Here we go again! tc464 (A) vs. Mike (J) - No tc464

[Wirraway_Ace]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

Intel

The Pennsylvania was reported today to have sunk near Pearl Harbor. Now we're up to 4 BBs sunk again....

Reported as sunk today or reported today as sunk on a previous date--say Dec 7? Ted may have become impatient and tried to move her to the West Coast without getting all her system damage repaired or just been unlucky; or your humint guys may have been trying to provide encouraging news to the emperor...

[Wirraway_Ace]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

10 Jun 42

Burma

The British DD Inconstant (strange name) caught the I-32 off Colombo and hit her with a depth charge. She sustained moderate damage, 10-37(27)-1-0, and is headed home.

While I have always been a RN Fanboy, the ship naming conventions provide ample opportunity for mirth. This one always reminds me of the line from The Life of Brian, "I have a friend in Rome...,and his wife's name is...." For those Monte Python fans.

[Wirraway_Ace]

Mike,

this is one of the truly great AARs from which so many of us learn. How do you balance the attention to detail on the logistics with an appropriate level of attention to operations and tactics, or for that matter, strategy?

From another Mike

[Mike Solli]

Hi Mike. Thanks for the kind words. I really like the production piece of it. I'm just the right kind of anal to enjoy the difficulties of Japanese production.

I've been accused of spending too much time on production and not enough on strategy. That was from a very aggressive Japanese player. I'm not that aggressive. My offensive portion of the game is just about over. I'm trying to tie up loose ends (Australia). The air war in Burma is going to get ugly. I realize that air superiority is the key and I can get it for only a short period of time. My goal there is to cause an operational pause in Ted's probable offensive plans there. If I can prevent him from a ground offensive in Burma for 3-6 months, I'll be happy. I'm not concerned with IJAAF losses, but I am concerned with IJNAF fighter pilot losses. My Zero daitai started with ~36 pilots each, but that is being whittled down. One daitai is down to ~20 pilots now as you will see with the next turn. But I am causing Ted at least twice as many plane losses and I suspect he's losing good pilots at a 3:1 or so ratio. Fighting over my own airspace reduces my pilot losses.

I have been a wargamer and student of history for 40 years. Much of my military schooling involves in depth study of military history. The WWII Pacific theater seems to be a popular topic. That gives me a nice fountation for the diversity (tactical, operational and strategic) of this game.

I made stragegic plans before we ever played the first turn. Of course that has evolved since then. I toyed briefly with an invasion of Ceylon which I think is going to be shelved due to the length of time it's taking to take Darwin. Basically, the strategy hasn't changed much. Capture the SRA and N. Australia. I'll go no further south than Ndeni and no further east than the current line I'm on in the Pacific. I won't move to take any of the Aleutians. I don't have the ground strength available (due to Burma). I'm keeping an eye on Ted's expansion of Adak. As long as he doesn't move west from there, I'm happy.

I'm slowly increasing ground strength in Burma (8 Div is 3 days out and the 2 Tank Divisions will follow as soon as they arrive in about 10 days). 4 Division is slated for Burma as well. I'll pull out at least one of the two Zero Daitai and move in an additional Sentai of Oscars to fight for the airspace over Burma.

My goals after I finish my expansion will be to keep hitting Ted to slow down his base expansion. I can't stop it but I can slow it down. I figure I won't see his carriers for the remainder of the year (but I always plan for them in every operation). You'll see in the next turn the types of things I've got planned to keep him off balance.

[Mike Solli]

12 Jun 42

Australia

I forgot to mention yesterday that a US S class sub sank one of my small PBs which was out looking for it. The remaining 3 got a bit of retaliation today and hit her with a depth charge. No confirmation that she sank, but she's definitely not happy.

I'm attacking the dot hex to the NE of Katherine tomorrow. That's the remnants of the 2 Aus Div and the Aus Cav Bde that I smashed a few days ago. After that, the next stop is Darwin.

Burma

Bloody day today. There was a huge battle over Magwe involving huge numbers of fighters. In the end, I shot down 14 Warhawks and 10 Hurricanes of various flavors for a loss (from all causes) of 3 Oscars and 9 Zeros. Pilot losses amounted to 4 KIA and 3 WIA for the IJNAF and 1 KIA and 1 WIA for the IJAAF. I moved up a 30 plane Oscar Sentai to replace a Zero Daitai that's down to 12 operational planes. Another 30 plane Oscar Sentai will arrive in a day or two. That will give me 144 Oscars, 27 Zeros and 12 Nicks with another Daitai of Zeros rebuilding. I'm considering transferring another Sentai of Oscars from Kwantung to reinforce Burma. The limiting factor is air support. More is on the way there, but it's a shortage across the map.

The 8 Division will arrive by convoy at Rangoon in about 3-4 days. That'll increase my ground strength in Burma to 3 infantry divisions with another in reserve (4 Division). By the middle of July, there will also be 2 tank divisions in Burma. That will have to do for the time being. It'll use up all of my PPs through the end of June.

