ALLIED ONLY: aztez (A) vs erstad (J) ...2nd ROUND

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: aztez

Australia (november 2nd - 3rd 1942)


The mini KB showed up near Perth and launched couple of strikes here.

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Afternoon Air attack on Perth , at 49,147

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17
B5N1 Kate x 43
B5N2 Kate x 17
D3A1 Val x 16



Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IA x 13
Kittyhawk I x 24


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
B5N1 Kate: 9 destroyed, 7 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 7 destroyed, 5 damaged
D3A1 Val: 5 destroyed, 9 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk IA: 1 destroyed
Kittyhawk I: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
xAKL Elcano, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AVP Poolster, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires



Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 4


I have some ships disbanded at Perth so I'am expecting port strike to be launched next turn.

The problem with Perth is that most of the reinforcements in terms of aircraft needs to be send via railroads thus meaning it will take few days to get them there.

Dont panic. If he is willing to trade fine carrier aircraft and pilots for minor shipping hits then he is making a mistake. Besides the kills last turn, a number of his planese are damaged. Your kittyhawks should do just fine.

[aztez]

crsutton: No panic at all. Mini KB has now vanished and only conducted one raid againts Perth.

Maybe things just got too hot for him and he most likely wanted to keep his carrier pilots alive.


China (november 4th - 7th 1942)


The last turns have been quiet in terms of action.

Now the focus seems to be shifting towards China yet again. This was expected to happen so not an suprise for me.

Chinese fighters have tangled up againts japanese near Kweiyang. We cannot compete with his fighters in terms of quality nor numbers but have managed to shoot down some aircraft. That is better than nothing.

Dave has not launched new ground assaults south of Kweiyang either. Instead he has opted to do daily ground bombardments. Each of these assaults have "destroyed" 250-400 chinese infantry. Not good but not as bad what I'am used to.

His total assault strenght is now 4950av vs the chinese 3650av. I think both sides are moving more units into this region. My recon indicates 10 units at Tynuan 40 miles south.

Japanese main assets here are:

41st Division
39th Division
104th Division
40th Division
37th Division
110th Division
6th Division
17th/B Division

+ some brigades, artillery and tank regiments.

I do expect an offensive here very shortly and fingers crossed it shall be repulsed. I have some +1000av enroute here with more units on standby.

In the north he tried to flank my units but instead 2 enemy RGC divisions were badly mauled. Nomore these kind of freebies for him.

[aztez]

I ran the combat turn this morning and there were action at Burma, China and some developments in Aleutians.
 
I will do an update later this evening.
 
That is not why I'am posting though. The question is regarding the Allied CVE's.
 
They do have replesnishment aircraft stationed on them.
 
I wonder if one would replace them with combat aircraft do they actually fly CAP/Escort/Naval strikes on AE? I hate to experiment this with active PBEM so if someone has tried this I would love to hear about it.

[LoBaron]

As long you have CV capable AC stationed on them and sorties left that shouldnt be a problem Aztez.
Don´t know if they can store torps though.

[Sardaukar]

I think you could take the replacement groups off the CVEs and replace them with Marine fighter and dive bomber units, they are all Carrier Capable, IIRC. Good news in AE is also, that after operating for a while from carrier, Carrier Capable unit becomes Carrier Trained. [8D] 

I am not sure if you can get the replacement groups back to CVE, but you can get some extra carrier air power this way. IIRC, replacement group status is by air unit and not by CVE.

[LoBaron]

Btw, you could check Canorebels AAR as he has been using them already in combat recently.

[aztez]

Appreciated very much guys!
 
Sardaukar: That is what I thought. Actually noticed that 2 squadrons of 70exp
squadrons upgraded from capable -> trained.
 
Nice feature indeed. These pilots were involved in operation Tango.
 
Hmmm, losing replacement groups is an downside in the longrun though!
 
LoBaron: Yeah, they actually have nice amount of sorties available.
 
I will check the AAR. I noticed he used CVE's but didn't read carefully enough that they were in actual combat.
 
The torpedo thing is not that important. It is enough if they can carry fighers and divebombers.

