[Clever Title Here] Texas_D (J) vs Marbakka (A)

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: marbakka

NEWB QUESTION: Is it advisable to divide units in India to leave a garrison behind? I have a number of cities where the garrison is something like 104/30, but the 104 is in 1 unit. If I move it out then I'm short on the garrison requirement. Can I split that unit and send the rest to the front lines, or will that make it useless?

You can divide them and move parts on front line, but remember bigger units fight better and they are taking less damage during fight that smaller units, sp prababaly when You splli them they will loose lots of combat capability

In my small experience I can tell that one ID will fight better and longer than 4 regiments etc (Even with equal AV). In battle size matters.
On another hand when you have unit that need replacements and/or have lots of disabled squads i have notice that dividing ID to sub units make healing process faster.

[Blackhorse]

Look around India. You will find several independent battalions that will fill out to 29 or 39 AS. A few of these are not needed for garrisons where they are, and are perfect to send to those 10/20/30 Garrison requirement cities, to free up larger units.

ORIGINAL: koniu

ORIGINAL: marbakka

NEWB QUESTION: Is it advisable to divide units in India to leave a garrison behind? I have a number of cities where the garrison is something like 104/30, but the 104 is in 1 unit. If I move it out then I'm short on the garrison requirement. Can I split that unit and send the rest to the front lines, or will that make it useless?

You can divide them and move parts on front line, but remember bigger units fight better and they are taking less damage during fight that smaller units, sp prababaly when You splli them they will loose lots of combat capability

In my small experience I can tell that one ID will fight better and longer than 4 regiments etc (Even with equal AV). In battle size matters.
On another hand when you have unit that need replacements and/or have lots of disabled squads i have notice that dividing ID to sub units make healing process faster.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Blackhorse


Look around India. You will find several independent battalions that will fill out to 29 or 39 AS. A few of these are not needed for garrisons where they are, and are perfect to send to those 10/20/30 Garrison requirement cities, to free up larger units.

ORIGINAL: koniu

ORIGINAL: marbakka

NEWB QUESTION: Is it advisable to divide units in India to leave a garrison behind? I have a number of cities where the garrison is something like 104/30, but the 104 is in 1 unit. If I move it out then I'm short on the garrison requirement. Can I split that unit and send the rest to the front lines, or will that make it useless?

You can divide them and move parts on front line, but remember bigger units fight better and they are taking less damage during fight that smaller units, sp prababaly when You splli them they will loose lots of combat capability

In my small experience I can tell that one ID will fight better and longer than 4 regiments etc (Even with equal AV). In battle size matters.
On another hand when you have unit that need replacements and/or have lots of disabled squads i have notice that dividing ID to sub units make healing process faster.

Right! And if you have already sent those forward to Imphal or Kohima or Chittagong, the railway will get them back in three or four days. You can speed up the handover by putting the oversized garrison unit in strat mode [but not moving them yet] until the new unit gets there. Strat mode does not affect its performance as a garrison against partisan attacks.

[marbakka]

I've received the next turn and hurriedly watched the replay but I had to leave the house to get some work done. I'll have the reports for that turn later.

But before I do all that, let me - for a second time - issue a plea for your cooperation. I consider any information gleaned from this AAR to be FoW/OPSEC and not to be passed to Texas_D. That includes my questions about game mechanics, my earlier mistakes (Lexington fuel debacle), your evaluation of my playing skill, and whatever else is gleaned from reading this. Frankly, it doesn't matter whether you consider it FoW because it is not your game. If you can't handle not talking to my opponent about what you read here, then please stop reading this AAR. This is twice now that I've been extremely frustrated to find that my discussion here is getting to him. And, yes, telling him "He's frustrated that I told you XYZ" is exactly the kind of thing I'm talking about. He doesn't get to know that I'm frustrated, excited, confused, anticipating, etc. He is not to be told anything that is contained in this AAR. The whole point of it is that I, as a new player, can openly ask questions without tipping off my opponent as to where I'm at tactically, strategically, or psychologically.

