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First upgrade carrier units.... and I can tell now that the Hellcat is indeed a big improvement [:)]

I won't use my CVs. They are safe far away from the front line.
I have 2 Marine squadrons with an avg exp of 75! And they're ready to be upgraded.
Then i'll upgrade the CVs, while only 1 marine squadron will remain with the Corsairs (the replacement rate is too low to have more than 1 group).
I won't give his KBs any juicy target.only DDs and few XAKs.
I'll try to stay again on the defensive side, with a strong and flexible CAP and some good offensive potential if he dares to come closer than 8 hexes from Ndani.
Even if he invades now, i can stay on the defensive for some time, waiting for the hellcats and for him to bleed during the landings...however i don't think he'll start the invasion before he has bombed the hell out of our bases...but with all those troops, forts and supplies it will take him some time to soften my defences...and time is on my side!

IMHO) I think it is a mistake for the IJ player to continue the offense when in fact the tables are turning. An example in history is the "Battle of the Bulge" short terms gains that end up shortening the war for the Allies and putting the final feather in the cap of Patton.

I would think GreyJoy you welcome an invasion and another opportunity to attrite his air corps where you are in point defense and he is sending waves into the grinder . your pilots are recovered ... his survivors end up in Casa Grande Arizona ...

His best choice right now is to establish interior lines of communication and build his defense but it does not seem that his is gameplan ..

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ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

I won't use my CVs. They are safe far away from the front line.
I have 2 Marine squadrons with an avg exp of 75! And they're ready to be upgraded.
Then i'll upgrade the CVs, while only 1 marine squadron will remain with the Corsairs (the replacement rate is too low to have more than 1 group).
I won't give his KBs any juicy target.only DDs and few XAKs.
I'll try to stay again on the defensive side, with a strong and flexible CAP and some good offensive potential if he dares to come closer than 8 hexes from Ndani.
Even if he invades now, i can stay on the defensive for some time, waiting for the hellcats and for him to bleed during the landings...however i don't think he'll start the invasion before he has bombed the hell out of our bases...but with all those troops, forts and supplies it will take him some time to soften my defences...and time is on my side!

all I can say is that I have the strong belief that you have learnt a hell of a lot in this game already - impressive how your understanding and your way of handleing things has improved in such a short period of time! - now I know many will say that you are still not where you should be - but I think that is besides the point - everyone should remember for a second that this is your first WITP:AE game!
IMPRESSIVE!

Thanks Soli! Well, don't know really. I feel i've learnt a lot since the beginning but i still feel very inferior in comparison to Rader. He's still the one who leads and who dictates the rithms of our game...but i've taken so many beatings that i must have learnt something

GreyJoy .. I think we are seeing the beginning of the end. As Canoerebel stated on 8/9/2011 2:17:29 PM .. nothing like reinforcing defeat .. investing a lot more at a critical time. It will be interesting to watch this unravel ...

... or the end of the beginning.

You know that if rader invades the Solomons and defeats 180000 men we're all gonna say that i was a fool and mistaken right?!? so, let's wait and see how it goes...

You'll be fine. Just like the KC Chiefs... you'll be fine.

Some might, most won't. In fighting you've not only provided us all with entertainment (and its probably been more interesting for you as well), but you've also continued to down his planes by the hundreds, and sink numerous DDs, CLs, and at least one CA. If you lose your troops and fortresses in the Solomons, they won't go down without a hell of a fight.

As for Rader being a superior player to yourself-that's obvious, he's much more experienced. And he's losing his ability to set the pace. You're invasion of the Solomons is what triggered his response, even if he sought to contest it thoroughly. And once again, you're slowing down his timetables by refusing to let your air and naval forces roll over and die to clear his path. You've even refused to give battle with your CVs and give him a shot at removing that threat. He might still choose the battles now, but you're now trading blows, instead of just receiving them.

I think your doing pretty darn well GF.  This fight for the Canal is your major turning point in my opinion.  You have become an AE player with exp now. 
 
But don't get tunnel vision on the Canal zone.  Look for other areas to attack or harrass.  Start makeing him dance to your tune.
 
doc

Greyjoy

I have spent 3 days reading this riveting AAR and as we say in these neck of the woods 'un par de cojones' for carrying on and giving it back to the JFB's. I cant wait for you to sink 4 torps into each KB carrier along with a few 1000lbers. Good luck in your future battles and i will follow this AAR diligently.

Welcome aboard Cantona! Thanks! Hope to give JFBs some headhaches from now on...but don't think Rader is going to send his KB into some risky missions...anyway, if ever, i'm ready to meet him with everything i could master!!

Mar 24, 25 43

The KB moved closer to the Solomons, while his SCTFs swept and empty Karaikira.
My guess is that the KB is now, along with his 500 LBA fighters, providing an imprenetrable CAP umbrella over the Solomons, in order to support a massive landing at Tassafaronga and Tulagi.
So far, so good....i've done everything i could to reinforce my positions there and i think i cannot do much more about that right now.

His subs sprung up en masse again north of Suva, sinking 5 empty xAKs...my ASWTFs were able only to hit a couple of times I-163 but nothing more...
Our subs sunk an "E" type subchaser north of Rabaul...

...no air actions today in the Solomons...he's getting his waves ready...

His paras conquered Rennell Island again. We will take it back asap as usual

Rader sent me the wrong file so i'm not able yet to see the updated map...but i think we're almost there...the invasion is coming!

