The Shattered Sword: John 3rd vs. Anachro--BTS

[AcePylut]

That's a lot of fuel burnt using that ship so far from home.

[John 3rd]

Now MISTER DAN...oh, wait, that is how I started yesterday's reply. [:D]

I used Yamato for the fun of it. What the heck...

Bill is right that there are two AKEs large enough to reload the Class. Michael and I added them since the Japanese have the option to build all four of these monsters. I get one of these two on July 1st. Need to check and make sure of that. Am planning on bringing her back to the Home Islands to concentrate with the rest of the Fleet so it doesn't really matter.

As to fuel usage, I have never, EVER run out of fuel playing AE. Yep...she is a fuel hog, but with being this early in the war, I am not too concerned. Make it 1944/1945, I would probably not take her.

[ny59giants]

Michael suggested the two very large capacity and John agreed. The benefit of me playing both sides. More to come when I do new version after turkey day when I’m on vacation. [:)]

[adarbrauner]

ORIGINAL: BillBrown

I think the mod he is playing has 1 or 2 AE/AKEs large enough to rearm Yamato.

Bill and the others: I've always managed to replenish the Yamato class with the stock provided AKEs no issues...

ORIGINAL: AcePylut
That's a lot of fuel burnt using that ship so far from home.

All the DE oil is available, no fuel concern at all?

[John 3rd]

June 20, 1942
Indian Ocean

KB is spotted by LR Air Search. I cancel the Port Strike and move up so the Fleet is east of Socotra. Dawn come sand recon planes fly off to scout all three bases to the west. They find NOTHING. OK. Hmmm... The move is not a total disappointment as a TF is found and a massed strike of 92 Zero, 54 Val, and 54 Kate is launched and comes upon a good-sized TF of Tankers. The planes attack and sink 8 large TKs (20-24 VP each) and a PC that is escorting them. Not bad.

Move the Fleet towards Bombay/Karachi.

[John 3rd]

Forgot to mention a VERY NICE move by my opponent a few turns ago. Sean massed a group of SS and loaded them to the gills with mines. The SS deposited them in the hex NE of Palembang.

NASTY! A TF of 7,950 Tankers wanders right into the thing and try to hit EVERY MINE there! Lose 3 TK and 2 PC with another 3 damaged that limp into Palembang.

Good work by my opponent.


COUNTERS
1. To keep this from happening again (or at least TRY TO!), I order 4 ACM down from the Home Islands. Have already 'sealed' the Strait of Malacca with mines and ACMs on either side NW of Singers. Now we'll do the same at Merak, Java and we'll plug the strait on the east side of Java as well. The MF should help some.

2. Have been training the heck out of a number of air units for ASW warfare. They are good at 60-70% now so they begin moving down into the DEI and are activated.

3. Do the same around the Home Islands as he is fairly bold with his SS at this point.

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants_MatrixForum

Michael suggested the two very large capacity and John agreed. The benefit of me playing both sides. More to come when I do new version after turkey day when I’m on vacation. [:)]

Michael--Do you remember their class? I'm trying to look them up and post a screenshot.

[John 3rd]

CVLs successfully clear the Tahiti Area and move towards NZ. Air Search shows shipping at Suva and Pago Pago. Will bring the CVLs up between the bases and try to get a few more ships.

Got to be careful with my AOs. They are slow 13 Knot ships and need to bring them back into the Empire safely. As said the TF carries a decent escort of 2 CL and 4 DDs.

[DanSez]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
I used Yamato for the fun of it. What the heck...

Yeah, I like to use her as much as I can thru 1942. Once the Allied torps become lethal, then it is best to keep her behind escorts for counter invasion attacks or even with Carriers as a strike soaker for the carrier battles of mid/late 43. She can take up some damage that might sink Junyo, Hiyo or the other slower fleet carriers.

[John 3rd]

Damned Straight SIR!

[John 3rd]

Found it.

Michael's Karate-Class AKE. One gets two of them. I have Paular Maru in Tokyo and the Michar Maru is due in 41 Days (late-July 42). Those are it.

Should think about 1-2 more timed to arrive with the later pair of Yamato's.

[John 3rd]

June 21, 1942
New Guinea

It is an outstanding day for Japan. All sorts of positive developments.