Strike two. If it happens again, I'm done with the AAR and probably the game with Texas_D too.

[marbakka]

December 30, 1941 Report

- He pulled the trigger on Kendari and landed about 165 AV during the night. The landing is being covered by several SAGs which I would happily send to the bottom except that during the day, there was a carrier air strike against Ambon. The Carrier group (mKB? KBb?) is located NW of Taliaboe and can easily cover any attempt to interfere with Kendari.
- The invasion of Wake continues. My PC group failed to intercept the fleeing transports, but they will try again tonight. I doubt the island will hold for another day, but we'll see. He shock attacked with 35 AV against my 9 yesterday reducing the fort to level 1. The Carrier TF that he has NW of Wake has vanished. It was last seen headed NE but I have not been able to spot it since then. My Aleutian forces are on high alert.
- More nighttime bombings of Palembang and Singapore. I'm frustrated that AVG didn't see any action above Batavia. I'll leave them there for another day to see if he comes. My nighttime CAPs seem to be largely ineffective.

Nothing else major to report unless I'm forgetting something.

SigInt: Nothing huge here that I can see. He seems to be pretty active in the Solomons with SAGs covering his landings. The main focus for him right now seems to be the capture of Kendari/Ambon and the "big attacks" in Malaya and Burma (soon).

[HansBolter]

Just wanted to say that I don't know Texas_D, haven't noticed if he is running a counter AAR of his own and have never even seen him post on this forum. When I do see counter AARs I tend to observe them both and post in neither. Sorry this is happening to you because I'm enjoying the discourse here.

I'll continue to encourage you and provide any advice I can as long as your game and this thread continue.

[marbakka]

Orders Summary - December 31, 1941

- HMS Indomitable and HMS Hermes have joined together for a shakedown/ASW patrol in the Bay of Bengal. We'll be steering clear of suspected enemy LBA, but getting close enough to check for submarine activity near Calcutta and SW of Rangoon.
- USS Enterprise should arrive in PH today. She will refuel and depart to the east on the 1st
- USS Saratoga is ordered to skirt the Canadian coast rather than sail directly to her WC destination for fear that the KB spotted NW of Wake has moved NE toward Dutch Harbor.
- I'm borderline depressed that the landing of Kendari can't be countered without further information. I'm not naive enough to believe I could have held it for any length of time, but I was looking forward to tangling with those SAGs. Until I learn more about the enemy air coverage, Force Z is ordered to Darwin for refueling and rendezvous with the cruiser SAGs which will turn back to meet them there. I'm unsure of what to do with Force Z at this point. He has extended his LBA coverage over the western Java Sea and with Kendari covered by carrier aircraft, it will only be a matter of time before it and Ambon fall and become LBA bases. Is it time to move these guys to the IO? Perhaps use them in off Australia instead? I need intel on these enemy carriers!
- Adjusted air defense in Singapore, Palembang, and Batavia. Our attempt to attack Billiton's airfield was largely ineffective. Doing some recon this turn to see if I did anything at all. AVG to stay in Batavia for one more day.
- Wouldn't it be cool if China had, you know, like...an air force or something? AVG back to the rear again.
- In India, I'm switching out smaller garrison units for larger ones and sending the big boys to the front

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: marbakka

- HMS Indomitable and HMS Hermes have joined together for a shakedown/ASW patrol in the Bay of Bengal. We'll be steering clear of suspected enemy LBA, but getting close enough to check for submarine activity near Calcutta and SW of Rangoon.

Not sure if you want to take your two CVs sub hunting. You might find one in the wrong way. That side of India is a bit too close to the IJNAF, and if you get in range of a big group of Netties, it might not matter how much CAP you have, you could still take a fish.

Send some AMs over to check for subs.

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: marbakka

- HMS Indomitable and HMS Hermes have joined together for a shakedown/ASW patrol in the Bay of Bengal. We'll be steering clear of suspected enemy LBA, but getting close enough to check for submarine activity near Calcutta and SW of Rangoon.

