Matrix Games Forums

lol - send me some art?

Cool tho - that you are getting an AAR going with the big guns. I'm looking forward to seeing how that mod goes.

Thanks, and it is a happy Tuesday. I've been doing pretty well. I'm waiting for the new beta to fire this up again.

Happy hunting!

Cheers,
CB

1EyedJacks wrote: Sun Mar 03, 2024 9:58 pm

Yaab wrote: Sun Mar 03, 2024 6:57 am I don't know if the RA mod has made any changes, but the Allies get a serious buff in Malaya in form of additional engineer vehicles. It is enough just to save some BFs and allow replacements in them, and you have a potent eng force which can i.e. fortify Singapore faster.

https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... 9#p5115319

I don't see any "large" engineers for the allies in Malaya - I mean there are quite a few but nothing out of the ordinary. If Michael can get some of these across to Palembang they'll make things tougher (building up the forts and causing damage to the oil fields just b4 I take the base). I'm trying to stop/slow down that process by quickly gaining air superiority in the area around Singapore and Palembang. I also hit Singapore's port and did a number on several of his xAP and Tankers. I plan to keep the heat up and not allow Michael to consolidate any real power at Palembang and keep hitting the AFs of Palembang and Singapore to prevent work on fortifications.

Read my posts carefully. The buffed BFs are just standard, small Allied BFs with a mismatched TOE slots. In addition to their standard 20 Support Squads, they will also take 20 Enginner Vehicles if replacements are set to On for the BFs. An Allied player may not even notice this buff. However if those BFs are not destroyed they will have the 20 eng vehicles each which will result in a) more damage to LI/Res when you capture a base in Malaya b) faster fort building.

Yaab wrote: Tue Mar 05, 2024 7:36 am

1EyedJacks wrote: Sun Mar 03, 2024 9:58 pm

Yaab wrote: Sun Mar 03, 2024 6:57 am I don't know if the RA mod has made any changes, but the Allies get a serious buff in Malaya in form of additional engineer vehicles. It is enough just to save some BFs and allow replacements in them, and you have a potent eng force which can i.e. fortify Singapore faster.

https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... 9#p5115319

I don't see any "large" engineers for the allies in Malaya - I mean there are quite a few but nothing out of the ordinary. If Michael can get some of these across to Palembang they'll make things tougher (building up the forts and causing damage to the oil fields just b4 I take the base). I'm trying to stop/slow down that process by quickly gaining air superiority in the area around Singapore and Palembang. I also hit Singapore's port and did a number on several of his xAP and Tankers. I plan to keep the heat up and not allow Michael to consolidate any real power at Palembang and keep hitting the AFs of Palembang and Singapore to prevent work on fortifications.

Read my posts carefully. The buffed BFs are just standard, small Allied BFs with a mismatched TOE slots. In addition to their standard 20 Support Squads, they will also take 20 Enginner Vehicles if replacements are set to On for the BFs. An Allied player may not even notice this buff. However if those BFs are not destroyed they will have the 20 eng vehicles each which will result in a) more damage to LI/Res when you capture a base in Malaya b) faster fort building.

lol - I did read your post. Attached is the "typical" makeup I'm seeing from the BFs in Malaya. I don't think the BFs used within RA are buffed.
x x
x x

Excellent.

My Kuantan scen001 BF has two non-TOE eng vehicles at start. In 30 turns,they have grown to 20 Eneg vehicles with Replacement ON, with smiliar BFs following suit.

Seems the BFs in your game will grow normally.

I'll slap a few snapshots of the map on a regular basis to help give us a good reference for discussions.
x
x
x

Sign me on as a reader. Any house rules?

bigred wrote: Wed Mar 06, 2024 3:08 am Sign me on as a reader. Any house rules?

Hi Bigred,

Welcome - I hope Michael and I put on a good show.

Michael and I have played a time or two; we have what Michael likes to call a "Gentleman's Game." In essence - don't use the game mechanics - just use your pieces, play the board, and bring your best strategies.

