My Dutch boys are kicking some serious butt.

[Feinder]

Ok, so this is against the AI. But I'm still very pleased with them.

I'm running the Brits/Dutch/Aussies and Knavey is running the USN (team play vs. the AI - novell idea).

Thus far, the AI is still having trouble with Borneo. He's only got a couple of companies at Kuching, and my forces there are holding. Oh, and he must have FastTrans'd a SNLF to Menado (in Ambonia). Never even saw them (even tho I have 12 flying boats at Menado, how can NOT see the bad-guys landing on your own beach! ack!).

But it's just rolled into January, and he only has troops at Kuching and Menado, and has captured neither of them.

I've beaten back 5(!) invasions at Kuching. Just really surprised at my Dutch. They're giving an excellent accounting of themselves.

Thus far I've got set up :

Bases on the north rim of Borneo have my level bombers and torpedo bombers. The AFs are large enough, but the base forces only support 20 AC, so I'm limited in the number of aircraft I've been able to deploy. This has worked out well tho, because it compelled me to spread my squadrons out a bit. I've noticed that packing an AF attracts Zeros and Nells like flies on sh_t. I've got the rest of level-bomber squadrons deployed within range of the north coast of Borneo, so that they can hit invastion TFs heading across the bay. But Dutch bomber sqadrons already have exp in the high 60s.

Have 3 seaplane bases set up, to recon the traffic heading south from Vietnam, from the NE near the Phillipines (holy krap there's a LOT of stuff moving around there!), and another at Menado to watch traffic from Palau.

Used the MLs to mine Kuching, Balipapan, and Palembang (that's where I'd land). Also mined the channel west of Sing, and have retired the MLs to Diamond Harbor and Brisbane (since no more mines in DEI). Decided NOT to not try to upgrade Sing to lvl 9, since I didn't think it would be ready in time, didn't want to waste the supplies, and didn't want to hand it over to the IJA in a month.

Dutch subs (and the two Brit ones, Trusty and Truant - she's always late), are taking shots at anything moving around Vietnam. Quite a few ships sunk there too.

The Dutch navy has also proved a valuable asset. They're based in Palenbang, and running at full throttle, can intercept the transports heading to Kuching with 24 hours notice. They've clobbered several invasion groups. They usually only sink a trasport or two, but they chase off the TF, and the LBs pick off the stragglers. Have a squadron of 6 PTs based at Balikpapan, but they can (and have), run to Kuching in a pinch.

I've actually ended up sucking most of the fuel out of Borneo, just by running my fleet of Dutch CLs and DDs around. I started them at Kuching, until the LBA threat got a little to hot (DeRyuter took a single bomb, but not major damage). Now they're based in Palembang, but it's only got fuel for another week or so of ops. I think I'll send a tanker up with some fuel tho to Palembang. It's a good base, out of range of his LBA, and only a day's steaming to the north coast of Borneo.

Also of note, Malaya and Sing are hanging in there. Malaya is collapsing, but Sing is very well stocked (40k supplies), and I've fired Wavell. IJA will be crossing the swamp west of Sing shortly. Have based my String-bag squadrons there, and they've been punishing the TFs trying to end-around the penensula into Tavoy. Can't say how much shipping I've actually stopped, but if I had to make a guess, I'd say about 40% gets thru. I also have the two Dutch transport sqdns airlifting supplies into Sing. I've also been drawing supplies from DEI into Sing, and have cleared most of the bases in DEI of excess supplies. I'll keep the String-bags in Sing as long as I can, but have plans to evac the base forces "soon". I'll probably keep the String-bags in DEI after I've evac'd the BFs. But Malaya's sacrifice is not in vain. Rangoon and Moulmein have been strongly reinforced (and supplied), and give another 2 weeks, I'm even considering sending skirmishers to Tavoy.

PI is crumbling a little faster than we'd hoped (but did expect). It has proved much harder to supply Bataan and Manilla than we thought. The LBA in Formosa whacks even the single AKs that we've sent in. I've resorted to shuttling supplies into Bataan with my extra flying boats sqdn. IJA hasn't captured Clark yet (we still hold Clark, Manilla, and Bataan), but I expect Bataan will soon be the last bastion in about a week. I've also put the old USN flush-deckers to work (Knavey said I could have 'em), doing FastTrans runs into Bataan.

We've also put the rest of the USN remnents (including a CA, CL, and few auxillaries), and will head them to Port Moresby with my Aussie fleet, to see if I can counter some of the AIs agression in the Bismark Sea.

I think we p_ssed-off the AI tho. This week, he's sent in a TF of 4 CAs to chase me away from Borneo (which I did stay away until he left), and there are several CVs that passed south of PI (we think 4), and started picking off the AKs we had moving around the Phillipines. Had to pull back the flush-deckers to the Celebes, because I didn't want them getting clobbered by his CVs. Will just have to wait until his CVs leave theater.

