Beware the Dorniers! Scen 17 Tier 3 (Lowpe vs AI (Spoilers))

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

OK, late March attack on Palembang.

Sending the KB off to sink the Boise was probably a mistake, I think it cost me 5-10 days.

[Lowpe]

Armored Q ship variant....glad I took it down with Cruisers.

[Andy Mac]

Minefields covered by CD Guns and Land based Air and you managed to get through it all with minimal casualties well done

[Lowpe]

I have sunk 5 of these ships so far...

[Lowpe]

The cripples heading back...

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac

Minefields covered by CD Guns and Land based Air and you managed to get through it all with minimal casualties well done

I almost blundered in with only land based air coverage from Singers. My invasion task force got swamped by swordfish one hex from Singers, and I decided to await the arrival of Carrier Division 2. I really needed Carrier Division 1 too, but it got savaged a bit by beaufighters off Java.

Allied air forces from Singers retreated to Singkep for whatever reason, where I destroyed them eventually. If you put mines, some AA and CD guns there, it would make for a more difficult battle slowing down Japan even more. Maybe a half dozen 75mm guns... or reduce the runways to 0.

[Lowpe]

Japan has lost 3 destroyers, 1 sub, and a lot of merchant shipping.

But, with Palembang invaded, we are finally reaching the conclusion of our perimeter setup, a stage of the game I really don't like. We still have to clean up Luzon, and a fresh division from Honshu has just been bought out and is being sent there. After Luzon, Mindanao needs taking.

In the SRA, 5 divisions are prepping for Java, 3 are at Palembang, and the last is resting.

Burma is being looked at, and the Allies have a strong concentration at Moulmein. An amphibious landing might be attempted after securing Java.

I kind of rushed thru the last week or more, focusing on Palembang pretty much. Playing catch up now getting troops, shipping, and a perimeter search established.

When I started this game, I figured that there was only a 50% chance of getting here. If I can take Java, a few bases around Rabaul, clean up the Philippines, Rangoon, and perhaps Magwe...no plans on China, just establishing a perimeter.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

that is a fast float fighter [X(]

and Palembang should now fall quickly

Forts are decent I bet, and it is nasty terrain. Now thinking I will prioritize taking it and heading south to Oosthaven and entering Java from there. Allied Air strength is pretty nasty.

120mm cd guns at Palembang were nasty, not sure I will land a 2nd wave, although I am there now without AA or HQ.

Ah, only 1 AUS Bde … no, with 3 ID's intact and an ARM and ENG Bde you should be fine. It will cost you, but you should be able to take it.

In the Nasty, Nasty version, Andy sneaks in another 2 AUS Bde's and an ENG unit unless you get there early. You can still take it, but the odds of heavy damage go way up.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac

Minefields covered by CD Guns and Land based Air and you managed to get through it all with minimal casualties well done

Good player, far above the average AI player in terms of skill. Makes a difference. And don't forget he brought the bulk of the KB to the DEI, not PH to start.

[Lowpe]

Palembang +1

A quiet day, an xak burns up from the Palembang invasion, but the rest retreat to Singers and safety. The troops at Palembang aren't bombed, and they recover nicely while the Allied air force at Palembang relocates somewhere along the rail line.

Tarakan invasion loading. Paratroops moving to Singers for Java. Shipping arriving at Singers (massive amounts of troop transports).

[Jorge_Stanbury]

I can just imagine how this would had ended without a fully SRA-committed KB; from day 1

[Lowpe]

I got to thinking in WITPQS AAR, that the A6M8 isn't really a bad plane. Yeah, it isn't a great plane either, but it can be had really early thanks to the upgrade path, and for late 42, 43 it is arguably the best Japan can do for a CV fighter. So, its range sucks, but you just have to adapt your tactics a bit.

So, with that in mind, and having never really used the plane before, I decided to bounce the 5 repaired factories that were researching the A6M5 all the way up to the M8. I will boost Ha33 engine production to get the bonus, for 10 points of research a day. That is 3 months acceleration a month and I need about 32 months of acceleration to get the plane in 1943. I am getting a late start, since I don't have the engine bonus, but live and learn.

