Next turn delayed until Monday - Cruft's turn to have comp trouble. [;)]
Any thoughts on strategy? I'm avoiding the temptation of general offensive strategies at this point. Instead, I'm trying to preserve my assets while still "sniping" at the enemy where I see opportunity - things like the bombardment of Singkawang and the various interceptions made by the US CVs in the DEI. These little bites and nibbles are hopefully enough to delay and wound him that I'll be able to pull most of my folks out in the DEI, just leaving behind the big ground units to fight and die.
I'm tempted to pull the US CVs into the Indian Ocean, actually, after Saratoga repairs her 20 system damage and the airgroups have been replenished. (I just upgraded everyone to F4 Wildcats.) A combined raid with the Brits on Rangoon sounds like a feasible op to me, and my CAP can hack down some Betties in the bargain. Then it's a quick hop back to SOPAC. Ideas? Or should I keep them commited in the Australia/New Guinea area to hold any pushes too far south there?
Other theatre ideas - CENTPAC. I'm putting Operation Blunt - the invasion of Wake - on hold for, well, at least 3 months - after my little Baker jaunt, I think I've learned my lesson about throwing troops onto beaches without adequate air cover, support, or recon. Blunt is mainly useful as a distraction op anyways - I'll continue to build up forces but the future "big push" will come farther south, probably in the DEI or India/Burma theatres.
In other words, CENTPAC is a secondary, diversion theatre in my mind. All those big spaced out islands are not my thing, with those long distances and difficult-to-support invasions. The Allies are better concentrating their main forces in one theatre and pushing hard, with minor advances everywhere else. The "Army in the south, Navy in the north" didn't really work for the US in the real war.
I'll cut off my rambling and move to the next theatre - India/Burma. I've already mentioned my planned Rangoon raid. He seems to have primarily IJA aircraft in the region, which tend to get hacked out of the skies in droves by the AVG and Hurricanes. When I get Spits in a few months I'll be quite secure. Mandalay - I'm surprised I've held it this long. Fortifications and the airbase are building, but Cruft certainly has a lot of top-notch divisions at his disposal, now that Malaya has fallen. I can't say that Mandalay is as strong or stronger than Singapore was, after all - but at least I can retreat somewhere. Naval action in the theatre is really limited on the Allied side - too easy for my ships to get torped by Betties, unless they're covered with heavy CAP. I've been thinking about bombarding Rangoon, but it's probably too late for that, and god knows I don't need any more battleships torpedoed. So, other than the Rangoon raid op (let's call it Operation Gondola), my only plans here are to stand and hold and occasionally pick stuff off when I see it. (I just hate to waste the Blenheims bombing things - I'm using them as recon primarily.)
China is a mess, that's plain to see - it looks to me like he'll take Kungchang soon, and once he's done that my northern armies are doomed. They've really been doomed since he grabbed Sian. (That was a big "oops"). I have what I can running to Chungking, where they'll hunker down. In the central and southern fronts, things are looking a little bit better. My center bases are lightly held, but there's really not much worth defending there - he's taken Changsha. In the south, I siege Nanning and Wuchow without much success, although in great numbers. I'll try another deliberate attack in a few turns.
Illusion of Victory - Alikchi vs Cruft
Moderators: wdolson, Don Bowen, mogami
3/7/42-3/8/42
A rather good turn for the Allies! [:D]
3/7/42-3/8/42
India/Burma: The sweeps over Rangoon are a success. It turns out that he had Nates, not Oscars over Rangoon. As expected, the AVG (with help from some Buffalos) hacks them out of the sky. Easy kills! I can't do this too often, though - it leaves Mandalay base exposed. I had 37 Hurris on CAP today to intercept any strike, but Cruft didn't launch one. He has got to be planning to stop this somehow. The AVG is taking quite a toll here.
China: Once again, a deliberate attack in the south fails.
I'm letting the troops rest tomorrow. Wait, did I forget to give the orders? Whoops. We'll see how tomorrow goes.
Phillipines: Blah blah, he bombed Bataan. Nothing new.
DEI: More Allied fun! He tries to take out the CVs in Darwin harbor with the usual Amboina bunch - Zeroes and Betties. I'm rather happy that I started upgrading to F4Fs yesterday, as - oh my goodness, the Zeroes can be taken on, and defeated! We knock down quite a few of them, along with enough of the bombers to make sure no hits are scored. I doubt he'll try that again - at least not while the the USN's carrier fleet is docked there.
So, more aircraft losses for him.
