpedoed and suffering massive damage every time.

I could rant and rave as usual, but this time I'll just say whatever enjoyment I may have had moving forward just died. I'm just a punching bag for the AI and Erik and can't catch a single break.

[SqzMyLemon]

The Allied Fleet will retire to Hansa Bay and rendezvous with the Noemfoor amphibious force. Then it's on to glorious annihilation at the hands of the Japanese who can do no wrong in this game.

I'll try to save CV Intrepid, but I'm already resigned to her sinking.

What shitty luck just when the game looked like it might be fun again.

[SqzMyLemon]

Of course I was in no frame of mind to put any thought into my next turn. So instead of waiting, I go ahead and flip the turn in 5 mins. I left the crippled CV to her fate, didn't even provide any air cover. I put her chances of survival at zero.

I really hate this game right now.

[paradigmblue]

Hey, sometimes we all have to take a step back and realize that it's all just pixels.

[SqzMyLemon]

Erik's ended the game.

I know I'm wrapped too tight for this game and it appears I'm not a good opponent since every game I've played has been dropped by my PBEM partner. I get it, it's me.

I'll bow out now. Thanks for the friendship and moral support (and the constructive criticism) over the years. It's probably for the best. I've been dealing with a dying Grandmother for two years, a Mother with Parkinson's that is getting worse everyday and a career that is dead in the water. I looked into this game for enjoyment, but poor play and results over the years have just added to the stress in my life.

Thanks again. I'll miss being part of the community here.

Joseph

[Bif1961]

I quit playing golf because I didn't find any enjoyment in a game others did, frustrated at my lack of what i wanted to achieve lead to my decision. Some have walked away from this game because of the same things you feel and are going through, frustration, other things needing your attention, family, friends, career. Some come back, some do not, but all will be missed.

[Mike McCreery]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

Erik's ended the game.

I know I'm wrapped too tight for this game and it appears I'm not a good opponent since every game I've played has been dropped by my PBEM partner. I get it, it's me.

I'll bow out now. Thanks for the friendship and moral support (and the constructive criticism) over the years. It's probably for the best. I've been dealing with a dying Grandmother for two years, a Mother with Parkinson's that is getting worse everyday and a career that is dead in the water. I looked into this game for enjoyment, but poor play and results over the years have just added to the stress in my life.

Thanks again. I'll miss being part of the community here.

Joseph

You are welcome to stay or come back at any time. Actively playing a game is not required to spend time in this community. Thanks for the AAR's!

[Lowpe]

Oh, man...my heart goes out to your family.

RL sucks sometimes, and I take satisfaction that it will always get very bad for my games, but it is just pixels.

I seem to always blunder my carriers into subs, btw.[:(]

[SqzMyLemon]

I thought I better clarify a few things, and I'll try not to repeat myself which I know I do regularly.

Last night Erik basically said he was done with the game. My voicing frustration about the latest Allied reversal proved to be the final straw for him. I admit to being too self-absorbed to the point I didn't realize how uncomfortable Erik was becoming. On his end, all is good, he's kicking ass and taking names and every time he does something good I diminished that for him by complaining about the results. I understand that now and generally I tend to not talk about the game with my opponents for exactly this reason. It's impossible for there to be a consensus on how a turn goes in this game...one or the other always sees it in the best/worst light for themselves.

Erik changed his mind and offered to continue if I wanted and I really want to continue...but. The way this game is playing out is not enjoyable for me. Losing isn't fun and even when I don't make a mistake I still lose. I can't take it anymore. I took over a really crappy situation, I've suffered some pretty tough reversals in this one and they just keep coming. Sadly this game is turning into a metaphor for how crappy my life is right now and has been for some time. I look forward to coming home, relaxing and losing myself in setting my orders, but then I watch the replay and it just keeps going wrong. I can handle the little things, but the constant negative game changing events on my side whenever my carriers are involved isn't fun anymore. I wish I was better at handling the emotions this game instills, but I'm incapable of that right now. These aren't just pixels to me, they represent turning things around in my life and that is sad, because this game is unforgiving and I just set myself up for constant disappointment playing it. I have enough of that in my real life and I wish this game didn't constantly add to it.

I offered Erik my password and the opportunity to find another replacement. I wanted to see how this played out and I feel I deserve to see it through, but not at the risk of losing my mind. I'm at that stage. I wish I had kept my mouth shut and never said a thing to Erik about the game. I really do and it's tainted the game beyond all recovery in my opinion.

