The Unwanted War - Xargun (J) vs AsuRob (A)

[RangerJoe]

A paradrop at Vigan can capture an airfield and then air support can be flown in. Night bombing with Idas can cost the enemy lots of supplies . . .

Trust me, I use all the paratroopers I can on turn 1 Saves a lot of disablements if you take the base via paratroopers on turn 1 and then unload on turn 2. I also try to use paratroopers to take lightly defended bases with air groups in an attempt to wipe out the air group instantly.

Xargun

Very nice!

But think of how much ammo/supply is wasted when a 4 plane Ida section is tasked with night bombing at very high altitude! So if you are just bypassing Luzon after getting the easy victories there and letting the supply shortages weaken the enemy, bombing 3 different targets at night can burn a lot of supplies. Of course, some people don't like that idea.

However, routing a magic move invasion force to Bataan on turn 1 could be worse! Any damaged and burning xAKs can then move into Manila Bay and interfere with the enemy evacuation plans since they would light up the enemy task forces as they try to move out . . .

[PaxMondo]

Trust me, I use all the paratroopers I can on turn 1 Saves a lot of disablements if you take the base via paratroopers on turn 1 and then unload on turn 2. I also try to use paratroopers to take lightly defended bases with air groups in an attempt to wipe out the air group instantly.

Xargun

+1

[PaxMondo]

Did not know that - thanks for the info. No surprise really with the rivalry between the Army and Navy back then.

Xargun

"Rivalry" suggests that the Navy had some "say" in things. The ruling Junta was an Army Cabal. The Navy got whatever scraps the Army allowed them. Thus:

- no radar research
- no boiler maintenance done in prep for Dec 7th
- low boiler pressures overall compared to all other navies*.


* can't overstate this issue. Larger engineering spaces are REALLY really bad. Why? They are vast open spaces. You cannot break them up into small, water tight spaces. So, any hit into an engineering space and the whole volume floods or if fire, it is all on fire. It drastically increases the damage control challenges. On a DD, engineering spaces represent over 60% of the total below seaboard space.

exposed-entrails-of-the-ijn-destroyer-harusame-while-in-v0-umxg42kln9s81.jpg (188.7 KiB) Viewed 369 times

[RangerJoe]

Did not know that - thanks for the info. No surprise really with the rivalry between the Army and Navy back then.

Xargun

"Rivalry" suggests that the Navy had some "say" in things. The ruling Junta was an Army Cabal. The Navy got whatever scraps the Army allowed them. Thus:

- no radar research
- no boiler maintenance done in prep for Dec 7th
- low boiler pressures overall compared to all other navies*.


* can't overstate this issue. Larger engineering spaces are REALLY really bad. Why? They are vast open spaces. You cannot break them up into small, water tight spaces. So, any hit into an engineering space and the whole volume floods or if fire, it is all on fire. It drastically increases the damage control challenges. On a DD, engineering spaces represent over 60% of the total below seaboard space.


exposed-entrails-of-the-ijn-destroyer-harusame-while-in-v0-umxg42kln9s81.jpg

Then there was this redesign . . .

[PaxMondo]

Then there was this redesign . . .

Clearly from the same NSY as the Harusame in the picture I had.

[Mike Solli]

Did not know that - thanks for the info. No surprise really with the rivalry between the Army and Navy back then.

Xargun

"Rivalry" suggests that the Navy had some "say" in things. The ruling Junta was an Army Cabal. The Navy got whatever scraps the Army allowed them. Thus:

- no radar research
- no boiler maintenance done in prep for Dec 7th
- low boiler pressures overall compared to all other navies*.


* can't overstate this issue. Larger engineering spaces are REALLY really bad. Why? They are vast open spaces. You cannot break them up into small, water tight spaces. So, any hit into an engineering space and the whole volume floods or if fire, it is all on fire. It drastically increases the damage control challenges. On a DD, engineering spaces represent over 60% of the total below seaboard space.


exposed-entrails-of-the-ijn-destroyer-harusame-while-in-v0-umxg42kln9s81.jpg

Whoa. That's pretty wild. I never knew any of that.

[RangerJoe]

Then there was this redesign . . .

Clearly from the same NSY as the Harusame in the picture I had.

It had the front part blown off and they just put a new bow on the ship!

[Xargun]

Heading out on vacation in a few hours. Won't be back until labor day. Once back, I will dive full steam into turn 1 and post Rob's choices for you guys to see.

Xargun

[PaxMondo]

ENJOY!!!!

