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ORIGINAL: aaffins

ORIGINAL: Encircled

The first question the allied player should ask himself in 1942 is quite simple

Do you know where the KB is?

if the answer is "no", then the Portland Grp, the Concord Grp and the Yorktown should run east at full speed.

Sorry that's extremely relevant info I forgot to include. Yes we do know location, it's about 10 hexes west of suva. We do not know location of mini-kb exactly but it was seen 3 days ago in DEI so could not be this far east. It's possible he detached a cv from main kb but this is most likely CVEs and maybe Shoho in my opinion.

Definitely all six carriers near Fiji?

Kaga + Shoho + the rest is what most of my opponents use for the Mini-KB, and thats more than enough to take care of the Yorktown

I'm super suspicious of an invasion of Wake Island after the first month going in without proper carrier support to be honest.

But I'm very cautious in 1942!

**** Allied Council Meeting ****

Aaffins - British Command
Cheesesteak - USN Naval Officer promoted above deserved rank due to success in pre-war friendly exercises (read: nepotism)

C: Admiral Fins! The war has progressed irregularly! Washington demands regular updates. They were unaware Yamaguchi's KB has moved, and is now 2 hexes East of Noumea! What's more, mini-KB is passing Makassar en route to open oceans. What news of China?
A: Aren't you in charge of providing updates to command?
C: ...
A: ...
C: The situation is unacceptable! High Command has requested screenshots and visual displays.
A: Neither of our battle HQs offices have such capability during office hours. Female locals demand attention during the evenings.
C: Tell me about it. What ever happened to "local's night out" so enlisted officers can conduct night ops?
A: We digress.

C: Washington is not pleased, frankly neither am I.
A: As I said, it's yo-
C: We've recruited two new special advisors to support strategic and tactical decisions!
A: Excellent, the logistical needs are great. We should have the-
C: Neither yet have a local command HQ. They are part of the "East Coast Intellectual Elite" (TM), and as such will provide inspiration
A: Shouldn't we be using reports to Washington for just such a-
C: Meeting minutes will be provided to Washington, since our combined staff has failed to do so regularly.
A: Gin, please.

A: Next move for us? First thought is abandon Wake, transit our CVs around and ambush the likely invasion of [redacted]...or even [redacted].

Advisor 1, Codename W: Also that might be a good idea. Is ambushing the mini-KB outside of our ability right now? Also it seems like he is moving to secure the islands around Australia. That seems like it might be top priority to protect. Caledonia is pretty far! Do we think he is coming back for Wake? So you are thinking of pulling the soldiers out of Wake to relocate them? Did his planes notice that they were better defended than he anticipated?

A: He might have, but (as is historically accurate) aerial recon is pretty sketchy, especially with untrained pilots and without photoreconnaisance a/c, which he would not have had available. I think it's more likely he suspects reinforcements, but doesn't know for sure. The surface fleets might hang around the edge, but their utility is probably fairly low at this point. If he's bringing heavy carrier support they're at a big disadvantage in the open ocean like this.

C: Current plan continues - shifting of limited resources between tactical and strategic points to disturb min/maxing as much as possible

With regard to the disposition of enemy carriers:

We have at least 4 CVs operating in the main KB near Noumea. We know this because they flew 160 strike a/c against Suva three days ago on the 1/16 turn. It's likely that's all five, but we can't completely confirm that.

Kaga IS operating with the mini-KB in the DEI along with several smaller CVL/CVE. For some reason they turned SE rather than transiting the Makassar Strait and are moving through the Flores Sea.

Big things are happening! Screenshots to follow tonight when I get home. Suffice to say our opponent's target and intent (barring some good maskirova), is becoming clear.

Fun fact: the cheesesteak was "invented" in 1930, older than the most decorated U.S. ship in WWII.

Where are my aerial photographs???!?!?!?

ORIGINAL: aaffins

Where are my aerial photographs???!?!?!?

Oh no! They hid the aerials on cars years ago so you will never find them! [:'(]

ORIGINAL: aaffins

Where are my aerial photographs???!?!?!?

Wish there was a better picture to post

mini-KB (+Kaga?)

Think he likes big TFs?

