Hunting the Hibiki: Q-Ball (Allies) v Cuttlefish (Japan)

[Q-Ball]

Combat Report, May 11 1942

Quick update on the above report.

The IJN TF off Norfolk Is moved slightly Northeast, and is reported with a Northeast heading by Hudson out of Norfolk. Additionally, 1 CV is reported with this group. I don't know how accurate that sighting is.

I'm moving Lex/Indom away; I think CF knows a Hudson snooped him, and is moving back toward New Caledonia. If he continues, I will know there are CVs there, because I don't see him moving ships down there without air cover.

Either way, I am moving my CVs out. They are heading to the West Coast to refit, and rejoin the rest of the fleet.

Looking at Enterprise, it's going to be August or September until I have all my fleet CVs together. That was quite a torp hit on her!

[Q-Ball]

Combat Report, May 12,13,14,15 1942

Noumea: The last few days, CF has been slowly building Koumac airbase, and sending the occasional bombardment TF to Noumea. 4 BBs hit the place yesterday, and because of this CF knows the main unit there: 41st Division. That signals that I have a large garrison.

P-40s continue to duel with Zeros over Koumac, it's a losing battle for me, but I am taking some Zeros with me, about 10 or so so far.

China: Japanese troops are bombarding at Loyang in the North, and so far it's just a grind. No major moves yet.

In the South, the Japanese army arrived at Liuchow, and began to bombard. I have some units moving into his rear through the woods to cut supplies, but other than that I am not too optimistic about holding, despite committing a bunch of troops. I have to admit, that was a pretty good place to attack me that Cuttlefish picked.

Port Hedland: I am landing troops at Port Hedland almost like it's a contested landing; it isn't, but because that base is isolated, as the Allies you better bring a whole bunch of troops or don't bother. I am shipping in the 7th Aus Div, plus artillery, tanks, and support troops. It would take a major effort to dislodge them, and I expect some advanced warning, as he would probably take Broome or Darwin first.

I want to hold Port Hedland until the fall, as it is a good jumping off point if I intend to invade Timor.

Sub War: Here is where I want to get some best practices from other AE players. I have never been an expert at Sub Wars, as in WITP I never bothered to move my subs every single day. AE is an improvement with the Patrol Zones which I LOVE. I haven't figured out how to maximize them, so I am posting a screenshot to help tell the story.

I will post later on GRAND STRATEGY, which is where to concentrate subs. Here I want to look at TACTICS.

I am setting the subs to "Max React" of 1; is this the best? I would like them to react to other ships, but not stray too far off the patrol zone. I also keep a tight pattern, to conserve fuel and keep the boat on station.

At the end of each patrol, I take a look at the Sub's Torpedo Tubes; to me, this is the best indicator of whether that patrol was a success or not. At this level, all I can do is put the boat in a position to fire off Torps; I can't control if they hit or explode. Empty Tubes means I did my job. If the boat is out of fuel before torps, I may need to re-think that particular patrol zone, and try a different one. Does this all make sense to you guys?

[Wirraway_Ace]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

[
Sub War:
I am setting the subs to "Max React" of 1; is this the best? I would like them to react to other ships, but not stray too far off the patrol zone. I also keep a tight pattern, to conserve fuel and keep the boat on station.

At the end of each patrol, I take a look at the Sub's Torpedo Tubes; to me, this is the best indicator of whether that patrol was a success or not. At this level, all I can do is put the boat in a position to fire off Torps; I can't control if they hit or explode. Empty Tubes means I did my job. If the boat is out of fuel before torps, I may need to re-think that particular patrol zone, and try a different one. Does this all make sense to you guys?

Q-Ball, I am using a max react of 3. I don't mind a sub chasing down a convoy out of its patrol area.
I don't patrol in base hexes--my defensive minefields are the number one killer of my opponent's subs.
I keep the subs moving between at least 2 hexes, but let them loiter 1 day in each.
I don't use a patrol zone larger than 3 hexes per side to conserve fuel, particularily on the shorter range boats. I try to stick to deep water hexes.
I judge success by the number of torps fired.
I don't replace commanders based on their stats; if they are patrolling in a hot area where others are having success, and they have none, it is shore duty time. I don't mind a few conservative COs to help some the boats build experience safely.
Good luck!

