Speedy vs Fabertong - time to smack back the Penguin

[Mynok]

I agree on defensive reserve. Don't have the manual handy but it would be utterly pointless to have a defensive reserve that switches to move mode in order to shore up the defenses.

[ny59giants]

Wirraways carry only 100lb GP (x2) while Hudsons carry 250lb GP (x4) with greater range. I would train up your Wirraways for ground attacks and Hudson for naval attack. I think you will need to specialize your LBAs early in the war as their experience in some areas is so bad that it is a waste to use them that way. 

[Terminus]

Nobody is reading this. Not even me...[:'(]

[witpqs]

Reading what?

[Terminus]

Nothing. Disregard.

[khyberbill]

At the moment I expect subs to be the numero uno weapon in AE to win against the Japanese.

I wish this were true, but with the high dud rate, US subs mainly chip the paint. I will say there are more encounters, and when the dud rate drops, Japanese convoys will need to be well escorted.

[khyberbill]

4) Does not take casualties in combat unless initial odds are greater than 2-1; if the unit's leader passes a land check, the unit is placed in Move mode and added to the combat resolution

Are you sure it is MOVE mode? My troops in reserve mode switch to Combat mode. In China, sometimes as many as 8 or 10 corps were switched to Combat mode from reserve mode during a deliberate or shock attack against them.

[Wirraway_Ace]

ORIGINAL: Speedy




Looks as though Faber is heading for PM already! Search planes identified a Japanese TF heading SW towards Milne Bay. This is a pity since I was at least hoping to get 1st Aus Bde there. This is unlikely now with the men embarking at Cairns.

My shipping came under attack at PM for the first time by Nells based at Rabaul! All attacks missed my Cruiser force though which was good. They'll head west, my supply convoy south and await developments.

I have 143 AV at PM, 2 forts and 25K supply. Won't hold if Faber's brought a big stick.

I have moved in a Wirraway Squadron for Naval interdiction (what good it will do).

The good news is that A-24 Banshee squadrons arrive at Brisbane within 2 days........

This seems to be an increasingly common strategy (to go for PM early). In one of my games, my opponent tried in late December (failed) and then sent the veteran 4th division in on 8 Jan. I had 160AV and PM fell in about 10 minutes...

My Banshees were up to 30 experience at that point--could not hit anything moving but sunk an AK parked at Buna in a supporting enemy operation.

[ckammp]

ORIGINAL: Mynok


I agree on defensive reserve. Don't have the manual handy but it would be utterly pointless to have a defensive reserve that switches to move mode in order to shore up the defenses.

From the manual (pg.186):

"If attacked and the initial Assault odds are greater than 2:1 a unit in reserve may be aded to the combat if the units Leader passes a LAND check. If the check is successful the units Op Mode will change to Move and the reserve units combat strength will be added to the combat."

I agree, it seems strange that the unit goes to Move instead of Combat; I assume it is meant to simulate a unit rushing to secure the MLR.

Or, of course, it could just be a manual typo.[:)]

[Mynok]

Sounds like it is based on what khyberbill said above. [8D]

[Capt. Harlock]

Hi all, Is anyone reading this?

Actually, Faber's doing even worse than you. His AAR has over 2400 hits (vs. 1780 for yours), but even fewer replies.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

Hi all, Is anyone reading this?

Actually, Faber's doing even worse than you. His AAR has over 2400 hits (vs. 1780 for yours), but even fewer replies.

Penguins are so scary! [X(]

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Thanks for your comments.

Smeulders - thanks. A good point. I suppose it could be the whole of KB. I guess we'll have to wait and see! I hope Faber doesn't come for Noumea in the next month. If he does he'll get it easily. If not then I should have a 'decent' sized force in place.

NY59 - Good point! Wirraways are useless for almost anything it seems. guess for now it's just a 'using what I have' method. I have flown my Banshee's in this turn and the Wirraways out.......

Wirraway_Ace - I agree. It looks as though PM will fall. On the 27th elements of Guards Mixed Bde and 144th Rgt landed. They already outnumber the defenders 2.5:1 in AV and have far higher experience.

----------------------------

PI/Malaya -

Fairly quiet here except that 12 x Buffalo were lost over Malacca for 2 x Oscars.....useless things. Resting tomorrow.

CAP flying over Clark tomorrow. B17's will attempt to bomb Hong Kong's LI.

Starting to move some forces back to Singapore - namely 11th and 19th Indian Divisions from Malacca.

-------------------------

Rest of SRA -

Japanese movements starting to occur. Recon identified a large concentration of Japanese ships north of Kuching.

Balikpapan was stormed today by Japanese forces from neighbouring Samarinda.

