Matrix Games Forums

Desicat,

Jeffk is serving his own agenda with his posts. It is one in which the facts don't matter as much as the points which can be scored. It isn't worth engaging with him fully IMO.


As to different shades, I agree.

To no one in particular:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwTGGHaC ... re=related

Having said that, I respectfully recomend to let the AAR continue and take the other conversations elseware.

Whipple

Thanks for the laugh Whipple but I have to say CR HATES that movie...

ORIGINAL: Nemo121

Desicat,

Jeffk is serving his own agenda with his posts. It is one in which the facts don't matter as much as the points which can be scored. It isn't worth engaging with him fully IMO.


As to different shades, I agree.

Huh, Sid was the last one to claim I have an agenda

Apologies CR, if you played lots more turns everyday I wouldnt be waiting for YOUR next post.

I think it is still possible that Steve could recover his equilibrium, pull together what's needed to deal with the sitautions in Sumatra and the Kuriles, and then dig in for an effective defense of the Japanese empire.  Not saying that's going to happen, but rather that it could.  I'm not ready to county my chickens.

Steve is very much his own man, but I can't dismiss the possibility that he's listening to good advice out there. For instance, the way he is handling his air force makes me wonder if he hasn't carefully read Nemo's AAR vs. One-Eyed-Jacks.  At one point, Nemo (and others) discussed at length how One-Eyed-Jacks might recover from his own setbacks.  One of Nemo's suggestions was to halt the air campaign long enough to train up the Japanese air force really well, and to then overhwelm the Allies. 

Steve essentially discontinued the air war back in March or thereabouts.  I feel sure he's doing just what Nemo suggested (possibly on his own initiative, but it's certainly possible he's a reader).

Bottom Line:  I have to be very careful with Sumatra.  If I win that, the Allies are in a position to win the war sooner (if Steve concedes) or a bit later (after moving forward through Borneo and Malaya into the Philippines and Vietnam).  If I lose Sumatra, though, I have to start from nearly the beginning (New Guinea, etc.) and work my way forward without all the forces I've expended in defending Sumatra.  High stakes.

As re:  Nemo's comment about Cocos Island, it is indeed a critical point in the Fortress Sumatra complex.  The Allies have 100 AV, three forts, and airfields built to two and increasing there.  A Port Service unit is on the way from Capetown to help with unloading.

6/9/42
 
SoPac:  Hiei, Chikuma and Tone returned to bombard Pago Pago and tangled with a small American DD force and then a large cruiser/destroyer force.  One USN DD is heavily damaged, but CA New Orleans managed a penetrating hit and "critical damage" message on Hiei.  The transports carrying the RCT are just two hexes NE, but I'm going to hold all but one there tonight - the other will see if the port is clear to land a company.

CenPac:  Quiet this turn as more and more transports clear the area.  Japanese patrol activity (and interest) remains high.

NoPac:  A Tf of undefined composition, but likely to include CVE Hosho, is just SW of Amchitka Island.

DEI:  Quiet, though an important aircraft-carrying transport TF will arrive at Oosthaven tomorrow or the next day.  The port is guarded by two BB TFs.  The Mini-KB reported in the South China Sea yesterday is heading NE and is a hex from Jesselton.

Bay of Bengal:  The KB has pulled back from Sabang to Georgeotwn.  Three TFs totaling five CV and three CVE (and totaling 69 fighters, 192 bombers, and 70 auxilliary).

SEAC:  Mutsu, Nagato, Kumano, Atago and Takao bombard Pegu, which is essentially vacant now (one small Burma Army unit of 2 AV and a base force detachment.  Steve is bringing in troops to attack an army that has departed.

Princep slowly turned the doorknob hoping not to alert anyone lurking on the other side. His Browning 9MM was at his side. He cracked the door slowly. The room was still choked with smoke. A shadowy figure stood erect in the middle of the room with his back to the door. He was apparently surveying the wreckage and did not seem to have a drawn weapon.

Princep spoke in a firm voice...."Hands where I can see them, pal. I'm not here to make trouble." The figure turned slowly, hands empty and arms slightly outstetched. Princep asked, "And whom might you be"? The figure answered through the gloom, "I'm Canoerebel, author of this AAR. Mind lowering the gun? Besides, it seems there has been enough of trouble. My AAR is a wreck".

Princep nodded as he holstered his pistol. He looked around at the smoldering room. "Let me guess. Your AAR was visited by the Tome Writer and he pissed off a reader named, JeffK or FatR? It looks like their work".

Canoerebel nodded slowly confirming the guess. "They really left a mess this time", he said.