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

crsutton: Thanks, actually I just got a Dutch RAAF unit in Canberra that DOES use the Dutch A-20s, so that's nice. I have a USAAF unit in India that also accepts the Dutch Mitchells. So, there is some use it seems. We'll count it all up. Thanks for the help though, based on this I disbanded all the Dutch bombers; I do have 24 P-40s at Medan.

[

Now, I have found out that one of the NZ Buffalo squadrons that was in Singapore can take the Dutch hurricanes, My NZ unit is in Ceylon and I found it there by accident. I got a hunch that there is a fighter unit either on board or due to arrive that can take those Dutch P40s as well. Only make sense because there are units that can take all the other three plane types that the Dutch get in 3/42.

So the hunt is on guys. Find me that unit that can take those valuable P40s .....

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

[b
Sub War: Here is where I want to get some best practices from other AE players. I have never been an expert at Sub Wars, as in WITP I never bothered to move my subs every single day. AE is an improvement with the Patrol Zones which I LOVE. I haven't figured out how to maximize them, so I am posting a screenshot to help tell the story.

Not much to add. I set my react to 2 or three for no particular reason. Without radar, they do not react much anyways-except in areas where you have a heavy air patrol presense. (Not many in 1942) I suspect that when they get the radar upgrades they might react more but am not sure. I have only replaced the worst commanders. I won't worry too much about aggressive ones until my torpedoes get better. The Dutch and Brits are the best now but the Dutch never get radar and I don't think the Brits do either so eventually your American fleet boats will be the best.

Last but not least, after every turn make sure to place you cursor over your subs. It will tell you the current detection level. 11 is bad and less than three is good. If the detection level is high, you better move that sub. Otherwise you are pretty safe from his ASW.

In my pbem Truant put a torpedo into Kaga and got a massive explosion to go with it. Very pleasing. Put one or two fleet carriers into the yard and the odds start to really favor the US when the big carrier fight comes.

[loricas]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

[b
Sub War: Here is where I want to get some best practices from other AE players. I have never been an expert at Sub Wars, as in WITP I never bothered to move my subs every single day. AE is an improvement with the Patrol Zones which I LOVE. I haven't figured out how to maximize them, so I am posting a screenshot to help tell the story.

I set my subs on patrol around target. max (6) reaction. 1 to 3 subs TFs
in this way when a TF is spot from sub or other item all subs around converge against: actually, for example, i have eight sub follow mini KB leading at 1to3 attack every day. this become deadly when a ship is damaged: S-23 put a torpedo on a CA Haguro: S-23 and SS Sargo shot four time in 3 day at the same ship, in her way to Rabaul.
you must check only that a sub don't follow to a port hex hitting defensive mine.
when followed TF disappear the subs revert to scheduled patrol zone

actually (271241 so no radar) i have 3 to 8 sub attacks every day

[Smeulders]

I've been putting react to 6, at least with subs in open water. This allows for a lot of attacks, I'm not far into my PBEM yet, but have had one sub sink a damaged PB 4 hexes West of it's patrol zone one day and the next sink an xAK 4 hexes East of it. Danger is that these large reaction ranges get your subs attacking in harbour, a pretty good way to lose them to mines.

My patrol zones are usually a bit further out from main bases then in your example. It lowers the risk my ships will enter harbours. I also think getting spotted during the turn will give convoys a better chance to evade your subs, and subs close to port get spotted often. A third advantage to keeping subs further out is that they're in less danger from ASW. If your sub is sighted and 2 hexes from a port, the ASW will be there soon, if you are sighted 6 hexes out, you'll be able to move the sub in time. If there is a constant ASW presence, being further out allows for less time on station for the ASW groups (though that's a minimal effect,) and forces your opponent to sweep more area, diluting his resources.

Disadvantage is of course that enemy has more space to route his convoys around your sub.

[Q-Ball]

Gentlemen: Thanks for the response, I guess I'm on the right track except for react range; that wolfpack idea is interesting. I might start grouping subs within the same patrol area and setting to higher React to see if they converge on a target. Hmmmmm....we'll give it a shot.

