Return of the Sheep! - JocMeister(A) vs. MrKane(J)

[Lokasenna]

Idunno. If you know KB is in the DEI, that gives you a lot of room for maneuvering in CentPac at the very least. You'll be able to fortify forward places sooner (i.e., Gilberts/Solomons), though at risk of being cut off if he brings the KB back east. And if he does, he's not in the IO with them which means any Indian offensive on his part is at risk from the sea.

Now, it's conceivable that he could hold you back in both areas if he plays really well. But it would require near perfect/perfect play on his part, and that's pretty rare due to chance and the complexity of the game.

[JocMeister]

Thanks for the advice guys. [&o]

I see a couple of problems with an early allied move into CENTPAC.
-Lack of troops. The same troops used to move into CENTPAC could instead be used to tip the balance somewhere critical (OZ/India)
-CENTPAC lack VP intensity.
-I would need engineers to build forts. Do I rather have level 5 forts on Wake or Sydney?

My main concern is the fact that Japan doesn´t need CENTPAC at this stage. In fact the only reason for Japs to do something in CENTPAC is to deny the allied player the bases. What is to stop my opponent from doing absolutely nothing about an allied move into CENTPAC at this stage? He then finishes his 2nd phase objective (which will be easier since the Allies have diverted troops into CENTPAC) and if he fails AV he can just smash my bases one by one under the cover of the full KB in late 42/early 43. And if he doesn´t fail...well then a allied move into CENTPAC was just a waste of time and resources.

That being said I will of course do SOMETHING in CENTPAC. But I´m very reluctant to divert anything major there at this stage. My main concerns have to be the critical areas which most likely is OZ or India.

I´ve been pondering this all night. I´m pretty convinced my reasoning is sound. Unless someone has another angle on it? [:)]

Got Java and PI sorted before I went to bed. Promised I would have him the turn before I head to bed tonight.

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]Pearl Harbour [/font]
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I think I´ll just sit tight here for a while... [:D] I was thinking about creating a bunch of ASW TFs but it will probably just end in me getting my ships sunk. The highest rated ASW ships I have are my DDs with a whooping 2 ASW value.

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

[font="Verdana"]Pearl Harbour [/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

I think I´ll just sit tight here for a while... [:D] I was thinking about creating a bunch of ASW TFs but it will probably just end in me getting my ships sunk. The highest rated ASW ships I have are my DDs with a whooping 2 ASW value.

If DBB has the same countermix as IronBabes C you should have some excellent PC ASW platforms in the Alaska region.

I gather them up post haste and get them headed to the thick of the action.

Certainly you should be able top slaughter that surface force two hexes SW of Pearl w/ no carrier air cover?

[rook749]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

[font="Verdana"]Pearl Harbour [/font]

I think I´ll just sit tight here for a while... [:D] I was thinking about creating a bunch of ASW TFs but it will probably just end in me getting my ships sunk. The highest rated ASW ships I have are my DDs with a whooping 2 ASW value.

I would do the opposite, assuming you you are not worried about another strike from the KB. Set all of your ACU's to ASW (Fighters, Bombers, Etc) - setting have of each type set to night. This will increase the changes you spot the subs and they can't shed their detection level at night. Then you use every unit with an ASW point to hunt them down.

Maybe it works maybe it does not but it should prevent most of your losses for the following benefits: Possible Damaged Subs, Possible Sunk Subs, EXP Gain form sailing, Possible EXP Gain from Damaged Subs, Possible EXP gain from Sunk Subs.

IMO - Allied units needs to speed most of their time at sea gaining EXP. US units once they get their Radar, decent EXP and their leader swapped are far more dangerous.

[poodlebrain]

One of the cardinal rules for the Allies in the early war is to be aggressive where there is no threat from the KB, and you have reasonable prospects for causing Japanese losses. You know the KB is not a threat to Hawaii. You can use your air force almost exclusively in the ASW and naval search roles. This should allow you to achieve high enough detection levels on the Japanese subs to make a few successful attacks even with the low ASW values of your ships.

[HansBolter]

It typically takes 3-4 months of hard and constant ASW patrolling and training before the American air assets start actually attacking and getting hits on subs.

I set them to 50% ASW; 30% training and 20% rest.

You start getting sighting pretty quickly and it will be helpful in raising DL levels.

I believe it is also beneficial to get everything and anything that floats with an ASW value, no matter how miniscule out there beating the waves as well.

Sure you will likely lose more platforms to the subs than you will sink, but if you want the crews to have decent experience by the time the ships upgrade their ASW weaponry you have to get them out there.

I know that at least one class of DD starts with an ASW value of 4 (not sure which as I'm not in front of the game), but I typically try to make sure they are assigned carrier escort duty.

It also pays to convert as many to APDs as quickly as possible to get the use of their ASW value of 6. Conversions to DEs have to await a later date and thus are less useful as quickly as the APDs.