So, evacuations continue - all but one ship has left Soerabaja harbor this turn. From now on, I evacuate Java. I have some airgroups pinned to the ground there to make it look like I'll make a stand, but in reality, everyone who's worth saving is pulling out. I've also planned a quick, spur of the moment op - the ABDA fleet - based in Balikpapan, now that Java is untenable - is going to hit Davao. I have them set for a bombardment run. I know he's been using Army aircraft in the Phillipines, and I expect he's gotten a bit complacent there now - not much left to bomb. Hopefully I'll catch something in the harbor and get away squeaky-clean. It's worked well enough before.
SOPAC/SWPAC: Some of the AKs loaded with supplies get torpedoed in Port Moresby harbor as they unload. Gah. I finally say "damn the aviation support" and throw in about a dozen P-40s. Next time we can at least get some shots off.
Notes: A rather fun turn. I seem to be doing pretty well in the air lately. The Wildcats stand up well to the Zeroes, and the AVG is doing pretty good against IJAAF aircraft. My grace period can't last, though. He certainly has the capability to pin me in place and hammer me down in both theatres. But will he do it?
If I was Cruft, I'd pull the Kido Butai into the DEI and start raiding Northern Aus. He could force a CV battle and win - specially within Betty range. Hmmm.. what can I do with the forces I have without exposing them to certain destruction? Pick and snipe and run, pick and snipe and run.
Final note. Is anyone reading this? If anyone has any requests - pictures, a bit more explanation, I'd be happy to elaborate.
3/7/42-3/8/42
India/Burma: The sweeps over Rangoon are a success. It turns out that he had Nates, not Oscars over Rangoon. As expected, the AVG (with help from some Buffalos) hacks them out of the sky. Easy kills! I can't do this too often, though - it leaves Mandalay base exposed. I had 37 Hurris on CAP today to intercept any strike, but Cruft didn't launch one. He has got to be planning to stop this somehow. The AVG is taking quite a toll here.
China: Once again, a deliberate attack in the south fails.
I'm letting the troops rest tomorrow. Wait, did I forget to give the orders? Whoops. We'll see how tomorrow goes.
Phillipines: Blah blah, he bombed Bataan. Nothing new.
DEI: More Allied fun! He tries to take out the CVs in Darwin harbor with the usual Amboina bunch - Zeroes and Betties. I'm rather happy that I started upgrading to F4Fs yesterday, as - oh my goodness, the Zeroes can be taken on, and defeated! We knock down quite a few of them, along with enough of the bombers to make sure no hits are scored. I doubt he'll try that again - at least not while the the USN's carrier fleet is docked there.
So, more aircraft losses for him.So, evacuations continue - all but one ship has left Soerabaja harbor this turn. From now on, I evacuate Java. I have some airgroups pinned to the ground there to make it look like I'll make a stand, but in reality, everyone who's worth saving is pulling out. I've also planned a quick, spur of the moment op - the ABDA fleet - based in Balikpapan, now that Java is untenable - is going to hit Davao. I have them set for a bombardment run. I know he's been using Army aircraft in the Phillipines, and I expect he's gotten a bit complacent there now - not much left to bomb. Hopefully I'll catch something in the harbor and get away squeaky-clean. It's worked well enough before.
SOPAC/SWPAC: Some of the AKs loaded with supplies get torpedoed in Port Moresby harbor as they unload. Gah. I finally say "damn the aviation support" and throw in about a dozen P-40s. Next time we can at least get some shots off.
Notes: A rather fun turn. I seem to be doing pretty well in the air lately. The Wildcats stand up well to the Zeroes, and the AVG is doing pretty good against IJAAF aircraft. My grace period can't last, though. He certainly has the capability to pin me in place and hammer me down in both theatres. But will he do it?
If I was Cruft, I'd pull the Kido Butai into the DEI and start raiding Northern Aus. He could force a CV battle and win - specially within Betty range. Hmmm.. what can I do with the forces I have without exposing them to certain destruction? Pick and snipe and run, pick and snipe and run.
Final note. Is anyone reading this?
If anyone has any requests - pictures, a bit more explanation, I'd be happy to elaborate.
RE: 3/7/42-3/8/42
I'm reading. I'm also reading your opponent's thread, so I'll try not to say anything of substance. 
Your two AARs add up to a very entertaining account of your war, from two different perspectives obviously.
As for what I'd like, I like your format as it is.
Your two AARs add up to a very entertaining account of your war, from two different perspectives obviously.As for what I'd like, I like your format as it is.
RE: 3/7/42-3/8/42
I'm reading. I'm also reading your opponent's thread, so I'll try not to say anything of substance.
As for what I'd like, I like your format as it is.
Yay, a reader! Yes.. no hints please.. [:)] Entertainment is my goal.
I rather like this format, as well. I'm still going to update with pictures next turn (it has already been sent) - it's been about a month and the situation has changed.