Sub War Scorecard to Date:
Allied Losses: 1 Dutch Boat (to IJN Sub!) and 2 USN Fleet Boats (one sunk in port, the other struck a mine)
Japanese Shipping Losses:
DUTCH KILLS: CL Tama, 3 xAK, 1 xAKL, 1 SC
S-BOAT KILLS: CL Kashii, 2 PB, 2xAK
USN FLEET: 3 xAK, 2 xAKL

Overall, I don't think that's alot for 6 months of work, so some adjustment is needed. I am pleased with those 2 cruisers, and those are confirmed. I am not so pleased that we haven't sunk ANY tankers whatsoever. That's a problem.

I imagine that we would have alot more USN Fleet kills if the torps worked; if I multiplied those kills by 9, which is what would happen in 1944, it would look better.

The other bright side is that I have lost hardly any boats.

From the Japanese Side:
LOSSES: The IJN has lost between 1-3 boats, not sure with FOW; 1 for sure, and probably 2.
KILLS:
4 x TK/AO
2 x xAP (Including Dominion Monarch, a big one!)
2 x xAK
4 x xAKL
1 SS (that Dutch boat), and 1 DM

Overall, Cuttlefish is probably OK with that result. It should be noted that although it didn't sink her, CF's sub force scored a very bad hit on Enterprise that figures to cost me 8 months of total repair time! THAT is as good as a sinking in many ways.

I think the Japanese have a different objective in Sub Wars; you can't attrite the Allied Merchant fleet, that's just points, though you have to attack it if for no other reason than to make the Allies escort everything.

Combat Report, May 16, 1942

I'll go ahead and include a Combat Report.

Kido Butai: Speaking of Subs, SS Greenling sighted Soryu 2 hexes north of Koumac. This isn't a huge surprise, as I knew KB was in the area, but it's always good to get a precise combination. Greenling fired a salvo of torps that all missed, and spotted a huge escort that included a BB. This is no doubt KB.

China: Liuchow will be bad for the Chinese; we have gathered 100,000 troops there, but I don't have alot of confidence in the KMT. I can hear Stillwell's vitriol from here!

DEI: We are approaching wind-down phase in the DEI.
I have two pockets on Java; one at Bandoeng fell, as my units retreated in disorder. They are almost completely destroyed, and will surrender shortly. On the other end of the island, at Malang, CF is screening my troops. Not a bad idea, I can't really do anything offensive there, I wonder if he'll just let me starve there, since I have no way to get out.

On Northern Sumatra, I hold Medan in force with 250 AV. 4 Japanese Regts landed at the undefended port to the south, and will march up and attempt to take Medan. Not sure if CF brough enough. My troops are 100% prepped and are actually close to 50 in experience since they have been sitting there so long. I have not reinforced Medan, all I did was bring together all garrisons in N. Sumatra into this one place.

[ComradeP]

You've thus far held out in the DEI for 2 months beyond the historical surrender date. If you would've done that in the real war, you would've surely received the Militaire Willems-Orde, the highest Dutch honour/medal for soldiers.

[Q-Ball]

ComradeP: Perhaps. I have noticed DEI is tougher than WITP, because there is more room for Dutch troops to run to.

Combat Report, May 17-21 194

Noumea: Japanese ships raided Auckland, but didn't find anything. I have seen KB and surface TF's lurking all around New Caledonia. I don't have the naval strength to challenge them, so all I can do is count them.

I have no idea how strong this landing is beyond the 4th Division, but I know CF has other units in the area, and no doubt they are unloading at Koumac. I expect a probing attack on Noumea before too long.

Port Hedland: More troops and engineers are unloading at the base, and it's at size 2 airbase, and size 3 port. I want this to be a major base, so everyone is digging.

Sub Wars: An S-Boat put a torpedo into an AO off Koumac. FIRES resulted. My experience is that full tankers or AOs will eventually sink from one torp hit, unless they are very close to port. This one wasn't so I bet it's toast.

Southern China: Map below, pretty much says it all

[Chickenboy]

Q-ball,

Coming to the subops question a little late.

I agree with PP. I would add the following nuances:

1. Bring an AS danger close to the front. You're right about measuring aggression of captains-TTs expended. Getting An AS nearer may halve your round trip to reload. This will give you more time on target to get off more shots.

