Revenge of the Enterprise

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

oh I didn't know, I will read the beginning

did you take notes? I can barely remember the last couple weeks ago (both PBEM and personal life), definitively not something I could do [;)]

Yes I did take notes and I have the saved turns to go over as well. I certainly could not do this from memory alone.

[Alfred]

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Nice job on that intercept of Ryujo! IIRC, that is the biggest of Japan's CVLs.
You may be a newbie at this PBEM GC game, but you seem to have a clear idea of what is important. Naval search to identify enemy weaknesses or threats is one of them. Well played!

Thank you!

Speaking of naval search, I did often wonder whether night time naval search suffers reduced effectiveness relative to daytime search. Do you or anyone else happen to know the answer to that?

You were lucky the enemy air TF did not skedaddle out of Dodge City. Game mechanics very much favour air TFs avoiding any surface combat. Usually there is a need for the enemy to have damaged ships which reduce the overall TF speed and thereby prevent it from getting away from a fast surface TF.

As to the search, there is no differentiation between night and day other than there is only a single night phase compared to two day phases. But then you only get a single dedicated night combat phase compared to two dedicated day combat phases.

Also you have to take into account "atmospherics" such as cloud cover, moonlight, weather, radar etc for air operations.

Alfred

[Alfred]

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

your AAR should be renamed "Avenging the Enterprise"

Remember this is an AAR of an already completed campaign. The title will make more sense with later events. [:)]

I think we know the answer already. No need for Spoiler Alert.

The only real question was whether the coup de grace was delivered by Essex class or Lexington/Wasp classes. Your later post that you kept the saved files strongly suggest that the game did not last beyond 200 turns. A coup de grace delivered around mid 1942 perhaps?

Alfred

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

your AAR should be renamed "Avenging the Enterprise"

Remember this is an AAR of an already completed campaign. The title will make more sense with later events. [:)]

I think we know the answer already. No need for Spoiler Alert.

The only real question was whether the coup de grace was delivered by Essex class or Lexington/Wasp classes. Your later post that you kept the saved files strongly suggest that the game did not last beyond 200 turns. A coup de grace delivered around mid 1942 perhaps?

Alfred

Alfred you are a wizard! [:D]

In this case I will say that you have one thing right and another wrong.

[DanielAClark]

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

you live and learn [:)]

unless he makes a mistake or there is a lucky torpedo leveling the field, he has now pushed serious Allied offensives to 1943

EDIT: you should had posted, beforehand, your plan of using Big E on Pt Moresby... I mean it took 36 min from your SW Pacific post for DanielAClark to notice that the KB was suspiciously missing

Heh...I merely guessed based on the prevalence of Allied players who send their CVs to the Coral Sea in December 1941 or January of 1942...

...and it almost always ends in a lost carrier.

Reading this, though...I need to figure out how to add some night naval search capability in my Guadalcanal campaign.

[DesertWolf101]

December 23

Submarines

SS KXVIII spotted the fat AK Hirokawa Maru off Singora but missed with two torps.

SW Pacific

The KB pulled back to the north, likely for replenishment and repairs after two turns of flank speed. My opponent threw a parting airstrike from the KB on Port Moresby on the way out.

Philippines

The last of the Japanese forces at Iba are wiped out by my troops. I suspect he may have pulled out some of them over the last turn or two with fast transports. The victorious troops will rest up a bit and head back to the other front lines.

China

More heavy pounding of my troops advancing on Hankow from the air.

His continued interest in the bombing of Changsha airfield drew me to commit a squadron of the Flying Tigers to the battle. Fortunately, this was the turn where he pulled out his Zeros and replaced them with Nates. As a result, a dozen or so Nates and Sonias were shot down by my Tigers.

The Japanese 21st and 22nd Divisions shatter my blocking position at Chuhsien, wrecking the defenders and driving the survivors towards Wenchow. I lost 5,301 casualties here for just 395 Japanese.

The Japanese 1st Raiding Regiment takes Chihkiang, which I had undefended in a surprise paratroop drop. I divert some troops to retake it.

Borneo

The Japanese reinforced the CAP over Sinkawang with Zeros, making it more difficult for my B-17E bombers in todays strike. Lost a few to battle damage, but claimed a couple of Zeros in return.

The Japanese take Pontianak and Samarinda with a couple of shock attacks.