Japanese Para's took Kolaka west of Kendari and ships edging past Manado

------------------------

Burma -

Still quiet here but Japanese forces nearing Moulmein.

I continue to build up around Pegu.

------------------------

Other areas -

As mentioned above Japanese forces landed at PM. They should take it. I have flown the Banshee's in for a day to see what damage they can do.

Not sure where the CV's are but maybe NE of Milne Bay.

I'm risking sending my Aussie CA/CL force from the island west of Horn Island to try to mix things up. I know BB Yamashiro and CL Kitakami are around since they bombarded PM (and will hopefully be low on ammo). Will probably take 2 days to get there. We'll see.

Seems like Japanese midget subs tried to get into PH again. None apparently made it through and several objects were reported sunk or ditched.......

----------------------------

Submarine warfare -

A series of missed/failed attacks my side.

The Japanese sunk 2 ships today.

TK Mindanao nearing Soerabaya but SS I-153...DD's will investigate the area tomorrow.

AK Steel Ranger was lost with all hands by SS I-173 on it's way to re-supply Canton Island (another 2 ships now en route - not enough escorts to go around so many uinescorted smaller convoys).

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

PI/Malaya -

B17's bombed some of Hong Kong's LI today (20ish damaged). Tomorrow the oilfields of Tarakan are the target.

Buildup continues at Clark. A mixture of units are resting whilst others are on 'combat' to help build forts.

--------------------

Rest of SRA -

Japanese Naval units unloaded troops off Kendari todsay. CL De Ruyter and 2 x DD's will investigate the area tomorrow despite the fact CVL Ryujo is hovering further to the east.

Small raids were conducted against Ryujo and CVL Zuiho (near Kuching) by Dutch Mediums. No hits were scored and 2/3 of the attackers (7 planes) were shot ddown by CAP/AA. In return we claimed a Claude.

-------------------

Burma -

The 'Battle of Burma' is about to begin as Japanese units have reached the outskirts of Moulmein. My Bde there is about to pull out via rail tomorrow. The RAF will show it's hand tomorrow when 12 x Blenheims are ordered to bomb the Japanese positions escorted by AVG and Buffalos.

-------------------------------

Other areas -

Well well....go Banshee's:

CA Furutaka
xAP Keihuku Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Nikki Maru, Bomb hits 1
xAK Azumasan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Kazan Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DD Kikuzuki
xAP Dairen Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CA Kako, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAP Ukishima Maru


xAK Nishimi Maru, Bomb hits 1
xAK Venice Maru
xAK Cheribon Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

CA Furutaka
xAP Ussuri Maru
xAK Nikki Maru
xAK Katuragi Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAP Tsingtao Maru
CA Kinugasa
xAP Dairen Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage

xAK Nishimi Maru
xAK Venice Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kuraido Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Matsue Maru


Not bad for rookies....and I mean rookies - average exp is 30. They've done their part and they could be very useful in the region. As such all available planes (incl patrols) have flown to Australia. The Patrols will start to pick up men from PM which will surely fall as even more Japanese came ashore today (SNLF's).

KB is south of Milne Bay. My cruiser force will go in to investigate PM tomorrow all being well......

CV Yorktown arrives tomorrow [:)]

BB POW is moving down the west coast of Australia towards Perth now[:)]

---------------------------

Submarine warfare -

SS Plunger had a 'bumper' day reportedly sinking 2 enemy freighters inbetween Truk and Rabaul. First to go was the Shinwa Maru by a torpedo. In the afternoon Plunger surfaced and reportedly sunk the much smaller Tomozono Maru #3 by a 4" shell!

On the 'other side' I lost a large freighter - Hinsang SE of Soerabaya to I-156.

---------------------------

China -

Is getting interesting so I thought I'd post a screenshot of what's going on. The red circles indicate current battle points and the arrows the upcoming axis/expected moves by Allies (blue) and Japanese (red).

I've tried to really mess things up for Faber in the region of Wuchang/Hankow by cutting roads and now moving in strength to the cities. 13 x Corps are moving towards Hankow (reported 19 enemy units there!) I don't know if i'm strong enough to take these hot spots but we'll try. Examples of the current strength levels are below:

Ground combat at Nanchang (85,54)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 22951 troops, 226 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 937

Defending force 13415 troops, 92 guns, 76 vehicles, Assault Value = 416


Allied ground losses:
23 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Assaulting units:
9th Prov Chinese Corps
50th Chinese Corps
49th Chinese Corps
78th Chinese Corps
21st Chinese Corps
3rd New Chinese Corps
23rd Group Army
30th Group Army

Defending units:
12th Ind.Mixed Brigade
11th Ind.Mixed Brigade
23rd RGC Temp. Division
17th JAAF Base Force


Ground combat at Wuchang (84,51)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 56023 troops, 311 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1704

Defending force 30706 troops, 264 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1075


Allied ground losses:
80 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Assaulting units:
26th Chinese Corps
73rd Chinese Corps
74th Chinese Corps
37th Chinese Corps
20th Chinese Corps
72nd Chinese Corps
99th Chinese Corps
27th Group Army
29th Group Army

Defending units:
18th Ind.Mixed Brigade
3rd Division
40th/A Division
40th/B Division
40th/C Division


China is certainly interesting at the mo...........