2. Larger reactions are fine for open waters, but restrict your reaction range when near likely mined ports. I've lost some boats with aggressive captains reacting into mined port hexes. Arrange either your patrol range or your reaction range to avoid that.

3. Do you have some naval search aircraft that can help you spot TFs? If spotted, your SS can react to them. Otherwise the enemy TF will have to run over the top of you. If search aircraft are not practical, you can use other submarines to serve the same function.

4. I'm still liking sub-delivered naval mines. Are you still using 0-19, 0-20 and Argonaut in this SS mining capacity?

5. I follow up on any SS involved in combat or with a search (or air attack) icon above it during the combat replay. Mouseover to look at ammo and then open up the screen to see if the sub took damage from any DCs during the event.

Enjoy!

[Q-Ball]

As far as AS ships, I have them at Dutch Harbor, Midway, Pago Pago...key places, basically as close as I can get yet still be out of Betty range. No sense getting them sunk in port. As the Japanese player, I look for opportunities to sink them.

I am using search aircraft to vector sub attacks, but I only have 2 search units left in the DEI. Once those are gone, I won't have that capability, except in areas close to the front, like New Caledonia.

I have done some sub minelaying. Hard to tell how effective it is, though I just got a confirmed DD sinking in my other game, so it works.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

As far as AS ships, I have them at Dutch Harbor, Midway, Pago Pago...key places, basically as close as I can get yet still be out of Betty range. No sense getting them sunk in port. As the Japanese player, I look for opportunities to sink them.

I am using search aircraft to vector sub attacks, but I only have 2 search units left in the DEI. Once those are gone, I won't have that capability, except in areas close to the front, like New Caledonia.

I have done some sub minelaying. Hard to tell how effective it is, though I just got a confirmed DD sinking in my other game, so it works.

Yes, the nice thing is you never know if you mines hit. FOW is so much better in AE.

[Chickenboy]

Am I just imagining things or do I hear the classic 'ship hitting mine' sound effect with a quick flash to the port in question when an enemy ship hits a mine during the combat turn replay? I thought I'd heard this sound on other than my own ships with FOW.

Others?

[ny59giants]

Brad,
There is base called "Rapa" along the southern map edge that has some potential (both port and AF) that you may want to develop as it is the closest to New Zealand. If CF continues his southern expansion, it may come in handy and is significantly closer than any of the Society Island bases. I ran across it a while ago while doing some research for John III.

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Brad,
There is base called "Rapa" along the southern map edge that has some potential (both port and AF) that you may want to develop as it is the closest to New Zealand. If CF continues his southern expansion, it may come in handy and is significantly closer than any of the Society Island bases. I ran across it a while ago while doing some research for John III.

Michael, I would never have seen it way down there. That's practically Antarctica! I just don't think it's going to be in play, but maybe I am wrong.

First, AE is much toughter to sustain fleet ops. I am finding this out as Japan currently in my other PBEM. Even Pago Pago looks like a supreme effort. It's late May 1942, and CF is still on New Caledonia; it's August before he even gets past Fiji, if everything falls into place. I just don't see it.

Glad to see you are communicating with John, I should write, he probably needs a lift. What's the address again?

Combat Report, May whatever to May 30, 1942

Sumatra: First Japanese attack on Medan was 1-3. I don't think it will hold though, successive Japanese attacks plus airpower should do the trick.

Once Medan falls, that's the last main base in the DEI. I am sending some subs there to gas-up before it falls.

Java: We have 200 AV at Malang, continuing to hold the Eastern end of the island.

China: Just bombardments

Australia: There is a sudden interest in Broome, including sweeps and recon. I wonder if a move is headed here. I am pooring supplies, fuel, and troops into Port Hedland, so a move on Broome woudl be interesting. I am not reinforcing Broome, though.

[Q-Ball]

Combat Report, May 31 to June 2, 1942

Almost the 6 month mark. Overall, I am pleased with where things sit; I am feeling pretty secure in the Pacific with the exception of Noumea, the SRA held out longer than I expected, and our losses so far in ships and planes has been light.

The only downside is that Cuttlefish's losses are also very light. He is a more cautious player than I am, and that's the upside to that. In my PBEM as Japan, I have lost 87 transports at the 3-month mark, and CF hasn't lost more than 20. He captured all the OIL pretty much intact, and I have yet to sink a tanker. KB has lost few pilots. All this means he is well-positioned for the long-haul.

