Tale of the Sheep! - JocMeister (A) vs. Lowpe (J)

[BBfanboy]

Agree with Zuluhour - mines are not given enough oomph in this game and the small mark 6 that is the most available one in the early game just sucks. Three of them will sink a sub or destroyer, but not a CA. But now that Mikuma is crippled and slowed down, there are other ways to finish the job ...

[JocMeister]

6 subs laid one load each. 2 British, 1 Dutch and 3 US subs. [&o]

Very happy with the result! Both Mikuma and the DD is listed as sunk but no sinking sounds were heard.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

6 subs laid one load each. 2 British, 1 Dutch and 3 US subs. [&o]

Very happy with the result! Both Mikuma and the DD is listed as sunk but no sinking sounds were heard.

There is a good chance the damaged ships disbanded in port. Can you manage a port strike?

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy
There is a good chance the damaged ships disbanded in port. Can you manage a port strike?

Sadly, no bombers left. What little I had was shattered in that strike when I lost 50 Blenheims. I have the navy though but they arn´t quite ready yet!

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]June 14th 1942[/font]
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Relatively quit turns.

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NORPAC/WC
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KB disappears. LBA bombers hit bases in Canada and in the Seattle area. I´ll redeploy some fighters here soon unless KB shows up.

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India
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I though my smaller stack would shift hex this turn but they have 1 mile left. Luckily Jeff only bombarded. Will he follow across the river?

My main stack is 2-3 days from liberating Rajshashi. If I´m lucky Jeff will turn due south with his main stack and try to cut off my stack from Calcutta. If he does I have him.

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SOPAC
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A Japanese SCTF pops up between OZ and Noumea. Allied fleet leaves Sydney to give battle! LBA moves to Noumea in case he wanders too close. 7 Subs that has been sitting at Noumea leaves the harbor.

Will the hunter become the hunted?

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]June 16th 1942[/font]
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Not the best of turns...

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NORPAC/WC
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The usual bombings. Still no sign of KB. Engineers are really starting to flood in now. Getting 1-2 units per turn right now! [&o]

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SOPAC
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I had forgotten the Japanese in this game has access to Los Angeles class attack subs... [8|]

Sub attack near Noumea at 108,163

Japanese Ships
SS I-159

Allied Ships
CV Yorktown, Torpedo hits 1
CA Pensacola
DD Smith
DD Benham
DD Maury
DD Clark
DD Selfridge
DD Perkins
DD Preston

Sub attack near Noumea at 108,163

Japanese Ships
SS I-159

Allied Ships
CA San Francisco, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
CA Canberra
DD Helm
DD Gridley
DD Craven
DD Jarvis
DD Patterson

My fault really. Only had 42 DDs, 4 ASW TFs, all float planes on 20% ASW and Yorktowns TB squadron on 50% ASW (70 ASW skill) and 24 CATs from Noumea on 50 NavS and 20 ASW. Kind of obvious such meager ASW efforts isn´t enough...


San Francisco is in deep trouble as she can only do 12 knots. She will probably get sunk by the sub tomorrow. York is better off and can still do 23 knots...but yeah. Wouldn´t be surprised if she gets sunk next turn... [8|]

Jeff now knows I´m hunting him. He will probably high tail out ASAP and bring the KB in. I´ll follow him one more day in case he gets complacent or is looking for a fight. Unlikely though.

Forgot to take a screen. Sorry!

[Lokasenna]

I don't know about Los Angeles class attack subs. Historically, the IJN subs took a toll on the US Navy early in the war. You're still in the early war! I know you suffered a bit from sub attacks against obvert, but I'm wondering if you just weren't unlucky there.

Also keep in mind that you'll lose far fewer subs than historical on the other side of the equation, what with IJN ASW being nerfed in DBB (and the database updates from Andy) compared to stock.

[zuluhour]

If he was to make a run at you, he has to assume Sydney, I'd head for NZ to dry out first. (depending on where she is of course) It's a long war.

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

I don't know about Los Angeles class attack subs. Historically, the IJN subs took a toll on the US Navy early in the war. You're still in the early war! I know you suffered a bit from sub attacks against obvert, but I'm wondering if you just weren't unlucky there.

Also keep in mind that you'll lose far fewer subs than historical on the other side of the equation, what with IJN ASW being nerfed in DBB (and the database updates from Andy) compared to stock.

I know, I know. I calmed down now. [:D]

ORIGINAL: zuluhour

If he was to make a run at you, he has to assume Sydney, I'd head for NZ to dry out first. (depending on where she is of course) It's a long war.

