VSWG vs. Gary - The Allied perspective

[VSWG]

A quick question:

I used one of my SC TFs at Balikpapan for a fast transport mission last turn: starting in Balikpapan, they went to Samarinda and picked up the local base force, returning to Balikpapan the same turn. Worked like a charme, but now I have a CL and 9 DDs with a base force on board, and I want to set sail this turn. Is there a way to tell the TF to unload the troops, and then immediately leave Balikpapan? Like "undock" + "unload cargo" + "destination: Balikpapan" + "retirement allowed" with "homeport=Makassar"? Would that work?

Have to run...

[ctangus]

ORIGINAL: VSWG

ctangus makes some very good points.

Of course - it's because of my native genius! [;)]

I'm probably a dork but I actually like the China game (just sent another 60K Japs packing yesterday!) AB's map helps a lot. I'd be interested in hearing more of your plans in China.

ORIGINAL: VSWG

A quick question:

I used one of my SC TFs at Balikpapan for a fast transport mission last turn: starting in Balikpapan, they went to Samarinda and picked up the local base force, returning to Balikpapan the same turn. Worked like a charme, but now I have a CL and 9 DDs with a base force on board, and I want to set sail this turn. Is there a way to tell the TF to unload the troops, and then immediately leave Balikpapan? Like "undock" + "unload cargo" + "destination: Balikpapan" + "retirement allowed" with "homeport=Makassar"? Would that work?

Have to run...

"Dock" and then orders exactly as you state them. One thing to bear in mind - the TF will spend Ops points unloading so might not make it all the way to Makassar in one turn.

P.S. I like the screenshots. [:)]

[VSWG]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

You are learning the hard way about the lack of naval power around Kendari/Ambonia area at the start for the Allies. First thing I always do is send Boise over there and then some more of the ABDA ships to stop this flank attack. The Japs don't have any heavies (CA's or larger) at Palua to start with and this area needs to be contested or you are back to Timor/North Oz very quickly. [X(]

True, but he could have used the first turn movement bonus to transfer some heavies to Palau.

When I play, I send all those AP's to OZ and beyond (use AK's to transport troops,oil, and such) as you will need them in '43 when your counter-offensive hits high gear. [:D] Since you get more PP to start with in CHS, I spend some to evac some of those Dutch BF's (those not on Java) to northern OZ - speed up the fortification building process. [:D]

And that's exactly what I'm doing right now! [:)] Only difference: all Dutch BFs go to Java, and only a tiny fragment - to Perth! If he wants to invade northern Oz, those tiny units are not going to stop him. I have other ideas for northern Oz, I will post them later. But you're right about the APs, AKs can do the job in the Philippines, too - I have enough of them. I'm going to move the APs south. The tiny ones (cap. of 300 to 750) are very useful: they're fully loaded immediately after hitting "load units", and can sail (sometimes quite literally, see above) away the same turn. [:D] They're hard to detect, too.

Usually, I spread out the large Aviation unit and engineer unit in Manila among AK's to make a run to Darwin. You will need those aviation regiments and BF's in Northern Oz for your LBA's in a few months or it will be a short fight, IF, and when he goes for OZ.

The PS Combat Engineers had top priority for me. Then some base forces not on Luzon, and the HQs. I need aviation support right now in Manila, but some subs and smaller transports are already earmarked for evacuating the aviation units. All those units (not fragments, I'm trying to evacuate the larger part) are going to Java, too.

[VSWG]

ORIGINAL: ctangus

I'm probably a dork but I actually like the China game (just sent another 60K Japs packing yesterday!) AB's map helps a lot. I'd be interested in hearing more of your plans in China.

I'll post some more later today, I'm working on some screenshots of China right now.

"Dock" and then orders exactly as you state them. One thing to bear in mind - the TF will spend Ops points unloading so might not make it all the way to Makassar in one turn.

P.S. I like the screenshots. [:)]

Thanks ctangus. I decided to keep this TF in Balikpapan as a reserve together with CA Houston and CL Boise - with more CAP this time!. Maybe he just wants to lure my SC TFs south, and the "real" actions happens around Jolo / Davao...