Erik's a great person and he's got a better temperament then I do. I envy that. He wants to finish the game so I hope someone will step up and take over for me. At least I can say I handled some aspects of this game well. Your aircraft pools, supply and fuel are looking good despite being down more CV's then you should be. A better player than me will have this turned around in no time I'm sure.

[paradigmblue]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

These aren't just pixels to me, they represent turning things around in my life and that is sad, because this game is unforgiving and I just set myself up for constant disappointment playing it.

I'm sorry if I came across as flip in my comment. You need to do what is best for your happiness. Bottom line.

If the game is contributing to your unhappiness, you shouldn't feel any guilt about letting it go, and no one here will blame you for it.

[SqzMyLemon]

No need to apologize.

[SqzMyLemon]

I've learned that Erik and Dan will finish out the game. I wish them both a fun filled game.

I'm worried that Dan will make me look mediocre, but I hope at whatever stage they pick up the timeline my efforts will help Dan right the ship better than I attempted to do.

Leaving the game for awhile is the right thing for me to do, but I do/will regret letting Erik down.

I'll be concentrating on other things on my end for the foreseeable future. I hope to dedicate much more time to my model building hobby than I've been able to. I need to get back to the activities that I find relaxing.

Thanks for the kind thoughts from those that posted. On that note...I'm outta here...for now. [8D]

[Canoerebel]

Indeed, Joseph, I'm privileged to step in for you. This developed very quickly, but already I've sent "my" first turn back to Eric, March 2, 1944.

To be honest, I was worried as to what I'd find. I knew you were frustrated. I expected that you'd have lost enough interest that the Allies might be in a bit of disarray. And even though it might prove a bit uncomfortable to write in an AAR what I found on reviewing the map, I was planning to do so.

I was most surprised on opening the file that the Allies are in fine shape. From a map standpoint, they're a bit behind, having lost China and western Oz and not yet closing on the Empire, as an Allied player wants to do by 1944. But my goodness, the Allied navy, air force, army and merchant marine at in excellent shape. The attention you gave to logistics everywhere is quite evident. Instead of finding a battered and bloodied Allied position from which it might be exceedingly difficult or impossible to have hope, the infrastructure is in place.

I'll post in detail in an AAR when I start in a day or two. I'll note changes that I make and why. But I'll make it clear that I am "inheriting" very good work. You did a fine job, despite the frustrating air war and those eight-hex strikes.

[Lowpe]

Obvert sent me a few of the game files, and I wanted to take a look at them. In the hopes that this enlightens some AFBs out there, and with Squeeze's permission, let us take a closer look at how the Intrepid got torpedoed.

The big picture and land based search. My point here is the Deathstar's final hex was covered in black search arc, but a fragile search arc. Flying boats can be scrubbed because of the weather, and the range was far. Of the land based (runway search) that is more reliable, it was on 14 planes total across two squadrons with mediocre pilots(excellent at recon however).

All of the land bases had plentiful AV support, wasn't overstacked, plentiful supply.


But, really no help in spotting subs from land bases in this case. Range too far, chance the PBY's don't fly, plus some spotty weather.

As you can see the Deathstar itself has no assigned search arcs - a very common practice.



Of the three DEs working ASW forward of the Amrada, 1 ship is totally out of depth charges...could have just happened. There is no dedicated ASW TF in the armada.

[Lowpe]

A typical air strategy used is pictured below. Other task forces do have ASW out past 2 hexes, but it is small Kingfisher squadrons with an ASW skill average of less than 30 (although I did find one squadron with skill 55).

There was one task force with a movement of 3, all the rest were 4. It is easy to see how subs moving at night into the advancing Allied armada wouldn't be spotted until after the morning attack.

I don't want to keep showing pictures on other things I have discovered but here is a general wrap up:

To sum up: Pilot skill very spotty. No search arcs detailed for the path of the Armada. No forward screening ships and subs acting as scouts. Not a single ASW task force present in the Armada. Only one 3 ship DE forward patrolling on ASW (reaction 1) and one of the ships totally out of depth charge ammunition. Planes on ASW search had very short ranges. Planes on naval search was set at 10% search.

[Lowpe]

Last picture...

And one last thing, there are almost 20 SC, DE or KV sitting at Rabaul. Plus of course destroyers can be set to ASW work too.