----

China was heating up very quickly. Japanese troops had crossed the river in force south of Chengchow, and I was starting to question the wisdom of a frontal assault on Hankow after I realized starts with high levels of fortifications in addition to the heavy urban terrain.

[DesertWolf101]

December 24

Submarines

I-21 sinks AM Robin next to Palmyra where a torpedo connects out of a spread of four.

SS Sargo attempts the same feat against DD Fubuki off Cam Ranh Bay but all four torps miss.

After SS KXVIII’s failure to hit AK Hirokawa Maru yesterday, SS KXI attempts its luck against the same target and succeeds, sending it down with two torpedoes.

Malaya

An Oscar sweep wrecks my Buffalo CAP over Singapore – my fighters here are completely outmatched against the best of the IJA.

Borneo

The Japanese take Brunei.

China

Four Japanese destroyers bombard the first Chinese units that arrived in Hankow. No losses were sustained however.

Chinese bombers came in to bomb the troops around Hankow in the morning and were met by some of my Flying Tigers. The Tigers shoot down four Sally bombers.

Over the last few turns I committed the Chinese bomber force against his troops attempting to encircle Chengchow and Loyang in an effort to slow things down. I was wary of his CAP however so I kept trying to be unpredictable with my target selection in the area.

In the same sector, I attempted to throw the Japanese advanced guard back over the river before the arrival of more Imperial forces. A deliberate attack on the 6th Independent Mixed Brigade and the 32nd Division met with one to one odds, but I lost 3,000 troops to my opponents 1,000.

I bombarded this turn the troops Japanese troops at Hankow to test the waters and lost 237 casualties for no gain.

------

I decided to cancel the advance on Hankow, which was unlikely to yield positive results, and concentrate on the deteriorating situation to the north.

[DesertWolf101]

December 25

Submarines

I-6 finds my replenishment task force north of Hawaii and launches four torpedoes at AO Sabine. One torp hits the fuel-laden ship but the torpedo duds [X(]

Philippines

Japanese forces land in force at Cagayan.

Malaya

More Oscar sweeps come over Singapore but meet no resistance. I have to be careful how I commit my fighters here.

Borneo

A successful night strike by Blenheim bombers on Sinkawang knocks out three Japanese fighters and a recon aircraft on the ground.

China

Japanese recon must have alerted my opponent to the presence of my aircraft at Kukong. A large Sally strike escorted by Zeros sweeps aside defending I-16 fighters and knocks out several Chinese bombers on the ground.

----

Given the Japanese threat to Mindanao and the loss of Borneo, I decided to pull out of my fighters from the Philippines before it was too late to do so. I also bought out the B-17Ds at Cagayan and started to send them to Java.

[DesertWolf101]

December 26

Submarines

I-3 sinks AK Katrina Luckenbach with two torpedoes off the shores of Canada.

SS KX strikes DD Hibiki with a torpedo near Samarinda, The torpedo was not enough to sink the destroyer so SS KX tries again later in the turn and this time sinks its prey.

Philippines

My last surviving PT boat in the Philippines, which had been busy dodging several Japanese attempts at knocking it out with surface task forces over the last few turns, finds a Japanese convoy in the night and sinks AK Ishikari Maru with two torpedo hits. What a champ. [8D]

Instead of falling back to Clark from Lingayen, I had reinforced my troops there from Iba. Despite similar levels of AV on both sides, a Japanese shock attack gets 4 to 1 odds and inflicts almost 10,000 losses on my inexperienced troops for only about 2,500 Japanese casualties.

Farther south at Lucena, the trapped 51st PA Infantry Division withstands a Japanese assault with 1 to 2 odds in its favor.

Even further south at Cagayan, the Japanese attack and get 1 to 1 odds and reduce the fortifications to 0. It looks like the town will fall in the next attack.

Malaya

Japanese Nell and Betty bombers pound Singapore from the air, ending a long hiatus from bombing for the fortress town. We lose a dew aircraft on the ground for about similar numbers of Japanese brought down by flak.

China

Japanese Sally bombers attempt to bomb Chinese troops near Chengchow but are intercepted by Chinese Hawk fighters who shoot several down.

The Japanese, having crossed the river now in force, shock attack the Chinese to devastating effect. Four Japanese divisions and a mixed brigade inflict 20,000 losses on my troops for only 3,000 Japanese losses. The Chinese survivors fall back on Nanyang while the victorious Japanese advance northwards towards Chengchow.