The PTs are going to Kendari, though, as well as the Java-TF and CL Dragon/Durban. Hopefully, they will be able to disrupt the landing force and find out what exactly I'm facing. They will be supported by Aussie Hudsons from Amboina and Timor (just 5 each) and 10 Dutch TBs from Makassar. I could muster meager 10 Buffaloes as CAP for Kendari... [:o]

BC Repulse + escorts are going to Makassar; Balikpapan is too hot right now. I'll probably transfer a USAFFE squadron of Warhawks soon, so I have a CAP that deserves the "C" in front of "air patrol". [:'(]

[VSWG]

... of China. Before anyone calls me crazy for spending so much time with this stuff: I'd rather work once for 3 hours with the editor, my excel-files and a graphic program than trying to remember every day for 15 minutes what the h*ll I was doing in China. It's more efficient. [:'(]

Engineers and Artillery:

[VSWG]

Infantry LCUs:

China has not more than 4 different types of Inf-LCUs:

82 Chinese Infantery Corps
16 Chinese Guerilla Corps (15 in non-base hexes, 1 in Puching)
14 Chinese Infantry Divisons
4 Chinese Cavalry Corps (1 in Chungking, 3 in Lanchow)


China receives no reinforcements except the 1st Chinese Cavalry Corps, which arrives in Chungking on Jan. 15th 1942. Most of the units are at 63/89 of their TOE, which means that they have 63 % healthy squads and 89 % (healthy+diabled) squads of their TOE.

Infantry Corps:
Assault Value: 382
Engineers: 24
Support: 341

Infantry Division:
Assault Value: 186
Engineers: 12
Support: 167

Cavalry Corps:
Assault Value: 273
Engineers: 12
Support: 233


Guerilla Corps:
Assault Value: 100
Engineers: 0
Support: 75

[ny59giants]

A rule of thumb that I use when transporting units, especially around the SRA is to use 150% of the AK's needed to move that unit and then divide them into single ship TF's. In one game, I had over 250 TF's as the Allies for a few turns (before some of them got sunk).

Without getting into your strategy involving the defense of Java, try to save some of those BF's and Aviation units as you will need them soon.

In regards to Malaya, are you leaving all units there to fight until death or do you plan to evac some units (my preference are the ISF BF's, HQ's, and then some of the Brigades). You can base the Dutch transport and others in Palembang and have them pull troop out that way and then march them to the bottom of Sumatra for easier evac. [;)] 

[Ron Saueracker]

The CHS is a beautiful work of art is it not?[&o] Can't believe anyone still plays stock...must be afraid of installing the files or lazy.[;)]

[VSWG]

Java:
Well, evacuating eng. units to Java does not mean their certain death (at least I hope so). Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I'm going to hold Java; I'm rather thinking of a large evacuation operation after Batavia and Soerabaja have fallen. It should be possible to save at least parts of those units. Tijlitjap and fast transport TFs - large fast transport TFs - come to my mind...

And as I said, sometimes a small part of a BF is sent to Perth directly, while the main part goes to Java.

Malaya:
There's only one possible answer to your question: it depends...

I have a fighting withdrawal planned in Malaya (I hope the shock attack / pursue "feature" doesn't kill me, any advice?), and then I'm going to fight till the forts come down in Singapore. Then it depends on Kido Butai whether this becomes a fight until death or a Dunkirk-style operation: if I know where his carriers are, and they are busy, then I'll try an evacuation. If not, then I won't, but use the tiny APs/AKs I mentioned to try to sneak some parts to Java/Ceylon + float planes + subs (US subs, of course). Right now all APs and AKs with high AA-value are gathering in Ceylon for this operation, while the transports with AA<10 are used to haul supplies and troops from Aden.

[VSWG]

ORIGINAL: Ron Saueracker

The CHS is a beautiful work of art is it not?[&o] Can't believe anyone still plays stock...must be afraid of installing the files or lazy.[;)]

Yes, it is beautiful. One caveat, though: it also complicates the game, not only in China. Another example would be the dozen classes of APs / AKs. It took me hours to sort them out. The learnig curve for rookies like me is even higher than in stock.

