ORIGINAL: Q-Ball
Hey, who is the guy in your avatar Dan? I don't recognize him; I assume he is a Confederate General. At first I thought it was Pat Cleburne, but he doesn't look quite right. Can't think of anyone else, most famous Reb generals had full beards.
HMS Resolution is correct - Col. Emory F. Best, 23rd Georgia Regiment.
Q-Ball, your "Cleburne" notion was good, because that would be about the nearest likeness to a general officer.
I've told readers in the AAR for our game more about Best. In short, Best commanded the 23rd Regiment at Catherine Furnace, a critical point during the Battle of Chancellorsville. In fact, Stonewall Jackson ordered the regiment detached to protect a vulnerable area during his famous flanking march on the day he was mortally wounded. Then Jackson detailed J.E.B. Stuart to position the regiment.
Best's men held off a superior Union attack by Gen. David Birney's Division for several hours, giving way from the Furnace to an unfinished railroad cut. Eventually, most of the regiment was taken captive by Hiram Berdan's U.S. Sharpshooters, but Best and some 20-30 Rebels escaped.
Best was court-martialled and dismissed from the service as a result of his leaving the bulk of his men behind. After the war, he became a judge in Macon, Georgia. He spent the last 20 or 25 years of his life as a clerk in the Interior Department in Washington, D.C. He died in 1912 and is buried in Macon's Rose Hill Cemetery. There is no mention of his service to the Confederacy on his tombstone.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
Interesting story....probably would have been hailed as a hero if he died right there rather than escaping. Kind of the Confederate Joshua Chamberlain.
Ben Prentiss also got kind of a raw deal after Shiloh, certainly in his mind; he was captured, but the time he bought was key to the battle. He even won another at Helena; it is not recorded why, but Grant must not have liked the guy, or he would have received a more active command.
China: The map below shows the current situation in China, with the Allies advancing as fast as they can go toward the coastal cities of Foochow, Wenchow and Ningpo. The Japanese are concentrated to the south, around Canton, Hong Kong, Kansien, and Kukong. The bases targeted by the Allies are lightly protected. Once taken, Japan won't be able to recover them, because the Allies have alot more reinforcements on the way. In fact, the troops on the way are prepped for these coastal targets, so if Miller manages a last-minute reinforcement, I could attack both from land and by sea.
Carriers and Reinforcements: These ships are just transiting the Sulu Sea and heading into the South China Sea.
Attachments
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"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
Interesting story....probably would have been hailed as a hero if he died right there rather than escaping. Kind of the Confederate Joshua Chamberlain.
Ben Prentiss also got kind of a raw deal after Shiloh, certainly in his mind; he was captured, but the time he bought was key to the battle. He even won another at Helena; it is not recorded why, but Grant must not have liked the guy, or he would have received a more active command.
Blabbing about the entire Union oob to his captors after being captured at Shiloh probabaly didnt earn him too many points. Lew Wallace probably got a worse deal for being late than Prentiss (although Wallace did write a cool book). Both fared better than Will Wallace.
The Allied objectives in China:
1. Drive for the coast no matter what the cost to seize at least one base and begin building the airfield(s).
2. Once that is accomplished or certain, do what's necessary to secure my flank and LOC.
3. Address pockets of resistance that represent any kind of threat to the Allies or which deny the Allies a useful base or impact optimum Allied LOC.
So eventually the Allies may well deal with Canton, Hong Kong, etc. If I determine that it's not worthwhile expanding further north, I'll have a heck of alot of troops to work with, so they'll be put to the best uses possible.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
Eesh...what an LOC nightmare for the IJA in China. He's in real danger of having large bodies of troops cut off and exterminated.
What are your thoughts about moving in force on the axis Wuchow-Canton-Hong Kong? You've already got the former, it should only take you a handful of days march to get to the intermediate target from there. It would also cut off his powerful blocking forces at Kukong and Kahshien from primary supply via Canton.