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Gen.Hoepner
- Posts: 3636
- Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2001 8:00 am
- Location: italy
RE: 3/7/42-3/8/42
reading it. Very good format. If my english was better i'd switch to this kind of AAR, but to write these lines, in such a good form, you must speak a good english[:)]
BTW: i really enjoy this AAR. Keep on doing it!
BTW: i really enjoy this AAR. Keep on doing it!
3/9/42-3/10/42
Thanks Gen. Hoepner! Glad you like it. [:)] Your AAR is great, as well. In any case,
3/9/42-3/10/42
India/Burma: Ouch! He counterstrikes. About 60 Sonias escorted by Nates (all from Pagan) hit Akyab this turn, where I had about a dozen Buffalos stationed. Over the two days the airfield is hit hard and about 7 Buffs are destroyed. I'm withdrawing the unit and replacing them with a Hurri unit from Imphal. In the meantime, i can't allow that many bombers at a base so close to Mandalay. Therefore, the Hurribombers and Blenheims from all over Burma are going in tomorrow, escorted by the AVG. Hopefully I'll be able to catch them on the ground. My recon sucks; I can't believe I wasn't aware of such a concentration of aircraft.
China: Same old stuff. No real movement.
Phillipines: About five divisinos with artillery support move in to challenge my poor Marines and Filipinos holed up in Bataan - about 70,000 IJA troops to my 15,000. They won't last long.
DEI: More action here, as usual. Cruft shifts targets from Darwin to Lautem (port on the east side of Timor) where I was unloading Dutch base forces and supplies. The Zeroes hack through my Warhawk and Brewster CAP and put torpedoes into several ships - Warhawks are NOT Wildcats. However, nothing is sunk and unloading is mostly completed. The damaged ships are running back to Darwin, and I've doubled the CAP over Lautem. There are about 150 aircraft at that base now.
Also, my sneaky strike with the ABDA fleet has gone through essentially undetected and is heading into Davao. I want to catch ships in harbor and planes on the ground, and hopefully disrupt him a little. We'll see the results tomorrow. Then we flee back to Balikpapan.
Other theatres: No action this turn.
Let's see if my little counterblows in Burma and the DEI turn out well..
3/9/42-3/10/42
India/Burma: Ouch! He counterstrikes. About 60 Sonias escorted by Nates (all from Pagan) hit Akyab this turn, where I had about a dozen Buffalos stationed. Over the two days the airfield is hit hard and about 7 Buffs are destroyed. I'm withdrawing the unit and replacing them with a Hurri unit from Imphal. In the meantime, i can't allow that many bombers at a base so close to Mandalay. Therefore, the Hurribombers and Blenheims from all over Burma are going in tomorrow, escorted by the AVG. Hopefully I'll be able to catch them on the ground. My recon sucks; I can't believe I wasn't aware of such a concentration of aircraft.
China: Same old stuff. No real movement.
Phillipines: About five divisinos with artillery support move in to challenge my poor Marines and Filipinos holed up in Bataan - about 70,000 IJA troops to my 15,000. They won't last long.
DEI: More action here, as usual. Cruft shifts targets from Darwin to Lautem (port on the east side of Timor) where I was unloading Dutch base forces and supplies. The Zeroes hack through my Warhawk and Brewster CAP and put torpedoes into several ships - Warhawks are NOT Wildcats. However, nothing is sunk and unloading is mostly completed. The damaged ships are running back to Darwin, and I've doubled the CAP over Lautem. There are about 150 aircraft at that base now.
Also, my sneaky strike with the ABDA fleet has gone through essentially undetected and is heading into Davao. I want to catch ships in harbor and planes on the ground, and hopefully disrupt him a little. We'll see the results tomorrow. Then we flee back to Balikpapan.
Other theatres: No action this turn.
Let's see if my little counterblows in Burma and the DEI turn out well..
3/11/42-3/12/42
Sigh. Once again I stick my neck into Cruft's noose.
3/11/42-3/12/42
India/Burma: The AVG knocks down more Nates over Pagan - Cruft must be getting fairly annoyed - but the Blenheims hit nothing and the Hurris get shot up badly as they strafe. I'm mildly annoyed that I didn't knock out more Sonias - he hit Akyab with a LOT of them. The Blenheims are going back on recon duty, and the fighters at Mandalay have a lot of damaged planes - we're going to stop toying with the Army fighters for now.
China: I'm pulling out of Wuchow and back to Kweilin. I don't think I'll ever crack his line in China there, so I'm just giving up for now. I might send somne of the Wuchow guys to Nanning after I rest them a bit - Nanning seems a bit more promising, numbers-wise.