I like it!! [:)]

[ny59giants]

The CHS is a beautiful work of art is it not? Can't believe anyone still plays stock...must be afraid of installing the files or lazy.

Since I cannot figure out why my computer crashes so much playing WitP, I have to play through these AAR's. [:@] I had started a PBEM with CHS while another was awaiting version 2.06. Along with those I had started playing Iron Storm. After my brief experience with these games, I doubt I will ever play stock game on standard map (IF I every get my computer fixed or get a new one).

Since you are new, try to get a BF to Andaman Island as it will be needed to get your short legged planes from Malaya up to India. If possible, move the CD at Ragoon there. It will cause the Japanese to invade with more than a NLF.

[Ron Saueracker]

I have a fighting withdrawal planned in Malaya (I hope the shock attack / pursue "feature" doesn't kill me, any advice?),

Well, bet advice for Malaya is to retreat your units from Alor Star down to the base below Georgetown (has a road running east to Khota Baru). Otherwise the crap land movement and draconian Zone of Control dynamics will cut thos units off from retreat when the Japanese units catapult over the mountains from the landing site.

[VSWG]

Just a quick update, more details later:

Kendari:
The invasion TF entered the Kendari hex and was engaged by one of the PT boat TFs. The escorts screened the transports, but suffered some hits:

12/10/41
Night Time Surface Combat, near Kendari at 33,71

Japanese Ships
MSW Ataka Maru, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
MSW Takasago Maru, Shell hits 1
PG Edo Maru, Shell hits 1
PG Saiko Maru, Shell hits 1
PC Gamitsu Maru #1
PC Nichi Maru #1
PC Showa Maru #3
PC Showa Maru #5
AP Chinko Maru
AP Eiko Maru
AP Gyoko Maru
AP Hasuna Maru
AP Heiwa Maru
AP Igasa Maru
AP Kanko Maru
AP Kiko Maru
AP Kakyu Maru
AK Hakubasan Maru
AK Shinano Maru
AK Meigen Maru
AK Myoko Maru
AK Yasukawa Maru

Allied Ships
PT TM-4
PT TM-5, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
PT TM-6
PT TM-7

The invasion convoy then retreated one hex to the east, I think. Is that possible? A transport TF turning around because of some PTs?
Anyway, I ordered the SC TFs to attack tonight. 5 different TFs will try to engage the convoy at night in the hex east of Kendari, full speed, retirement allowed, homeport Kendari. I had to split the Dutch DDs from the Repulse TF because they had to refuel, and I don't want them to slow down the Repulse.
Then there's the Houston TF to the north, which will try to sink some merchants at Manado before retirering to Kendari. It is not a bombardement TF, as I hope for a second combat with the Kendari convoy and don't want the Houston to spend too much ammunition.



Speaking of sinking merchants: Gary attacked Pontianak with 5 CAs + DDs from Kuching. Losses: 2 Minelayers (ouch!), 2 small AKs, one small AP and several more ships damaged. The APs were evacuating the base force, but three APs survived, so the main part is safe.

Small air battles over Singapore and Manila, both undecisive.

The Prince of Wales is at 32/45/0 at Balikpapan, I'm going to send the ARs from Soerabaja to her.

What else... some PT boats from Hong Kong refueled yesterday from a sub at sea and attacked the busy port of Aparri. Again, the MSWs and PCs screended the transports (lots of them here), 2 PCs sunk for no loss. Not far away, the last (damaged) stragglers from Hong Kong were sunk. No more prey for Gary in this area...

And finally, Kido Butai moved southwest and is now 7 hexes northwest of Johnson Island, direction Kwajalein. The first convoys are preparing to leave the West Coast.

[BrucePowers]

Looks like a nice stiff defensive operation

[VSWG]

Gary's comment when he sent me the turn:

"[font="arial"]Whew, that was a disaster for me. You'll love this turn."

Well, I guess I can't complain, but I'm a little disappointed...

