Lunacy in the Pacific: Mogami vs. Oleg

[DuckofTindalos]

Or 5): All of the Above

[Oleg Mastruko]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

1) Create ZOC traps to force surrender rather than retreat

2) Take out level 4 airbases to take the surviving 17's and Martins out of the equation

3) Limit high-value unit rescues from the PI and Borneo

4) Cause severe sphincter malfunction on the part of opponents.

1. Bah - all KNIL units in DEI are already doomed. They will die where they stand one way or another. This way they will be destroyed sooner (maybe they will be treated better by their captors).

2. I can evacuate B17s nevertheless. Martins I think I won't even be interested to evacuate (although it is doable too, jumping in between level 1-2 bases, you don't need level 4 base to evac, you only need it to operate)

3. Name one high value unit on Borneo [:D] Or PI.

So that leaves us with #4 [:D][:D]

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: Oleg Mastruko

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

1) Create ZOC traps to force surrender rather than retreat

2) Take out level 4 airbases to take the surviving 17's and Martins out of the equation

3) Limit high-value unit rescues from the PI and Borneo

4) Cause severe sphincter malfunction on the part of opponents.

1. Bah - all KNIL units in DEI are already doomed. They will die where they stand one way or another. This way they will be destroyed sooner (maybe they will be treated better by their captors).

2. I can evacuate B17s nevertheless. Martins I think I won't even be interested to evacuate (although it is doable too, jumping in between level 1-2 bases, you don't need level 4 base to evac, you only need it to operate)

3. Name one high value unit on Borneo [:D] Or PI.

So that leaves us with #4 [:D][:D]

re 2: Right...I meant operate [:)]

re 3: PI...All the USMC units, the US FA Regts, USAFFE HA and Asiatic Fleet HQ, 803rd Av Bn, PAF AV, even the Philipino Scouts and the Base Units. Of course...most of it is doomed..as is everything on Mindanao [;)]...now Borneo...hmm..well there's the ...well no..how about the....errrm...forget it you are right.

re. 4: If you think 1-3 are unimportant, then you shouldn't have to worry about #4 [:)]

[mogami]

Hi, OK I am back. I had to judge a car show at VFW (free beer for me) Now my head hurts but I'm ready to run turns.

OK I am disapoointed in the class.

Why didn't Japan land on Malay on turn 1?...... *this is simple)

Because the transports were all loaded for other targets. (Duh) Don't you feel silly?
The units headed to Malaya have to wait on the transports (and surface TF)
I don't have enough ships to transport and protect every place on turn 1 so I save the "close" bases for last (to get full exploit from turn 1 movement)

I have turns for all three games so I'm going to run Oleg/Nomad and then Tom. (and then catch up my other games.)

If I start a thread for just Japanese plans will the Allied players agree to stay out of it?
(the plan might not come through posts in shared AAR. )
I have agreed to stay out of TH thread and will stay out of Nomad/Oleg threads if they wish. I would ask that anyone who reads AAR by one player not post in AAR of another.

For safety we should in title space list TH/Nomad/Oleg so we don't get confused. (If I see post by oleg in Looney title I might not realize it belongs to Tom before I see "too much"

[Oleg Mastruko]

Hi, OK I am back. I had to judge a car show at VFW (free beer for me) Now my head hurts but I'm ready to run turns.

Whats VFW?

Because the transports were all loaded for other targets. (Duh) Don't you feel silly? The units headed to Malaya have to wait on the transports (and surface TF)

LOL. Why don't you walk them overland? I always send my infantry to march wherever they can get on foot - it's much safer than travelling in them rusty, torpedo-able and bomb-able transports, and keeps them physically fit and in shape.

If I start a thread for just Japanese plans will the Allied players agree to stay out of it?
(the plan might not come through posts in shared AAR. )
I have agreed to stay out of TH thread and will stay out of Nomad/Oleg threads if they wish.

Start IJN thread if you wish, I will stay out of it.