The Phillipines: Bataan falls! The last 21,000 troops on Luzon go into the bag. Now all he has to do is clean up the remaining minor outlying bases - and he has another 3 or 4 free divisions.
DEI: This perhaps should go under the Phillipines heading, but oh well. My ADBA fleet manages to make it into Davao and bombard, sinking 2-3 AKs and a TK. The next day, his naval search catches me and Nells from Davao put torpedoes into CL Glasgow and Houston. And a CV/CVL task force sends Kates at me from long range which throw 250kg bombs at Glasgow, Marblehead, and Houston. None of these ships will sink but they will be out of it for some time. Once we return to Balikpapan and rest, I'll put most of them back to Darwin.
I also lost 10 Sea Gladiators on a sinking AK to my own incompetence. I completely forgot about those guys. ><
SOPAC: The Warhawks and Beauforts from Moresby attack what looks like a small transport group (APDs and PGs) at Lae. No hits are scored, but it's a start - this is probably the first offensive action performed in this theatre. I really need that aviation support!!
Also, Canton became a size 4 port today.
Other Notes: The Davao bombardment thing was premature. I inflicted very little damage and exposed my ships to counterattack.
I've lost aircraft in AKs before (Catalinas near Canton, a loooong time ago). I have no idea why the AK was where it was when it sank. C'est la vie - but I can't let it happen again. Stupid little mistakes like this will cost me the war.
Here's a screenshot for you today, showing the Davao op:
And one final note. I've been thinking about saving my orders-phase turns in a separate slot and uploading them somewhere. That way I could examine them later - and perhaps, if there was interest, I could link to them here too. That way you could examine the situation from my perspective. What do you guys think?
3/11/42-3/12/42
India/Burma: The AVG knocks down more Nates over Pagan - Cruft must be getting fairly annoyed - but the Blenheims hit nothing and the Hurris get shot up badly as they strafe. I'm mildly annoyed that I didn't knock out more Sonias - he hit Akyab with a LOT of them. The Blenheims are going back on recon duty, and the fighters at Mandalay have a lot of damaged planes - we're going to stop toying with the Army fighters for now.
China: I'm pulling out of Wuchow and back to Kweilin. I don't think I'll ever crack his line in China there, so I'm just giving up for now. I might send somne of the Wuchow guys to Nanning after I rest them a bit - Nanning seems a bit more promising, numbers-wise.
The Phillipines: Bataan falls! The last 21,000 troops on Luzon go into the bag. Now all he has to do is clean up the remaining minor outlying bases - and he has another 3 or 4 free divisions.
DEI: This perhaps should go under the Phillipines heading, but oh well. My ADBA fleet manages to make it into Davao and bombard, sinking 2-3 AKs and a TK. The next day, his naval search catches me and Nells from Davao put torpedoes into CL Glasgow and Houston. And a CV/CVL task force sends Kates at me from long range which throw 250kg bombs at Glasgow, Marblehead, and Houston. None of these ships will sink but they will be out of it for some time. Once we return to Balikpapan and rest, I'll put most of them back to Darwin.
I also lost 10 Sea Gladiators on a sinking AK to my own incompetence. I completely forgot about those guys. ><
SOPAC: The Warhawks and Beauforts from Moresby attack what looks like a small transport group (APDs and PGs) at Lae. No hits are scored, but it's a start - this is probably the first offensive action performed in this theatre. I really need that aviation support!!
Also, Canton became a size 4 port today.
Other Notes: The Davao bombardment thing was premature. I inflicted very little damage and exposed my ships to counterattack.
I've lost aircraft in AKs before (Catalinas near Canton, a loooong time ago). I have no idea why the AK was where it was when it sank. C'est la vie - but I can't let it happen again. Stupid little mistakes like this will cost me the war.
Here's a screenshot for you today, showing the Davao op:
And one final note. I've been thinking about saving my orders-phase turns in a separate slot and uploading them somewhere. That way I could examine them later - and perhaps, if there was interest, I could link to them here too. That way you could examine the situation from my perspective. What do you guys think?
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Gen.Hoepner
- Posts: 3636
- Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2001 8:00 am
- Location: italy
RE: 3/11/42-3/12/42
It's march and you still hold the southern part of Borneo. I think he's pretty in troubles. Borneo should be secured by the end of Jan at max. When he'll reach Java Sosarbja or Batavia will be already at size 9 forts, and that means that he'll need a lot of divisions to take it, divisions that would have be usefull and necessary in burma or for Timor/port moresby. I think you're already in a very good position.