[Fishbed]

Well obviously from what Canorebel posted on the main forum, their wildcats proved to be worth sh*t [:D] [;)]

[Sardaukar]

Yep, dive bombers will mess up all CVs and smaller ships than BBs, so they are enough. Of course, they should be used as additional punch and not primary force. [:D]
 
I have never found Replacement TFs that useful (except refuelling). Usually CV battles are so violent and brief that it doesn't make much difference if replacement planes fly in or not...it's usually already decided before that.  
 
It's of course different if you plane sustained air attacks preparing invasion and need to keep your CVs in one place for long time. Then replenishment TFs with CVE replacement units and AOs are invaluable. But even still, when facing also sustained air attacks against carrier force, you'll be soon forced to retire when running out of AAA ammunition!(since underway replenishment by AEs can only happen in very late war).

[JohnDillworth]

Looks like the empire "ran wild" for a year, but the high tide is about to recede. the Empire probably lost some good pilots and a few banged up CV's. By the time they get healthy again the Essex's and Hellcats should be around. Time to switch to defense.

[crsutton]

Try it with one CVE. As soon as you get a new one as reinforcment, take a group off of the carrier but set the group to no replacments so it does not grow. If you do this you should be able to put it back onto the ship. 

[Graymane]

This is a very instructive game from a strategic perspective. From just reading this AAR, and with all due respect to Dave since we don't know what his strategy actually is, it really seems like he has lost his strategic focus. I mean that from just reading this end of things, it could be entirely different. Early on, it was clear he had a focused, good plan. It looks like that plan succeeded everywhere and now it seems like he is looking to use his assets on something, anything, so we get random attacks in different places. Mini KB off Perth, KB in the Aleutians, attacks in China and Oz. It really seems like the focus is gone and with it, concentration of forces and purpose.

The same thing happens to me since I'm mainly a really lazy player [:D] I always lose the plot about half way through. It is probably a good point now with this mini-break to take a step back and really evaluate what to do. You know the location of all of his major forces and you can plan a focused, concentrated response to it.

[aztez]

Fishbed: Eherm, one cannot disagree with that statement! [:D]

Sardaukar: Agreed! Flying with escorts is kind of mandatory for those divebomber crews!

I couldn't have recapped the use of them better. That is why I thinking whether or not they actually will provide CAP or naval strike punch.

By the look of it they do. The replenishment squadrons are for longer and bigger operations. At the moment though we need to deal with KB so the escorts/cap/naval strike numbers are the most important in these brutal fights.

JohnDillworth: Welcome. I somehow doubt Dave is ready for complete defense just yet. This thing has been like fighting with octopussy. You cut off one leg and there are still plenty of them.

I'am kind of active defensive mode now and rotating towards offensive actions.

crsutton: That is an excellent suggestion. I have just the ship to experiment this when the next turn arrives.

If it works than very good news indeed for the allied side. I have plenty of aircraft which are capable to fly out from CVE's.

Graymane: I kind of agree and disagree. He did get his objectives done quite swiftly and with brutal force. Nowhere where allied side given that much of an chance.

Allthough I must say that he got very lucky few times with his carriers! Especially in Suva! We really ought to have sunk quite a few of them already.

Personally I think he got kind of victory disease as you stated. Somewhat "frantic" movement around the map. These might be also probing assaults too allthough very much suprise by the force he committed in the north. (It might not even over just yet)

Maybe one reason for all of this is that he knows I'am getting stronger and does not want to give the momentum away. This suits me too since now I can kill his pilots etc without even committing my main assets.

I very much doubt that he has lost the "grandscale" view though. This is based on the earlier game we had and also this one.

I must say though that there has been quite a few suprises in many places so far.

[aztez]

Aleutians (november 8th - 9th 1942)


There has been no combat action here but few intresting things though.

Allied signit shows the following. Whether or not these are accurate are anyones guess.

"1/65th Brigade is loaded on LSD Akitsu Maru moving to Umnak Island.
"4/64th Infantry Group is loaded on a Japanese AK moving to Umnak Island."

...whether not these are moving towards Umnak Island or away from it is questionable. I'am preparing for the "towards" scenario though.

I moved some actual recon aircraft in this area and they showed very few units on the ground here.