Not sure if you want to take your two CVs sub hunting. You might find one in the wrong way. That side of India is a bit too close to the IJNAF, and if you get in range of a big group of Netties, it might not matter how much CAP you have, you could still take a fish.

Send some AMs over to check for subs.

Second that. Did Langley get out alive from the PI? Is Wright functional? Those two AVs and maybe another, not sure, actually have an aircraft capacity, unlike most American AVs. I like to place understrength Kingfisher squads on them (they only have a capacity of 4) and use them as ASW platforms. More valuable ships with aircraft capacities ie...CVs are best kept as far from fish shooters as possible.

[marbakka]

Langley was sunk in the attacks on Manila. Wright is sitting at Pearl Harbor doing nothing much.

I'm going to keep my RN carriers away from Burma, but I still want to send them out for a bit. They'll see action later, I know but I'm kinda wanting to get a feel for this Indomitable character.

[marbakka]

Snapshot at where we're at after the first month of the war:

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: marbakka

Langley was sunk in the attacks on Manila. Wright is sitting at Pearl Harbor doing nothing much.

I'm going to keep my RN carriers away from Burma, but I still want to send them out for a bit. They'll see action later, I know but I'm kinda wanting to get a feel for this Indomitable character.

The big problem with Brit CVs is the lack of dive bombers. There is the Barracuda, classed as a fighter bomber but it doesn't seem too good in the bomber or the fighter role. The Martlet [Wildcat] and Sea Hurricane fighters are OK but there are not enough of them. The Albacore TBs are good with torps but not great bombers, unlike the Avengers the US has. Best torpedo bomber seems to be the venerable Swordfish!
The other big problem is the lack of capacity - something like 33 aircraft on a CV that outweighs most US CVs. The extra weight went into an armoured flight deck. This makes them tough against bombs but having more fighter aircraft aboard would protect them better against any hits.
As for how to use them - attack very soft targets - exposed merchantmen, auxilliary vessels like minesweepers and sub chasers, bases with no air cover, etc. Once you get about four British carriers you have enough mass in aircraft for a decent strike at a larger base. You might also think about supplementing them with a couple of US CVEs - you get a raft of them starting in late 42.

[marbakka]

December 31, 1941 Report

- The Red Devil (SS I-19) unsuccessfully attempts to torpedo CA Chicago off the west coast. I got a lucky break this time. She is on her way to rendezvous with Yorktown.
- The enemy carrier group near Kendari moved much further south than I ever anticipated, and launched an attack on 4 small AO Tans which were empty and being escorted back to Soerabaja by a PC. The PC and 2 AOs were sunk immediately, and the other 2 will almost certainly sink tonight.
- SS Perch, which had been creeping back toward Darwin after a tussle with Japanese destroyers west of Luzon, suffered a critical failure of her temporary repairs and sunk with all hands lost
- Kendari falls to about 5000 enemy troops. I expect they'll be turning their attention on Ambon next.
- CA Chikuma and DD Kasumi sallied out of the Marshals to attack my PG/PC SAG that was trying to intercept returning transports SW of Wake. All three allied vessels were sunk. Chikuma was hit by 2 shells and Kasumi was hit by 1. No reports of damage.
- Air attacks on Palembang and Singapore were limited to day time operations and appeared to only consist of fighter sweeps. His bombers are focusing their attention on the stranded troops in central Malaya, so I expect this is the calm before the storm

SigInt:
- He has evidently rebuilt the 33rd Division because I have received intel saying that it is now plotting for Rangoon (I suspect this is the stack SE of Pegu now).
- At least one element of his 4th Division is on its way to Billiton. I assume this will then be turned to the invasion of Java/Sumatra

[marbakka]

Orders Summary - January 1, 1942

Happy New Years! [;)]