RE: 3/11/42-3/12/42
You're right - I am pretty happy that I've managed to hold on to chunks of the SRA this long. At the same time, this was my first WitP game, so there has been a fair amount of bungling. Java is well fortified, but Cruft's invasions are always well-planned and covered - I can only snipe and parry. Still.. The more time I can buy, the better.
No one can afford to squander their assets recklessly. Not even the Allies.
No one can afford to squander their assets recklessly. Not even the Allies.
3/13/42-3/14/42
Warning! This update is PICTURE-HEAVY!!
Well, I've been sick with the flu for the past 3 or 4 days, so I haven't gotten around to the turn.. but I'm back, and wow! What a turn. I'm also on a better computer, so I've been able to take screenshots without my computer catching on fire/melting/vanishing into an alien portal. Anyways..
3/13/42-3/14/42
India/Burma: Cruft was definitely more than a little peeved about the AVG knocking down Nates, I suppose, because he throws hundreds of aircraft at Mandalay this turn. The AVG was still mostly damaged and could only muster about 20 aircraft on the first day, along with roughly 40 Hurri IIs.. but it was enough to save the airbase, and the AVG isn't "broken". We cut huge swathes through the Nates and shot down quite a few bombers as well. I lost plenty of aircraft too, but I don't think he'll try that one again.. as a bonus, the base is completely repaired. Screenshot:
And the Burma theatre:
China: No action, other than more bombardments at Nanning, his troops arriving in Kungchang, and a small fight in the hex northeast of Changsha. My aggressive experiments have failed and I'm starting to pull back into fortress-cities.
DEI: My little Davao raid does not end happily. CL Dragon and CLAA Colombo are caught in Balikpapan port by Betties from Kuching and sink. Everything else except the DDs is heavily damaged.. I've moved in CAP and as soon as float damage is down, I'm getting the hell out. CA Louisville and CL Achilles are torpedoed in Lautem (eastern Timor) today, as well, when Zeroes and Betties penetrate the CAP (as usual). Louisville may sink if she doesn't shed some FLT (Lautem harbor isn't very developed, but if I tried to run her to Darwin she WILL sink). Achilles is good enough to make it to Darwin, though, so she's off.
He still hasn't taken Palembang. What's going on there? It's not like he doesn't outnumber me by a huge amount. Anyways, screenshots.
Java and Borneo:
Sulawesi/Timor:
SOPAC/SWPAC: My Beauforts and Tomahawks bombing the TF at Lae meet some very good Zero pilots today. 4 P40s and a Blenheim go down with no loss to the Zeroes. Letting my people rest for a turn. I also have another base force and a brigade coming in to reinforce PM from New Zealand - see screenie:
Northpac: I sent a couple of DDs past Paramushiro Jima to see if they'd be detected. They haven't been, but I'm not pushing it, so they're running back to Kiska. Still, maybe I'll be able to do some raiding later, once I get stronger forces in this theatre..
Bonus Screenshots ([:D]):
Final bit: I have the orders phase saved in a seperate slot from my normal game. If I can find somewhere to upload it, people can download it and take a look at my side of the game (if there's anyone interested). More on this later.
Well, I've been sick with the flu for the past 3 or 4 days, so I haven't gotten around to the turn.. but I'm back, and wow! What a turn. I'm also on a better computer, so I've been able to take screenshots without my computer catching on fire/melting/vanishing into an alien portal. Anyways..
3/13/42-3/14/42
India/Burma: Cruft was definitely more than a little peeved about the AVG knocking down Nates, I suppose, because he throws hundreds of aircraft at Mandalay this turn. The AVG was still mostly damaged and could only muster about 20 aircraft on the first day, along with roughly 40 Hurri IIs.. but it was enough to save the airbase, and the AVG isn't "broken". We cut huge swathes through the Nates and shot down quite a few bombers as well. I lost plenty of aircraft too, but I don't think he'll try that one again.. as a bonus, the base is completely repaired. Screenshot:
And the Burma theatre:
China: No action, other than more bombardments at Nanning, his troops arriving in Kungchang, and a small fight in the hex northeast of Changsha. My aggressive experiments have failed and I'm starting to pull back into fortress-cities.
DEI: My little Davao raid does not end happily. CL Dragon and CLAA Colombo are caught in Balikpapan port by Betties from Kuching and sink. Everything else except the DDs is heavily damaged.. I've moved in CAP and as soon as float damage is down, I'm getting the hell out. CA Louisville and CL Achilles are torpedoed in Lautem (eastern Timor) today, as well, when Zeroes and Betties penetrate the CAP (as usual). Louisville may sink if she doesn't shed some FLT (Lautem harbor isn't very developed, but if I tried to run her to Darwin she WILL sink). Achilles is good enough to make it to Darwin, though, so she's off.