Meanwhile, Knavey has his 3 CVs escorting a convoy to create a fuel-stop at Pago Pago. Once that's accomplished, they're heading to the Coral Sea, to help counter AI moves in the Bismark Sea.

-F-

[2ndACR]

How in heck is Palembang out of range of Nells?

The AI must really be slacking for you. The AI in one of my games landed an entire brigade at Ambonia.

[Top Cat]

I actually think the AI is allergic to Borneo. In my game he had trouble with Northern Borneo. And Southern Borneo (Tarakan and Balikpapan) are still mine in July 42.

The really weird thing is that Tarakan is warding of the Japanese Navy with a single PT-boat and 0 aircraft. Balikpapan has nothing protecting it. Think there's a total of 2 weak battalions between the
whole lot.

Meanwhile the Dutch government in exile is trying to sell the island to Japan, but they won't take it. [:D]

Cheers
Top Cat

[UncleBuck]

How are you playing a combined game against the AI? I think this would be great fun. How are you managing it?

Hey Sarge if they tell us how to do it you interested in a co-op game?

UB

[Feinder]

I make my turn (but not execute).

Send it to Knavey.

He makes his turn, then executes.

He makes his next turn.

He sends me the turn, and the previous combat reports.

I make my turn, then execute...


Lather, rinse, repeat.


It's pretty interesting, because we actually do get on the phone and discuss what ops we're planning, and where the threats are. Also a little bit of "Why the f_ck did you do that?!", or "I'm going to intern the Houston in Oz and use her to defend DEI, if she isn't put to use soon!" or his reply, "Screw your Dutch boys, I've got 3 CVs heading to Port Moresby, and if you go near Houston, I'm bombing Darwin. And by the way, I need a fuel dump at Townsville, or I'll let the IJN invade your precious country."

D_mn Americans, like they think they're going to be reason we win this war.

Knavey is actually my brother by the way, so communicating over this sort of thing is easier. But if you do try to work together on a game, just make sure you send your emails about what's going on, and what you're trying to do.

Knavey and I are long-time UV PBEM opponents. But WitP is so huge, we figured that learning the game like this limits the scope so it's not so daunting. We also intend to play as team vs. some other PBEM taker (or even team would be cool). But we're working out the kinks on this game, so we can kick some butt in PBEM.

-F-


(* and I don't know why the Nells haven't showed up over Pal. I'm not complaining. And yes, I do think the AI is a bit overly-fixated on Kuching.)

[UncleBuck]

Thanks Feinder.

I can see that working. The Reason I was asking Hard Sarge was we were in the same Virtual Squadron in a flight sim. He got me into UV.

I see co-operative games as teh way to go. I woudl love to see Matrix make it a real feature in the game. Have Team PBEM. Options for the set up are, Human 1, Human 2 , Computer and AI. Maybe even Human 3 and Human 4. (Ore Team 1, team 2 broken into 2 players each.) I think a co-op game versus a Co-op game would be great.


AS for why the AI has been so set on Kuching. I think it is strategic. By taking Kuching you secure SOuthern PI and prevent the Allies from beign able to threaten Davao and it's subsequent build up. But hey that is a theory.

UB

[Feinder]

Which flight sim UncleBuck? Are you one of the Air Warrior guys?

Knavey and I also fly fight-sims. We're wingmen in JG2 in "World War 2 On-line".

-F-

[UncleBuck]

I played Fighter Ace for 8 years. I am now playing in IL-2 FB. I finsihed Fighter Ace in Tiger Squadron and am a member still in IL_2 FB. I played ww2OL for a while but as an infantry man. I did a little flying but at the time My PC was not up to the challenge. Srge and I were in a squad together called BANZAI Squadron

UB

[Hard Sarge]

Srge ?
geeesh

sounds kewl, which battle would you want to try ?

ahhhh, not sure if my mail system is up to sending the files

I got a 5 gig mail box now, but think it only lets me mail 1 gig

(know where I can get a bigger sending mail box ?)

figure out the rules, it sounds interesting

hmmm, BBFG_Sarge, HARD_Sarge (squadrons died) BANZAI_HD_Sarge


HARD_Sarge

[UncleBuck]

I was thinking Grand Campaign, 3 day turns. You’re Choice if you want the New Day after Pearl Harbor or if you want to take your chances. I can manage one turn a day during the week more on the weekends.

I am up for either +/- 15 day variation, or Historical start. Allied Damage Control, Jap Sub doctrine, and Fog of War On.

If I forgot anything let me know.