However, don't leave this thread because of it, you're welcome to stay, I love company [:D]

post by oleg in Looney title I might not realize it belongs to Tom before I see "too much"

Everyone's encouraged to read and post my thread for as far as I am concerned (but don't tell anything other guys, whoever they are, do not wish you to tell). I will stay out of Mogami's IJN lunacy plans thread.

O.

[Oleg Mastruko]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake
re 3: PI...All the USMC units, the US FA Regts, USAFFE HA and Asiatic Fleet HQ, 803rd Av Bn, PAF AV, even the Philipino Scouts and the Base Units. Of course...most of it is doomed..as is everything on Mindanao [;)]

I would love to be able to evac them all (as I am soure Doug would have been [;)]) but thre harsh truth is...

I would be paying PPs to have them loaded on transports, and then sunk by Bettys with very high probability. Thus I would lose:

- PPs
- transports (arguably more transports that I would lose normally, because they would sail later because of time spent loading)
- Unit
- PI (Runway One) staying power, and Runway 1 would fall earlier

Tough deal, they are to stay, form Festung Manila, and fight to delay the Empire's onslaught [:o] I save PPs and R#1 survives longer.

O.

[Cap Mandrake]

This is a whacky idea..kinda like a simultaneous chess exhibition.
Mogami is white and he started with the Ruy Lopez opening with everyone. We will see how fast things diverge.

[mogami]

Hi, White does not pick the Ruy Lopez. Black does. All white can do is push forward his king pawn. The choice of "defense" always rests with black.. Once a defense is choosen White may pick a variation.

Ruy Lopez
1. e4-e5
2. ng3- nc6
3 Bb5- (here is first chance for black to force white into deciding variation )(a6 Morphy defense is most common)

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: Mogami

Hi, White does not pick the Ruy Lopez. Black does. All white can do is push forward his king pawn. The choice of "defense" always rests with black.. Once a defense is choosen White may pick a variation.

Ruy Lopez
1. e4-e5
2. ng3- nc6
3 Bb5- (here is first chance for black to force white into deciding variation )(a6 Morphy defense is most common)

Right...I indeed should have said you picked a King's Pawn opening [:)] We will have to wait to see what happens on Dec 9 to see if it is Ruy Lopez then.

Allies...beware of Q to Q2 on turn 11!

[Sharkosaurus rex]

The Kragen move is probably a distractor. It will pull planes and ships down south. When the main target is Johore Bharu and trapping all Allied forces north.

Palembang LRCAP to JB is same range as LRCAP from Songkhia and Palembang has larger a/f.

Japs are probably waiting for POW and Repulse to head south (as most Allied players do) to protect southern Borneo and join up with fixed Allied naval forces in that area. Kragen will add that little extra incentive to move south and take some planes with you. Some of the Allied medium bombers have a decent range (9 and 10) but the torpedo bombers in Singapore are very short ranged. So if some of them move to Java the way is clear for Jap landings in JB.

That's my military intelligence anyway.

[Oleg Mastruko]

ORIGINAL: Sharkosaurus rex

Japs are probably waiting for POW and Repulse to head south

They're already halfway to Trincomalee. It's no secret, I think I already said it somewhere in this thread. I am not crazy to risk best BBs on the map to defend Java. As I said in this game Java is not a resource powerhouse it's just another island (pretty insignificant in pure military sense too). Besides, they are somewhat damaged, and he just needs to set them on fire with couple BB hits and they are dead meat for Nells when the day breaks.

O.

[Oleg Mastruko]

10. Dec 41. Not much changed, no big battles, usual IJN invasion routine. Seeing that all his invasions are covered by some surface force, however small, I largely gave up on small counter attacks (but then again I might be lying to lull him into believing landings are safe).

He continued to invade minor bases – if you can't exactly remember where on the map are places like Sarmi, Noemfoor, Guiuan, Babo or Dagua – that's OK I can't either, but he invaded them all. Some of those places, like Puerto Princesa, do not even fall into cathegories or explanations given above in this thread, cause they are completely empty and can't be used as retreat path for other units. I guess he's just "invasion frenzy" LOL

Martins and Hudsons are doing their harrassment strikes, and obtained some hits.

