Intellectus Ex Nihilo (Wal-Mart on Ice)

[Gridley380]

ORIGINAL: Uncivil Engineer

I think the "no more pilot slots" message occurs when you try to draw pilots from reserve or TRACOM and there are NO pilots in reserve or TRACOM. I've don't ever recall seeing the message drawing from replacements or ANY.

I've gotten it when trying to draw pilots from TRACOM even when there were pilots in TRACOM (tried using TRACOM as a "super reserve" pool; it was more trouble than it was worth).

[Canoerebel]

I thought I got the message while trying to draw from Reserve, but perhaps I mis-clicked and was actually trying to draw from TRACOM. I'll see if it happens again.

[Canoerebel]

The grayish line to the right depicts the Allied position on 11/20/43.

The blueish line in the middle depicts the current Allied position, 03/28/44.

The orange line to the left is the current maximum extent of Allied nav search and recon.

[BBfanboy]

Go to the Intel Report and look at the Pilot Replacement Pool - that will tell you if the USAAF is short of pilots.
You can always go to other backwater squadrons and strip the best bomber pilots for your B-29s, leaving just enough pilots for the number of aircraft in the backwater unit.

Your large area map has many telltale dots in the southern part of the Bay of Bengal ...

[Canoerebel]

That is precisely the thought Dave is meant to have.

[jwolf]

Doesn't your Nav Search cover the Andaman Sea as well?

[Canoerebel]

Yeah, my lines aren't exact. Nav Search from Akyab picks up part of the Andaman Sea.

[Canoerebel]

3/29/44

Timor Sea: This turn is an example of coming up with a plan, clicking a hundred times to issue orders, and ending up feeling uneasy/dissatisfied about it. In this case, I left the game, played the turn from Obvert/Erik, mulled things over, came up with what I felt like was a better plan, and re-did a hundred clicks.

[Canoerebel]

3/30/44

Timor Sea: The sudden change in plans proves beneficial. One benefit (naval-air strike vs. enemy shipping) wasn't foreseen. The circumstances are ripe for another - prodding Dave into reacting. Timor is lightly garrisoned. Koepang, with 14k troops, is the strongest redoubt. DS is now in a position to impose a blockade, unless Dave sorties KB. The cauldron is boiling; the vortex is spinning. More and more units are converging. Things are going to happen.

[BBfanboy]

The number of vehicles in that TF that you hit intrigues me - tanks? or just a large HQ? I don't think Japanese BFs have a great deal of motorized support.

[Canoerebel]

I had SigInt of a base force moving to Koepang, so I think the transports were carrying that, but you could be right about there being heavy units aboard.

[Canoerebel]

3/31/44

Timor Sea: A lot going on, some risk-taking involved, and Allied power growing in the Timor Sea region.

Dave has some powerful bases in this region - Koepang, Lautem, Sorong, Kendari - but some of them probably have supply or support unit issues. He also has a host of undefended or weakly defended bases - Dili, Ternate, and many small islands.

Two days from now, the Perth CVE TF will rendezvous with DS near Koepang. If KB hasn't materialized, I'll have the option of greenlighting Koepang invasion. Another possibility is to surprise Dave by ordering a flank-speed move into the Banda Sea, with the intention of a deep landing or three. If successful, such a move would unhinge the entire Japanese MLR.

I'm working on an analysis that might suggest the nonstop action the past few months has penetrated deep enough into Dave's heartland that he isn't well-prepped beyond Timor/Ambon. That creates fun possibilities but should also mean Dave needs to fight to the death here, if necessary.

[BBfanboy]

I wonder if Dave is waiting for DS to expend more sorties before KB offers combat?

[Canoerebel]

That could be. To that purpose, he loaded up Koepang with fighters this turn, hoping DS aircraft would sortie against a suddenly hard target. He might be working for any kind of attrition or degradation - subs, mines, perhaps some combat TFs, and perhaps waiting until I stick my head into the noose in the right place at the right time.