I thought that we could confer via email as to our requests for equipment and what not. You would run Canada, and U.S. I would run, British, Dutch, Aussie, Kiwi, India and China. If the Soviets come in you run them, or we can figure it out when it happens. I figure you will be plenty busy with US.

I think we should be able to do a full WAR month a week, maybe a little more. Also the three day turns allow for some variability in what goes on.

If it sounds good shoot me an email to nospamVLAD_25@cox.net we can start planning turn 1 strategy.

UB

[Feinder]

Make sure you've got all the same options (besides the generic ones that you expect like sub-doctrine etc).

I'm not sure that stuff like display options need to be fiddled with, but just take a look at all of them to make sure things run smoothly. Knavey and I haven't had any problems thus far.

And your division of forces is basically the same as we have. It give's both players enough to do, without being overwhelmed (after you get things situated the first few turns).

Good luck.
-F-

[Knavey]

You guys might want to rethink the 3 day turn stuff. When that CV gets pounded on the first day of your cycle, you will be screaming at the computer for an hour because the AI does something the next 2 days you don't want it to do.

Trust me on that one. Feinder and I did a UV game that had 2 day turns...we ended up really hating it. It can get very frustrating.

[UncleBuck]

I would but single day turns would be excrusiatingly slow. Also it would be unfair to the AI. I can also see that both of us playing we woudl not be able to hit Stop at next day. I guess we need to figure it out. If we go to one day turns we would to 1.5 months game time per 1 month of real time. If we did 3 day turns we could do a quarter of game time per month easily.

But your warning is wel taken.

UB

[Hard Sarge]

I messed around with a 3 day turn today in my current game, was fine as my CV's were in port, but

the CV actions and what not, really need to be mirco managed

hehe, NG and OZ could be interesting, who gets which bases and who controls my ships !

you taking the Brits and the Chinese, I take it you want the US air over there too ???

set up what you want, do your turn and sent it out, tell me the settings and what not, will send you the address I am using now

HARD_Sarge

[Feinder]

I don't have as big an issue with multi-day turns as Knavey. But my 2 pfennigs...

Things to consider :
1. In UV, it was impossible to manage fatigue. Planes would litterally fly themselves to death. This was my biggest hang-up about multi-day turns. This hase been fixed in WitP tho.
2. You -really- have to plan ahead.
a. A CV TF at 32kts can cover some serious ocean in 3 days. You really should play a few "practice" turns in a scratch game before-hand at 3-day turns (if haven't before), just to see how much you really can accomplish in 3 days.
b. Consider that ENEMY CV TF that shows up after a 3 day move. Your opponent -WILL- figure out what the max range of your recons are, stop right outside the edge, and then scream in on a 3-day jump before you can react (whereas you would normally have spotted him, and then had 2 days to react).
c. Consider the invasion : Bombard and Amphib TFs are in 1-day sprint range of your base. They scream in, and bombard/land troops for 2 days, before you can do anything about it. An enemy TF can litterally scream in and capture your base before you ever have a chance to do anything.
d. You only get to air-transfer every 3 days then. You can bounce your planes once per turn. But if you turns are 3 days long, you're only boucing them once every 3 days.
3. Game goes by faster. It makes the arrival of a CV in 90 days, not quite so far off.
4. I rather liked the hands off situation, where you didn't have complete control. It really was a little like Nimitz setting the ball in motion, and hoping for the best.


3-day turns are VERY complicated, esp if you're playing a human player. I didn't dislike it, but it just takes A LOT more planning.

Good luck.
-F-

[UncleBuck]

All of the games I have played verus AI have been 3 day. We are playing COmbined not against each other. We can always just let each other know to change to 1 day turns for complex operations.


UB

[Tom G.]

Hey Sarge and UncleBuck, I am trying to get a multi-player team game going. Please see thread in the opponents wanted section.

My thought (but please chime in with your two pfennings) One overall all commander for each side who sets the strategic decisions on resources (both war materiel and assets) then as many theater commanders (OZ and SWPAC; SOPAC AND NZ; CENTPAC, NORTHPAC AND WEST COAST; ABDA, BRITISH AND CHINA) as needed for both sides.

If more are interested then you can further subdivide command, say a submarine command pacific to handle subs or a propaganda minister to handle the AAR's and so on.

I have done this in other games (Talonsoft civil war games). Yes it does take a long time to play but what else are you going to be doing for the next five years. [:D]

[UncleBuck]

Well Tom, it soudns interesting but I would like to get a Two man co-op game going first. I thik it woudl be fun to be SOPAC, or whatever. The time frame is not a big deal I have played a board game for several years, Normandy by Avalon Hill, long ago.

UB

[Hard Sarge]

what ya think of scen 10 ?

give you the Allies and Southwest pac

HARD_Sarge

[UncleBuck]

I will look at it tonight. you want to try a smaller scenario first?