On turn 1 I went after merchies and subs. Looking over the air casualties for December 7th, I'm down 45 AC (mostly naval F & TBs) while Michael's losses (40) were kind of scattered CAP or a few AC on the deck. Sixteen came from the loss of the CVL Charlotte when she went down in the Celebes Sea.

I'm expecting a flood of merchies in one or two-ship TFs to be making a mass exodus. The whole thing always reminds me of salmon headed upstream to spawn with me acting the part of a bear and trying to eat as many of them as I can. <grin>

1EyedJacks wrote: Wed Mar 06, 2024 2:45 pm

bigred wrote: Wed Mar 06, 2024 3:08 am Sign me on as a reader. Any house rules?

Hi Bigred,

Welcome - I hope Michael and I put on a good show.

Michael and I have played a time or two; we have what Michael likes to call a "Gentleman's Game." In essence - don't use the game mechanics - just use your pieces, play the board, and bring your best strategies.

On turn 1 I went after merchies and subs. Looking over the air casualties for December 7th, I'm down 45 AC (mostly naval F & TBs) while Michael's losses (40) were kind of scattered CAP or a few AC on the deck. Sixteen came from the loss of the CVL Charlotte when she went down in the Celebes Sea.

I'm expecting a flood of merchies in one or two-ship TFs to be making a mass exodus. The whole thing always reminds me of salmon headed upstream to spawn with me acting the part of a bear and trying to eat as many of them as I can. <grin>

If you can, split your TB units on your CVs. Even when they run out of torpedoes, they do a very good job with bombs at 1000 feet. Also if you have any CS available, max out the Jakes and use them on Low Naval, even if they are not trained very well they can also do some good work with 4 bombs to hit with. The Float Planes are not affected by the Low Naval penalty. As soon as you take Jolo or any base with a level 2 airfield, put in Bettys and/or Nells and set them at 1000 feet with torpedoes. They are considered torpedo planes and do not need a level 4 airfield. They will carry a full bomb load at 1000 feet if no torpedoes are available.

Once Boise and Houston are dealt with, you can also split up your surface forces into small TFs as well.

Consider using fighters at 100 feet against the PT Boats, especially if the fighters have cannons.

RangerJoe wrote: Wed Mar 06, 2024 3:19 pm

1EyedJacks wrote: Wed Mar 06, 2024 2:45 pm

bigred wrote: Wed Mar 06, 2024 3:08 am Sign me on as a reader. Any house rules?

Hi Bigred,

Welcome - I hope Michael and I put on a good show.

Michael and I have played a time or two; we have what Michael likes to call a "Gentleman's Game." In essence - don't use the game mechanics - just use your pieces, play the board, and bring your best strategies.

On turn 1 I went after merchies and subs. Looking over the air casualties for December 7th, I'm down 45 AC (mostly naval F & TBs) while Michael's losses (40) were kind of scattered CAP or a few AC on the deck. Sixteen came from the loss of the CVL Charlotte when she went down in the Celebes Sea.

I'm expecting a flood of merchies in one or two-ship TFs to be making a mass exodus. The whole thing always reminds me of salmon headed upstream to spawn with me acting the part of a bear and trying to eat as many of them as I can. <grin>

If you can, split your TB units on your CVs. Even when they run out of torpedoes, they do a very good job with bombs at 1000 feet. Also if you have any CS available, max out the Jakes and use them on Low Naval, even if they are not trained very well they can also do some good work with 4 bombs to hit with. The Float Planes are not affected by the Low Naval penalty. As soon as you take Jolo or any base with a level 2 airfield, put in Bettys and/or Nells and set them at 1000 feet with torpedoes. They are considered torpedo planes and do not need a level 4 airfield. They will carry a full bomb load at 1000 feet if no torpedoes are available.

Once Boise and Houston are dealt with, you can also split up your surface forces into small TFs as well.

Consider using fighters at 100 feet against the PT Boats, especially if the fighters have cannons.

lol - Good morning RangerJoe,

Great advice for this situation. With the "Thundering Herd," as Michael likes to call it, yes - I've split most of my air groups to give me more opportunities to strike. Also, merchies are not warships so often a single bomb or torpedo hit is fatal. Those cruisers are still in the area though - and I'm hoping that I've wounded them enough to slow them down and that I've vectored my ACTF in the right direction to give me a shot at them.