[JocMeister]

Hey guys!

As Hans says my air assets are pretty useless ATM. Very few of the CAT pilots have over 50 in NavS and none have any ASW skill to speak of (I think you need 70+ for the planes to even attack). When fighting Jap subs the key is as Rook says to get a good DL. If you can´t get that your are in deep dodo. I remember seeing something like 6-8 sub attacks on my CVs in 44 during one night alone. This despite having 6 CVEs dedicated to ASW duty, over 100 ASW rating in the TF and over 1000 ASW rating in the hex. One Essex got hit with 2 TTs and almost sank. All other attacks missed thank god.

I have a very healthy respect for Jap subs. Especially early game before Allied escorts begin to pick up. [:)]

Got the turn back a couple of hours ago. I´ll start on the update shortly. Spent the day thinking about the game (as usual) and I think I decided what I will do.

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]December 9th - 41 [/font]
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Actually a pretty quiet turn for being the 2nd one.

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Malaya
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I wasn´t able to scuttle Repulse and Pow and at least Repulse are mercilessly beaten down during the night.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Mersing at 51,82, Range 6,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Walrus II: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
DD Asashio
DD Oshio
DD Michishio
DD Arashio

Allied Ships
BC Repulse, Shell hits 8, and is sunk

Later in the day KB find the POW again but no TTs this time. Only bombs.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Singapore at 51,84

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
D3A1 Val x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 9 damaged
D3A1 Val: 2 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales, Bomb hits 5, heavy damage

Flooding on the PoW is now up to 88 and I can scuttle her. She is 1 hex from Singers but with only 1 hex movement per turn she is doomed. Our first aerial attack against the landings fizzle. Inexperienced crews and Thunderstorms don´t mix. At least we get confirmation on the Hiryu here again. We do get some small success at Mersing though!

Sub attack near Mersing at 51,82

Japanese Ships
xAP Brazil Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
SC Ch 7
xAP Huso Maru
xAK Kisogawa Maru
xAK Ayato Maru
xAKL Matsutan Maru
xAKL Meiko Maru
DD Ayanami
DD Shikinami
PB Tatsumiya Maru

Allied Ships
SS KXIII

Japanese ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

After that small success the landing begins in earnest. The 21st and 56th RGT are confirmed on the beach together with the 12th engineer RGT.

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Philippines
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My opponent puts up a guard outside Manila but many, many ships manages to sneak by. There are more wolves to pass before we are in safety though. Another guard is on station to the east of the PI. Houston and Boise are closing in on them. Sadly something borked and they did not merge this turn. 4 Enemy ships are just a hex away. We will seek battle in order to try get more civilians through. 3 xAKLs are sunk outright during the night. Another 10 ships or so suffer damage. Most of them damaged will probably not escape.

B17s fly from Clark and hit the anchorage at Pescatores with good results.

Morning Air attack on Pescadores , at 84,63

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 16

Allied aircraft losses
B-17D Fortress: 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Yudachi, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DD Murasame, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAKL Hinode Maru #20, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

DM Tracian makes a full speed run into Cam Rahn Bay and surprises a Japanese convoy at anchor.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Cam Ranh Bay at 64,72, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
APD Aoi, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
TB Kasasagi, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
AMc Wa 19
xAK Hokko Maru
xAK Zinzan Maru
xAK Kinkasan Maru
xAK Giyu Maru
xAKL Kembu Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
xAKL Kiko Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
xAKL Anbo Maru, Shell hits 7, heavy fires

Allied Ships
DM Thracian

Allied Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Japanese TF suspends unloading operations and begins to get underway

The Japanese Airforce hit Manila again sinking many ships previously damaged. Sadly I lose all the subs that was automatically moved into repair mode. Crap.

The allied air force is concentrating at Clark. No landings here yet but I think I see the landing ships approaching.

Big KB moves aggressively towards Java and is now south of Balikpapan! [X(] CV Soryu, CV Shokaku and CV Zuikaku are confirmed by the destroyer Paul Jones. Java was evacuated last turn though so Big KB shouldn´t find any targets.

Japanese landings at Loewoek and Jesselton.

In other theaters there is nothing to report. [X(] If I hadnt a fix on the KB I would be very worried right now. Its too quiet.

[JocMeister]

Oh, and I can now reveal my opponent as he has made contact with his other PBEM partner(s?). [:)]

My opponent is the mighty Mr.Kane. I´m very happy to have the opportunity to play such a skilled opponent. He proved in his game vs GJ that he has a very good understanding of the game mechanics and showed he is a formidable opponent. I have the highest respect for him and I know I´ll have to bring my A-game or get beaten to pulp! [:D]

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Oh, and I can now reveal my opponent as he has made contact with his other PBEM partner(s?). [:)]

My opponent is the mighty Mr.Kane. I´m very happy to have the opportunity to play such a skilled opponent. He proved in his game vs GJ that he has a very good understanding of the game mechanics and showed he is a formidable opponent. I have the highest respect for him and I know I´ll have to bring my A-game or get beaten to pulp! [:D]

I knew it [;)].