There are a lot of TF's at Umnak Island though but KB is not reported to be with them. The Lightning recon missions also "spotted" enemy carrier disbanded here.

Whether or not this is the case some US B24D's are flying port strike missions at 25 000 feet againts Umnak Island. Unfortunately this mission cannot be supported by escort fighters due to the distance.

There are now quite a few US submarines moving around Aleutians. Also, additional 5 submarines will aririve few days.

[aztez]

China (november 8th - 9th 1942)


As expected the japanese launched ground offensive near Kweiyang....

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Ground combat at 75,50

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 139086 troops, 1259 guns, 782 vehicles, Assault Value = 5199

Defending force 109511 troops, 686 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3676

Japanese adjusted assault: 1766

Allied adjusted defense: 4471

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
6120 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 921 disabled
Non Combat: 24 destroyed, 681 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 22 disabled
Vehicles lost 93 (43 destroyed, 50 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
7729 casualties reported
Squads: 145 destroyed, 273 disabled
Non Combat: 85 destroyed, 448 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 8 (5 destroyed, 3 disabled)


Assaulting units:
17th Ind.Mixed Brigade
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
8th Armored Car Co
104th Division
11th Indpt Infantry Regiment
17th/A Division
110th Division
12th Ind.Mixed Brigade
10th Tank Regiment
40th Division
6th Division
37th Division
12th Tank Regiment
8th Recon Regiment
39th Division
35th Division
13th Indpt Infantry Regiment
58th Infantry Brigade
5th Tank Regiment
41st Division
17th/B Division
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
21st Mortar Battalion
4th Mortar Battalion
North China Area Army
5th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion

Defending units:
79th Chinese/A Corps
37th Chinese Corps
72nd Chinese Corps
92nd Chinese Corps
16th Chinese Corps
20th Chinese Corps
36th Chinese Corps
28th Chinese Corps
10th Chinese Corps
53rd Chinese Corps
52nd Chinese/B Corps
14th Chinese Corps
52nd Chinese/C Corps
64th Chinese Corps
40th Chinese Corps
55th Prov Chinese Division
76th Chinese Corps
2nd Prov Chinese/B Corps
94th Chinese Corps
4th Chinese Corps
79th Chinese/B Corps
85th Chinese Corps
8th Route Army
60th Chinese/B Corps
11th Group Army
4th Group Army
9th Group Army
4th War Area
35th Group Army


...this was repulsed as you can see. I had hoped that more japanese would have destroyed but i really is not that bad of an result.

I encountered some very weird ZOC rule yet again. (look at the pic below)

I don't know what happened but it seems I cannot move units from east of Kweiyang in to the frontline. The game says that "destination not set..." . Very odd and to be honest total bs since the movement from Kweiyang into the actual frontline is not "blocked" Also other hexes are doable just this single hex is not either on movement nor in combat mode.

Red arrow = Blocked
Yellow arrows = Possible


The ZOC control and movement control doesn't make much sense at time with AE. I mean why is the game blocking units moving in combat mode. That is quite absurd to me. Oh, well I can live with it though.

[aztez]

Burma (november 8th - 9th 1942)


Japanese were on action and flew sweep missions at Cox's Bazar. The base was seized couple of turns earlier.

I didn't mind this but unfortunately the leaking CAP from Chittadong resulted to some 15-20 P40E's losses. Even that I set them to stay at Chittadong.

I really don't like the leaking CAP at all and the distance between these two bases are 120 miles so these aircraft did not just "wonder" there.

Oh, well what can you do, Nothing to stop this from happening.

RAF and US fighters also launched sweep missions againts Magwe and encounters some Nick's and Tojo's. These seem to be very high experienced pilots since the losses favoured japanese side on this one.

Now I will organize my airforce here again and let my high number AAA units deal with his planes a bit.

[jackyo123]

ORIGINAL: aztez

[

The ZOC control and movement control doesn't make much sense at time with AE. I mean why is the game blocking units moving in combat mode. That is quite absurd to me. Oh, well I can live with it though.

Actually, i think this is a bug - try clicking on the *enemy* icon in the hex you are moving to. That worked for me. Trying to click on my own troops icon or anywhere else in the hex didnt work.