Also, Canton and Hong Kong have large numbers of HI. Many Japanese players will selectively increase HI in Hong Kong-capturing that (or blowing it up, whichever) would put a further crimp in his HI reserves and / or war production.
ETA: Canton is a major port city with excellent port accomodations for all but the largest warships. Its port facilities tend to be overlooked by many, but that would be an excellent major port for you to begin dumping supplies, men and material into.
Eesh...what an LOC nightmare for the IJA in China. He's in real danger of having large bodies of troops cut off and exterminated.
What are your thoughts about moving in force on the axis Wuchow-Canton-Hong Kong? You've already got the former, it should only take you a handful of days march to get to the intermediate target from there. It would also cut off his powerful blocking forces at Kukong and Kahshien from primary supply via Canton.
Also, Canton and Hong Kong have large numbers of HI. Many Japanese players will selectively increase HI in Hong Kong-capturing that (or blowing it up, whichever) would put a further crimp in his HI reserves and / or war production.
ETA: Canton is a major port city with excellent port accomodations for all but the largest warships. Its port facilities tend to be overlooked by many, but that would be an excellent major port for you to begin dumping supplies, men and material into.
At the moment there are 30 Japanese units in both Canton and Hong Kong. I think it will take quite a bit of attention - including prolonged bombing - to soften up those targets and make a seige worthwhile. Before I turn my attention to that activity, I need to get and build coastal bases from which the Allies will engage in strategic bombing of Japan. Foochow, Wenchow, and Ningpo are awfully close to the Home Island.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
Before I turn my attention to that activity, I need to get and build coastal bases from which the Allies will engage in strategic bombing of Japan. Foochow, Wenchow, and Ningpo are awfully close to the Home Island.
That's the key to strat bombing IMO. The B-29 is the thouroughbred, but the B-24 is the workhorse. The -29 is a hangar queen in AE. Valauble due to bomb load and defense, but you don't get a lot of long-range missions per month out of one. Getting the -24s in range is really necessary to a successful campaign.
A heckuva big air and naval battle took place near Hong Kong from the 15th through the 17th. Both sides got bloodied, but the results were so extreme for Japane that Miller has indicated he needs a day to decide whether or not to throw in the towel. Here's a summary of what happened:
Battle of Hong Kong, 15th: The Allied CV fleet steamed north through the South China Sea to take station south of Hong Kong. The CVE TFs were to the west perhaps 200 miles. Japanese LBA sortied in big numbers and did moderate damage to CVs Constellation and Ticonderoga, but the Japanese lost nearly 300 aircraft. I ordered the damaged carriers to retire to Samah on Hainan Island and the remaining CV and CVE TFs to combine south of Hong Kong. I figured the "big battle" might be coming, but felt confident that I had enough carrier CAP to win.
Battle of Hong Kong, 16th: Miller sends everything he has at my carriers, including his remaining CVs. Fortunately, he elected to fight at close range (my naval strike aircraft are set at range four to limit "flying off against xAKL TFs). There were massive, massive, massive, never ending sorties by Japanese LBA and carrier aircraft. Allied CAP did a commendable job, but against 25,000 zillion trilliion aircraft the CAP eventually got tuckered out and one big strike made it through. The Japanese scored the following hits: BB Massachusetts 1T; CV Saratoga 1 B, 1 kamikazee; CL Miami 2 TT; and the following CVEs hit: Rudyerd Bay 1B; Barnes (sunk) 2B, 2 TT; Shipley Bay 4B; Shamrock Bay 6T (sunk); Sitkoh Bay 1B, 1 T. Also, a sub put 2 more TT into damaged CV Constellation, so she's really hurting. Japanese air losses were staggering - probably between 500 and 1,000 aircraft.
The Allies got in one good strike on the 16th, doing the following damage: CV Amagi 2B; CV Zuikaku 6B 2T; CV Unryu 1B; CV Katsuragi 3B; nine DDs set afire.