Under heavy pressure, I attempt to create some diversions elsewhere in the hopes of drawing away reinforcements from the north. Over the last few turns, I converged several of my units south of Changsha on Nanchang.

----

What a debacle in the Philippines. After initially doing quite well here, I threw it all away by committing to a defense at Lingayen instead of Clark. As it is, my troops are now too weakened to make a stand at Clark and will have to already retreat all the way to Bataan for the final stand. This was the turn where I really internalized the different terrain values in the game, something I didn't really quite comprehend until now.

[DesertWolf101]

The situation in China. I am pulling away from Hankow after deciding against the offensive there and attempting a diversionary attack at Nanchang. My troops are holding strong in the Changsha sector, but the situation in the north is critical after a heavy defeat just south of Chengchow.

[DesertWolf101]

December 27

Submarines

Nothing of note

SW Pacific

I was determined to hold on to Port Moresby, and was reinforcing it with whatever troops I could get into place. My opponent detected one of these convoys and sent in a light cruiser task force to intercept. After a long battle, I lost three APs, two AMs, and the French destroyer Le Triomphant. The silver lining was that most of the troops on board had already made it ashore when the convoy was wrecked.

Philippines

The Japanese shock attack at Cagayan but the timely arrival of some reinforcements proves decisive. 855 Japanese losses are inflicted for 338 Filipino casualties.

Malaya

Japanese mobile regiments arrived at Kuala Lumpur last turn, where my first line of defense was situated. I had mainly relied on blocking detachments until now to slow the Japanese down. Attempting to take advantage of the strung out Japanese advance, I ordered a shock attack by the 11th Indian Division for this turn. My opponent’s forces attacked first, weakening his two armored regiments against my defenses before my attack went in during the Allied phase, inflicting significant casualties on the Japanese, especially in vehicles.

China

Concerned with the situation in the north, I made the poor decision to attack the Japanese army in the Changsha sector. 3 to 1 odds in my opponents favor resulted in 7,891 Chinese casualties for only 2,396 Japanese.

This loss was tempered somewhat by the successful storming of Nanchang by my troops, inflicting about 1,000 Japanese casualties for 250 Chinese losses. Several Japanese aircraft were destroyed with the capture of the base.

A large Japanese force, mainly composed of the victors of the Battle of Hong Kong, finally arrives at Kukong and bombard the defenders.

-----

Despite several attempts to draw away Japanese forces from the north, I didn't notice any shift away of units from there. With the rail cut south of Chengchow, my troops will also clearly not be getting any reinforcements in time. The Chinese forces in the sector will either have to hold on their own or die trying.

[DesertWolf101]

December 28

Submarines

Nothing of note.

Philippines

The heroic stand of the 51st PA Infantry Divison at Lucena finally comes to an end as the Japanese bring up reinforcements and shock attack, forcing it to surrender.

The Japanese land more troops to reinforce their depleted forces at Cagayan. Further Japanese troops land at Zamboanga.

Malaya

It’s a cat and mouse game over the skies of Singapore. After several sweeps failed to elicit any response from my fighters – I successfully caught unescorted IJA bombers on a bombing run on Singapore. My Buffalos shatter the approaching bombers, bringing down more than 30 Lily and Sally bombers. Unfortunately, two S-boats and a Dutch sub were caught in port and sunk by the surviving bombers.

Having weakened the two mobile regiments in the previous turn at Kuala Lumpur, I launched my Blenheim bombers at the Japanese troops in the hex behind them (to prevent their arrival during the turn) and launch a shock attack. The Japanese 1st Tank and 5th Recon regiments are forced to retreat, leaving behind them 61 lost vehicles.

China

My Flying Tigers swing into action once more, this time flying CAP over Kukong that I surmised was soon to be attacked by the Japanese. The Flying Tigers do well, pushing past the escorting Zeros to shoot down several Sally bombers.

In what I think was an attempt to establish a crossing for subsequent forces, the Japanese 3rd Independent Mixed Brigade and the 5th Armored Car Company shock attack across the river into Loyang. I had built up the defenses here however and shattered the attack, inflicting 2,466 Japanese losses for 139 Chinese.

-----

The air war is the one domain where I had yet to make any serious errors, and I had by now accumulated several British, USAAF, and Flying Tiger aces.