If this experiment works, I might re-assign the priority of the M8 to the fourth most important fighter to r&d early. Sam, Frank, George, M8, late war model would then be my top 5 fighter models.

The timing is what is important, as the Allies start getting frisky in late 42 with their carriers usually, and the M8 might really be a strong counter.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

I can just imagine how this would had ended without a fully SRA-committed KB; from day 1

Well, I did send Shokaku and her sis to Pearl, and then to support the Southeast Pacific expansion...

I am debating loading for a Java invasion before the end of the month...with only Carrier division 2 to provide cover. Not sure yet till the recon comes back, but I will start loading troops today.

[Alfred]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

I can just imagine how this would had ended without a fully SRA-committed KB; from day 1

Well, I did send Shokaku and her sis to Pearl, and then to support the Southeast Pacific expansion...

I am debating loading for a Java invasion before the end of the month...with only Carrier division 2 to provide cover. Not sure yet till the recon comes back, but I will start loading troops today.

Remember that Lowpe is playing the computer. It doesn't adapt to human player actions but merrily carries on with its selected script. A human Allied player can take advantage of a Japanese focus on the SRA, leaving Pearl Harbor totally alone.

Alfred

[Andy Mac]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I got to thinking in WITPQS AAR, that the A6M8 isn't really a bad plane. Yeah, it isn't a great plane either, but it can be had really early thanks to the upgrade path, and for late 42, 43 it is arguably the best Japan can do for a CV fighter. So, its range sucks, but you just have to adapt your tactics a bit.

So, with that in mind, and having never really used the plane before, I decided to bounce the 5 repaired factories that were researching the A6M5 all the way up to the M8. I will boost Ha33 engine production to get the bonus, for 10 points of research a day. That is 3 months acceleration a month and I need about 32 months of acceleration to get the plane in 1943. I am getting a late start, since I don't have the engine bonus, but live and learn.

If this experiment works, I might re-assign the priority of the M8 to the fourth most important fighter to r&d early. Sam, Frank, George, M8, late war model would then be my top 5 fighter models.

The timing is what is important, as the Allies start getting frisky in late 42 with their carriers usually, and the M8 might really be a strong counter.

Huh a late 45 fighter by 1942 really is that possible ?? = broken !!!

[Jorge_Stanbury]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

I can just imagine how this would had ended without a fully SRA-committed KB; from day 1

Well, I did send Shokaku and her sis to Pearl, and then to support the Southeast Pacific expansion...

I am debating loading for a Java invasion before the end of the month...with only Carrier division 2 to provide cover. Not sure yet till the recon comes back, but I will start loading troops today.

Remember that Lowpe is playing the computer. It doesn't adapt to human player actions but merrily carries on with its selected script. A human Allied player can take advantage of a Japanese focus on the SRA, leaving Pearl Harbor totally alone.

Alfred

I would agree on another scenario, even an Ironman... but in this one, the SRA is an ambush, in a trap, in a dark alley. Japan needs every asset for the immediate objective of subduing it.

[Alfred]

About 7-8 years ago I did the numbers and provided all the other SRA oil fields are captured in a timely manner, Japan can operate without Palembang oil until mid 1943.  After that date there is some limitation on Japanese operational capabilities if Palembang remains in Allied hands.
 
Alfred

[Andy Mac]

Which is why its a must take base for japan whether player or Ai !!!

[Lowpe]

March 25, 1942

A quiet day again, with a nasty little uber base found on an island of New Guinea.

Grabbed Christmas Island Pacific Ocean today.

Port Moresby looks strong, but I have no plans on trying to grab it. Lightnings there in strength...an AA regiment will arrive at Rabaul which is still 88% damaged.

Troops loading at Singers for the Java invasion...

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac


Huh a late 45 fighter by 1942 really is that possible ?? = broken !!!

It costs a lot to get it, especially in 1942. Probably too expensive for late 42.