Setting the Sun - DesertWolf 101 (A) vs Dutch_slith (J)

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: DanielAClark

I predict that nothing bad will happen to DesertWolf's forces.

After all, he can predict the enemies moves with near miraculous precision.

Ha no pressure! [:D]

[DesertWolf101]

Some good points all around. mind_messing and GetAssista are both correct that these losses/defeats matter given both the limited Japanese resources and the lack of time before the Allied war machine kicks in. The question right now though is whether I will get away with it or not. If I end up losing Lady Lex and her escorts then Dutch's losses will be well worth it. Right now I still have enough bunker fuel to get home, but it's starting to get tight and I am definitely in hostile seas...

[DesertWolf101]

The Lexington Task Force's position. The greatest immediate danger is from the heavy cruisers to the southwest and to a lesser extent the light cruiser/destroyer force to the southeast. The KB will be arriving near Wake Island this turn and even closer if Dutch decides to flank. I imagine he will also be in the process of bringing in more search assets and naval bombers into the area.

[RangerJoe]

Make sure that you have a TF with ships ready to come to the Lady's aid. They can have an oiler follow them.

[DesertWolf101]

December 12, 1941

Lady Lex managed to evade enemy attack for another day as it starts to pull out towards safe waters. Unfortunately Guam fell today and I lost the only base in the immediate area from where I could provide good naval search in support. Hong Kong fortifications were also reduced from 3 to 1 in a single attack by the Japanese so that garrison is unlikely to hold out for much longer.

The main action for this turn however occurred in the Malay peninsula. The Japanese built up a considerable aerial presence in Kota Bharu to threaten Singapore, so I decided to go on the offensive with what I had rather than wait to be overwhelmed. I struck Kota Bharu's airfields with a light cruiser task force during the night and immediately followed this with a strong air attack during the day. The defending Japanese fighters were well thinned out by the night bombardment which allowed my Buffalo escorts to do their job and keep the bombers largely intact. The results were very good, and should hopefully slow down the Japanese air offensive on Singapore quite a bit.

[RangerJoe]

Even with the Fog Of War, that has to hurt early when some of the pools are skimpy. [&o][&o][&o]

[mind_messing]

Run NNE, and send some ships from Pearl (tankers if you have them, but anything really) for to refuel once you're out in the wastes SW of the Aleutians.

It's a big black hole for Japanese search at this point.

You get style points if, after refuelling, you make some raids on Hokkaido and the Sakhalin shipping lanes too.

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101
... so I decided to go on the offensive with what I had rather than wait to be overwhelmed

Curb your aggressive enthusiasm for a week or two, or your opponent will surrender prematurely
He is not yet deeply invested, the game just started, it is too early to reel in with full force [:D]

[Platoonist]

The Lexington's one-lady war on Japan is quite inspiring for the folks on the home-front.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Platoonist

The Lexington's one-lady war on Japan is quite inspiring for the folks on the home-front.

DesertWolf101: "That was no lady - that was my ... Alpha Female?" [:'(]

[DanielAClark]

At some point, some of us less experienced players are going to want a summary of your search and intel best practices...

[RangerJoe]

Read his AARs, it is there.

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: DanielAClark

At some point, some of us less experienced players are going to want a summary of your search and intel best practices...

I don't have much to add on naval search that other more experienced players haven't mentioned many times before but you can find some details on how I leverage radio intelligence to good use in the Empire of the Sun AAR. Take a look at posts 974 and 1223 especially. That was with the Japanese, with the Allies the intelligence at hand is of course significantly better. I already used it in this campaign for instance to inform my strike on the Wake shipping, as well as to avoid what I think were some potential threats. It's really a great resource that should be maximized, especially the underappreciated detection of radio transmissions.

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: Platoonist

The Lexington's one-lady war on Japan is quite inspiring for the folks on the home-front.

DesertWolf101: "That was no lady - that was my ... Alpha Female?" [:'(]

HaHaHa I think that title already belongs to my wife? [:D]

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

Run NNE, and send some ships from Pearl (tankers if you have them, but anything really) for to refuel once you're out in the wastes SW of the Aleutians.

It's a big black hole for Japanese search at this point.

You get style points if, after refuelling, you make some raids on Hokkaido and the Sakhalin shipping lanes too.

Yes I did think hard about going NNE because of that void but I elected to go in a different direction based on KB movements and my other plans for Lady Lex. I still have the option to double back if necessary based on Dutch's moves. We will see how the next move goes, I just sent back the turn.

[mind_messing]

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

Run NNE, and send some ships from Pearl (tankers if you have them, but anything really) for to refuel once you're out in the wastes SW of the Aleutians.

It's a big black hole for Japanese search at this point.

You get style points if, after refuelling, you make some raids on Hokkaido and the Sakhalin shipping lanes too.

Yes I did think hard about going NNE because of that void but I elected to go in a different direction based on KB movements and my other plans for Lady Lex. I still have the option to double back if necessary based on Dutch's moves. We will see how the next move goes, I just sent back the turn.

Even better then!

One of my early December priorities is to get an auxiliary train into the Western Aleutians, just for this reason. There's a couple xAK's in Seattle that can convert to AKE in 12 days. Throw in some of the AVP/AVD craft and a TK or two that are to hand and you can give yourself a nice forward base positioned right on one of the big IJ weak spots that can quickly scatter at the first sign of trouble...

[DesertWolf101]

December 13, 1941

I continue to successfully track KB's movements although I will likely lose sight of it next turn. Dutch ended up flanking towards Lady Lex and the KB is now right next to Eniwetok. As long as he doesn't catch my carrier of course, repeatedly flanking the KB if he choses to continue the pursuit could work to my advantage - the wear and tear could sideline Dutch's fleet carriers for repair at a crucial period for the Japanese. If he guesses correctly and flanks in the right direction next turn I will have to take the risk and order the Lady Lex TF to flank away to safety. I am setting up some floating fuel points to help her on her way.

In other news, I intercepted and sank two Japanese AMC raiders south of Fiji. They gave a good account of themselves, lasting several engagements before being finished off.

[Platoonist]

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101


In other news, I intercepted and sank two Japanese AMC raiders south of Fiji. They gave a good account of themselves, lasting several engagements before being finished off.

Hmmm. There go to the bottom of the ocean what would have been two future decent additions to the Japanese transport pool.

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: Platoonist

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101


In other news, I intercepted and sank two Japanese AMC raiders south of Fiji. They gave a good account of themselves, lasting several engagements before being finished off.

Hmmm. There go to the bottom of the ocean what would have been two future decent additions to the Japanese transport pool.

True but they also start down there so it can be hard to retrieve them.

[DesertWolf101]

December 14, 1941

The KB flank moved again and is now near Truk. I am optimistic however that Lady Lex will make it out ok, as I have successfully avoided his naval search while keeping tabs on his major forces in the area. I do believe he is bringing significant IJN airpower to the central Pacific from Formosa however - no Betty/Nell strikes or Zero sweeps from there for several turns now.

Dutch is also quickly adapting to my moves. He is now moving most of his troop convoys under very heavy guard. This makes it harder for me to target them but it also slows down his operations quite a bit. This is a deal I am happy to take. In any case, I still have a few surprises up my sleeve that I am waiting for the right time to play.