A refresher on Dave's conduct might help newer and more casual readers: As DS & The Herd entered the Gulf of Carpentaria, another Allied invasion force approached Port Headland (this was about 10-14 days ago). Dave sortied KB from Soerabaja at flank speed to intercept, then withdrew towards Soerabaja, without engaging, also at flank speed. I figured he was recalling KB and positioning it to intervene with DS & The Herd, which were bearing down on Saumlaki, Taberfane, etc. But KB didn't come forward, didn't engage, didn't oppose those invasions or the subsequent one at Darwin. Nor has it appeared as the Allies approached Timor.

It's important to figure out what Dave's thinking and where KB is. It's vanishing has been surprising and perplexing.

[HansBolter]

Could be in Soerabaja repairing the damage from those high speed runs.

[Canoerebel]

Soerabaja is under regular recon, so its not there. He's doing a good job keeping it out of view.

By the way, Hans, I acted on your suggestion and brought an AVD to Saumlaki. Despite those sub-choked waters and my dire predictions it made it.

[Canoerebel]

4/1/44

Battle of the Timor Sea: A major carrier battle took place today but I can't post detailed info until Dave sends the next-turn file. He sent the 001 and the Combat Report, so I have a general idea of what happened but lack the detail the next-turn file would give, such as precise ship damage; air losses; locations of the TFs; and where and how ships will retire, if necessary. (Dave is in the third week of a four-week busy spell that has slowed the pace of the game; he may not be able to send the turn until tomorrow.)

A few tidbits: I think this was a Battle of Antietam - significant losses on both sides, no clear-cut winner, one side perhaps better able to hold the battlefield. Both sides suffered major air losses, but Allies losses might prove to be 30% to 50% higher. A quick tally from the Combat Report (which always seriously underreports air losses) shows the Japanese with 175 aircraft destroyed and the Allies with 230 (when the time comes to see the real totals, it'll be cringe-worthy for me). Both sides suffered damage to capital ships but few, if any, are in danger of sinking (except perhaps CV Aso, which took two bombs and must've suffered a catastrophic explosions, as heavy fires/heavy damage is reported). Eight carriers on each side suffered damage; for the IJN six CVs and two CVLs; for the Allies, four USN CVs, one RN CV, two CVL and a CVE. CV Victorious took 1 TT; CV Hornet took 1 TT and 1B; all the other Allied fleet carriers took no more than a single bomb. In addition to CV Aso's heavy damage, Kaga took 3B and Akagi took 2B. CVL Chitose took a TT and 3B and should be in bad shape.

Both sides will probably need to regroup (ship AA will have low ammo, on both sides, and Allied strike aircraft may force retirement to Darwin. The Allies might be in a better position to resume operations in shorter term, as a CV, a CVL, and about 10 CVEs are inbound and a few days to perhaps a week away (and CV Bunker Hill will complete repairs at Townsville in two weeks).

It looks like there may have been some reaction; there's a possibility KB fought from Koepang, a base hex (that would be crazy, as air ops would be halved but Dave would've benefited from LBA CAP); and there's a possibility the two big Allied CV TFs fought from different hexes.

In my game with Obvert, my carriers have usually been configured for defense (due to the threat of enemy LBA and CAP, given all the fighting has been in proximity to the Home Islands). In this game, the only other big carrier battle (Bay of Bengal) caught me in a similar configuration. So it's encouraging to see a more typical carrier battle, with both sides taking damage and no slaughter of the innocents.

[jwolf]

ORIGINAL: JohnDillworth

Looks like Koepang/Ambon is a line in the sand. If you want to go there it will be contested.

Evidently JD was right from 8/27.

[BBfanboy]

How are you Koepang with the stress?
Are you feeling Timorous after that clash?
Maybe Saumlaki sub of yours will get a shot at his carriers and make your day!

[Canoerebel]

[:D]

Quick! Someone convene the AE Kangaroo Court. BBfanboy has gone pun bezerk!