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Southern Pacific (june 9th - 22nd 1943)


Allied troops have now seized Nadi and Suva. The defending japanese were wiped out by our armoured units.

Now we are fortifying the Fiji's and Samoa's before the next push. Whether or not head towards north or take new caledonia too remains to be seen.

Japanese seem to have substantial number of fighters and bombers somewhere in the Lunga region. This became clear when Dave launched raids againts my carriers. In total there were around 100 Zero's and 70-100 bombers.

This raid did not inflict any damage and in total we downed around 100 aircraft. It was an warning though that he is willing to fight it out here.

CV Wasp was torpedoed by enemy submarine last turn. The damage levels are not bad though. Around 20% and she is not in any danger of sinking.

This carrier has been lucky and unlucky both at the same time. She was heavily damage in the Aleutians few months back and only just became operational.

I'am moving additional troops and aircraft into area.

Last turn we bombed Noumea with out 4E bombers. The damage done was solid and the airfield there will be closed soon enough.

It seems he has around 10 000 men defending this base.

We are slowly moving ahead with our plans.

The intel screen...

The aircraft losses...

The fighter replacement pools...

The bomber replacement pools...

Top aces...

Not sure about this but I think the supply penalty hits as soon as the value is
below the consumption. It also does not depend on the base supply itself but directly on
the supply the units have available, which is generally below the requirements when
base supply is low for a couple of days.

LoBaron: That is the way how it works in my opinion too. The base supply levels can abysmal but you still do have operational supplies given to your combat units.

The (- supply) penalty is 25% reduced combat values as Sardaukar stated. That information is given out in the manual. That is why I have changed some poor leaders too since they do give out the same "penalty".

So, I do think your summary is spot on here.

It took me quite a while to get used to having bases in China cosntantly with yellow or red exclamation mark, just have to check if units are actually fully supplied or not. It is certain improvement over old model where there was supply for base needs but no extra for units...[:'(] Just takes bit to get used to.
 
Relevant manual pages seem to be 249 and 251:
 
[font=arial]Units that are undersupplied don’t perform at their maximum efficiency, and ships that are under-fueled are only able to move one hex every day. Units with no supplies operate at about 25% of their peak efficiency.[/font]
[font=arial][/font] 
[font=arial]and[/font]
[font=arial][/font] [font=arial]
Defensive and offensive fire of land units low on supplies will be reduced. Once a unit has less supplies than its reported supply need, it stands a chance of having its combat fire reduced. Once totally out of supplies, it will eventually have its fire greatly reduced. [/font]
 
So apparently suppy (-) may not be as drastic if unit is not totally out of supply.

Yep same here Sardaukar. [;)]
 
What I wonder is if this this calculated (tend to assume that this is the case) on a per squad level.
So if you have a unit that consists of 80 squads and the supplies for operating 20 squads at 100%,
if this is calculated in combat. (20 @ 100% and 60 @ 25%) 

Pacific (June 23rd - September 20th 1943)


I have been quite busy in recent months but it is time pick up the story. The progress in this game has been ongoing allthough same cannot be said about allied offensives so far.

Personally I think the best way to get you updated is simply to through theatre by theatre with short recaps.
Actually not that much has been happening. Dave hasn't launched offensives and things has been somewhat of an stalemate with few exceptions.

Ok.. enough of that and here is the summary of the situation around:

Northern Pacific

Quiet. Allied LBA's dominate the skies above Dutch Harbour and Umnak Island.

Japanese do not seem to have that much there in terms of infantry so my estimate is that he has his forces stacked around Adak Island and further towards Japan.

China

The ceasefire is ongoing. No action to report.

This ceasefire will hold until I will break it. Meaning that japanese wohn't move further unless chinese armies launch offensives here.

Very much undecieded when or whether to break this thing later on. The supply situation overall here is very poor.
Now I'am just rebuilding corps units which have taken quite a beating in this PBEM.