[Xargun]

However, routing a magic move invasion force to Bataan on turn 1 could be worse! Any damaged and burning xAKs can then move into Manila Bay and interfere with the enemy evacuation plans since they would light up the enemy task forces as they try to move out . . .

Other than stationing a combat TF at Bataan - and having to deal with all the allied mines there - how would I accomplish this? I seem to recall something in the book about free coastal defenses at a few specified bases - is Bataan one of them? Please refresh my aging mind.

Xargun

[Xargun]

ENJOY!!!!

We did.. Took a cruise out of San Juan to the southern Caribbean. Hit a lot of ports we've never been to. We spent a day in San Juan and visited Castillo San Felipe del Morro.. It was huge and awesome. The time / effort it took to build something like that is outrageous.

Xargun

[RangerJoe]

However, routing a magic move invasion force to Bataan on turn 1 could be worse! Any damaged and burning xAKs can then move into Manila Bay and interfere with the enemy evacuation plans since they would light up the enemy task forces as they try to move out . . .

Other than stationing a combat TF at Bataan - and having to deal with all the allied mines there - how would I accomplish this? I seem to recall something in the book about free coastal defenses at a few specified bases - is Bataan one of them? Please refresh my aging mind.

Xargun

Bataan has coastal defenses.

[Xargun]

Bataan has coastal defenses.

So Bataan is one of the automatic coastal defense bases? You don't actually need a CD unit there to get free shots at TFs moving through.

Xargun

[RangerJoe]

Bataan has coastal defenses.

So Bataan is one of the automatic coastal defense bases? You don't actually need a CD unit there to get free shots at TFs moving through.

Xargun

There are no automatic coastal defenses if you are thinking that there are no guns there but shots are fired. You may be thinking of narrow straits where the ships will automatically be fired on by CD guns but only if the CD guns are there. In my understanding, DP guns would be treated like CD guns in that instance.

[Xargun]

There are no automatic coastal defenses if you are thinking that there are no guns there but shots are fired. You may be thinking of narrow straits where the ships will automatically be fired on by CD guns but only if the CD guns are there. In my understanding, DP guns would be treated like CD guns in that instance.

Perhaps that is what I was thinking of. Thanks. I think I can hit Bataan with a paradrop but need to check a few things. I may need to think whether its worth the risk to send in an amphib TF there with all those mines. If I remember correctly the allies have like 1000 mines at Bataan.

Now that I am back from vacation I will start working on turn 1. Hope to have it done this week.

Xargun

[PaxMondo]

There are no automatic coastal defenses if you are thinking that there are no guns there but shots are fired. You may be thinking of narrow straits where the ships will automatically be fired on by CD guns but only if the CD guns are there. In my understanding, DP guns would be treated like CD guns in that instance.

All of this is consistent with my understanding as well. I can confirm that I have seen DP guns react like CD guns, and that I routinely use them effectively in that capacity.

[Xargun]

All of this is consistent with my understanding as well. I can confirm that I have seen DP guns react like CD guns, and that I routinely use them effectively in that capacity.

Hmmm... how to get DP guns there through all those mines.

Xargun

[RangerJoe]

All of this is consistent with my understanding as well. I can confirm that I have seen DP guns react like CD guns, and that I routinely use them effectively in that capacity.

Hmmm... how to get DP guns there through all those mines.

Xargun

If you are attacking, you don't need the CD or DP guns. You need infantry and artillery units. Once you capture the base then the minefield will disperse much faster.

[Xargun]

If you are attacking, you don't need the CD or DP guns. You need infantry and artillery units. Once you capture the base then the minefield will disperse much faster.

The starting defense at Bataan is 0 AS - two base units I believe. So a lucky paradrop could take the base if enough men jump in.

What's the point of getting CD/DP guns there after the first couple days? Nothing will be left in Manila by then. I would think I need to take Bataan on turn 1 and get as many guns there as I can to hammer the survivors of the port raid.

Xargun

[RangerJoe]

If you are attacking, you don't need the CD or DP guns. You need infantry and artillery units. Once you capture the base then the minefield will disperse much faster.

The starting defense at Bataan is 0 AS - two base units I believe. So a lucky paradrop could take the base if enough men jump in.

What's the point of getting CD/DP guns there after the first couple days? Nothing will be left in Manila by then. I would think I need to take Bataan on turn 1 and get as many guns there as I can to hammer the survivors of the port raid.

Xargun

i don't think so, a paradrop will not capture Bataan on the first turn.