Shattered Vow

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Q-Ball is at a decided disadvantage because he is a Yankee with pasty white arms and legs.  He will not stand a chance against a naturally-tanned, supple, winsome Southerner.

We are actually discussing starting a game, though we haven't begun working on details yet.  But I would love to face him in a game - not only because I've enjoyed following his AARs, but also because he graciously provided counsel to me at a time of great need during my game with John III.

I don't think I'll handle pilot training any differently.  No matter how hard I try, I just can't gin up any desire to engage in pilot-training micromanagement.  That and my propensity for playing without watching the combat replays will get me in trouble, but it probably helps level the playing field a bit since the Allies have such a natural advantage in the game.

I hope it works out, would love to play Canoe

The Allies can do pilots "out of the box" without a huge drop. They enter the game better, and can survive some combat to improve.

The Japanese have no choice; you MUST micromanage. Pilots enter in the 30s in experience, and most missions after mid-1943 are one-way. You may as well hit something before you die.

[Canoerebel]

8/13/44 to 8/16/44
 
DEI:  The Allies have taken Pontianak and Banjermasin on Borneo and are preparing to move on Tarakan (NE coast) and Kuching/Singakwang (SW coast).  The Allied carriers are covering the Tarakan group.  If the KB pounces on that, then the Kuching/Singkawang transports will dart in (both bases appear lightly held).  The Allied army at Balikpan will try another deliberate attack tomorrow.
 
Indochina:  A Japanese army moved in to a the Allied base near Ubon that my army had just vacated on its way to Hue.  Four mixed brigades easily evicted the garrison (part of 50th Indian paratroops).  I'm diverting two divisions to contend with the brigades.  If I need more I'll recall some or all of the troops heading for Hue.  Also, an Allied army at Vinh (NE Vietnam) will try a deliberate attack tomorrow.
 
Japanese Position:  It seems to me that that Miller has to try one last "do or die" effort to stop the Allied advance in Borneo.  I think he'll commit the KB and everything else and hope for a victory, and it's not beyond question that he could achieve one if things break his way.  I'm going to nose around a bit as the Allies feel their way toward Tarakan and Singkawang/Kuching.   If Miller doesn't commit the KB against these efforts, I may pull back temporarily to Darwin to replenish and await arrival of Ticonderoga and Randolph.

[JohnDillworth]

any thought on moving some B-29 in to do long range navel searches? Should be able to find the KB sooner rather than later

[Canoerebel]

I've done that in past WitP games but haven't yet in this game.  It's a good idea and I'll mull it over.

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Q-Ball is at a decided disadvantage because he is a Yankee with pasty white arms and legs.  He will not stand a chance against a naturally-tanned, supple, winsome Southerner.

We are actually discussing starting a game, though we haven't begun working on details yet.  But I would love to face him in a game - not only because I've enjoyed following his AARs, but also because he graciously provided counsel to me at a time of great need during my game with John III.

I don't think I'll handle pilot training any differently.  No matter how hard I try, I just can't gin up any desire to engage in pilot-training micromanagement.  That and my propensity for playing without watching the combat replays will get me in trouble, but it probably helps level the playing field a bit since the Allies have such a natural advantage in the game.

Should I blame HIM for keeping the morale of my Noble opponent up when there was a chance at final victory. OK. That is it...NOW I know who to blame!

Qball is on the list! [:D]

Glad you had a good vacation Dan.

[Q-Ball]

John, to be fair, that was before we were partners. I was giving away the secrets of the Empire. But hey, that's WITP: So 2008.

Glad to see you promoted BTW

[John 3rd]

Thanks Qball! After 3 horrific years things seem to be turning around and getting back onto the right track.

Dan--I thought about seeing if you wanted to meet while out in my neck of the woods here but I'll wager your 'plate' was quite full with the Family.

All I have to say is Nashville and Chicamauga NEXT summer! We'll have a WitP/AE gathering. Should be a grand time! Considering my weather tolerance it will be late-Spring or early-Fall.

[Canoerebel]

John, the same thought occurred to me, but Colorado was sort of the "hole in the donut" for us on this trip.  We only touched the southwest corner (Mesa Verde National Park) but otherwise we went around the Rocky Mountain State as our travels took us south, then well to the west into Nevada, then well to the north into northern Wyoming.
 
In our crazy WitP game, Q-Ball "came aboard" for a time to provide some counsel while I was contemplating, planning, and then implementing the great "what the heck, let's invade Hokkaido!" plan.  He provided encouragement ("Hey, this sounds like a fun thing to do!") and some counsel ("You DO remember that the Japanese have a navy and will in all likelihood react negatively to this invasion, right?"). 
 
Q-Ball, how do things look on your end for squaring off against each other?  Not that I'm in any great hurry, but I don't want to miss the opportunity if the opportunity is there!