Battle of Hong Kong, 17th: No Japanese strikes make it through the CAP. I'd guesstimate another 250 aircraft lost today.
Allied strike aircraft score the following hits: CV Amagi 4B 1T; CV Katsuragi 4B; CVL Ryujo 3B 2TT; eight DD badly damaged; one CLAA sunk and one moderately damaged.
Japanese Losses: Three CV (Amagi, Katsuragi, Zuikaku), one CVL (Ryujo); plus some 17 DDs heavily damaged or sunk, one CLAA sunk; one CLAA moderately damaged. The Japanese lose roughly 1,000 to 1,500 aircraft during the three-day battle.
Allied Losses: CV Constellation heavily damaged; CV Ticonderoga and Saratoga moderately damaged; two CVE sunk; two CVE heavily damaged; one CVE moderately damaged; one CL heavily damaged; one BB lightly damaged. The Allies probably lost 200 to 300 aircraft, mostly Avengers and Helldivers piloted by low-experienced men (not the more valuable, at least to me, fighters).
Strategic Impact: In the real world, the Allies would be in great shape. It would take months for Japanese air to recover; meanwhile, the Allies can easily replace the aircraft lost, though it will be a month before I can replace the missing flight decks (CV Intrepid, two Brit CVs, and CVL Langley are at Capetown and less than three weeks from being ready to go, and CV Bennington is on the way to Darwin). If things were somewhat normal, I'd retire to port, replace the lost aircraft, and then go wherever I wanted to (meaning sending lots of supplies and troops by ship to Ningpo and/or Wenchow). But in AE Scenario Two it seems that Miller will be able to replace all his losses in a few days, so that the danger level will remain about the same. Anyhow, this was clearly a major Allied victory.
One other Thing: The Allies still have avoided giving Miller the one thing he really wanted - a chance to send zillions of kamikazees and strike aircraft to overwhelm the Allied fleet. Or perhaps its game mechanics that's frustrating him. But the Allies have done well in refusing to send ships places where an ambush would be much easier to arrange and coordinate. (IE, the Allies have remained somewht distant from big airbases and haven't sailed into confined waters between big IJ airfields).
China: An American Army division arrived at Foochow and found an IJA division plus two other infantry units. That's going to be tough. So now I'll turn my hopes on Wenchow and Ningpo, which are lightly held. Troops are nearing both locations.
Points: I haven't seen the turn file yet, but before this battle the Japanese lead had fallen to 2,000 points. At this point it is probably less than 1,000 points. But it has to be tough mentally on Miller to play on the defensive for many, many months of game time; absorbing almost never-ending defeats with little chance of achieving victory anywhere. He's done well to fight so hard so long and I understand if he elects to concede. But he probably won't, the rascall.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
Looks like Miller is indeed losing hope, trying again the same thing that failed once already. Or, again, maybe his fuel situation is completely desperate and he was unable to allow long-range sorties with his carrier force.
What kind of loses did flack inflict on all those attacking aircraft?
Today I come bearing an olive branch in one hand, and the freedom fighter's gun in the other. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. I repeat, do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. - Yasser Arafat Speech to UN General Assembly
John, good question. I just got the file and found that 26 Japanese aircraft fell to flack during the massive two-day engagement. The Allies had all their fleet carriers plus CVEs plus escorts - scores of the newest and best and most up-to-date ships; thousands (no exaggeration) of Japanese aircraft were involved in the attack; and according to my report 900 IJ aircraft were lost over two days...the 26 claimed by AA fire is a little anemic.
Moving on to other matters: (1) Miller has elected to continue the game; (2) the points differential is down to just 1,000; (3) no Allied fleet carriers are in danger of sinking barring further damage; (4) Allied carriers will retire to Samah to replace lost aircraft; (5) Allied combat TFs will try to interdict copious Japanese shippng around Hong Kong and Swatow regions; (6) Allied LBA will mainly focus on Hong Kong's airfield and port facilities.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
John, good question. I just got the file and found that 26 Japanese aircraft fell to flack during the massive two-day engagement. The Allies had all their fleet carriers plus CVEs plus escorts - scores of the newest and best and most up-to-date ships; thousands (no exaggeration) of Japanese aircraft were involved in the attack; and according to my report 900 IJ aircraft were lost over two days...the 26 claimed by AA fire is a little anemic.