CenPac & South Pacific

Allied forces have secured Fiji's, Samoa's and Noumea.

There has not been much there in terms of an infantry.

Currently the focus is to secure New Hebrides and build up bases here. We have been bombing Efate and Luganville lately and the enemy airfields are closed.

I spotted CV Junyo about a month south of Solomon's but Dave opted not to intervene with our Noumea operation.
I conducted couple of carrier raids few weeks back close to Lunga and Tulagi. The result was quite a few japanese lba aircraft downed and few merchants sunk.

This revealed that he is building up the airfields around Solomons though and the allied signit has shown heavy volume traffic at Rabaul and Truk.

We will conduct few ampbitious landings in next few turns.

I must say that the logistic about the offensives have set me back a bit. I was not aware how much supplies and fuel we need and allied side do need a lot of them.

My mistake and it takes time correct this. The hingsight is always ideal and this shows here.

India & Burma

We had few quiet months here but I have conducted large scale lba bombing runs againts central burma in past weeks.

It is really hard to close down airfields and he has many mutual supporting ones here.

The bad thing about these is that he has won 1,5 : 1 odds in terms of aircraft lost here. Thus letting me to believe his pilot pools are propably in very good shape!

Overall Japanese have lost +8000 planes in this PBEM so far but that does not show up in terms of gameplay.
I have been reluctant of launching the ground offensives here yet. Instead I have been moving more units into frontlines.

To be honest very much undecieded how to deal with this "mess" in Burma. We need to dislodge the enemy here but the big question is how are we going to achieve this.

Allied intel has shown that Dave has shipped ground reinforcements here. How much? Well, I really don't know as of yet.

Hey,
 

Good to hear you are still playing. I thought you gave this one up.
 
One comment about Burma. There is only one thing in Burma of any significance to you-the oil production at Magawe. So focus on bombing out this resource. Otherwise there is no need to worry about it. Burma provides no other resources to your or him. The only other reason to fight for it is to get supplies to China, and has given you a free truce in China so your don't have that to worry about. Time to think about going "around" Burma. Perhaps way around-like an invasion of Java. You get a foothold in Java or on the mainland near Singapore and he is going to come tumbling out of Burma fast.

Great to have a new report!  [:)]

ORIGINAL: crsutton

Hey,


Good to hear you are still playing. I thought you gave this one up.

One comment about Burma. There is only one thing in Burma of any significance to you-the oil production at Magawe. So focus on bombing out this resource. Otherwise there is no need to worry about it. Burma provides no other resources to your or him. The only other reason to fight for it is to get supplies to China, and has given you a free truce in China so your don't have that to worry about. Time to think about going "around" Burma. Perhaps way around-like an invasion of Java. You get a foothold in Java or on the mainland near Singapore and he is going to come tumbling out of Burma fast.

Couldn't agree more. Worry him in Northern Java or Sumatra and go in with great strength. If you get a foothold in either place you can disrupt his ops at Palembang even without taking it. As far as I am concerned Palembang is crucial to IJ survival. If I were him and you landed in either place, I'd get several divisions there as quick as I could to force you off.

crsutton: Thanks. No, I don't tend to give up and 100% committed to see this through.

There are still oifield running at Magwe. I think it still has 91 unit production. I take your advice and bomb this production to dust.

The "operation oil" will commence next turn. I actually now have few P51's arriving into Burma front.

They have only 50-60 exp. pilots put that needs to be enough. Damn, I should have focused on the pilot training from the start.

China is at peace and it seems that the supplies don't grow nor does it reduce there.

I like the DEI plan. Only thing is that I need to have carrier support and these ships are committed elsewhere. Not too eager to start moving them to other side... at least not yet.

Dave made an good comment regarding Burma. He has lost a lot of aircraft BUT these have been mostly on "defensive losses" so many of his pilots have bailed out and survived since they are flying above the friendly base.

I will post an pic regarding Burma in the next update.

offenseman: Thank you! Good to be back.