My CS are out in other locations at the moment but I do have search aircraft out to cover the Sulu and Celebes Seas as DLs (Detection Levels) are the other half of the splitting-my-air-groups tactic to "enhance" my fishing trip.

I do have a 2nd ACTF (with CVE providing the air groups) east of Mindanao; I'm hoping they can do some fishing also.

Cotabato is a level II AF and I was successful in capturing that on the 7th. I brought in fighters and am using transports to bring in air support engineers plus the remainder of the para division. The next turn will be bombers at Cotabato.

Also, I've vectored in subs and a SCTF from Babeldaob to work Celebes and Sulu. Michael will get a lot of merchies out by creating a zillion small TFs but I'm hoping to load up on lots of Omega-3 while on my fishing trip.

1EyedJacks wrote: Wed Mar 06, 2024 4:05 pm

RangerJoe wrote: Wed Mar 06, 2024 3:19 pm

1EyedJacks wrote: Wed Mar 06, 2024 2:45 pm
Hi Bigred,

Welcome - I hope Michael and I put on a good show.

Michael and I have played a time or two; we have what Michael likes to call a "Gentleman's Game." In essence - don't use the game mechanics - just use your pieces, play the board, and bring your best strategies.

On turn 1 I went after merchies and subs. Looking over the air casualties for December 7th, I'm down 45 AC (mostly naval F & TBs) while Michael's losses (40) were kind of scattered CAP or a few AC on the deck. Sixteen came from the loss of the CVL Charlotte when she went down in the Celebes Sea.

I'm expecting a flood of merchies in one or two-ship TFs to be making a mass exodus. The whole thing always reminds me of salmon headed upstream to spawn with me acting the part of a bear and trying to eat as many of them as I can. <grin>

If you can, split your TB units on your CVs. Even when they run out of torpedoes, they do a very good job with bombs at 1000 feet. Also if you have any CS available, max out the Jakes and use them on Low Naval, even if they are not trained very well they can also do some good work with 4 bombs to hit with. The Float Planes are not affected by the Low Naval penalty. As soon as you take Jolo or any base with a level 2 airfield, put in Bettys and/or Nells and set them at 1000 feet with torpedoes. They are considered torpedo planes and do not need a level 4 airfield. They will carry a full bomb load at 1000 feet if no torpedoes are available.

Once Boise and Houston are dealt with, you can also split up your surface forces into small TFs as well.

Consider using fighters at 100 feet against the PT Boats, especially if the fighters have cannons.

lol - Good morning RangerJoe,

Great advice for this situation. With the "Thundering Herd," as Michael likes to call it, yes - I've split most of my air groups to give me more opportunities to strike. Also, merchies are not warships so often a single bomb or torpedo hit is fatal. Those cruisers are still in the area though - and I'm hoping that I've wounded them enough to slow them down and that I've vectored my ACTF in the right direction to give me a shot at them.

My CS are out in other locations at the moment but I do have search aircraft out to cover the Sulu and Celebes Seas as DLs (Detection Levels) are the other half of the splitting-my-air-groups tactic to "enhance" my fishing trip.

I do have a 2nd ACTF (with CVE providing the air groups) east of Mindanao; I'm hoping they can do some fishing also.

Cotabato is a level II AF and I was successful in capturing that on the 7th. I brought in fighters and am using transports to bring in air support engineers plus the remainder of the para division. The next turn will be bombers at Cotabato.

Also, I've vectored in subs and a SCTF from Babeldaob to work Celebes and Sulu. Michael will get a lot of merchies out by creating a zillion small TFs but I'm hoping to load up on lots of Omega-3 while on my fishing trip.

Good morning or afternoon, whatever it is!

Well, if you are going fishing, the best thing to get fish with is a DuPont spinner! Whether or not the fish are biting, if there are fish there and you use a DuPont spinner, then you will get fish. Although I was also told that a hand grenade works pretty well.