[John 3rd]

Always a man to scent an opportunity! This is the CR I know. Have a 'good' time with that campaign. Will be reading along as always. I'll gladly help Qball conspire for ultimate victory AND provide lots of heckling for you Kind Sir.

Just finishing the last of the Cozzen's books. Started this author's work because of you. Will be sending you the bill for the books later this week! [:D] I hadn't bought his more recent Valley Campaign book but finally gave it and it is magnificent.

I figured you didn't hit the Front Range. What did you think of Mesa Verde? Beautiful place...

Am serious about coming out next year. Have talked to Michael, Paul, and others about it. We can throw the net and see what happens.

[Canoerebel]

If there is an AE convention in the Chattanooga area I'll be there.  I can also help in the way of acting as the local tour guide, if such is needed or desired.  I know the Chickamauga/Lookout Mountain battlefields well and have written several stories about each.  Also, do you remember the photo of the folks swimming in the river that I sent you a year or so ago?  That photo was taken at Jacks River Falls in the Cohutta Wilderness Area, our favorite swimming hole.  If you or anyone else enjoys the outdoors, there's no better way to experience our mountains.

We loved Mesa Verde.  It was our first major stop on the trip.  We arrived on May 23, set up camp in the very scenic campground, retired for the night, and awoke the next morning with our tents covered in snow!  Since it was already high summer as far as we Georgians were concerned this was a novel experience.  In fact, in more than 25 years of backpacking and camping it was the first time I've ever camped in snow.  We also toured three of the ancestral puebloan ruins, all of which were great (especially Balcony House).

[John 3rd]

We had snow in Greeley near the end of May this year and it was a blast to watch people panicking over that! We had a pleasant, wet, and cool spring out here and summer hasn't really shown too much heat (just more rain). We've gotten our YEARLY amount of rain in just May and June!

Glad you had fun over in the SW Corner of the state. Truly lovely ground. How the Natives LIVED in those cliff-dwellings??!! Wow. What did the family think of that?

Would love to take my boys to the swimming hole you showed me! They would have a blast there. I am sure your tour guide skills will be superlative. Those would be my first Civil War Battlefields to see since I was a kid 30 years ago.

[Canoerebel]

8/17/44 and 8/18/44
 
Mayhem or Quiet?  The Allied carriers moved to a point just SE of Tarakan while the transports are a few hexes behind.  IE, Miller knows exactly where my carriers are and where they are going.  So the questions are:  (1) Does he deem Tarakan vital? and (2) Is the KB close enough to respond?  If so, I expect the next turn to be very bloody.  But if the KB is upgrading in the Home Islands the turn could be quite peaceful.
 
Balikpan:  Back-to-back deliberate attacks come off at 1:1 and 4:1, dropping forts to four.  This key city could fall to the Allies tomorrow.  It will then provide fuel to Allied shipping (a huge benefit since the closest sources right now are Capetown and the West Coast) and free up a large army that can begin prepping for the next objectives.
 
SE Borneo:  With the concentration of Allied power approaching Tarakan, I'm *thinking* that the Allies can quietly move on Singkawang, Kuching, and the base in between.  The former two look lightly held and the latter appears undefended.  Transports will depart Sampit, Banjermasin, and Makassar tonight and should arrive arrive over the next two to four days.  In many ways this little operation is more important than Tarakan because, if successful, this will give the Allies bases on the South China Sea.  LRCAP for the operation will be provided by four good fighter squadrons at Pontianak.
 
 

[Canoerebel]

8/19/44 and 8/20/44
 
No appearance by the KB, which suggests to me that the Japanese carriers are almost surely at home upgrading.
 
Tarakan:  The invasion force comes ashore in good shape, though IJN subs torpedoed two transports.  I don't know if the Allies have enough troops to take the base without reinforcements, but we'll see.
 
Balikpan: This vital base finally falls to the Allies on 8/20/44.  The strong Allied army here will in all likelihood prep for a key base somewhere in coastal China - perhaps Amoy and one other base.  Or perhaps I'll prep them for the big island just of the coast of China (the one with two good bases).
 
SW Borneo:  Troops began landing at Singkawang, with landings at Kuching and the base in between Sing and Kuch to follow commencing tomorrow.
 
Indochina:  A Japanese CL/DD force roughed up some transports near Rangoon.  Both sides are sending more troops to the base just east of Ubon in western Vietnam.

[CapAndGown]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

8/19/44 and 8/20/44
 
No appearance by the KB, which suggests to me that the Japanese carriers are almost surely at home upgrading.

Tarakan:  The invasion force comes ashore in good shape, though IJN subs torpedoed two transports.  I don't know if the Allies have enough troops to take the base without reinforcements, but we'll see.