[offenseman]

Ahh Mr Kane. indeed this should be interesting!

Your excellent intel on KBs whereabouts is perfect for getting the Dutch subs into action against them. Good luck.

[DOCUP]

Hitting Manila is popular now.  It might be the way to go. 
 
Nice job with the second turn.  You got a few good licks in.  The problem with being aggressive in CentPac, NorPac or where ever the KB isn't is Joc doesn't have the assests to guard and take bases.  I do like the potential to set up ambushes in CentPac and other places you know MrKane will have to go but without the KB now.

[ny59giants]

Mr Kane likes India a lot. [:)]

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: JocMeister
I knew it [;)].

My guess as well.

It will be interesting to see if he goes after India again full bore. In GreyJoys game I believe he mentioned that his outer ring defenses were strong, but his inner ring defenses were very weak.

[JocMeister]

So I have been staring at the map trying to decide were to focus. India is the obvious target. But I´m not going to put all my eggs in the same basket. I keep coming back to what Erik wrote in post #45.

SOPAC/Eastern OZ.
This is an area that goes hand in hand with each other. Having SOPAC in Allied control almost guarantees Allied control of Eastern OZ. SOPAC in Japanse control on the other hand puts Eastern OZ into jeopardy. There are some pretty nasty modifiers around here...

Look at this screen of SOPAC. 200x multiplier in 4 bases. The positive thing here is that this area is undeveloped so he would need to build it up to benefit from the multipliers.

When you look at Eastern OZ it gets worse though...a 400x multiplier from the 4 major OZ bases. But this area is built up and if he could grab those bases that would net him almost 7000 VPs. And thats not counting the allied VPs lost to troops inevitably destroyed in the process. I havn´t looked too closely but this could quite possibly be the most dense VP area on the map for the Japanese...if he grabs this together with China and get SOPAC built up it might actually be enough.

Here is a screen of the SOPAC area.

[JocMeister]

And here is one of OZ.

[Lokasenna]

Noumea is crucial to you if you want to stave off AV. Its 50x Allied multiplier is amazing - the highest you get outside of late war objectives and whatnot.

Likewise, denying him NE Australia is also important. Though he can take it in early 42 as long as you take it back... I very much doubt he will cross the Line Of Death south of Brisbane, but defending Brisbane is probably important . Port Augusta... I guess it depends on how many forces you have and whether or not you still hold Western Australia. Perth is an enormous VP multiplier for him as well.

[Lowpe]

You may be right, but I don't think so. [:)]

I think you can rest assured that he is going big for autovictory...this from his email about playing a non-historical game.

But, take heart, he is Japan and can't be everywhere in strength. It only feels like it in the beginning.[:D]

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

You may be right, but I don't think so. [:)]

I think you can rest assured that he is going big for autovictory...this from his email about playing a non-historical game.

But, take heart, he is Japan and can't be everywhere in strength. It only feels like it in the beginning.[:D]

MrKane and I almost played before I took up my other 2 games. I wasn't quite ready for another game at the moment he asked me, and I believe he ended up playing Spidery instead.

I'm sure he's going to push hard for auto-victory, he seems to be a very aggressive and good player. But to date, he hasn't crossed any LODs, has he? I wouldn't want to cross them, unless it was going to spur an AV for me before any of those emergency reinforcements could arrive at the front lines. So within a couple of weeks. The emergency reinforcements aren't a lot, but they're still a nasty gift to the Allies (from Japan's perspective) -

Day 1 of crossing the LOD, in Scen 2:
44th British Division arrives at Cape Town (466 AV, decent TOE, average experience)
2nd British Para Brigade arrives at Cape Town (121 AV, mostly para-capable, 70 Exp)
1st AA Bde arrives at Aden
7th SA Armoured Brigade arrives at Cape Town (156 tanks)
Invasion Mobilstn Supply Convoy arrives at Cape Town
27th Rhodesian Brigade arrives at Cape Town (143 AV, average Exp)
Natal Mtd Rifles Regiment arrives at Cape Town (50 tanks)

That convoy puts the following directly into the pools (plus some combat engineers and support):
324 squads
168 arty tubes
48 armoured cars
72 AA tubes
48 Matildas
48 Stuarts
--Planes--
48 Kittyhawk IA
48 Vengeance I
32 Spitfire Vc Trop (!!)
48 Mitchell II
12 Catalina IIIA

Granted, these could be different in DBB, right? Still... that's a pretty hefty boost. I'll say it again - I doubt he'll trigger them!