- Enterprise has refueled and is now embarking on her ponderous route home
- Lexington has arrived safely to her destination and is receiving the tender loving care of every available dock worker
- Force Z met with the cruisers in Darwin and has been reformed. It will stay in Darwin until I figure out how to use it. It is accompanied by a SAG flagged by the USS Houston and blessed by the presence of USS Boise. Nothing can stop them! (except that carrier group at Kendari)
- Initiated Operation On A Lark: Phase One which includes evacuating troops from Port Moresby by ship to Darwin and by air to Townsend. It also included relocating the DEI squadron of AVG to an undisclosed location. More on this in a few days.
- Started to form something of a southern MLR in China. Mostly I'm just posting troops in the woods near Canton. At some point they will have to swing north and defend that rail line.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: marbakka

Orders Summary - January 1, 1942

Happy New Years! [;)]

- Enterprise has refueled and is now embarking on her ponderous route home
- Lexington has arrived safely to her destination and is receiving the tender loving care of every available dock worker
- Force Z met with the cruisers in Darwin and has been reformed. It will stay in Darwin until I figure out how to use it. It is accompanied by a SAG flagged by the USS Houston and blessed by the presence of USS Boise. Nothing can stop them! (except that carrier group at Kendari)
- Initiated Operation On A Lark: Phase One which includes evacuating troops from Port Moresby by ship to Darwin and by air to Townsend. It also included relocating the DEI squadron of AVG to an undisclosed location. More on this in a few days.
- Started to form something of a southern MLR in China. Mostly I'm just posting troops in the woods near Canton. At some point they will have to swing north and defend that rail line.

Be careful how much you keep at Darwin. It's a very easy place to hit early on and also very tough to find good defenses for or escape from.

[princep01]

+1 re Obvert's observation about basing major fleet units in Darwin. It is extremely dangerous to do this even if you still possess the buffer of Timor. I don't place major units there as it is too easy to be cut-off by enemy fleets to the east and LBA to the west. It is further vulnerable to the type of lightning raid that Obvert noted. Finally, keeping adequate fuel in stock there is always a problem. Better to seek the relative security of Perth or the east coast Aussie ports.

And, Marbakka....if you have a CV sunk there, we will award you the "Bold to the Point of RASHNESS" Razzy trophy. This is an award wargamers generally do not seek:).

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: princep01

+1 re Obvert's observation about basing major fleet units in Darwin. It is extremely dangerous to do this even if you still possess the buffer of Timor. I don't place major units there as it is too easy to be cut-off by enemy fleets to the east and LBA to the west. It is further vulnerable to the type of lightning raid that Obvert noted. Finally, keeping adequate fuel in stock there is always a problem. Better to seek the relative security of Perth or the east coast Aussie ports.

And, Marbakka....if you have a CV sunk there, we will award you the "Bold to the Point of RASHNESS" Razzy trophy. This is an award wargamers generally do not seek:).

Right on! To reinforce this I am attaching part of Arnhem's post #72 in his "Shall We Play a Big Babes Game" :

SWPAC
To date, I've lost 693 VP worth of ships in the Darwin Turkey Shoot. This includes the warships that tried to take on KB prior to the blockade and bombing of Darwin port and ships that I've lost due to sinkings at sea post KB departure. A partial list of ships lost includes (non-combatants/auxiliaries below 2,000t are mostly not included)

2 CA Canberra, Australia - lost in Darwin
7 CL Dragon, Leander, De Ruyter, Marblehead, Perth, Achilles, Tromp - first 4 lost in Darwin, latter 3 lost in action
19 DD - 5 American, 4 Australian, 3 British, 6 Dutch, 1 French - 5 lost in Darwin, rest lost in action
3 CM
2 AS
3 TK
34 xAPs
6 xAKs
10 xAKL

Arnhem was trying to resist in DEI and got lots of damaged warships which he put into Darwin for emergency repairs. Then he tried to save some of the troops in DEI and New Guinea and had a lot of transport vessels going into Darwin as the closest major base around. Unfortunately the IJN was in hot pursuit from both east and west and was surprised to find all the sheep gathered in one place. I think Arnhem's opponent stayed a week until there was nothing left to bomb or shell.