Kendari:
At night, the PTs engaged the convoy without success. All but one were sunk by a the screening force, CL Nagara and 6 DDs. The convoy then moved to Kendari and started unloading. Only in the very last movement pulse surface combat happened, and only two TFs engaged:

[/font]Day Time Surface Combat, near Kendari at 33,71

Japanese Ships
CL Nagara (not much ammo left after bombarding Kendari)
DD Yukikaze, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Tokitsukaze, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Yamakaze, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Kawakaze, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Umikaze, Shell hits 1
DD Suzukaze, Shell hits 2, on fire

Allied Ships
CL Java, Shell hits 8 (all bounced)
DD Van Nes, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Evertsen, Shell hits 1

and

Day Time Surface Combat, near Kendari at 33,71

Japanese Ships
CL Nagara, Shell hits 3 (all bounced, no shots fired)
DD Yukikaze, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Tokitsukaze, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Yamakaze, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Kawakaze, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Umikaze, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Suzukaze, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CL Dragon, Shell hits 2 (all bounced)
CL Durban, Shell hits 4 (all bounced)

The Repulse TF and the Dutch DDs did not engage, and are now in the hex east of Kendari. They should have either engaged the convoy at night while passing through Kendari, or they should have returned to Kendari (set to "retire to Kendari, full speed) with a chance to participate in the daylight fight. I have no idea why the Repulse TF moved only 7 hexes this turn. She would have turned Nagara and/or the transports into mincemeat.

Furthermore, the transports at Manado retreated from the Houston TF, no combat here. The Japanese commander should receive some extra sake for this very wise decision. I'm glad that I didn't set Houston&Co. to bombard, now she is northeast of Kendari with all her ammo and can attack the invasion, too.



Gary didn't disperse his convoy, it looks like he wants to continue landing at Kendari. He doesn't know about the Repulse and the destroyers east him him and the location of the Houston (not spotted). So the situation is looking good: a large convoy with badly mauled escorts with no torpedoes (DDs) or ammo left (CL Nagara) with no air support, surrounded by the whole ABDA surface fleet... Right now I'm sitting on the terrace (beautiful weather), sipping a non-alcoholic drink. I hope that the drink will turn quite alcoholic after receiving the next email!
[;)]

I'm loading the small Australian Inf units in Darwin on transports, I might send them to Kendari. I don't want Kendari (level 4 airfield) to fall, and he might have enough troops on the ground already. But lets see how the events unfold, sending troops to Kendari might be "victory disease".

In other news, Gary strafed my PTs at Luzon. Some Nates did the job, but he forgot to limit the range of his Zeros, and some of them, handicapped by their bombs, got slaughtered by the Manila CAP, where they tried to strafe some transports:

Day Air attack on TF, near Manila at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 21

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 6 destroyed

Allied Ships
AK Ethel Edwards, Shell hits 4
AK Lanakai

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x A6M2 Zero attacking at 100 feet

Result:



Morale is sky-high in the 17th fighter squadron at Manila: 96!! [8D]

20 Zeros from Kuching visited Singapore, he'll need more than that against AVG:

Day Air attack on Singapore , at 22,51

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20

Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 4
Buffalo I x 12
P-40B Tomahawk x 46

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway: 1 destroyed
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged

Minor happenings:

• some small and medium AKs sunk by torpedo bombers around Borneo. Losses are high, but bearable. His Nells are getting very good at hitting those darn small 350cap-AKs which I cherish so much... It's worth the price, though, the defenses of Java and Palembang are increasing, and I'm moving around lots of supply, fuel, oil, resources and troops in the DEI. At Palembang tankers are constantly loading fuel and, more importanly, oil; and I'm evacuating as much fuel as I can from Singapore.
• A deliberate attack on Hong Kong failed, few losses on both sides
• Kido Butai disappeared
• Wewak invaded
• Laolag captured, Baguio auto-occupied. Northern Luzon is Japanese now, but all troops retreated unmolested to Clark / Manila, and no troops in Lucena so far.

After the PT-boat strafing we are - of course - out of sync. No biggie, Gary sends the txt-files along.

[VSWG]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Since you are new, try to get a BF to Andaman Island as it will be needed to get your short legged planes from Malaya up to India. If possible, move the CD at Ragoon there. It will cause the Japanese to invade with more than a NLF.