Attached are the reports for 8DEC41.

During the early turns there's a whole lot of clicking going on for both sides. <wry grin>

So we capture a few more bases this turn. Amphibious TFs are headed to the PI, Borneo, and Mindanao while others are loading for regions around the Celebes Seas. Oil! Oil! Oil! is the mantra for Japan. Production is starting to ramp up in Japan's factories and ships are clearing the construction docks and gearing up for war.

Japanese forces CAPTURE Kuching !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Kota Bharu !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Guam !!!

CLAA Tokoro arrives at Port Arthur - this is my 2nd CLAA on the map.
x
x
Loss of SC Ch 7 on Dec 08, 1941 is admitted
x
x DD Isis is reported to have been sunk near Singapore on Dec 07, 1941
PG Isabel is reported to have been sunk near Taytay on Dec 08, 1941
AMc Rahman is reported to have been sunk near Singapore on Dec 07, 1941
AMc Gemas is reported to have been sunk near Singapore on Dec 07, 1941
MTB 7 is reported to have been sunk near Laoag on Dec 08, 1941
MTB 8 is reported to have been sunk near Laoag on Dec 08, 1941
MTB 11 is reported to have been sunk near Laoag on Dec 08, 1941
MTB 27 is reported to have been sunk near Laoag on Dec 08, 1941
AO Trinity is reported to have been sunk near Busuanga on Dec 08, 1941
xAP Legaspi is reported to have been sunk near Dinagat on Dec 08, 1941
xAP Matang is reported to have been sunk near Tandjoengpinang on Dec 08, 1941
xAP Sin Kheng Seng is reported to have been sunk near Tandjoengpinang on Dec 08, 1941
AM Astrolabe is reported to have been sunk near Lingga on Dec 08, 1941
xAK West Cawthon is reported to have been sunk near Langsa on Dec 08, 1941
xAKL Sagoland is reported to have been sunk near Bataan on Dec 08, 1941
xAKL Cebu is reported to have been sunk near Dinagat on Dec 08, 1941
xAKL Latouche is reported to have been sunk near Dinagat on Dec 08, 1941
xAKL Palawan is reported to have been sunk near Bataan on Dec 08, 1941
xAKL Taurus is reported to have been sunk near Guiuan on Dec 08, 1941
xAKL Regulus is reported to have been sunk near Jolo on Dec 08, 1941
xAKL Kanlaon II is reported to have been sunk near Dinagat on Dec 08, 1941
x
x
From the Operations Report, this is the result of my December 8th "fishing" trip.
x
x
1 x H6K4 Mavis transporting 1st JNAF Coy to Cotabato
10 x H6K4 Mavis transporting 1st Raiding Regiment to Tandjoengbalai
17 x H6K4 Mavis transporting 1st Raiding Regiment to Tandjoengbalai
3 x H6K4 Mavis transporting 1st Raiding Regiment to Tandjoengbalai
7 x H6K4 Mavis transporting 1st JNAF Coy to Cotabato
1 x H6K2-L Mavis transporting 1st JNAF Coy to Cotabato
26 x L3Y2 Tina transporting 1st Para Assault Division to Cotabato
29 x L3Y2 Tina transporting 1st Para Assault Division to Cotabato
9 x Ki-57-I Topsy transporting 27th JAAF AF Bn to Tandjoengbalai
9 x Ki-56 Thalia transporting 27th JAAF AF Bn to Tandjoengbalai
8 x Ki-56 Thalia transporting 27th JAAF AF Bn to Tandjoengbalai
8 x Ki-57-I Topsy transporting 27th JAAF AF Bn to Tandjoengbalai
1 x MC-21 Sally transporting supplies to 20th Ind. Mtn Gun
x
x x
x
Special operations has done well so far, providing me two bases with AF2 ratings. For Tandjoengbalai, I'll soon have Georgetown, Malaya captured and be able to ferry troops across the Strait to Sumatra for operations in and around the allied bases to the north. At Cotabato, I've got an amphibTF enroute with additional troops and supplies.

