Rising Sun, Falling Skies: BTSL Bigred vs John 3rd

[BBfanboy]

I can see arguments for both sides. Clearly the refueling problem so close to major action is an unprecedented situation, but OTOH one could argue that dancing so close to empty fuel tanks and the action was taking a huge risk that you ended up losing.
In addition to his APA losses, Bigred has lost carriers to your clever traps in this game and he does not have a strong enough CV force yet to confidently take on the remainder or yours if they refuel. You also have a lot of distracting TFs in the area that could split his strikes.

If a mulligan was accepted it should include something that has random chance of happening. Like after your remaining carriers refuel you split them and send them in two different directions, one of which does not take them farther away from his carriers unless he moves in a different direction. He can keep his carriers together and send them in one direction. He may catch part of your carriers or none. After that turn you are free to recombine your carriers or break off separately. I was thinking of using playing cards to decide the direction. Assign directions using the card suit and card value, each simultaneously and randomly draw a card from your shuffled deck while on video link with your opponent.

Or if you can figure out any other approach that uses randoms to decide the clash or not.

[John 3rd]

Thanks Sir.

The limited mulligan I wanted to simply NOT move the TF at Tabitueau so it would--no matter what--refuel from the AO TF. The events of the turn play out again but at the end of it, I have ONE semi-mobile TF to work with. That is it. Nothing else.

[stuman]

This has been a very interesting game to follow. It proves to me the level of care and attention that must be paid when facing an attentive opponent.

[John 3rd]

I have given up and done the turn. Let the slaughter commence...

[jedwardpita]

If I remember right, there was a US Admiral (Fletcher?) who was criticized for paying too much attention to refueling.

[bigred]

Found this movie about the IJN politics over building the Yamato. very interesting.
Japanese with subtitles:

The Great War of Archimedes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcNrKxqIYW0&t=2669s


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great ... Archimedes

[John 3rd]

Correct--Fletcher that is...

[jedwardpita]

Found this movie about the IJN politics over building the Yamato. very interesting.
Japanese with subtitles:

The Great War of Archimedes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcNrKxqIYW0&t=2669s


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great ... Archimedes

The beginning sequence is quite interesting. The middle of the movie is good. The ending is written with characters having amazing (unrealistic) foresight.

The US had a BB class planned that was much bigger then the Iowa class. King wanted them very much. Leahy (chairman of the JCOS) who had Roosevelts ear was able to kill the super BBs. It would be interesting to have a scenario that built the super BBs with some other ships not being built. For US politics consider "The Second Most Powerful Man in the World" by Phillips.

[CaptBeefheart]

Yes, Fletcher wouldn't have been caught like that. He also wouldn't have sent nearly as many ships to Davey Jones's locker as John 3rd has in this AAR.

Great to see the camaraderie and sense of fair play of both players in this AAR.

Cheers,
CB

[bigred]

This is the planned Allied moves around the Canton Baker Tabi basin for the next turn. File is in the mail.

[BBfanboy]

Good to see the game continue. Haven't seen a contest as tooth and nail as this one in a while!

Excellent.jpg (40.35 KiB) Viewed 838 times

[John 3rd]

It won't be after this turn.

[John 3rd]

Without a limited mulligan, I plan out the Japanese moves expecting complete disaster for the eastern CTF and probable disaster of the western CTF. The planning that I make is to send several small STF NE to slow down and intercept the approaching hordes of Allied ships. It is a suicide mission for them.

Both CTF are ordered to move NW trying to reach Tabitueau.

Most importantly, my remaining Replenishment TF of 4 AO carrying 32,000 Fuel is to meet the western CTF and refuel it. With the CTF moving TOWARDS the AOs and AOs coming in, it should be simple as everyone is moving in the same direction and very close to each other.

Here, on a screenshot, is the plan:

02-25-44.jpg (191.56 KiB) Viewed 741 times

[John 3rd]

OK. What happens you ask?

Complete disaster.

The AOs refuel NOTHING for the 3rd time in four days. They do serve to die the first day of the two day turn having done exactly ZERO for a period of four game days.

The Fleet doesn't move NW at all. It advances a total of ONE hex NE while being destroyed.

Screenshot of February 27, 1944:

02-27-44.jpg (143.82 KiB) Viewed 737 times

[John 3rd]

Years and hundreds of turns to build and destroyed because the DAMNED AI refused to fuel anything not once, not TWICE, but

02-27-44a.jpg (133.63 KiB) Viewed 735 times

THREE TIMES!

Am ranting/angry and can readily admit that. The Kaigun is SUPPOSED to die in this game; however, it is supposed to die in a Samurai-like manner like in the The Last Samurai.

Glorious---not...

[Lowpe]

Feb of 1944 and you have Baker Island....not too shabby.

Now, with the KB pretty much gone, the game really begins!

[RangerJoe]

I had not looked at this for awhile nor commented either.

Another option for refueling your CVs would be to have other fully fueled ships meet the CVs, join them, then they can be refueled. You could break off DDs if needed to do the same. Sorry that this idea is too late. Also, you might want to have the threat level set to "Absolute" to ensure that they will do the job required.

[John 3rd]

I didn't have much in area other then the AOs with a CL and/or DD escort. Good idea though.

Did shift them to ABSOLUTE. Didn't help. They couldn't sail one hex while the Allies were able to sail six-to-seven in the same amount of time. Useless. To say that I am pretty angry about it is an understatement. Course the same exact thing can be said three times in four days now so it isn't a pattern or anything...

This is an excellent lesson for readers to be made aware of. LEARN from these AARs people.

[John 3rd]

Feb of 1944 and you have Baker Island....not too shabby.

Now, with the KB pretty much gone, the game really begins!

ALL of it is gone (20+ Carriers and 25+ Escorts). Only have 8 CVEs and BBs now. Just want to commit Seppuku currently!

[John 3rd]

Always share life developments as well in my AARs. Had a chunk taken out of my left upper arm last Tuesday. Melanoma and I have an incision 5-6" long. VERY nice! Doc gave me anti-biotics and I got hives from them. Wed-Thurs-Fri were not fun days. Got the good news today that they got all of it and had the bandage removed. NASTY! Looks like someone did fight me with a katana and I lost.

I am red haired (or was ) and have always used sun block as well as been careful. Hasn't worked out too well at this point! Am nearly 57 and now have to go in for full body skin checks every three months. Depressing getting old boys. Swear that all the warrantees come off once you turn 50.