"Not the first time, huh"? asked Princep. "The sad thing my friend, it that they always seem to carry out these little vendettas in the best AARs. Sorry it happened here again. You think you can fix it this time"?

Canoerebel had a determined look on his face. "Yeah, it will take some time to clean this mess up, but yeah, I'm determined to carry on".

Princep, nodded. "Glad to hear it. This is a good one and you're one of the best we have around here. Have a good evening". They shook hands. Princep turned and walked out into the night.

Princep, I see you are at heart a writer!  Your narrative reminds me of the beginning of Alistair MacLean's When Eight Bells Toll, when a British agent stealithly enters the statetroom of a ship only to find himself looking down the barrell of a Peacemaker Colt pistol. 

I was absent yesterday on a long hiking trip in the mountains, so I wasn't involved in the exchange of dialogue and even now haven't read all of it due to time constraints.  But I will say that I specifically asked Nemo's opinion, even putting him in the awkward position of having to tout his own ability.  He was kind enough to reply in detail, and yet also managed to do so diplomatically and graciously.

Nemo catches some heat from a few folks, in part because he is blunt enough to offer candid assessments of players' abilities (including my own).  That can make tough reading at times, or he may occasionally say things in a way that rubs some of us wrong, but I've found his analysis and insight very helpful and oftentimes quite remarkable. Given his contributions to the game, we need him around as much as possible.

All the ruckus that gets raised from time to time when Nemo states his opinion probably makes him loath to state his opinions in the forums, if doing so inevitably leads to contratemps (how's that for a word, Cribtop?), but I would very much like Nemo to feel welcome here and to continue with his insightful AARs.

P.S.  I can't think of a person that posts in here that isn't a good guy and most welcome.  Thank you all for contributing and the many kindnesses you've shown.

Contretemps. Very erudite indeed, counsel. We call that a ten dollar word in Texas. [:D]

Princep, are you a fan of Film Noir, per chance? Very Sam Spade.

Yes, Crib, I am. The use of shadow is a forgotten art in today's very graphic films. But, then I am a fan of films period.

I'll not hijack your great AAR, CR, but I saw one yesterday that really did it for me. Another Earth is, imho, a fantastic film about redemption told thru a rarely used medium (sci-fi). Acting is superior, particularly the female lead (Brit ?).

Okay, I'm done. No more about films from me.

Looking forward to the next installment

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

I think it is still possible that Steve could recover his equilibrium, pull together what's needed to deal with the sitautions in Sumatra and the Kuriles, and then dig in for an effective defense of the Japanese empire.  Not saying that's going to happen, but rather that it could.  I'm not ready to county my chickens.

Steve is very much his own man, but I can't dismiss the possibility that he's listening to good advice out there. For instance, the way he is handling his air force makes me wonder if he hasn't carefully read Nemo's AAR vs. One-Eyed-Jacks.  At one point, Nemo (and others) discussed at length how One-Eyed-Jacks might recover from his own setbacks.  One of Nemo's suggestions was to halt the air campaign long enough to train up the Japanese air force really well, and to then overhwelm the Allies. 

Steve essentially discontinued the air war back in March or thereabouts.  I feel sure he's doing just what Nemo suggested (possibly on his own initiative, but it's certainly possible he's a reader).

Bottom Line:  I have to be very careful with Sumatra.  If I win that, the Allies are in a position to win the war sooner (if Steve concedes) or a bit later (after moving forward through Borneo and Malaya into the Philippines and Vietnam).  If I lose Sumatra, though, I have to start from nearly the beginning (New Guinea, etc.) and work my way forward without all the forces I've expended in defending Sumatra.  High stakes.

As re:  Nemo's comment about Cocos Island, it is indeed a critical point in the Fortress Sumatra complex.  The Allies have 100 AV, three forts, and airfields built to two and increasing there.  A Port Service unit is on the way from Capetown to help with unloading.

If in fact Steve is rebuilding his pilot cadres, is there any way to investigate this and confirm or reject this idea? After all, if he's attempting to rebuild as you believe, and has basically stood down his Air Force until the job is completed with the idea of overwhelming you once it's finished, then it would seem in your best interest to hamper this rebuilding as much as possible. As I'm new to the game, I don't know if there is a way to hamper a player's training program, but it's worth investigating.

You can't disrupt an opponents pilot training program.

The most you can do is try to persuade him that he has to use his airforce in combat. Even then there are Japanese units which will not be in combat and their pilots will merrily continue training.

Alfred

Can you force pilot losses on him by strafing his forces on the ground or must the kills be A2A?

You have missed my point. There are too many Japanese units who are way beyond reach of Allied strikes.

Alfred

Even if the Allies could manage to force the Japanese to a fight, it will only hurt the Allies more. They are short of trained pilots as well and an offensive stance in the air will mean battles over Japanese bases, meaning the Allies will lose more pilots.