Reports for 9DEC41

So the big show this turn was the culling of the herd; merchies fleeing from the combat zones and Japan seeking to eliminate as many pieces from the board as possible during the early phases of the war. Truthfully, the more merchies of all types helps, but I've been seeing a lot of xAP, Tankers, and Auxiliary shipping getting swept up by my combat forces. Less so, sub kills after the December 7 surprise attack.

I'll say this - the Chokai and her escorts kicked some serious tail this turn. I think someone was keeping score.
x
x
x x
x
-
Plus
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Laoag at 78,69, Range 22,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Chokai
DD Asakaze
DD Harukaze

Allied Ships
xAKL Yat Shing, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
xAKL Jade, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near San Fernando at 77,69, Range 23,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Chokai
DD Asakaze
DD Harukaze

Allied Ships
xAKL Chengtu, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
xAKL Kanchow, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
x
x x
In the screenshot above, you can see merchies fleeing from Manila. I've got two carrier TFs, one west of Palawan and the other east of Sandakan, that have range within the Sulu Sea nd the Celebes. Bombers flying from Cotabato also get their licks in. Not shown above is another SCTF that picked off a few merchie TFs this turn.

Also in this region:
x
x x
x

In China my first go at Hong Kong is stopped with 1-1 odds and forts reduced to 2. I've got another division en route and supplies being flown in by Transports this turn. Plus I have bombers with escorts and a fighter sweep that will be coming to pay a visit. I'll regroup with plans to D-ATK again on the 11th of December.

Also in China, near Chengting, one of my armored groups tried a D-ATK VS the 83rd Chinese Corps and were rebuffed at 1:2 odds. Not much damage on my end - armor does have its benefits.

Troops landed at Aparri and I'll D-ATK on the 10th.

And an Amphibious Assault at Nauru Isle by the 51st Naval Guard Unit was successful.

So at this stage of the war I'm moving troops around in China to cover all of the stinking garrison requirements, I've got amphibious TFs hitting areas that increase my search range, and I'm pushing for oil along Borneo. Other TFs are loading or en route with additional divisions of infantry for Malaya and Sumatra, and I'm working to increase my airframe production of fighters and medium-range bombers. The RTA is serving as my primary assault force for Burma at this stage of the game.

If you take Miri, Brunei, and Tarakan or any other oil producing port base before you have air support and fighters there, consider having CVEs in the hex to provide CAP against bombers. Don't forget to bring in AA units along with searchlights, sound detectors, and/or radar as well. Every Oil hit early is costly in both the lost oil and the supplies to repair the damage. I would not repair the refineries since the Japanese have more refining capacity than easily captured oil.

Also, there are some things that you can do to inhibit Singapore from collecting all of the resources, fuel, and oil in the area. Instead, have it flow to IndoChina and then transport it to China for eventually end up in Fusan. There are things that you can set to have it flow that way and expanding the Light Industry in Fusan will get more Resources sent there to be loaded onto the small xAXLs to go to the Home Islands. You can even get some Oil going to Fusan as well which can then be loaded into small tankers to go to the Home Islands.

1EyedJacks wrote: Sat Mar 09, 2024 6:13 pm Reports for 9DEC41

A very nice list of ships sunk!

But too bad that a sub missed with 6 torpedoes on a CVL. One time against the computer, the mini-sub taxis were returning to Kwaj when the USS Enterprise ran over one of them near Johnston Island. Two torpedoes hit with one fuel explosion and one ammo explosion. The Big E sank one hex away from Oahu, it did not go to Johnston Island.

10DEC41

SCTF228 runs out of ammo and torpedoes after continuous engagements with fleeing merchant shipping. They will make way to Babeldaob for beans, bullets, and fish. Three more SCTF are on the east side of the Celebes Sea and driving west in an attempt to catch the last of the fleeing merchies running for Makassar Strait.
My ACTFs are also returning to ports for bombs and fish. It's so weird to have two different carrier groups and both are out of fish. One has 37 sorties left and one has 12. Wow!

