Westerley Wind, Fine NJP72 (J) vs Lowpe (A) DBB Sce 30

[njp72]

Naval tactics.

Lowpe is the master of disbanding small SAGs comprised of CLs and DDs into dot hexes and waiting for the opportune moment to strike troop and logistic convoys once the main forces have passed.

I just don't have enough recon assets to counter this particularly since I am moving everywhere with speed. Apart from the series of disasters around Rabaul I have managed to fight off the vast majority of these attacks by embedding CLs and DDs directly into the amphib taskforces.

Very clever tactics from Lowpe and this turn he was at it again. No sighting of the Allied DDs before they emerged from the blue. Still he continues to lose DDs at an amazing rate.

[njp72]

Scoreboard- neither side can continue to lose this amount of shipping.

Something or someone will have to bend/ break or 43 is going to be pretty quiet. [:)] But it won't be me. As long as I don't lose KB, I will actively seek any engagement where I can inflict reasonable damage and prevail.

Having some success in smashing apart his ground forces as well. Can I inflict 20K of losses onto his ground forces before the war's end- I think so.

Strat bombing will rev up again. I want to try and harvest around 3k to 5K in points here before it ceases.

AV is always a chance but highly unlikely given the skill of the opponent. None of my victories (especially at sea) are particuarly bloodless so it will make it hard.

A great game well into 45 would be a good outcome as well.

[RangerJoe]

. . . Never seen so much destruction so early in A PBEM as the Allies refuse to run and stand and fight.

[&:]

Do you actually mean something like ". . . Never seen so much destruction so early in A PBEM as the Allies refuse to run and but instead stand and fight."

Italics added to show the change.

[jdsrae]

I think that’s one of the best uses for the old IJN CLs (ie: nearly all of them!) and their older DDs early war.
2x CL and 2-3x DD should let them lead up to 10 Amphib task forces.

[njp72]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

. . . Never seen so much destruction so early in A PBEM as the Allies refuse to run and stand and fight.

[&:]

Do you actually mean something like ". . . Never seen so much destruction so early in A PBEM as the Allies refuse to run and but instead stand and fight."

Italics added to show the change.

Yep that was what I meant [:)]

[njp72]

ORIGINAL: jdsrae

I think that’s one of the best uses for the old IJN CLs (ie: nearly all of them!) and their older DDs early war.
2x CL and 2-3x DD should let them lead up to 10 Amphib task forces.

It is amazing the difference they can make against these small surface raiders.

When I lost that convoy around Rabaul it only had PBs. Big lesson learnt.

[ny59giants]

I like to use Christmas Island in Line Islands as potential hub in Central Pacific for Allies. It's large enough for many things once built up.

For Japan, you can place an Air HQ with either Nell or trained up Emily (NavT) to reach far and wide for attacks on transports.

[njp72]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

I like to use Christmas Island in Line Islands as potential hub in Central Pacific for Allies. It's large enough for many things once built up.

For Japan, you can place an Air HQ with either Nell or trained up Emily (NavT) to reach far and wide for attacks on transports.

I like your thinking Mike- this likely to be a goer.

[RangerJoe]

A level 2 airfield and they will fly with a full load. If torpedoes are not available but the mission type of "Naval" attack is selected with "Torpedo" weapon chosen, then the full bomb load is used - from the level 2 airfield. [X(] At 1k feet as well, so that is six bombs for merchant ships and lightly or non-armoured escorts on a low level attack that is very effective. [X(]

Note: I have posted that elsewhere as well. I have also posted on your opponents thread as well.

[T Rav]

Reading both, but I love the "Huckleberry" comment.

[njp72]

Turns have been a bit slow over the holiday season but each one continues to be fascinating.

China will start to cause Lowpe some major problems shortly. Especially if I can seize Hengyang which is looking like a decent possibility. Will squeeze him from the South and North. The next crritical hex will be Chihkiang over the river.

[njp72]

Burma and Southern India still hold considerable possibilities.

A couple of strategically placed para insertions may help me bag quite a few of forward defending Burma/ Indian Army units.

He likes to fight forward! Not use to seeing that in Jan 42 from the Allies.

[njp72]

Decent amount of fighting taking place on the East Coast of Oz as the Allies are slowly and begrudgingly pushed back towards Brisbane. Strat bombing is getting ready to recommence now that airfields are better established. Chasing approx 5K of points from this.

Western Oz is a stalemate; had to pullback my forces due to a lack of air cover.

[njp72]

Naval skimirshing continues as Lowpe very aggressively continues to push small tfs of DDs and CLs deep looking for my amphib vessels.

This is where he is particuarly strong. His use of these small naval combatants is excellent and achieving the key aim of frustrating the IJN and at times drawing a disproportionate response.

Still despite the losses and the fragile nature of Japan's AKs and APs (especially when I have fuel on them [:@]) everything moves forward and the Aliies continue to expend their limited pool of DDs.

Once Canton Island is seized the next objectives will be assessed dependent on where the Allies want to fight.

[Bif1961]

I have just started a new PBEM with my long term opponent and I get to be the allies this time and reading you AAR has given me a sense of how the Japanese might start the opening of their phase one offensive and their possible objectives. I can't defend everywhere and you have the advantage, as I try to stem the tide of your advance, the Allies get to know this will be a roll reversal, but when and where is the challenge.

[njp72]

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

I have just started a new PBEM with my long term opponent and I get to be the allies this time and reading you AAR has given me a sense of how the Japanese might start the opening of their phase one offensive and their possible objectives. I can't defend everywhere and you have the advantage, as I try to stem the tide of your advance, the Allies get to know this will be a roll reversal, but when and where is the challenge.

Thanks Bif, I think Lowpe is doing a very good job here of countering me where he can as the Allies.

His use of the Allied surface fleet is masterful. I would not generally recommend his forward defence strategem for Allied ground forces unless you have nerves of steel and are prepared to take some big losses.


Lowpe's approach is a good one: identify one axis of advance and try to stop it cold as oppose to defending everywhere.

[njp72]

The hammer and the anvil in China [:D]

This will get Lowpe's attention.[;)]

[njp72]

Para drop in Burma.

I should have been bolder and chosen a better hex but regardless it is still going to cause the Allies some difficulties.

Perhaps I will bag a brigade if I am lucky......

[njp72]

Naval skirmishing continues in the central pacific.

Allied warships head West rather than East to avoid KB.

This time there is good naval air search coverage with the wolves closing in. The hunters shortly to become the hunted.

[njp72]

Finally starting to get wiser to the ALlied tricks and games.

It has only taken being ambushed about 10 times to realise Lowpe is disbanding in dot hexes and than leaping out in opportune moments.

As discussed before, the best way to counter this has been embedding DDs and CLs into the taskforces. Now the Empire is finally in a position to start to actively seek out these hiding holes and inflict some proactive punishment rather then spit my morning coffee in surprise all over the screen when an amphib taskforce is waylaid in a seemingly quiet and secured shipping lane. [;)]