Sounds like a good idea. Too bad about your computer troubles, can you narrow it down to graphic/sound card issues?

Ron,
I was talking about the game mechanic that enables attackers to advance at lightning speed with the shock-attack/pursue feature, but you're right about the troops at Alor Star anyway. Moved to Georgetown. The brigade from Kuantan is defending the mountain hex northwest of the city, covering the Kota Bharu-Singapore road until the defeated troops from Kota Bahru have passed. It doesnt't look like he's pursunig my troops, though.

This leads me to another issue:
Gary's not doing much in the Philippines and Malaya. Lots of ships are in the already conquered bases, yes, but no advance on Singapore / Manila. Furthermore, Mini KB is completely absent from the game. Several Japanese divisons are missing, too, and while the explanation might be simple (still loading / unloading, careful advance by Gary), he might be up to something unusual.

Pearl Harbor? Not without Midway taken, but still a possibility.
US West Coast? Insane, but perhaps against a newcomer like me...

Maybe I'm paranoid, but something strange is going on - because too many things are not happening: He's not pressing in Malaya (maybe preparing a second landing further south?), Mini KB is not attacking ships south of the Philippines, he's not advancing on Manila, Burma in a non-event, China too, and why is there not a single subs around PH / West Coast?

[&:]

[ny59giants]

Here is a list that I had sent to me through another thread a while ago about "free" Japanese troops that you need to keep track of as they will help you determine where his main axis of advance will be. Others can correct me if I missed some.
Divisions:
Imperial Gds&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 2nd&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 4th&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 5th&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 16th&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 18th&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 21st&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 33rd&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 48th&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 55th&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 56th

Brigades/Regiments:
35 Bde&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 21 Mixed&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 56 Bde&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 23 Mixed&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; South Sea Detachment&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1 Para&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 2 Para&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
I watch those Para's closely as some players use them aggressively to grab advanced bases. [;)]

[treespider]

After the PT-boat strafing we are - of course - out of sync. No biggie, Gary sends the txt-files along.

Does Gary allow the combat animations to play in there entirety? Does he press a key or hit escape or click on 'Done' before the animation is complete?

If not have him try and be patient and allow the animation to play in its entirety and only click on 'Exit' or 'Done' when it is required to advance to the next portion of combat.

[KDonovan]

Divisions:
Imperial Gds 2nd 4th 5th 16th 18th 21st 33rd 48th 55th 56th

you forgot the 38th Div. Usually battling at Hong Kong at the beginning of the game, but after it falls...its free to move anywhere

[VSWG]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Here is a list that I had sent to me through another thread a while ago about "free" Japanese troops that you need to keep track of as they will help you determine where his main axis of advance will be. Others can correct me if I missed some.
Divisions:
Imperial Gds 2nd 4th 5th 16th 18th 21st 33rd 48th 55th 56th

Brigades/Regiments:
35 Bde 21 Mixed 56 Bde 23 Mixed South Sea Detachment 1 Para 2 Para
I watch those Para's closely as some players use them aggressively to grab advanced bases. [;)]

Yup, I'm keeping track of those units. But there are more paras than you think:

1st Parachute Regiment
2nd Parachute Regiment
Yokosuka 1st SNLF (SigInt 411210: on AK heading to Nauru. Weird.)
Yokosuka 3rd SNLF (took Tugueagarao on turn 1)
Yokosuka 2nd SNLF

And the 2nd Division is the Imp. Guards Div, but you probably know that. From 10 Division, I can only confirm the location of 3 (including 38th at Hong Kong). He's landing lots of stuff at northern Luzon, Kota Bharu and Naga though, but I don't know what it is - yet. Could be everything, could be nothing. No recon available, those darn small Dutch recon planes cost too much PPs to transfer. [:@]

But now that KB has left Hawaii (hopefully), I can start preparing my defenses. The first convoy (50.000 supplies) is underway, more will follow. BTW, it takes forever to repair the airfield and port damage, still at 61/61!! [X(]

treespider,
I think he knows that. I'll mention it anyway. Does this apply to the Allied player, too?