Hell Hath Frozen Over (Scout1 (J) vs Lowpe (A)

[Lowpe]

I am going to kindly ask that the esteemed Japanese representative bow out of the AAR for now.[:)][&o] No harm done if he reads the next few messages.[8D]

Any missives to or from him will be dutifully passed along and posted or emailed as circumstance dictates.

Imminent war warnings have been issued from Washington....thankfully the Navy had the foresight to station the Pacific Fleet forward at Pearl Harbor and can react quickly to any Japanese aggression.[;)]

General MacArthur, is as we understand it, revamping his defense of the Philippines.

The Dutch and the British seem prepared -- the powerful Prince of Wales is near Singapore. A testimony of how seriously the British want to persuade the Japanese to leave alone their Jewel of the Pacific.

The next move is Japan's!







I should point out that they have been repeatedly warned of imminent war...so many times in fact, they might not take the latest warning too seriously.

[CV10]

Good luck!

[Lowpe]

Crafty Dutch hiding the true capabilities of their ships:





How many little nuggets will I discover? This picture has been approved by the Dutch Censors.[;)]

[RangerJoe]

Good Luck!

Did Ernest King send General Short a message about how he wargamed a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor with the USS Lexington? If I remember correctly, it was in 1938 on a Sunday. It was a complete surprise . . . [8|]

[Lowpe]

My favorite screen in the game, and I can't do anything with it!

[RangerJoe]

You can set production to "NO" and you can keep factories from upgrading.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

As soon as you get them. But underway replenishment does not start until 1 January 1945. Convert every one.

Yes, convert the Lassen AEs but not all the xAKs that convert to AKEs. I convert the xAKs that become 4900 capacity AKEs because they can handle BBs well (except the Iowa Class). Haven't found a need for more AKEs than that because I use the ADs and AGs as intended to rearm DDs and ASW vessels respectively.
I also found that I needed those xAKs hauling supplies for the first year of the war, until enough Liberty ships are available.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

I also found that I needed those xAKs hauling supplies for the first year of the war, until enough Liberty ships are available.

Frankly, surprised a bit to hear that.

[Lowpe]

We are probably about a week away from having the first turn processed and run....While Japan works diligently upon my destruction, I am figuring out my OOB.

Upcoming topics of consideration will be how does all of Andy's new bases change the ground war in Burma, China, Malaya. How I plan on spending my early PP. Overall tactics to be used.

I think some of it should be quite different and hopefully interesting. Whether it works or not....we will let the game find out.[;)]

[scout1]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I am going to kindly ask that the esteemed Japanese representative bow out of the AAR for now.[:)][&o] No harm done if he reads the next few messages.[8D]

Any missives to or from him will be dutifully passed along and posted or emailed as circumstance dictates.

Imminent war warnings have been issued from Washington....thankfully the Navy had the foresight to station the Pacific Fleet forward at Pearl Harbor and can react quickly to any Japanese aggression.[;)]

General MacArthur, is as we understand it, revamping his defense of the Philippines.

The Dutch and the British seem prepared -- the powerful Prince of Wales is near Singapore. A testimony of how seriously the British want to persuade the Japanese to leave alone their Jewel of the Pacific.

The next move is Japan's!







I should point out that they have been repeatedly warned of imminent war...so many times in fact, they might not take the latest warning too seriously.

The Imperial GHQ is signing off ..... The Allies continue to their War-like attitude unfortunately ....... Future correspondence will be thru the Tokyo Free Press passed along through mutual and trusted media portals ...... [8D]

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

I also found that I needed those xAKs hauling supplies for the first year of the war, until enough Liberty ships are available.

Frankly, surprised a bit to hear that.

Against the AI, I kept a lot more bases to build and units to feed ...[;)]

[Lowpe]

Now that the Japanese have left.... (this stuff is top secret, plz )

I thought I could talk about the usual stuff, putting Marine fighters on the Carriers (thanks Michael), turning off HI in Oz, running away and hiding, but that is not for me....mostly[:)]

The only clue I have is that Scout1 said he was not much of a Pearl Harbor strike fan...."my carriers have more important things to do." I take that to mean Oz, India but not Fiji to Alaska. Well, well, we shall see.

This whole operation is simply designed to throw a monkey wrench into the time stressed Japanese Juggernaut that is Scenario 2 (beefed up by AndyMac) and to remind everyone that the game is War In the Pacific (not 50 divisions slogging it out in mosquito infested Burma or circumnavigating Oz with the KB). [:D]

I realize I can't hold any of this if I even take any of it, but if it diverts/slows down the Empire in the critical invasion bonus time, then it will be worth it. If ignored for a bit, then PBY's can fly recon for subs.