He still hasn't taken Palembang. What's going on there? It's not like he doesn't outnumber me by a huge amount. Anyways, screenshots.
Java and Borneo:
Sulawesi/Timor:
SOPAC/SWPAC: My Beauforts and Tomahawks bombing the TF at Lae meet some very good Zero pilots today. 4 P40s and a Blenheim go down with no loss to the Zeroes. Letting my people rest for a turn. I also have another base force and a brigade coming in to reinforce PM from New Zealand - see screenie:
Northpac: I sent a couple of DDs past Paramushiro Jima to see if they'd be detected. They haven't been, but I'm not pushing it, so they're running back to Kiska. Still, maybe I'll be able to do some raiding later, once I get stronger forces in this theatre..
Bonus Screenshots ([:D]):
Final bit: I have the orders phase saved in a seperate slot from my normal game. If I can find somewhere to upload it, people can download it and take a look at my side of the game (if there's anyone interested). More on this later.
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Gen.Hoepner
- Posts: 3636
- Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2001 8:00 am
- Location: italy
RE: 3/13/42-3/14/42
I still believe it's a strange tactic the one used by your opponent. It's March and Lunga has not been touched yet, nor Java neither Timor or Mandalay....
How's the situation at PM? how many Ass points there? Forts? A/Cs?
What about your CVs? Are you planning to use them aggressively before june?
What about Tarawa/Canton island/nanomea area?
How's the situation at PM? how many Ass points there? Forts? A/Cs?
What about your CVs? Are you planning to use them aggressively before june?
What about Tarawa/Canton island/nanomea area?
RE: 3/13/42-3/14/42
I still believe it's a strange tactic the one used by your opponent. It's March and Lunga has not been touched yet, nor Java neither Timor or Mandalay....
How's the situation at PM? how many Ass points there? Forts? A/Cs?
What about your CVs? Are you planning to use them aggressively before june?
What about Tarawa/Canton island/nanomea area?
At PM: I already have the First Aus brigade there, and with a NZ brigade, it will be secure. I can only support 30 aircraft right now (beaus, P-40s and some Catalinas) but again, the convoy has a base unit in it, so I should be able to double that number. Then I'll be able to move in more aircraft I have waiting in Townsville. Forts are level 3, if I remember correctly.
My CVs, except for one, are all in Darwin - Saratoga took a torpedo a while back and is recovering system damage there rather rapidly.. down to 17 now. Yorktown, Enterprise, and Lexington are all ready for action.. and I have been using them pretty aggressively in the DEI, but not TOO aggressively. I try to anticipate which bases he'll take next and hit the invasion convoy. Anytime I can catch him a distance away from his LBA is good..
Tarawa has been taken.. Canton is secure, I have lots of units there. It's 4/4 now. He took up to Baker, which I took back, but he flattened my transports, so the Marines there are isolated. I feel fairly secure behind Canton, though, and the Marines on Baker have almost 7000 supplies to last them until I can relieve them, so I'm happy enough staying where I am for now. I don't need another debacle.
As for Cruft's tactics.. He is taking it slowly but he's got almost everything covered. Catching him off guard is quite hard - the Baker incident being an example. I run in Marines on transports as fast as I can and start unloading and the next day the entire Kido Butai smashes them to pieces! He's crafty. I'll agree that we're behind the times though. Partially, I think, it's because he's a replacement player for the guy who was playing last, and he had to adjust..
Also, that's true about Lunga - he seems to have ignored it so far. I think I'm going to try and sneak a couple destroyers to it and see if Betties catch them. If not, I'll drop off a base force and some other units. But I'm leery of that whole theatre, cause Cruft is a UV veteran.. he has to have ignored Lunga intentionally, with a purpose, and I think it might be bait.
RE: 3/13/42-3/14/42
Great screenshots! I've really been enjoying watching this one.
One newbie question. What's to stop Allied players from seizing some of the northern Japanese islands? I know the weather slows you down four months a year, but you get all these troops and engineers attached to the North Pacific, and it seems tempting to use them for something besides garrisoning Dutch Harbor...
One newbie question. What's to stop Allied players from seizing some of the northern Japanese islands? I know the weather slows you down four months a year, but you get all these troops and engineers attached to the North Pacific, and it seems tempting to use them for something besides garrisoning Dutch Harbor...
RE: 3/13/42-3/14/42
One newbie question. What's to stop Allied players from seizing some of the northern Japanese islands? I know the weather slows you down four months a year, but you get all these troops and engineers attached to the North Pacific, and it seems tempting to use them for something besides garrisoning Dutch Harbor...
Other than the nasty forts they have established up there, and the weather - nothing.