[Alfred]

So far your opponent is exhibiting the very common mistake of JFBs who believe that Japan can be played as if it were America.  A belief that there is a surfeit of military resources which allow blind attacking; no need for patient accumulation of the necessary assets to achieve sound strategic objectives because there is always more stuff coming down the pipeline.  Any attack is justified because otherwise there is no fun.
 
In short a typical armchair player who even if they have spent decades reading up on the PTO, have really not comprehended the nature of the conflict.
 
A quite different mindset is required to play Japan well.  Any proper depiction of the PTO is not one where the blue and red sides are equal, where the same mindset can be applied to both sides.  it is asymmetrical warfare in terms of real world capabilities and real world intentions.  AE does a good job in capturing the essence of the PTO.  Which is a major reason why so many Japanese PBEM players just quit the game when their initial fun of just steamrolling the unprepared Allies is checked and they confront the reality of being on the strategic defensive.  They can't make the mindset transition, a transition which in truth should never have to be made because it should have applied from Day 1.  From day 1 Japan should never be profligate with its deployments and application of assets.  No galumphing on the high seas wasting fuel, no unfocussed air operations frittering away airframes whose replacement construction imposes a significant opportunity cost, ditto for land units.
 
Alfred

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

So far your opponent is exhibiting the very common mistake of JFBs who believe that Japan can be played as if it were America.  A belief that there is a surfeit of military resources which allow blind attacking; no need for patient accumulation of the necessary assets to achieve sound strategic objectives because there is always more stuff coming down the pipeline.  Any attack is justified because otherwise there is no fun.

In short a typical armchair player who even if they have spent decades reading up on the PTO, have really not comprehended the nature of the conflict.

A quite different mindset is required to play Japan well.  Any proper depiction of the PTO is not one where the blue and red sides are equal, where the same mindset can be applied to both sides.  it is asymmetrical warfare in terms of real world capabilities and real world intentions.  AE does a good job in capturing the essence of the PTO.  Which is a major reason why so many Japanese PBEM players just quit the game when their initial fun of just steamrolling the unprepared Allies is checked and they confront the reality of being on the strategic defensive.  They can't make the mindset transition, a transition which in truth should never have to be made because it should have applied from Day 1.  From day 1 Japan should never be profligate with its deployments and application of assets.  No galumphing on the high seas wasting fuel, no unfocussed air operations frittering away airframes whose replacement construction imposes a significant opportunity cost, ditto for land units.

Alfred

I cannot say for sure, but I think my opponent may have approached this campaign a bit differently, at least initially, due to the fact that I was a complete newbie. On the whole however I have to agree with you Alfred. If I were to ascribe a single factor that most undermined my opponent's operations during the length of our game is that he was overly aggressive. I mean that in the sense that my opponent consistently took risky moves without adequate preparation that often exposed his forces to the threat of considerable damage.

[Alfred]

Playing a newbie or someone perceived to be a weaker player is no justification for engaging in unsound tactics and strategies.
 
Alfred

[DesertWolf101]

December 29

Submarines

While patrolling around Truk, SS Pollack found and attacked TK Nissyo Maru with four torpedos but was stymied by the curse of the Mk14.

South Pacific

I received signals intelligence a few turns ago that a Japanese landing force was on its way to Nadi in the Fiji islands. That is pretty daring of my opponent to jump that far forward this soon! Luckily I had a minelayer in the area and quickly dropped some eggs at Nadi. The advanced warning also gave me time to rush the Lexington and Saratoga to the area.

Philippines

The only allied fighters remaining in the Philippines, P-26A Peashooters, rose up to meet the incoming bombing raids on Bataan but were too outdated to do much damage.

The Japanese capture Zamboanga, which was the only base I had available that produced supplies in Mindanao.

The Japanese arrive at Clark – I am pulling back my troops as fast as possible into Bataan before the inevitable Japanese attack.

Borneo

The Dutch forces that were pushed out from Tarakan ended up in the adjacent hex of Tandjoengselor. The Japanese pursued them with an amphibious landing there but my Dutch troops had taken some of their coastal guns with them and they sank the AK Teisen Maru during the landing.

China

The only way I could support the northern front was with air support, and I moved in a number of Chinese fighter units into Loyang and Chengchow to deal with his intensifying air raids. The antiquated aircraft met his raids and while they only knocked out a bomber or two, they did help with disrupting their aim. In the meantime, I was busy playing mind games with my opponent in using my own Chinese bombers while attempting to dodge his CAP.