There is multiple goals that are somewhat independent others that might cascade...but everything will be moving from day 1 to accomplish this (that is if I am allowed to move them[;)]).

Whatever the outcome, the fleet carriers will retreat to the West Coast and train, along with the heavy cruisers. Battleships will hide from the beginning, but I plan to be aggressive with destroyers and light cruisers generally speaking.

Yes, yes, I realize my ships crew experience is like 35 at night across the board and my troops not much better. The pilots suck, and some still fly buffaloes and devastators (argh[:@]). I will endeavor to make do with the tools at hand.

So, you dedicated AFBs -- how crazy am I? Crazy like Kimmel? Am I setting the stage for Japanese AV?






PS: Oops, left off the graphic that some troops will leave for Haha-Jimi too! That is Phase 2. [X(]

[Evoken]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Now that the Japanese have left.... (this stuff is top secret, plz )

I thought I could talk about the usual stuff, putting Marine fighters on the Carriers (thanks Michael), turning off HI in Oz, running away and hiding, but that is not for me....mostly[:)]

The only clue I have is that Scout1 said he was not much of a Pearl Harbor strike fan...."my carriers have more important things to do." I take that to mean Oz, India but not Fiji to Alaska. Well, well, we shall see.

This whole operation is simply designed to throw a monkey wrench into the time stressed Japanese Juggernaut that is Scenario 2 (beefed up by AndyMac) and to remind everyone that the game is War In the Pacific (not 50 divisions slogging it out in mosquito infested Burma or circumnavigating Oz with the KB). [:D]

I realize I can't hold any of this if I even take any of it, but if it diverts/slows down the Empire in the critical invasion bonus time, then it will be worth it. If ignored for a bit, then PBY's can fly recon for subs.

There is multiple goals that are somewhat independent others that might cascade...but everything will be moving from day 1 to accomplish this (that is if I am allowed to move them[;)]).

Whatever the outcome, the fleet carriers will retreat to the West Coast and train, along with the heavy cruisers. Battleships will hide from the beginning, but I plan to be aggressive with destroyers and light cruisers generally speaking.

Yes, yes, I realize my ships crew experience is like 35 at night across the board and my troops not much better. The pilots suck, and some still fly buffaloes and devastators (argh[:@]). I will endeavor to make do with the tools at hand.

So, you dedicated AFBs -- how crazy am I? Crazy like Kimmel? Am I setting the stage for Japanese AV?






PS: Oops, left off the graphic that some troops will leave for Haha-Jimi too! That is Phase 2. [X(]

I like your unorthodox approach [&o]
1)I never had the need to turn off HI in OZ , just start shipping fuel from day 2
2)Allied early amphibious capability really sucks your plan might be too ambitious for allied reality [X(]
3)You dont have enough escorts in early war for all the convoys so i would recommend babysitting DD's (specially Clemsons that can be converted to whole bunch of usefull classes) , CL's and CA's are plentyfull and great for raiding

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Evoken

3)You dont have enough escorts in early war for all the convoys so i would recommend babysitting DD's (specially Clemsons that can be converted to whole bunch of usefull classes) , CL's and CA's are plentyfull and great for raiding

Thanks.[:)]

I have a total and complete aversion to using destroyers that zip around at 30 knots or more for escorts. Not gonna happen.[:)] I know I will have to be creative here, and have some ideas. I fully expect to post absolutely staggering destroyer losses in the game.[:D]

Nor will I be converting them to Destroyer Escort but maybe, just maybe I might make 2-3 APD for use in New Guinea. I haven't scoured the OOB enough to know about that yet. My thinking is to do without the APD conversion all together. That is one of the great joys of WITP AE....so many ways to solve problems.

Speaking of problems, a big one with early American heavy cruisers is that they sink in combat or to Iboats at an alarming rate. Will try to get them some night experience first, or figure out how to get day encounters. Most likely send them to training school with whatever battleships survive the opening.

After having played Japan in all types of games, always to the end, I know what true deprivation is, and even on Dec 8th, 1942 the Allies don't have it.[;)][:D]

PS: After checking some of the OOB, there are enough relatively fast small xap in New Zealand, Australia and I think even the US has one in San Diego at start to cover for the one APD at game start in the USN. Plus there is a slow steady trickle of APDs arriving...so I really doubt I will be converting the destroyers to APD. Plus the handful of AMC available. Disappointing to see that Allied CM can't carry some troops. Oh well.