The amphibious landing at Miri begins, with the first D-ATK planned for the 11th. An amphibious TF for an assault of Brunei is maybe 250 miles out.

Ocean Island is under new management. 24:1 odds at Fort Level 0 - my 53rd Naval Guard Unit DESTROYED the Ocean Isle Det.

At Hong Kong I hit the AF to stop forts from building (I hit it waaaaay too hard <wry grin>). The 104th Division has joined my units already in Hong Kong. Everyone is chilling for the 11th but will attack again on the 12th.

NW of Ichang, Michael thew several Chinese units at my 6th Division of the 11th Army. The 6th Division kicked butt and took names.

Ground combat at 82,47 (near Ichang)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 50336 troops, 274 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1412

Defending force 11857 troops, 102 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 345

Allied adjusted assault: 664

Japanese adjusted defense: 664

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), leaders(+), leaders(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
263 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 25 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1281 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 105 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled

Assaulting units:
67th Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Corps
45th Chinese Corps
32nd Chinese Corps
68th Chinese Corps
75th Chinese Corps
26th Group Army

Defending units:
6th Division

In Thailand, the 2nd RTA has made it into Rahaeng and is still foot-sacking it towards Moulmein. Close in its heels, the 1st RTA has railed into Pisanuloke and after unpacking, they'll be on the march to join the 2nd at Moulmein.
Further south, the 6th RTA is at Chumphon and unpacking, after which the 6th will be marching on Victoria Point.

Michael has a pair of subs hunting SW of Saigon. I'm vectoring in additional ASW TFs and AC on N-Search.

Attached are the reports for 10DEC41.

RangerJoe wrote: Sun Mar 10, 2024 10:30 pm

1EyedJacks wrote: Sat Mar 09, 2024 6:13 pm Reports for 9DEC41

A very nice list of ships sunk!

But too bad that a sub missed with 6 torpedoes on a CVL. One time against the computer, the mini-sub taxis were returning to Kwaj when the USS Enterprise ran over one of them near Johnston Island. Two torpedoes hit with one fuel explosion and one ammo explosion. The Big E sank one hex away from Oahu, it did not go to Johnston Island.

Yup - it would have been cool to tap that CVL. Maybe next time. I'll say this about the carrier-heavy mod of RA - it looks to be harder to save much of the allied shipping that is initially fleeing the warfront through the Sulu and Celebes Seas.

Some more nice ships sunk!

Remember, the Kates carry two bombs each and can sink the Allied ships in the Philippines with no problems so you might as well use up your sorties on your carriers unless (wink) you are going to fly the torpedo aircraft to a land base while your carriers go to restock sorties. The air units might also be able to have replacement aircraft flown in as well. Meanwhile, some of the CV escorts can also go to play if they have not yet done so while other surface combat vessels which used up their ammo can join with the CVs as escorts. Rotate the ships as is needed.

Tank units can lower fortification levels even if the odds are less than 1:1. Rotate as needed. The infantry and artillery can bombard, saving the combat engineer units for the large attacks.

If I have not yet suggested this . . .
Not having downloaded this scenario, I don't know what is in any stockpiles. Remember to use up all older engines for antique aircraft for training purposes, even if that is using 1E bombers to hit Chinese land targets. The HI cost is already paid for so you only have the airframe cost. If those engines are not used now, when will they be used? For older and slow kamikazes?

Also, I don't know what your rules are for expanding naval air units but the torpedo units if expanded can use a lot of the older aircraft to train lots of pilots in Naval Bombing, Search, and ASW. If the pilots switch from TBs to another type such as DBs, Bettys, and/or Nells, the pilots lose a little experience but NO skill. The Claudes also make good trainers, freeing the A6M2s for offensive and defensive usage. Otherwise, if needed, the Claudes work well at 6000 feet against Allied torpedo aircraft. The Jakes can be used to train fighter pilots in expanded float plane units as well as Low Naval for use now and kamikazes later. Also, expanded Jake units can be split into thirds and placed with an AV for aerial ASW along important convoy routes.