Thanks, BTW, did your ships run out of AAA ammo? If not did you have a AE along?
thanks
Today I come bearing an olive branch in one hand, and the freedom fighter's gun in the other. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. I repeat, do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. - Yasser Arafat Speech to UN General Assembly
Miller is a good sport, as in 1945 it is virtually impossible to score a tactical victory against the main body of the US Fleet (or A main body), and all losses are basically permanent. Once the IJN is done for, the game isn't as fun.
1/18/45 and 1/19/45
John: Didn't check ammo status only because I was immediately retiring to port anyway (but I do have two AE with the fleet).
QBall: Yep. Miller is a loyal, reliable opponent. Always has been. He doesn't have much to fight with now, so he might honorably concede at any particular time, or he may wait to see how the Alied strategic war program works out.
Battle Aftermath: The Allied carriers retired to Samah without incident, though combat vessels took on and destroyed two or three subs there. Allied combat TFs tangled with a few odds and ends from Hong Kong to Takao, sinking some stuff not really worth mentioning. The Allied bombers hit Hong Kong with effect, though the Japanese airforce remains a force to be reckoned with. No way I can shut down both Hong Kong and Canton at this point.
Allied General Attack on the Front: Allied troops had reached nearly all objectives along the front, so I gave all units everywhere an attack order in hopes that there might be a few successes. There were. The Allies have taken Wenchow (a development of major proportions) plus the city adjacent to Ningpo, which will be targeted next. So the Allies have what they need - a base on the coast close to the Home Islands. The effort now turns to consolidating our hold on the base, building the airfield, and protecting the Allied LOC between there and the interior MLR at Changsha. The Allies will also try to corral and eliminate pockets of resistance, which at present are very big and numerous, so it won't be easy.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
Miller is a good sport, as in 1945 it is virtually impossible to score a tactical victory against the main body of the US Fleet (or A main body), and all losses are basically permanent. Once the IJN is done for, the game isn't as fun.
Yes, this is why I would like to see greater VP awarded for Japanese sucesses in late war. For example, an Allied carrier lost in 45 should be worth three or four times the VP than one lost in 42. This would give a Japanese player some incentive.
I just read about the Okinawa campaign which got little press due to events in Europe. But once the dust settlled the political and morale costs of the massive losses hit hard.
Make sure you get the HQ units associated with the B-29's to the same airbases. It will allow over stacking and I believe it improves strike co-ordiantion. I think it's the XX and the XXI
Today I come bearing an olive branch in one hand, and the freedom fighter's gun in the other. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. I repeat, do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. - Yasser Arafat Speech to UN General Assembly
ORIGINAL: crsutton
Yes, this is why I would like to see greater VP awarded for Japanese sucesses in late war. For example, an Allied carrier lost in 45 should be worth three or four times the VP than one lost in 42. This would give a Japanese player some incentive.
I just read about the Okinawa campaign which got little press due to events in Europe. But once the dust settlled the political and morale costs of the massive losses hit hard.
Adjusting VP would make sense, but many times players will concede even with the lead when the game becomes hopless in their eyes. Witness the game between Q-Ball and Cuttlefish.
Also, reality as we know it doesn't exist in AE. As best I can tell, the Japanese can maintain a far stronger airforce into 1945 than was possible in the real war. So it's going to be easier/more common for the Japanese to get in licks against the Allied navy. There are oddities affecting and benefiting either side and the net result seems to be a taut, competitive game that begins to veer sharply from history sometime around December 7, 1941...and the divergence increases each day you continue.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