Anyway, Intel informs me that one of his divisions is west of Bangkok, which means any idea about overland escape from Malaya is OFF (as if it was realistic anyway).

His heavy surface units are observed going back to Saigon, so he obviously prepares second wave of his invasions (this time on Malay coast presumably)


Losses so far... so far so good

[Oleg Mastruko]

Japanese continue their offensive. I know Mogami very well (although I never played vs him with Mog as Japanese).

Two things with Mog can frighten me.

1. First, he is Darth Vader of ground combat. He can defend some base with Dutch regiment vs half Japanese army. How he does that I don't know, but I suspect them sneaky betas hacked the game code somehow [:@]

I guess he occassionally spends half a day sifting thru his units and hand picking best commanders for every unit on the map, from AA batt upwards. Strange meticolousness, for someone who (apparently), for example, does not pay much attention to mine warfare.

I am exactly the opposite. Anal Oleg in me pays great attention to all aspects of mine warfare, but when it comes to commanders I guess I might be pretty superficial (compared to Mog). I pick good aggressive leaders for my Division sized LCUs, and their respective commands, I put Spruance or Yamaguchi as CV TF commander, Tanaka as SC TF commander, I have couple favorite surface admirals (other than Tanaka) and land generals too and thats about it.

2. Second, Mog is incredibly methodic. He can turn blind to almost any bait, he just sticks to his strategy – right or wrong. No matter what I do in this game, he will not change his strategic plans much. He will not be sidetracked into anything he thinks is of secondary importance. He will not jump on small tricks and baits I may present to him. He will not start operation X one day too early, not even if he sees target base for Operation X is already empty for 3 weeks. He's just that kind of player – sticks to his own timetable. When on offensive, Mog is very authoritative pace-setter of the game. Nothing you can do – good or bad – can make him change his pace.

OTOH, I am very easily seduced and sidetracked – "oh, he left base Y empty, hehe lets divert units earmarked for base Q there, then base Z is also nearby, and now I see base W is juicy target too" – very soon I find myself invading Noumea with units – as I belatedly notice – that have 100 prep points for North Pole. This may NEVER happen to Mog (not to Mog we know and love [:D]).

Other than those two "traits" or characteristics I am not afraid of him.

[Oleg Mastruko]

OK that was me playing Dr. Phil from Oprah (yes we have her on our national TV here in Croatia too LOL).

OK back to game. Even when my units catch IJN unaware – results are less than stellar:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Amboina at 39,73

Japanese Ships
AP Hie Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
AP Miyadono Maru, Shell hits 1
AP Nichiran Maru
AP Nissho Maru

Allied Ships
DD John D. Ford
DD Peary
DD Pillsbury
DD Pope

But some AKs are sunk anyway:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Jolo at 38,59

Japanese Ships
AK Akagisan Maru, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS KXVI

Here's the example of harassment attacks I will occassionally mount:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Pescadores , at 47,43


Allied aircraft
B-17C Fortress x 10


Allied aircraft losses
B-17C Fortress: 10 damaged

Japanese Ships
AK Shinyubari Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
5 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x B-17C Fortress bombing at 6000 feet

10 B17s damaged for slim results indeed, but I bet captain of Shinyubari Maru is contemplating suicide right now.

This is the raid by Manila PTs on IJN landings at Puerto Princesa:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Puerto Princesa at 38,55

Japanese Ships
DD Hibiki
DD Ikazuchi, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Inazuma

Allied Ships
PT PT-31
PT PT-32, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT PT-33
PT PT-34
PT PT-35, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
PT PT-41

Which one of these is Doug's PT? He may easily lose his transpoirt back to Oz.

At Canton:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Canton

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 52611 troops, 378 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 29500 troops, 252 guns, 0 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
3 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Now, do I try desperate attack while his forces are occupied with attack on HK? Pic below

I guess not...

[Oleg Mastruko]

Nothing much new in this game.... In fact I am pretty sure this game will soon degenerate into normalcy. (Degenerate into normalcy... got it? LOL [:D])

In a months time noone will remember this started as "lunacy" game it will be just another, in this case Mogami flavored, aggressive IJN player in a game with few or no houserules. Something we see on the AAR board every day – with or without success for IJN. Hirohito, banana, what have you... perhaps Mog will fare better though?