I will be starting my summer vacation after next week. Traveling a lot but you wohn't miss a thing since the turn pace will crawl during these days.

Personally I like the Sumatra option. The problem is as stated above the lack of carrier support. Allthough with huge invasion TF's I could take the losses and still pull it off I guess.

Lets just close the oil business at Burma and than really start thinking this option! Good strategical advice and very tempting indeed!

Southern Pacific (september 21st - 22nd 1943)


Lets start with pic from southern area. (Next update will focus on the burma as well)

Allied troops landed at Efate on 21st. There were only +1000 enemy troops defending the base so our forces quicly overrun the them.

Now we will start building this base up immediately. There are 4 Seabee units already loaded and will arrive shortly.

There also invasion forces heading to Luganville and Tanna. These landings will take place within next couple of turns.

There should be not much in terms of lba resistance since we basically have closed the airfields.

These invasions are supported by allied carrier power. We shall see whether the KB shows up. Personally I very much doubt this. I think his ships are at Rabaul area though.

As said I can say that this is eating up a lot of fuel and supplies. Very much underestimated this and had I played vs AI I would not have made this mistake.

Things are starting to look up though so the hammer will move forward.

Burma (september 23rd - 24th 1943)


Allied recon showed 91 Oil units and +20 refinery units operational at Magwe.

Following this there are now large raids scheduled againts Magwe starting on 25th of september.

I will launch from Akyab, Cox Bazaar's and Chittagong. The main bomber is gathered at Chittagong since it is the only level 9 airfield operational.

Akyab, Cox Bazaar's and Imphal has all level 8 airfields operational now.

The sweep missions will run at 20 000 feet while bombers along with designated escorts will fly 15 000 feet alltitude.

Fingers crossed... at least it is going to be bloody mess yet again here.

South Pacific (september 23rd - 24th 1943)


The allied invasion TF's are closing in at Luganville and Tanna.

No sign of enemy naval forces at least not yet. I will however increase the naval search missions around this sector.

Both of these bases should fall quickly since there are only minor garrisons in place there.

We have also an amphibitous TF on its way and heading towards Koumac.

Welcome back , Never doubted you'd given up the game (think i know you all too well by now [;)]). Thanks for updating the AAR as your insights will come in very handy when i actually start a PBEM GC (eventually). Your hindsight is my advice.

hummm . mid 43 and stalemate. Thats actually good to see as in WitP mid 43 could be the american steamroller clobbering the pacific islands. Nice to see a slower pace to the action.

As the others have advised re DEI.. go for Sabang. I love that base. but you will need really good LBA fighters to hold it. It's do-able with just the brit CV's imo too. Make the invasion force look like a Cape town bound convoy then dart east to sabang (maybe 3 turns travel time) you 'should' achieve suprise and if you hit hard enough and take support units (BF's etc) + buckets of supply. you can set this place up as a CAP trap and then He's got to come to you and then you'll start hurting his pilots. Basing some good british TB's there (don't forget the air HQ) may well deter any bombardments as a bonus.

anyhoo .. just my rambling thought process.

Have fun.

ORIGINAL: aztez

Burma (september 23rd - 24th 1943)


Allied recon showed 91 Oil units and +20 refinery units operational at Magwe.

Following this there are now large raids scheduled againts Magwe starting on 25th of september.

I will launch from Akyab, Cox Bazaar's and Chittagong. The main bomber is gathered at Chittagong since it is the only level 9 airfield operational.

Akyab, Cox Bazaar's and Imphal has all level 8 airfields operational now.

The sweep missions will run at 20 000 feet while bombers along with designated escorts will fly 15 000 feet alltitude.

Fingers crossed... at least it is going to be bloody mess yet again here.

You should target oil or refineries but not both. Japan actually has a surplus of refineries so it is better to just hit oil. Knock out the oil in Burma and the refineries are useless since it is unlikely your opponen will ship oil to Burma.