EDIT - removed a few details of which Arnhem's opponent may not be aware.

[marbakka]

January 1, 1942 Report

I've got to run out the door to get some lunch and work until late, but I watched the replay real quick, checked the file for a couple of things and will post here so I can think about what my orders will be when I get to it tonight.

Wake Island
- Bombardment by 4-6 enemy CAs and CLs with various DDs
- 33 Zeros escorted 77 Vals to attack Wake Island. The KB is a few hexes SW of the island and reportedly contains 6 CVs 2 BBs and 2CAs. I doubt that is accurate, but I'm thrilled to verify that the KB did NOT race up the Aleutians where it might have caught some important stuff unprepared.

NOPAC
- 8 Zeros escorted 6 Vals to attack and sink AM Oriel who was on picket duty SW of Attu Island
- The carrier group there reportedly contains 1 CVE 1 DD and 2 CAs.
- Force A is a few hexes west of Dutch Harbor. In theory, it could make its way over to the carrier group and attempt to attack it on the surface. Force A consists of BBs Maryland and West Virginia, CA Minneapolis, CL Honolulu, DM Gamble, and DMSs Lamberton and Perry. They can move 6 hexes per turn at normal speed. I'd love to have a little victory over there but I'm concerned that a) I'm risking a lot to sink only a CVE, b) the KB could possibly come to the CVEs aid, and c) My BBs can only make 21 knots and will probably not have any element of surprise. Worth a shot?

Elsewhere
- Guam finally is captured
- Sub activity off the West Coast sinks 2 xAKs, one of which was full of supplies
- Japan has started flying LRCAP over their Burmese invasion force. I'm going to have to start escorting the B-17s out of Calcutta, I think.
- There was a deliberate attack at Clark Field at 1 to 5 odds against Japan. 170 of his squads were destroyed, 224 disabled as well as 57 guns and 112 vehicles either lost or disabled. The Allies suffered only 16 squads destroyed and 206 disabled with 45 guns and 19 vehicles. That'll show 'em.
- Bombers out of Singkawang struck the port at Singapore the day after I formed some of the transports into a TF. I'll be increasing the CAP to cover those ships.

SigInt: More troops headed for Rabaul. Lots of activity at Truk

Big decisions of the day are:
- What to do with Force Z and the Houston TF. The Carrier group in the Banda Sea did not launch an attack this turn, but I have no doubt that it is still present. For now, these guys are sitting in Darwin.
- Do I risk 2 BBs and attempt to intercept the light carrier group near the Aleutians?
- Does the bombing of Singapore's harbor mean that I won't be able to sneak out transport ships as I'd planned to do in a few turns?

[BBfanboy]

If Force A were close enough to make the intercept next day, I would go for it. You have little to fear from a strike group of six Vals when you have stout BBs and CAs to soak up the damage and put up a good AA screen.
Problem #1 is that you appear to need to close in quite a bit and will likely be sighted by Nav Search before you get a chance to intercept. That will blow your surprise Ace in the Hole for any future opportunities such as hitting a landing where the offloading ships cannot move.
Problem #2 as you touched on, is that KB may race up toward Anchorage and trap your slow BBs away from any significant air cover.
Unless you can somehow bait his group to come east under your LBA and within a one-day intercept range, keep Force A hidden.

[princep01]

I would go for the CVE (or is it a CVL?) TF in the far north,;but I would only go with the cruisers and DD types only. Those BBs will not likely have the speed to catch the qarry nor the ability to shot enough to hurt them (they will run from those slow BBs before they find the range). Send the slow BBs back home and basically leave them there until you can use them for one of two things:

1. Shooting at other IJN slow BBs;
2. More importantly, bombardment missions.

Otherwisae, you are burning fuel and risking SS attack to no good effect.