The only way to disrupt his pilot training is by invading Okinawa, Tanegashima and those Shimas and Jimas south of Tokyo. [;)]

I just want to chime in that I'm getting about as much out of this AAR as your other one, CR, which is to say quite a lot, and I'm much obliged.

Cheers,
CC

6/10/42
 
Ten days into June and the Allies still hold Batavia and Merak on Java.  That and other little things do make you wonder if Japan has a well-thought-out plan to hammer the Allies.
 
CenPac:  I-175 scores its fourth strike in a week, putting a TT into BB Colorado, doing light damage.  The Colorado/Warspite TF is ready to withdraw, so it will move east a few hexes.  I have the Ocean Island-prepped RCT approaching the area - perhaps three days east of Tarawa.  I don't need her for Ocean, since a 32nd Div. battalion garrisoned it.  There are three possible uses for this new RCT - garrison vacant Abemama, reinforce the garrison at Tarawa (taking it up to about 450, which should be enough), or invade Mili if it is still vacant.  The latter is an enticing option - I would probably lose most of my transports to enemy air, but seizing Mili would ratchet up the stress-level for Steve.  Also, new patrols out of Wake sight the only remaining Allied ship - a PC that was patroling just to the south and west.  This will get Steve's attention.
 
SoPac:  A company of 19th RCT comes ashore at Pago Pago, increasing the garrison to 410 AV.  The rest of the transports will come in to port tonight with fingers crossed.  No sign of Hiei and friends at the moment.
 
NoPac:  The enemy TF near Amchitka vanished into thin air.
 
Mini KB and Wasp:  The Mini KB force seen two days ago near Kuching and a day ago at Jesselton is now a hex from Zamboanga (shame on Japan for allowing the Allies to still run patrols out of bases in these areas).  It is increasinly likely that this TF is bound for the Tarawa or Pago Pago regions.  I'll have to be careful not to let Wasp (or other valuable shipping) blunder into the path of a raid.  Wasp just arrived and is targeted to refuel at Christmas Island (well back from the front lines).  She may ultimately report for duty at PP or even in NoPac.
 
DEI:  B-17s from Palembang his the advanced enemy airfield at Kalidjati hard, then shifted base to Oosthaven.  Tomorrow, they'll hit the port facilities at Balikpan.  The Aussie TF carrying two fighter squadrons will arrive at Oosthaven tomorrow.
 
Bay of Bengal:  The Allied carriers are SSE of Sabang and should be south of Padang tomorrow.  So once again they are on patrol in the key theater.  The Allies took advantage of the lull in activity by upgrading or repairing many combat ships.  Perhaps 15 CL and DD plus BB Prince of Wales are coming back online at Colombo over the next few days.  The KB remains parked at Georgetown. 
 
Burma:  The enemy landed 33rd Div. at Pegu with other troops arriving in hex from Rangoon.  That's good - a big operation mounted to take a base that is essentially vacant.  The Allies troops are now in western Burma.
 
China: Still quiet as the Chinese evaluate the map and wait for the enemy to make the next wrong move (exposing a unit to attack piecemeal).
 
Summary:  As we've discussed, Japan still has a chance to isolate, concentrate and hammer Sumatra, though the ticking clock isn't Japan's friend.  If Japan is truly sending a Mini KB way off to CenPac or SoPac to deal with a comparatively unimportant threat there, and is going to commit divisions to action in Burma, and will mount a sizeable amphibious operation in NoPac (eventually), those do not seem like ingredients in the recipe for concentration.

How active has been his fighters lately?? I wonder like others, that he is resting them up (along with training) and if he was smart had invested in increasing Tojo R&D and should be getting them into production real soon. I got 180 into production in mid-June in my PBEM game.

After taking heavy losses over Singapore, Palembang and Oosthaven early in 1942, Steve sat down his fighters.  They have been quiet ever since.  No doubt he is training in preparation for the ultimate push.
 
We are playing with PDU off, so that may affect how many squadrons he can upgrade to the Tojo.  I don't think we'll see the flood witnessed in games with PDU on.  However, I have a poor understanding of research and upgrades, so I could be wrong.
 
The Allies currently have 500 fighters in eastern Sumatra - well over half of these are American P-40E, P-39, Buffales, and Wildcats.  That will soon be augmented by a squadron of P-38E.  There are currently just three British Hurricane squadrons and a smattering of other nationalities - Dutch P-40E, Hurricanes, and inferior craft and a few Aussie and Kiwi fighters.  The Allies can augment this number by bringing in carrier fighters - roughly 150 American and 15 British.