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

A bad day for Australia and New Zealand..............

------------------------------

PI -

The first Japanese troops have reached Clark Field...only 1 unit reported. More to come of course. I'm taking a risk in attacking tomorrow....on the proviso that not all of the Japanese will be there and they will not be in combat mode.

The raid against Tarakan was a failure as the bombers became separated and enemy CAP drove most of them off. We rest tomorrow.

P40's on CAP.

------------------------

Malaya -

Mysteriously Netties attacked my small freighters that have ferried in the much needed supply to Singapore. 3 of them were sunk today. Buffalos are on CAP tomorrow in case they do so again.

------------------------

Rest of SRA -

The large mass of Japanese TF's has moved west from Kuching heading SW around Borneo......I wonder where they're going? Logically I would say Palembang.

CL De Ruyter charged into Kendari Bay attacking the enemy invasion fleet. An Sub Chaser was blown up and an AK left heavily burning, 400 enemy troops died on board the ships......come first light though Ryujo's Kate's had located them and by day's end De Ruyter was left crippled and heavily listing. It's doubtful she'll make Makassar.

----------------------

Other Areas -

Disaster at PM as my Cruiser force was just approaching to engage the Japanese when a mass of enemy TB/DB's appeared overhead. Kaga and Soryu groups were present apparently. Decimation occured and by day's end CA - Canberra, CL - Perth, Leander and Adelaide were sunk. CL Achilles was left heavily damaged and burning. Only DD Voyager was left unscathed racing away to the west.

The good news is that, surprisingly, PM held back the Japanese attack:

Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13869 troops, 119 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 509

Defending force 5104 troops, 60 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 167

Japanese adjusted assault: 52

Allied adjusted defense: 65

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 2)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker: disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
1201 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 89 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 28 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
392 casualties reported
Squads: 22 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled


Assaulting units:
Guards Mixed Brigade
Maizuru 1st SNLF
144th Infantry Regiment
Sasebo 2nd SNLF
7th Naval Construction Battalion
2nd JNAF AF Unit

Defending units:
2/1st Ind Coy
B Coy/NG Rifles
D Coy/NG Rifles
Lark Battalion
49th Australian Battalion
A Coy/NG Rifles
Port Moresby Brigade
15th RAAF Base Force
Rabaul Det. Base Force

Fragments of all units are being transported back to Cairns to allow them to 're-grow' in due course.

------------------------------

China -

Chinese forces were pushed back east of Sinyang (frustratingly).

The 'block' held NW of Nanchang. Talking of Nanchang the leaders have been replaced and tomorrow the Chinese forces will attack there. It is really crucial for me that this succeeds. Without a breakthrough in the region it will be a massive waste of supply and my forces will be exposed.

-------------------------------

Submarine Warfare -

The only Allied success today was when SS KVIII crippled DD Ikazuchi west of Singkawang....I had placed 3 subs in this region in anticipation of the large mass of Japanese TF's.

The hunter became the hunted when DD Pope blew up after SS I-156's torpedo hit her off Soerabaya.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

A query to all -

How best to increase Allied replacement pilot experience? My take on it is that you need to send back a fair few highly experienced pilots to TRACOM. However in theearly game phases there are hardly any 80+ EXP pilots spare to send back.

Thoughts?

Happy Christmas to all if I don't get to post on here again before tomorrow!

Steven

[Smeulders]

TRACOM doesn't do anything for the exp of your pilots, it will only speed up the training, not worth it IMHO as allies, you've got enough replacement pilots. What is worthwhile is sending some of those highly experienced pilots (80+ pilots in units training gives a bonus) to units remaining on the west coast, fill them up with rookie pilots and let them train until they reach the 60's, then reassign the pilots to front line squadrons.

[Speedysteve]

So how do you increase the entering EXP of pilots from the pilot pool?

[Smeulders]

You can't, you'll need on-map training to get them combat worthy.

[Roger Neilson II]

Not only am I reading this but am making notes as I do so. I use a nifty free programme to pull all the ideas together.

No worthy comments form me yet as I am making an absolute mess of my first game and really need to hide my ineptitude!

Roger