Also - once i had to resort to clicking a hex *behind* where i was trying to get to, and then cancel movement when i was in the hex i actually wanted.

[Sardaukar]

BTW, the dive bomber altitude settings from michaelm (who is dev and code wrangler anyway) may be helpful:

Mission: Bombing
A/c type: DB
(1) Group altitude: 10-15K
A/c are treated as if performing a diving attack
(2) Group altitude: 16-19K
A/c are treated as if performing a glide attack
(3) Group altitude: <1K
A/c are treated as if performing a low level attack
(4) Group altitude: 20+ or 1-9K
A/c are treated as if performing a normal horizontal attack
The attacks are based on altitude flown.
If I had to do it again, I would probably let the player pick an 'attack tactic' which would allow planes to approach target at the group alt but determine the attack alt and bombing type based on the 'attack tactic'.

Diving attacks have a better chance than gliding attacks to make a hit; pilots with good NAVAL_BOMB skills have a better chance. Exit altitude is 1000-4000'.
Glide attacks have a better chance than level bombing but not as good as diving attacks to make a hit, but; again better skilled pilots have a better chance. Exit altitude is 2000-5000'.

[Typo after all that - items 3 & 4]

[aztez]

jackyo123: Thanks. I tried the first method did not do the trick but opted to the 2nd "option".
&nbsp;
We shall see how it goes. All in all it is not an disaster just a bit annoying movement "bug".
&nbsp;
Reminds me when in the classic witp you sometimes had to set an base as an destination to get troops moving again.
&nbsp;
Sardaukar: That information is very useful. I missed this thread than again at times you don't just can not read through valuable information in various threads.
&nbsp;
Appreciated very much. Basically best to keep divebombers between 10-15 000 feet and Escorts around 15-20 000 feet.
&nbsp;
I have quite a few divebombers with high experience crews eventhough my pools are not looking good.

[aztez]

Pacific (november 10th - 13th 1942)


A couple of quiet turns have past. This doesn't suprise if you look back how intense the pasth few months has been.

This update is kind of an recap of the latest news.


China

- Dave has moved a couple of new units into the frontlines near Kweiyang. In total there are 31 units if the recon flights are to be believed.

- The movement "bug" here seems to have vanished too which is good news. It might be that jackyo123 tip kind of reset the hexes here.

- The supply levels are not great but there are ammunitions distrubuted to combat troops which is the single most important factor.


Aleutians

- There are still enemy carriers in this region. Last turn one of my submarine was spotted by Val's. There were also reports / spotted that quite a few ships sailed north of Umnak Island. Most likely damaged vessels and maybe even KB.

- Additional allied reinforcements have arrived at Seward and Kodiak.


Hawaji & South Pacific
?
- The build up here continues for our offensive "years". I'am using the new training system where you can specify on which areas squadrons will expertise.

- SS I-22 was hit near Hilo so another enemy submarine severely damaged. Always good news.

- The experiment suggested by crsutton was succesfull. I did move out the "repleneshment" squadrons from one of the CVE's. These units were still on the ground and ready to be moved back in when needed. This was pleasant suprise and gives me more flexibility in upcoming months.


Australia & NZ

- The tank regiment that was moving towards Adelaide turned back. I think B17's just did too much damage to it.

- Japanese seem to have Zero's placed here too since LRCAP was provided. Most likely out of Alice Springs.

- The recon flights around Cairns and Cooktown show these bases as "empty". Somewhat skeptical on these findings though.

- Fiji brigade arrived at Auckland. That is another useful +100av here ready for action.


India & Burma
- Neither side has flown sweep missions in past 4 days. The airwar over at Burma has been very bloody.

- There were sightings of 4 enemy transports docked at Akyab. An Dauntless squadron took off but unfortunately the escorts did not. The result 6 divebombers destroyed and rest damaged.

- The allied recon ground units are now 40 miles north of the base and it seems Dave is loading up these troops and moving them out.

- Cox's Bazar will be operational within few days and soon has some engineer + aviation support elements.


Submarine warfare

- A few submarine attacks were made againts enemy shipping around the map. Unfortunately no hits were reported.

- I think Dave is reorganizing his convoys escorts and are moving in larger packs. Most likely this is very reasonable option.