ASW attack near Bandjermasin at 62,102

Japanese Ships
PB Musashi Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PB Shonan Maru #6
PB Shonan Maru #2
PB Shonan Maru #1
PB Sonan Maru #6
PB Sonan Maru #5
PB Kyo Maru #11
PB Kyo Maru #2
PB Kyo Maru #8
PB Toshi Maru #2
PB Hinode Maru #20
PB Choun Maru #7
PB Banshu Maru #56
xAK Kinrei Maru
xAK Nansin Maru
xAK Neikai Maru
xAK Hiyama Maru
xAK Tamahoko Maru
xAK Daisin Maru
xAK Hokusin Maru
xAK Argun Maru
xAK Somedono Maru
xAK Konan Maru
xAK Toyokawa Maru
xAK Yamagiku Maru
xAK Utide Maru
xAK Hukuzyu Maru
xAK Hokutai Maru
xAK Anzan Maru
xAK Kinkai Maru
xAK Keihuku Maru
xAK Victoria Maru
xAK India Maru
xAK China Maru
PB Shonan Maru #17
PB Shonon Maru #10
PB Shuko Maru #5
PB Shuko Maru #2

Allied Ships
SS O16

The daily sweeps of Rangoon continue

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 48 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
24 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet

Amphibious Assault at Nadi (131,160)

TF 114 troops unloading over beach at Nadi, 131,160

Japanese ground losses:
97 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)

7.7mm T99 AAMG damaged beyond repair during unload of 4th JNAF AF Unit
17 troops of a SNLF Squad lost from landing craft during unload of Sasebo 2nd SNLF /2
17 troops of a SNLF Squad lost from landing craft during unload of Sasebo 2nd SNLF /2
10 Support troops lost overboard during unload of Maizuru 2nd SNLF
75mm Infantry Gun lost from landing craft during unload of Kure 2nd SNLF
17 troops of a SNLF Squad lost overboard during unload of Kure 2nd SNLF
17 troops of a SNLF Squad lost in surf during unload of Kure 2nd SNLF /3

Ground combat at Nadi (131,160)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1202 troops, 14 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 59

Defending force 6503 troops, 84 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 234

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

Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
30th NZ Battalion
Nandi Base Force

Defending units:
Kure 2nd SNLF
Maizuru 2nd SNLF
Kure 1st SNLF
Sasebo 2nd SNLF
4th JNAF AF Unit

dark day continues...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Port Blair (46,58)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 378 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 31

Defending force 230 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 6

Japanese adjusted assault: 21

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 21 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Port Blair !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(+), leaders(-)

Japanese ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
342 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 22 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
Yokosuka 1st SNLF /1

Defending units:
Port Blair RN Det

the biggest frustration: not having enough to go around. Lord Howe will go unopposed.

Good luck in SoPac. Looks like he's going early and deep. This begs the profound question: Is he going for Oz/Kiwiland or India, or both? Any thoughts?

I just noticed your sig. "Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?"

Cheers,
CB

He is simply sticking his head in a noose at Lord Howe. You just don't have the noose ready yet.

The all in for SoPac strategy is a surefire recipe for over extension.

Turn Sidney and Melbourne into bastions and hold on.

Route your convoys to OZ to Melbourne through Cape Town or via Auckland from Panama.

Routing to Auckland from Panama brings the TFs onto the map due east of Auckland near the bottom edge of the map.

It may be a relatively clear route until and if he pushes on Kiwi land.

ORIGINAL: CaptBeefheart

Good luck in SoPac. Looks like he's going early and deep. This begs the profound question: Is he going for Oz/Kiwiland or India, or both? Any thoughts?

I just noticed your sig. "Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?"

Cheers,
CB

I'll resist the caffeine-induced urge to make a joke on going South 'early and deep', but know that I laughed far too long.

I believe he is, though tentatively. Just realized that I never put "Please don't read" on the title of this, but I'm sure the Adm. knows our intent and will abide.

I'm not sure that he's sure yet. For whatever reason, I've lost some long-term perspective with this game: offline chatter with Fins relates to his pacing and deliberate/conservative methodology, yet here we sit on 1/23 with Noumea, Norfolk, Lord Howe, and everything behind them lost. He has thousands of AV available, and has yet to be stymied in a strategically relevant way. Our little surprise at Wake (and hopefully the next one there) was a bump in the road.

All that said, it's early days. Our CVs are hidden, albeit somewhat out of position.

"Germans?"
"Forget it, he's rolling."

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

He is simply sticking his head in a noose at Lord Howe. You just don't have the noose ready yet.

The all in for SoPac strategy is a surefire recipe for over extension.

Turn Sidney and Melbourne into bastions and hold on.

Route your convoys to OZ to Melbourne through Cape Town or via Auckland from Panama.

Routing to Auckland from Panama brings the TFs onto the map due east of Auckland near the bottom edge of the map.

It may be a relatively clear route until and if he pushes on Kiwi land.

Hans, you got a mention in our offline email chain with some friends for this comment. Great call!

It sucks to see his CVs a few hexes off Suva. At the end of the day, even Scen 2 IJN players need to think about over-extension and supply chains. We can finally start digging in and making a good fighting perimeter. I'm still a bit leery about putting too much OpSec detail into this forum, but suffice to say there are things that were heading one way that are now heading another. Big things, and smaller, faster, more aerodynamic things.