I am very pleased by my general retreat from DEI so far.

I am not sure as to what Dutch units are worth paying PPs for? As I see Dutch pilot pool and replacement rate is very low (4 per month) so I won't be able to sustain too many Dutch squardons anyway, and they better be low-casualty ones (ie. Patrol). Do any of the Allied veterans have any advice here? What land units are worth paying PPs for, if any?

I am using Bodhi's "most excellent" (as Apollo would say [8D]) WITP utility to track various stuff and consolidate intel from various sources. It's almost useless when playing as IJN, but extremely useful for Allied players.

For instance, by tracking otherwise cryptic intel reports in WITP Util by Bodhi I concluded one IJA division is travelling along the coastal road to Canton, while his other divisions are busy fighting for HK.

So I launched attack on Canton simply because it was attack now, or not attack at all. I knew it was useless to try but as I say, I either try now or not try at all so I tried and of course failed.

Yellow square to the SE was 51st division position 4 days ago so they are obviously going to Canton. US intel, when shown in WITP utility, rules!

[ADavidB]

I am not sure as to what Dutch units are worth paying PPs for? As I see Dutch pilot pool and replacement rate is very low (4 per month) so I won't be able to sustain too many Dutch squardons anyway, and they better be low-casualty ones (ie. Patrol). Do any of the Allied veterans have any advice here? What land units are wirth paying PPs for, if any?

Ignore the Dutch units. There is at least one Brit BF that is assigned to ABDA - change it to SEA and pull it out to India. Also, try to pull out the US units (not Philippino) units out of the Philippines. Those US BFs will come in very, very handy if you can get them to Oz, supplies and a friendly HQ.

BTW - some of the ABDA air units are actually Australian and therefore they will get replacements if you transfer them to a different HQ and pull them. Check carefully.

Have fun -

Dave Barany

[Oleg Mastruko]

Great advice, thanks.

I am not terribly experienced playing Allies as all my "serious" PBEMs so far have been with me as IJN.

Any advice as to aircraft upgrades??

O.

[ADavidB]

ORIGINAL: Oleg Mastruko

Great advice, thanks.

I am not terribly experienced playing Allies as all my "serious" PBEMs so far have been with me as IJN.

Any advice as to aircraft upgrades??

O.

Save P-40Bs as much as possible - you don't get enough. Use Brit and Dutch planes as much as possible during the Zero Bonus phase - don't waste better planes. Change all of your Wirraways to Hurricanes. Split your bomber upgrades between tactical bombers and long range bombers. Save your long range bombers for naval searchs and use your tactical bombers for anti-ship roles. Change all your US Navy planes to F4F-4s, don't bother with the -3s.

Good luck -

Dave Baranyi

[Oleg Mastruko]

BTW, he now has (12/13/41) 10 units in Kragen, and will go for Surabaja next I guess.

In Philliphines he landed at Naga, and is marching towards Manila from south with what seem to be substantial forces. He also took Vigan and Aparri but those beachheads are not expanded for now.

All his BBs are in PI-DEI area. He started using some of them in pairs, but from what I see in my intel and sighting reports, they seem to be operating solo now (by solo I mean without their BB class-mates, they have escorts of course)

I lost track of Kido Butai. I am thinking of various gamey things he can do with them now...

Lone CVL (Ryujo?) is near Kendari.

Nells and Bettys have been very quiet so far, sinking about dozen or so PI merchants.

O.

[Nomad]

I'm seeing about the same but he has a lot of Betty and Nell bombers out sinking ships in and around the PI and DEI. [:@]

As for Dutch air units to save, I transfer the transport units to SE Asia as soon as I can and if there are PPs left after getting the units in PI out then maybe a couple of the flying boat patrol units, also to the SEAC. They ae the ones who need them the most.

I am at 12/13/41 and KB went north from PH and I haven't seen it since. [:(]