Strike back at Kuantan?

[JohnK]

People are talking about sending the PoW and Repulse to Australia or the DEI.

You should never have to send either of those two ships back to England, and should never want to.

You'll generally have an R class BB to send back (that you've kept in Ceylon) instead.

[Ron Saueracker]

ORIGINAL: JohnK

People are talking about sending the PoW and Repulse to Australia or the DEI.

You should never have to send either of those two ships back to England, and should never want to.

You'll generally have an R class BB to send back (that you've kept in Ceylon) instead.

Yep. R class BB and C/D class cruisers are basically obsolete withdrawl material.

[Ron Saueracker]

ORIGINAL: JohnK

In an ideal universe there would be some sort of massive PP penalty if Force Z didn't make an attempt to hit Japanese invasion forces heading for Malaya.

The idea of them retreating from Singapore before they're even damaged or made one attempt to hit the invasion forces is unthinkable.

Problem with PPs is there aren't restrictions with moving naval forces....withdrawing Force Z from Singapore, in reality, would be a bigger PP cost than moving the Australian brigades out.

Thus I've found myself compelled to make at least one interception attempt with them when I've played

If this was the case, how big should the PP penalty be for Jap player not bombing PH, and using the overly generous first move StarTrek Transpoter system?

[madflava13]

If you had ships in Oz that you did need to withdraw, you could simply send them to India. You have a month's warning of withdrawals, so you would have plenty of time to get a ship back. That is assuming the IJN doesn't sink it on the way... hehe.

[bradfordkay]

In my games (against the AI) I have always sent force Z up to Khota Bahru, since that is what Churchill wanted me to do. One move I always make is to transfer a squadron or two of Buffaloes up to Kuantan and set them on LRCAP over Force Z. This has been enough to keep the Nells at bay for the main part. In one game Force Z got a magazine hit on the Kongo, so a sunk BB was a good response. The worst damage I have ever received from the AI in this has been two torpedo hits on the POW, but she managed to make it back to Singapore for repairs.

In every game, they caused the battleships and cruisers covering the Khota Bahru landings to withdraw (for more ammo or repair?), leaving the transports unprotected so that my LBA has been able to cause a significant amount of damage to those transports. In the one game where I held Force Z back, the AA on those BBs and CAs chewed my LBA to bits. I think that the risk is worth it, based on my results. Note, this might not work against a human opponent. Then again, it might.

[Ron Saueracker]

ORIGINAL: bradfordkay
Note, this might not work against a human opponent. Then again, it might.

Exactly! In a PBEM game going, I think Churchill may have allowed a bit of discretion in this situation. Massive landing at Kuantan covered by, get this...2xNagato, 2xFuso, 2xHyuga, 4xKongo and approx 6xCA + escorts. Message from opponent..."a little disappointed that Force Z did not come out to play!"[:D] Hmmmm...yeah...right![8D]

[bradfordkay]

Discretion IS the better part of valour, after all!

[2ndACR]

Wimp. Broke my heart, I even sent you an engraved invitation to the party.

You pick the place and I will be there. I will even wait for those old BB's from PH to arrive before we start the dance. Wondering what you are doing around Baker island with a CV though. Mighty dangerous place with KB an the hunt.

[Ron Saueracker]

ORIGINAL: 2ndACR

Wimp. Broke my heart, I even sent you an engraved invitation to the party.

You pick the place and I will be there. I will even wait for those old BB's from PH to arrive before we start the dance. Wondering what you are doing around Baker island with a CV though. Mighty dangerous place with KB an the hunt.

That sub would have been sunk without the ASW tweaks we are using. KB out of juice yet?[;)]

[2ndACR]

KB has lots of juice still. Thanks for your concern.

[Ron Saueracker]

ORIGINAL: 2ndACR

KB has lots of juice still. Thanks for your concern.

Seems to be slowing down though. [:D]

[Gen.Hoepner]

So i see that there are many different opinion about the ivolving of Z force in the first days of action in Malaya.
In a Pbem match i've just experienced how elusive can be those fast british BBs. They managed to escape from Singapore and reach Rangoon in 2 days.Here they found the entire AVG covering their positions. My Nells, despite everyone was set to naval attack didn't manage to get those fast targets. Now, as japan, i'm gonna have such hard days marching towards Rangoon, with the AVG and the Z force supporting the whole area.....

[Ron Saueracker]

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

So i see that there are many different opinion about the ivolving of Z force in the first days of action in Malaya.
In a Pbem match i've just experienced how elusive can be those fast british BBs. They managed to escape from Singapore and reach Rangoon in 2 days.Here they found the entire AVG covering their positions. My Nells, despite everyone was set to naval attack didn't manage to get those fast targets. Now, as japan, i'm gonna have such hard days marching towards Rangoon, with the AVG and the Z force supporting the whole area.....

Force Z can't do squat about a Japanese investment of Rangoon. It's another "Malaya".

[Gen.Hoepner]

Do not agree.With 50 and more well experienced P-40 from AVG covering the skies the can keep bombard my whole army advancing towards rangoon.I'd need so many priceless zeros and nells to try to get through and get a fish into Z force. This will force me to un unecpetable augment of air losses. It's for sure a not-safe port Rangoon for the Z force, but if i was on allied side i'll consider it a good price in exchange of the best japanese pilots in the western side of the map. ( it's 13 Dec. and my pilot pool is already at 60 pilots left-_-'')

[tsimmonds]

With 50 and more well experienced P-40 from AVG covering the skies the can keep bombard my whole army advancing towards rangoon.

Such bombardment would be little more than a nuisance IMHO. Waste of supplies, fuel, and wear and tear on equipment. Personally as IJ I would welcome such use of those ships by my foe. Bombardments like that are only truly effective against atoll airbases or in support of/defense against actual assault by LCUs. I wouldn't worry too much about having my movement interdicted.