[RangerJoe]

I usually end up converting the 4-pipers to APDs since they drastically improve their ASW immediately, plus they are useful escorts for invasions. While they can carry small units, for the large invasions I use them to dump a few supplies on the beach right away. Later they can bring in small units that don't have a lot of equipment. They can also handle small invasions - which is what they were designed for.

Don't forget, you can lay minefields with dutch minelaying subs the same turn as the invasion. [;)] In fact, that might even be a good use for American subs instead of Mark 14s.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

I usually end up converting the 4-pipers to APDs since they drastically improve their ASW immediately, plus they are useful escorts for invasions. While they can carry small units, for the large invasions I use them to dump a few supplies on the beach right away. Later they can bring in small units that don't have a lot of equipment. They can also handle small invasions - which is what they were designed for.

Don't forget, you can lay minefields with dutch minelaying subs the same turn as the invasion. [;)] In fact, that might even be a good use for American subs instead of Mark 14s.

What am I missing? I don't see where they can carry supplies, just troops.

Dutch mines don't replenish?

[Lowpe]

I feel pretty comfortable going for Marcus and more on Dec 8th, depending where the KB goes.

I really want to fight hard in China, and have lots of strategies to try out. This is one of them.

5 Indian Mountain Gun units (one will die at Singers), air mobile, under 100 pp each, could be flown into China and setup and dig in along the Kunming roads. It would boost the AT capability of the Chinese, and act as damage soaks. 2 days worth of PP, that is a bit steep, but if it means holding for longer at the Kunming road, I will take it. Not sure what other units take the mountain gun, but production is 12 a month and they start at roughly 50% TOE.

[RangerJoe]

The APDs can carry supplies instead of troops. It may not be much but it will be there during the first wave.

You might want to send the base forces in Burma to the Chinese mountains for a little AAA protection as well as the air ground crew support.

There are two Dutch subs, I think the O16 and the O20 if I remember correctly, that are minelayers besides carrying torpedoes. You should know where the Japanese like to invade and stage air units plus base ships from like Jolo. [X(] Keep the minesweepers busy.

Three of the Dutch PT boats carry depth charges. I would not upgrade them if they survive. You can use them to annoy minisubs later in the game if they are left behind at a port.

A lot of the smaller Dutch vessels can convert to small but useful support vessels.

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I feel pretty comfortable going for Marcus and more on Dec 8th, depending where the KB goes.

I really want to fight hard in China, and have lots of strategies to try out. This is one of them.

5 Indian Mountain Gun units (one will die at Singers), air mobile, under 100 pp each, could be flown into China and setup and dig in along the Kunming roads. It would boost the AT capability of the Chinese, and act as damage soaks. 2 days worth of PP, that is a bit steep, but if it means holding for longer at the Kunming road, I will take it. Not sure what other units take the mountain gun, but production is 12 a month and they start at roughly 50% TOE.

I think that the 3.7 inch mountain gun is used later when some of the Indian/Commonwealth units change their TO&E for more mobility through the jungles.

You might also get more of them in your reinforcement convoys.

[Lowpe]

I recall the Dutch sub laying miners...from NYGiants years and years ago. Happy memories.[:)]

I also recall, Alfred mentioning to save a few Dutch bomber squadrons and sure enough they get 45 Mitchells in 03-42. More than enough to fill out 4 squadrons of 9 (I think that is the Dutch bomber size). They would make for strong ASW platforms I think, which in turn would free up other British or American bomber squadrons for the air bridge.

But they are all restricted. I can see one method, and that would be to swap a base in Oz to Dutch control. The other was a method Alfred recommended which I don't know if it will work or not, but knowing Alfred does.

I believe Dutch pilot pools are exceptionally weak to non-existent which means these are for rear area usage.

The Dutch also get 27 P-40 E at the same time at the B25s and a dozen Hurricane IIb, so you could field 1 to 2 squadrons of them in the rear area. Probably just 1.

And finally there are three very good AA units that could be bought out for 16pp and sent to bolster Oz. One even starts at Lautem. I see no value in the infantry and starting armored car unit.

The Mobiel Eenheid (?) tank unit does upgrade to Grants and Valentines I think, I recall fighting against them with Obvert. Probably worth saving if they come in time.