[Mike Solli]

The BB Pennsylvania showed up as sinking on 10 Jun 42 from damage on 7 Dec 41 (an 800 kg bomb).

Burma air losses to date. I'm comparing my pilot losses (the only issue for me) to his plane losses (the only data I have):

Allied:Japanese 55:18 (+7 Allied bombers)

Breakdown:

IJN/IJA:

KIA: 9/2
WIA: 6/1

Allied:

29 Warhawks
5 H81-A3
19 Hurricane IIb Trop
2 Hurricane IIc Trop

7 Hudson IIIa

[Cribtop]

ORIGINAL: Wirraway_Ace

Mike,

this is one of the truly great AARs from which so many of us learn. How do you balance the attention to detail on the logistics with an appropriate level of attention to operations and tactics, or for that matter, strategy?

From another Mike

+1

[DivePac88]

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

ORIGINAL: Wirraway_Ace

Mike,

this is one of the truly great AARs from which so many of us learn. How do you balance the attention to detail on the logistics with an appropriate level of attention to operations and tactics, or for that matter, strategy?

From another Mike

+1

+2

[Mike Solli]

13 Jun 42
Hi guys.  I got home from my Army school last weekend to find a turn waiting for me.  I was able to complete one turn before I had to head off to a conference (where I currently am).  I’ll be home Sunday afternoon and hopefully another turn will be waiting for me.  I’ll try to do another turn before I head off Tuesday morning to another conference.

Australia

Some Hudsons visited Broome from Pt. Hedland.  Six didn’t make it home.  My two Oscar chutai are getting some nice experience.

I took Fenton (the dot hex just NE of Katherine).  At a cost of 235 casualties, I killed 2523 Aussies and destroyed the 2/1 NAOU Det.  I’ll sit there for a day or two to allow supplies to catch up with the troops.

Burma

Things started with a night raid on Akyab by a Sentai of Sallys.  They destroyed 2 Warhawks on the ground and did light damage to the airfield.

Things really heated up when the sun came up.  Ted sent 6-7 bombing/sweep raids over Magwe.  His air force definitely took the brunt of the damage.  For a loss of 3 Zeros (2 KIA) and 7 Oscars (1 KIA and 3 WIA) I destroyed 17, 5 Hurricane IIbs, 2 H81-A3s, 6 Wellington Ics and a Blenheim IV.  My one Zero daitai that can upgrade to the A6M3 will be able to in about a week.  Hopefully, that’ll increase the kill ratio even more.

Other Stuff

Currently, the Shokaku is being upgraded at the Home Islands.  She’ll be finished around 22 June.  The other 5 CVs are at Truk.  I am going to send one CV and 4 DDs every 20 days to the Home Islands for upgrade.  This will allow me to complete all six CVs by the end of Sep 42 (assuming no need to counter any Allied attacks.  During this period, 4-5 CVs will be available at any time.  The Ryujo will accompany one of the carriers for upgrade.

Edit:

Sub War

Four midget subs attacked Vava'u unsuccessfully. Oh well, I'm out of midget subs for the time being.

The only redeeming thing that happened was the the I-18 (one of the midget sub carriers) put a torpedo into the loaded TK Mobilegas (weird name). She sank.

[Cribtop]

I think that TK's name is a cute way of saying "Mobile Gas."

[PaxMondo]

Mike,
 
Any chance for some economy screenshots?  Interested to see how you are moving resources/fuel around.  You had a thorough plan at the beginning ... now 6 months later have you been able to keep to it?  Or have there been some adjustments due to situational changes?
 
How do you move resources/fuel from the SRA to the HI?  overland to Pt. Arthur?  Of ship it from Singers?
 
Thanks!

[Mac Linehan]

ORIGINAL: DivePac88

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

ORIGINAL: Wirraway_Ace

Mike,

this is one of the truly great AARs from which so many of us learn. How do you balance the attention to detail on the logistics with an appropriate level of attention to operations and tactics, or for that matter, strategy?

From another Mike

+1

+2

+3 !!!

Mac

[Mac Linehan]

oops - duplicate post....

[Hanzberger]

Mike why did you pick scen 1 (instead of 2) and why did you pick PDU off? Just picked up on your thread and will be following.

[SuluSea]

I hope all is well Mike, I miss your AAR updates and your contributions to the forum. Thanks!

[USSAmerica]

Hear, hear!  [:)]

[pompack]

me too[:)]

[madflava13]

Would love to see this AAR come back - I'm planning a PBEM IJN first turn myself. I've never dabbled with the Japanese side before, so this thread has been amazingly helpful.

[Wirraway_Ace]

Would also like to see Mike back. This AAR and cap_and_gowns' were the most useful I have read.

[aztez]

Just popped in to say thanx.

About to start my first PBEM as japan and many helpful tips in this AAR.