I plan on taking Paramushiro (sp?) Jima at some point, when I have the forces available. I'd rather like to keep hopping south if possible.-
AmiralLaurent
- Posts: 3351
- Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2003 8:53 pm
- Location: Near Paris, France
RE: 3/13/42-3/14/42
ORIGINAL: Grotius
Great screenshots! I've really been enjoying watching this one.
One newbie question. What's to stop Allied players from seizing some of the northern Japanese islands? I know the weather slows you down four months a year, but you get all these troops and engineers attached to the North Pacific, and it seems tempting to use them for something besides garrisoning Dutch Harbor...
AFAIK to use them to invade something will require to load them in ships and this requires a change of command and spending VPs.
Then if you want to land in Kuriles, you will have to fight away from you main bases in the backyard of the Japanese Empire. Not especially the best place you can find. Will probably work agains the AI but can't see how it will succeed in a PBEM. LBA is the real strength of the Allied player and you will not be able to use if much in this area.
3/15/42-3/18/42
Sorry about the lack of updates lately I've been lazy!
AmiralLaurent: Have to disagree. The Northpac forces don't need a command change to be moved around, and I'm already pretty well established in the north.. when I've built Kiska up enough I can start hitting the Kuriles with heavy LBA.
Anyways, here's a quick update over the last four days.
3/15/42-3/18/42
India/Burma: No action - not a single dogfight. We're both catching our breath here - replacements for the AVG are coming in slooowly. I still have reinforcements moving up to Mandalay and Akyab. I really think I can hold this line, given a bit more time to fortify.
China: No action - his army is still facing mine in Kungchang. I haven't been pushed back yet, but it's a matter of time. In the south, I consolidate forces at Kweilin and start building forts.
DEI: I lost two more cruisers to Betties - Australia and Louisville. Achilles made it to Darwin. The Davao raid cost me a lot of good ships. The ABDA fleet is now withdrawing to Darwin.. there's isn't anywhere else safe in the DEI for surface ships anymore. I've also been losing subs at a rather high rate. They'll go back to Darwin too, for some R&R.
Oh yes - just this turn, he dropped Paras on Medan (northern Sumatra). It'll probably fall pretty quick, but at the same time that makes me mildly happy, as I had congregated most of my Sumatran garrison units there. Better than having them spread out all over the place. (I was trying to do the same thing in the south with Palembang, but wasn't able to get all my units there in time.)
I've also finally solved the aviation support problem at Darwin by evacuating more Dutch base forces. Now I have plenty.. I'm going to hit Amboina's oil with all my heavies there next turn. We'll see how it goes.
SOPAC: Unloading at PM is complete. Now I have two brigades and two base forces there - enough aviation support for 52 aircraft. More is on the way, along with more P-40s. The Zeroes at Lae really beat the hell out of the ones I have there.
CENTPAC: No action.. sending supplies to Johnston Island, moving units around so I feel secure. I'm not going to make any moves here for a while.
Northpac: Just shuffling people around. More engineers on their way to Kiska.. the base is already halfway to a 3/3.
I've been lazy!AmiralLaurent: Have to disagree. The Northpac forces don't need a command change to be moved around, and I'm already pretty well established in the north.. when I've built Kiska up enough I can start hitting the Kuriles with heavy LBA.
Anyways, here's a quick update over the last four days.
3/15/42-3/18/42
India/Burma: No action - not a single dogfight. We're both catching our breath here - replacements for the AVG are coming in slooowly. I still have reinforcements moving up to Mandalay and Akyab. I really think I can hold this line, given a bit more time to fortify.
China: No action - his army is still facing mine in Kungchang. I haven't been pushed back yet, but it's a matter of time. In the south, I consolidate forces at Kweilin and start building forts.
DEI: I lost two more cruisers to Betties - Australia and Louisville. Achilles made it to Darwin. The Davao raid cost me a lot of good ships. The ABDA fleet is now withdrawing to Darwin.. there's isn't anywhere else safe in the DEI for surface ships anymore. I've also been losing subs at a rather high rate. They'll go back to Darwin too, for some R&R.
Oh yes - just this turn, he dropped Paras on Medan (northern Sumatra). It'll probably fall pretty quick, but at the same time that makes me mildly happy, as I had congregated most of my Sumatran garrison units there. Better than having them spread out all over the place. (I was trying to do the same thing in the south with Palembang, but wasn't able to get all my units there in time.)
I've also finally solved the aviation support problem at Darwin by evacuating more Dutch base forces. Now I have plenty.. I'm going to hit Amboina's oil with all my heavies there next turn. We'll see how it goes.