I'm thinking...how long our marines will be able to handle in the solomons once his Hordes will be unloading at our bases? Jungle Terrain, forts and HQs should help the defenders...but...we all know Rader will use the hammer now...he has discovered at Tulagi how stiff can be our defence...so i think he'll simply bring and overwhelming force...like he has done at PM...what should i do? I need to try to interdict the landings...will be expensive...i'll lose tons of ships and planes...will it be enough?...getting nervous...

You're right, if he invades he'll bring a hammer. The question is, can you bring a bigger hammer of your own ? His LBA can't overwhelm you, he's been trying that for weeks now and it's not working. If he's going to use KB against LBA again you could have a great opportunity to strike at it with your own carriers, they should be able to at least equal the Japanese in a fair fight. Take the advantage of your LBA and you have a chance to gain a decisive victory.

If you don't want to try that or feel you're not strong enough yet then now is the time for another offensive. He has to be spread thin on other fronts with the huge amounts of LCUs and LBA in the Solomons and India. If you make a second-Solomon like position now it won't matter if Guadalcanal falls, there will be another flashpoint to take over and further attrit the Japanese.

GreyJoy

Thanks for an entertaining and extremely educational AAR. Your poise and sportsmanship under what I'm sure at times is a very stressful situation is an inspiration to us who are still working up the courage to enter into the PBEM frey. Also a tip of the hat to CR, Alfred, et al -- although I've owned this game since its day of issue you've all taught me more in this one AAR than in all the experience I've had playing the AI. Thanks to all and please keep it up.

Smeulders and Blacksheep,

thanks so much for your words and for enjoying the AAR.It's a pleasure to have you here and i'm sorry if i cannot give u a warmer welcome but during these vacations i have very little time to remain connected on the net and even littler to update...

Mar 26, 27 43


Another turn of "quiet" before the storm...

He sent few little sweeps over Tassa and Tulagi, opposed by 5/10 P-39s...minor battles occurred without any real victor.
The KB seems to have been moved back to Rabaul (probably to embark the first A6M5s that are coming online).
Only minor shipping movements at his front line bases (Russell, Thousands and Auki). He uses single-ship TFs to bring engeneers and supplies to his bases that are full
of planes (more than 430 fighters spotted in the named bases).
Our 1st USMC Para BN conquered back Rennell Is. as planned.
Our 4Es smashed Auki, closing the base and destroying more than 50 enemy planes on the ground, losing 6 4Es in the process...

We sent from Ndeni 3 TFs of DDs to sweep Thousand Ships bay...we found and sunk a lot of minor xAKLs and PBs of various sizes for no losses on our side.His Vals tried to attack us but were unable to get
my fast and nimble ships.

Tomorrow we'll bring back our CAP on Karaikira, where a couple of TFs will unload another Inf rgt and a strong AA regiment.

In India he keeps on pounbding Karachi, keeping the base shut (i only have there left 500 eng which are not enough to provide a constant daily recovery after the bombardments
He's using 200 Helens over Karachi, heavily escorted, and more 100 Sallies over my advancing troops. At Multan we're counting more than 130 units...i have 8000 AVs marching towards Multan...
...i know that i'm running the risk of being defeated there...but i wanna see what he really has there...an army HQ and 4 divisions is what i'm sure about...

Less than 1 week for the Hellcats...can't wait.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Thousand Ships Bay at 114,136, Range 17,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Toyotu Maru, Shell hits 25, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Jarvis
DD Craven
DD Gridley
DD McCall
DD Maury





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Thousand Ships Bay at 114,136, Range 17,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Sansei Maru, Shell hits 19, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Jarvis
DD Craven
DD Gridley
DD McCall
DD Maury





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Thousand Ships Bay at 114,136, Range 17,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Okiyu Maru, Shell hits 56, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Jarvis
DD Craven
DD Gridley
DD McCall
DD Maury



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Thousand Ships Bay at 114,136, Range 17,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
xAKL Ganges Maru, Shell hits 12, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Genkai Maru, Shell hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Hokuhi Maru, Shell hits 23, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Jarvis
DD Craven
DD Gridley
DD McCall
DD Maury





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Auki , at 115,136

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 22
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 36



Allied aircraft
B-17F Fortress x 12
B-24D Liberator x 24
B-24D1 Liberator x 36


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 3 destroyed on ground
D3A1 Val: 5 destroyed on ground
E13A1 Jake: 2 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
30 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled



Airbase hits 30
Airbase supply hits 16
Runway hits 91




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Russell Islands at 113,136, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Busho Maru, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Laffey
DD Duncan
DD Van Galen

Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Russell Islands at 113,136, Range 17,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
APD Yuzuki, Shell hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Laffey
DD Duncan
DD Van Galen


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Russell Islands at 113,136, Range 17,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Shirogane Maru, Shell hits 31, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Laffey
DD Duncan, Shell hits 1
DD Van Galen


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Russell Islands at 113,136, Range 17,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CM Naryu, Shell hits 18, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Laffey
DD Duncan
DD Van Galen





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Auki , at 115,136

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 9
A6M3a Zero x 8
A6M5 Zero x 9
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 22
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 4
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 30
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 10



Allied aircraft
B-17F Fortress x 3
B-24D Liberator x 24
B-24D1 Liberator x 34


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 1 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 7 destroyed on ground
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 4 damaged
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 10 damaged
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 19 destroyed on ground
D3A1 Val: 3 destroyed on ground
E13A1 Jake: 3 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
23 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled



Airbase hits 23
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 65

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