Balikpan: This vital base finally falls to the Allies on 8/20/44.  The strong Allied army here will in all likelihood prep for a key base somewhere in coastal China - perhaps Amoy and one other base.  Or perhaps I'll prep them for the big island just of the coast of China (the one with two good bases).

SW Borneo:  Troops began landing at Singkawang, with landings at Kuching and the base in between Sing and Kuch to follow commencing tomorrow.

Indochina:  A Japanese CL/DD force roughed up some transports near Rangoon.  Both sides are sending more troops to the base just east of Ubon in western Vietnam.

Are you talking about Hainan?

[Canoerebel]

Yes, Hainan!  (How in the heck is a Southerner supposed to learn all the dadgum bases and islands on this map!)

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

8/19/44 and 8/20/44
 
No appearance by the KB, which suggests to me that the Japanese carriers are almost surely at home upgrading.

[

I believe your opponent, while you were gone and in the public forums, made some comments about how he feels at this point of the game about the necessity for a "great final battle." I don't recall the thread. If you're curious you might learn something. If not, or you don't want to go that way, I'll say no more.

[Canoerebel]

Thanks, Bullwinkle.  I'll hunt and peck, but that philosophy makes sense to me.  He's got a powerful carrier force with some BBs still left, so he might as well employ them in grand fashion rather than have them picked off one by one or left to sail in the increasingly small waters controlled by the Japanese.
 
I figured out why my force at Tarakan isn't quite as strong as I had planned - one TF carrying the bulk of 33rd Division plus combat engineers remained at Makassar.  So I'll have to bring the laggards forward.  Also, the 22nd East African unit will be reinforcing Tarakan.
 
My carriers are pulling back to a point SE of Balikpan, so the opportunity for a major carrier clash has diminished.
 
Meantime, largely unprotected transports will be landing at Kuching and the base to the south over the next two days.  I have two combat TFs in the area to try to offer them some protection.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Thanks, Bullwinkle.  I'll hunt and peck, but that philosophy makes sense to me.  He's got a powerful carrier force with some BBs still left, so he might as well employ them in grand fashion rather than have them picked off one by one or left to sail in the increasingly small waters controlled by the Japanese.

Well you should hunt, because he didn't necessarily say what you might think.[:)]

There is increasing player experience with kamis as more games get to that era. I'm in late June 1945 and they are still terrifying in their numbers and effectiveness. I can't go to the HI, even with ten modern CVs, and not lose some or at least lose them for the duration. Land-based fighter help is vital. Are they over-powered? Dunno. Against the AI yes and no. The AI has massive help with extra airframes all through the war to account for its other linitations. OTOH, I've peeked into its pilot pools, and while it still has several thousand, they're 20s and 30s.

A human player with several thousand airframes (and the multi-engine kamis will put all but the largest ships on the bottom) might consider pulling his CVs back and daring you to come and get them. Might.

[Canoerebel]

8/21/44 and 8/22/44
 
This was a very good day for the Allies:

Singkawang:  Falls to the Allies on the first attack.  This gives the Allies their first base on the South China Sea proper.  An Allied CA/DD force also rips an IJN TF consisting of a handful of E-class boats.

Kuching:  The Allies land in numbers and in good order, finding this important base garrisoned by just an SNLF.  It should fall tomorrow.

South China Sea Ports and the Invasion of China:  These two bases along with Ketapang and Billiton Island will allow the Allies to build up this area and take control of the air and sea lanes, effectively isolating Java and closing down the shipping lanes to Palembang.  This will also serve as the launching pad for the Allied invasion of coastal China.  It will take me a few weeks or longer to organize this major move - I'll need to retrieve the ground troops from a variety of recently-taken bases (Balikpan chief among them), organize some massive supply TFs, and rest and refit all my carriers and combat ships.  While that is going on the Allies will also seize some of the other island bases around Billiton Island in order to create a bit of a "Jap-free-zone."  In perhaps one month the Allies will be ready to move - it will be a "bring everything including the kitchen sink" invasion intended to establish a lodgement on the Chinese coast that will (a) allow Allied 4EB to begin strategic bombing of Japan and (b) threaten the rear of the Japanese army in China and Vietnam.  I don't expect the Allies to bother with Luzon or Formosa during the game - unless I find them absolutely necessary or unless I have such an abundance of troops that I feel like flinging them at hard targets.  Instead, I plan to move on Vietnam, China, and perhaps Korea in such a way that all the effort Miller has put into garrisoning Taiwan and the PI prove for naught, forcing him to retrieve some of his troops and try to shift them to the Asian mainland.

Hanoi:  The Japanese tried a shock attack here with terrible results for them.  The Chinese don't have a strong enough army to take this base - yet - but this attack should really set back the IJA.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Yes, Hainan!  (How in the heck is a Southerner supposed to learn all the dadgum bases and islands on this map!)

Dadgum? Is that near Dadjangus on Java? I'm so confused!