SOPAC: Unloading at PM is complete. Now I have two brigades and two base forces there - enough aviation support for 52 aircraft. More is on the way, along with more P-40s. The Zeroes at Lae really beat the hell out of the ones I have there.
CENTPAC: No action.. sending supplies to Johnston Island, moving units around so I feel secure. I'm not going to make any moves here for a while.
Northpac: Just shuffling people around. More engineers on their way to Kiska.. the base is already halfway to a 3/3.
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Gen.Hoepner
- Posts: 3636
- Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2001 8:00 am
- Location: italy
RE: 3/15/42-3/18/42
Welcome back!:)[:)]
What about Cooktown? How's its AF?
D'u wish to hold PM whatever it takes?
What about Cooktown? How's its AF?
D'u wish to hold PM whatever it takes?
RE: 3/15/42-3/18/42
ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner
Welcome back!:)[:)]
What about Cooktown? How's its AF?
D'u wish to hold PM whatever it takes?
Thanks Hoepner! [:)]
Cooktown is buliding, but I don't have much aviation support in eastern Oz right now. I have lots of aircraft in Townsville but no heavies right now, they're on the way. Cooktown is building but it's not high priority.. I do intend to hold PM - I can't afford to let him control the sea between New Guinea and Oz with LBA. I'll keep feeding fighters into there until I win, if I have to. [8D]
3/19/42-3/20/42
This is from memory, so I'll be brief!
3/19/42-3/20/42
India/Burma: No action, still. Mandalay is building forts fairly rapidly now. I've broken the AVG into 3 groups so that it rebuilds faster. Need to get those high experience pilots in the air! One group will go into China when they're repaired. Where they are badly needed.
China: I think he's transferred a lot of the AC he had in Burma over to here now, because he's being increasingly aggressive over central China, shooting down loads of I-16s. The plastered squadrons have been transferred back to Chungking. I really want to bring in some of the AVG here once they're ready.. shooting down Nates is fun. Oh, and more fighting at Kungchang. Still holding.
DEI: Pulling back everything I can now. I still have a couple ships recovering float damage at Balikpapan but I've basically pulled everything back to Darwin now. A lot of subs get sunk, and I pull them back to Darwin too (where I now have an AS.) Several big TFs move into the area.. some BBs, lots of DDs.. and one includes the CV Kaga!! I'm pulling out the USN CVs to Eastern Oz next turn.
All other theatres: No action.
More later.
3/19/42-3/20/42
India/Burma: No action, still. Mandalay is building forts fairly rapidly now. I've broken the AVG into 3 groups so that it rebuilds faster. Need to get those high experience pilots in the air! One group will go into China when they're repaired. Where they are badly needed.
China: I think he's transferred a lot of the AC he had in Burma over to here now, because he's being increasingly aggressive over central China, shooting down loads of I-16s. The plastered squadrons have been transferred back to Chungking. I really want to bring in some of the AVG here once they're ready.. shooting down Nates is fun.
Oh, and more fighting at Kungchang. Still holding.DEI: Pulling back everything I can now. I still have a couple ships recovering float damage at Balikpapan but I've basically pulled everything back to Darwin now. A lot of subs get sunk, and I pull them back to Darwin too (where I now have an AS.) Several big TFs move into the area.. some BBs, lots of DDs.. and one includes the CV Kaga!! I'm pulling out the USN CVs to Eastern Oz next turn.
All other theatres: No action.
More later.
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Gen.Hoepner
- Posts: 3636
- Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2001 8:00 am
- Location: italy
RE: 3/15/42-3/18/42
ORIGINAL: Alikchi
ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner
Welcome back!:)[:)]
What about Cooktown? How's its AF?
D'u wish to hold PM whatever it takes?
Thanks Hoepner! [:)]
Cooktown is buliding, but I don't have much aviation support in eastern Oz right now. I have lots of aircraft in Townsville but no heavies right now, they're on the way. Cooktown is building but it's not high priority.. I do intend to hold PM - I can't afford to let him control the sea between New Guinea and Oz with LBA. I'll keep feeding fighters into there until I win, if I have to. [8D]
I've just experienced that if japanese player wants PM he can have it, at least by June 42, so be cautious not to mass to many valuable troops there[8D][:D]
Cooktown, if operative at Level 5 AF, is a Pain for the Japs! From there you can pound to dust all his AFs in NG.
How many troops in Burma? Where are the 18th and 2nd UK divisions?
I'd use the AVG In Burma to force him to put his priceless zeros in an war of attrition. China is lost already,unless you're playing with 1.4, i guess. Do not waste too many resources there.
I'll try to make some CV raids between Mariannas and Wake if the KB is in DEI....there should not be a lot of Betties and Nells there
my 2 cents