Port Moresby has been slowly being evacuated by my opponent since he realized that I would not make an Assault Landing on the base hex. My Zeros have occasionally shot down a transport plane there so it was fairly obvious what he was doing. The 14th ID landed at Buna about three weeks ago and crossed the mountains. Yesterday it arrived at the base and immediately attacked. The result is 71-1 and we see fractions of six units surrender. Totals are Japan 65 Cas for 1933 Allied, 12 Guns, and 12 Vehicles.

New Guinea is now done.

The three Daitai of Betty/Nell now shift their attention to Horn Island.

[John 3rd]

June 21, 1942
China

How often to I mention China. In this campaign it is not enough.

OUTSTANDING day.

The northern offensive is about to take Ankang and the mountain hex NW of it. Forts were dropped to zero last turn and a fresh ID is about to enter the hex. Ankang is done and the seven beat-up Corps will suffer big losses in the ejection that should occur tomorrow.

The southern offensive is doing even better. Along a 120 mile front, the Japanese are on the attack. This three hex area alone see 16,500 Chinese Cas (1150 Squads). The three hexes should be cleared within 2-3 days and then we'll look at moving west to clear that section of the southern perimeter.

[John 3rd]

June 21, 1942
India

Lovely day here as well.

The 1st Burma ID and an Indian Brigade are now trapped SW of Darjeeling and will surrender tomorrow or the day after.

My three Tank Regiments have been massively chased by Sean for weeks. About 7-10 days ago they attacked and wiped out an American Tank Destroyer unit and this day they wipe out a British Tank Bn forcing them to surrender as well. Now they continue to head SW towards the river valley.

In the air, a massed furball erupts over the three Tank Regiments and nearly sixty planes fall around them. Losses are even and the Allies MUST be feeling the sting of all these ATA losses.

As mentioned earlier, the Allies sallied forth south from Asanol a few turns ago. They advanced two hexes south and then turned back around for the north. As soon as they stopped, Japan starting bombing these excellent units with every bomber that could fly. The 40th US, 7th Aust, and 18th Brit IDs suffered nearly 2,000 casualties over three days before retreating back into Asanol. Nice to watch and wish it could have been more...

The threat is growing rapidly on the Japanese RIGHT/Allied LEFT. What will he do?

[John 3rd]

Current VP Panel:

[John 3rd]

Victory Point commentary:

The last saved VP Score was May 26th and I have June 21st. Here are the VP changes:

Japan 29,001 - 24,866 = +4,135
Allies 11,417 - 10,328 = +1,089

Pretty solid work. I'd like to see the same increase over the next month of time...

We're currently at a 2.5:1

[John 3rd]

June 23, 1942

Damn. Sean and I got FOUR turns in today. Haven't done that since Dan and I would schedule a 'fest' of turns to be done.


China looks GLORIOUS. The Chinese just got driven out of Ankang and have had their paaaa-tooty kicked out of two hexes in the south. To say that casualties have been pretty extreme for the Chinese is a bit of an understatement. I'll go back to the 20th:

20th 1 Corps Surrenders--355 Squads lost.
21st 1270 Squads destroyed as hexes 80,49 and 79,49 are taken.
22nd Capture 80,49 and drive more troops out of 79,49--total of 575 Squads with 2 Corps Surrendering
23rd Take Ankang in a 9-1 assault, drive out all Chinese inflicting 12,819 Cas with 952 Squads lost.

Total Squads destroyed in four days of operations: 3,152. Even for the Chinese---WOW!

Think that calls for a BANZAI!

[ny59giants]

Years and years of training my young Jedi on China is steadily paying off. [;)]

[zuluhour]

Cannot comment as usual, watching both sides, but we are at the same date in history and I can tell you
your adventure is far bloodier. I am at roughly 7,ooo VP allied and Francois 20,ooo odd VP. I have not
finished Kaigun yet, begun last X-mas, but am fascinated by it. I tend to read a few books at a time
and enjoy swapping between them. Kaigun has finally given me some "attachment" to the IJN. Thank
you for the recommendation.

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants_MatrixForum

Years and years of training my young Jedi on China is steadily paying off. [;)]

Really rocking-and-rolling right now. With supplies cut off he must be in a crisis mode. Sean and I got three done Friday and FOUR yesterday. Last night he emailed and said that China IS a disaster. Usually cannot get unsolicited commentary from him so it much be bad.