A Japanese deliberate attack is launched against Kukong, taking down the fortifications to level 1. The odds were 1 to 2 in my favor however with about 3,000 Japanese casualties for 1,000 Chinese.

At Loyang, I shock attack the heavily depleted forces that crossed over last turn and send them reeling back across the river with 3,000 casualties.

-----

It was nice shattering the Japanese brigade and armored car company at Loyang, but it did delay my attempt to transfer some of the units over to Chengchow in the adjacent hex which is being rapidly approached by a very sizable Japanese army.

[DesertWolf101]

December 30

Submarines

SS Stingray finds a large Japanese convoy south of Cam Ranh Bay but fails to damage its prey due to faulty torpedoes.

South Pacific

The KB rears its ugly head next to Luganville where Val dive-bombers sink two AKLs. The KB must be here to protect the Fiji invasion force.

Philippines

Japanese troops land at Davao. Even more Imperial troops reinforce Cagayan.

Malaya

Japanese IJN bombers pound the 11th Indian Division at Kuala Lumpur. Despite the defenses I had built up here, I decide caution was the better part of valor here and start pulling back the division ahead of a large number of approaching Japanese units. At least the division did a good job blunting his advanced guard.

China

Chinese fighters damage a number of IJA bombers while the experienced Flying Tigers tangle successfully with some Zeros and Nates.

-----

The lack of an attack on Pearl Harbor has started to pay dividends for me. With a large number of Catalina patrol aircraft intact, I blanket the area around Fiji with search arcs. Hopefully my advantage in recon here will come to use.

[DesertWolf101]

December 31

Submarines

Just off Balikpapan during the night, SS KIX spots the Japanese battleship BB Hyuga and launches four torpedoes at it. Unfortunately, they miss. Later during the day however, the same submarine spots a light carrier task force and launches another spread of four torps at CVE Taiyo. A single torpedo hits the Taiyo, damaging her but not enough to put her under.

Philippines

The Japanese shock attack at Clark, eliminating my fortifications there but getting the worst of it in terms of casualties. 2,3111 Japanese losses are registered for 955 allied. A fortunate result, which should allow my forces to retreat in good order into Bataan.

The Japanese shock attack at Cagayan but had the misfortune to do so just as the 102nd PA Infantry Division arrives at Cagayan as reinforcements. 638 Japanese casualties are inflicted for the loss of 270 Filipino troops. I even launch my own deliberate attack during the Allied phase and knock out another 454 Japanese troops.

The Japanese occupy Davao and land at Jolo.

Malaya

I attempt to protect the retreating 11th Indian Division with Buffalo fighters on CAP but my opponent escorts his bombers with Oscars and sweeps aside my fighters.

---

The KB and the convoy pass through my submarine picket line without incident, but at least I have a very good sighting of where they are.

[DesertWolf101]

January 1st, 1942

Submarines

After yesterday’s excitement, nothing of note this turn.

Philippines

Clark falls to the Japanese but barely any allied troops still remained there to take casualties.

Yet another wave of Japanese troops arrives at Cagayan. Nevertheless, the heroic Filipino troops launch a shock attack and push the Japanese out of the hex with 1,000 casualties.

Borneo

Fed up with the persistent Dutch defense at Tandjoengelor, the Japanese bring up four battleships and blast them to shreds. A shock attack then easily takes the base.

China

Near Hankow, the Flying Tigers catch a flight of Nates and Sally and shatter them. The Zeros show up later however and we take several losses.

Two Japanese divisions and an infantry regiment entered Wenchow last turn and attacked this turn. I had been building up the forts here and providing the defenders with replacement squads. The Japanese attack therefore met a significant degree of resistance and suffered accordingly, losing 4,834 troops to 432 Chinese. The battle of Wenchow starts of on a good note.

The first Japanese units start arriving at Chengchow, the big showdown here is imminent as I attempt to push in forces from Loyang. Besides investing in fort building and striking the Japanese troops with my bombers in the open, I also go through all my units and ensure that they get the best commanders possible.


-----

The KB and the convoy vanished... what?? I suspect the weather may have blanketed them from my search. No matter, the Saratoga strike force is already in position waiting for an opening and the Lexington strike force is swinging in from further north in the hope that I can catch his fuel train.

[DanielAClark]

Why risk Lexington and Saratoga this way?

Can they really stand up against the KB in 1941?