I actually went after him but never caught up.

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]June 21st 1942[/font]
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Still in a foul mood after that bloody sub attack...

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SOPAC
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Still no sign of KB. My hunch is that its steaming full speed down to SOPAC. Evacuating anything that might be exposed. Have a big convoy incoming which is a bit worrisome. Might turn them back to Balboa.

I had to stop chasing the Japanese SCTF which fled due East toward Pago Pago. They came close enough for some Banshees to launch attacks from Suva but but weather and max range prevented any hits. He even brought at least one BB with him.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Niuafo'ou at 139,160

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 1
F1M2 Pete x 2

Allied aircraft
A-24 Banshee x 13

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Banshee: 7 damaged
A-24 Banshee: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CA Maya
BB Mutsu
CA Kako
CA Aoba

The TF is now almost due East of Suva and heading NW. I stopped chasing them as I´m wary of running into the KB.

Jeff tries to sweep Townsville again which ends really badly for him. 26 Zeroes shot down!

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China
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Great depression here. Jeff has now cut China in half. I keep throwing good troops in his way but with the supply penalty my adjusted AV ends up in two digit numbers. Troops are withdrawing to their final stands at Chungking, Lanchow and Sian. I usually don´t defend Sian as the clear terrain means thousands of casualties each turn from air attacks but I desperately want to damage the industry when I lose it.


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India
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See separate post

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NORPAC
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Jeff starts bombing Vancouver and Seattle again. The AA BDE shoots down 8 bombers over Seattle. [:'(] Changes the prepp for some yellow restricted troops to Coal Harbor and other targets in NORPAC. If Jeff sends the KB elsewhere I´ll start retaking what he has taken.

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]India[/font]
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"Big stack" is chasing a what looks like a regiment. Won´t get them in time though. I´ll see if I can lure Jeffs big stack down towards my "big stack".

Tomorrow he will lose his rail connection to his big stack. Doubt that will make him happy. I´m moving a bit defensively here as I´m having problems with recon. A F4 squadron from the EC just arrived at Colombo. Once they are operational I´ll have a clearer picture.

32nd ID is 8 days from Colombo.

[ny59giants]

As of Oct 1st '42 in my game vs John 3rd, I've had CV Yorktown, BC Constellation, BC Prince of Wales, and BC Repulse hit by sub launched torpedoes. Its a long, long way from SE Pacific to Eastern USA repair shipyards via Port Stanley!! [X(] The loss of all of Hawaii hurts when it comes to trip time management.

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

As of Oct 1st '42 in my game vs John 3rd, I've had CV Yorktown, BC Constellation, BC Prince of Wales, and BC Repulse hit by sub launched torpedoes. Its a long, long way from SE Pacific to Eastern USA repair shipyards via Port Stanley!! [X(] The loss of all of Hawaii hurts when it comes to trip time management.

I imagine! [X(]

[BBfanboy]

JocMeister: Tomorrow he will lose his rail connection to his big stack. Doubt that will make him happy.

There is a considerable network of roads in that part of India which will reduce the impact of the rail line cut. IIRC, some of the roads are first class gray ones but hard to see because they are drawn thin in the busy landscape. Try the R button to see if there are any first class roads you need to block too.

[HansBolter]

Don't forget that Lysanders can help with the recon load.

While not recon type aircraft they do carry a camera which makes them more reliable on intel than non-camera equipped bombers in the same role.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

Don't forget that Lysanders can help with the recon load.

While not recon type aircraft they do carry a camera which makes them more reliable on intel than non-camera equipped bombers in the same role.

And Fulmars.

[JocMeister]

BB, he can´t rail out though. Its a long walk that takes time... [:)]

Thanks for the advice on the Fulmars/Lysanders! Keep then coming!

No update tonight. Not feeling well so I´m heading to bed instead. [:(]

[Lokasenna]

There's a later Hurricane fighter-bomber model that has a camera too, the FR.IIb and FR.IIc.

I've used bombers without cameras as recon plenty of times. It just takes more planes, but you can get the DL up.

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

There's a later Hurricane fighter-bomber model that has a camera too, the FR.IIb and FR.IIc.

I've used bombers without cameras as recon plenty of times. It just takes more planes, but you can get the DL up.

Same here. I routinely use 4Es for recon when not bombing with them.

Any intel, no matter how unreliable is better than none.

[JocMeister]

I´m sick again. [:(]

I´ll try and get an update up tomorrow if I feel better. Not much to report actually.