Broome/Darwin: There is a burst of Japanese air activity over Northern Australia. Recon is heavy, and Zeros from Koepang swept Broome, ahead of bombing runs by Sallys. I had no planes there, but this is interesting.

I haven't gotten any solid intel, but I wonder if CF intends to move on Northern Australia. It's a move that makes alot of sense.

If you recall, I am moving troops to Port Hedland to build the base. I now have 2 Brigades there, with 2 more on the way, all AIF troops, plus engineers and base troops. I am unloading fuel and supplies while the port and airbase expand. Shortly, I will send troops up the tracks to that dot base, and build an airfield there as well. I am making a stand at Port Hedland on the ground. Another construction unit is starting a base at Exmouth.

I am also upping the ante from a Naval standpoint. 2 RN CVs are already at Perth; I had begun transiting them to join the USN, but stopped them at Perth. The rest of the Royal Navy, all the BBs and other ships, are moving to Perth. Air units from all over Australia are moving to Perth, plus more base forces, tanks, artillery, etc, for shipment to Port Hedland.

If he doesn't move on Northern Australia, the buildup will be useful anyway, as we can start a front on Timor...stay tuned.

China: The battle of Loyang continues. CF has done 3 or 4 1-2 attacks; each time his troops are repulsed, but our troops suffer higher losses. Some of our units are pretty banged up. I have brought in more Corps to raise the number of troops past 100,000 on our side, but I don't think we can hold, only delay.

I am toying with the idea of leaving voluntarily, but I hate to leave Nanyang and Chungchun; that's alot of supply production, over 100 points a turn. Abandoning Loyang though will mean abandoning the central plain, and falling back into the woods near Sian.

Down by Liuchow, we are under seige; the first couple attacks failed. This spot is more critical than Loyang, but we are in a pickle there.

Burma/India: Other than a brief raid into Trincomalee harbor, the last 30 days has been very quiet on the Burma front. I am building forts at Akyab, and otherwise preparing; building airbases, building air units, etc. I also need to train up the Indian Troops a bit before launching an offensive.

Long term, if the status-quo does not change, I plan a two-pronged attack into Burma, from Akyab and Imphal, and should have enough troops to assign 6-8 divisions to a late 1942 offensive. I should have plenty of airpower too. I am going to time this offensive to coincide, however, with another one somewhere else. Probably this will be launched FIRST, because it will be the slowest to develop.

Royal Navy to Australia:
I am not too concerned about moving the RN out of Indian waters. It's too late to launch an invasion of India, and at any rate, pretty risky in AE. There hasn't been anything to indicate this is the next move. The only mischeif the IJN can do, other than a raid on sealanes with CVs, is bombard my troops at Akyab. This is not easy to stop anyway, it's pretty risky to move the RN into the Northern Bay of Bengal, as Bettys are operating from Rangoon. All in all, I think moving them to Australia is a better idea.

[Capt. Harlock]

Royal Navy to Australia:
I am not too concerned about moving the RN out of Indian waters. It's too late to launch an invasion of India, and at any rate, pretty risky in AE.

Good point, but if Cuttlefish is truly planning a move on Northern Australia, the RN could find itself tossed into the meatgrinder. Well, both sides have lighter than usual losses so far, maybe this is where that gets turned around . . .

[ny59giants]

Broome/Darwin: There is a burst of Japanese air activity over Northern Australia. Recon is heavy, and Zeros from Koepang swept Broome, ahead of bombing runs by Sallys. I had no planes there, but this is interesting.

I haven't gotten any solid intel, but I wonder if CF intends to move on Northern Australia. It's a move that makes alot of sense.

If you recall, I am moving troops to Port Hedland to build the base. I now have 2 Brigades there, with 2 more on the way, all AIF troops, plus engineers and base troops. I am unloading fuel and supplies while the port and airbase expand. Shortly, I will send troops up the tracks to that dot base, and build an airfield there as well. I am making a stand at Port Hedland on the ground. Another construction unit is starting a base at Exmouth.

I am also upping the ante from a Naval standpoint. 2 RN CVs are already at Perth; I had begun transiting them to join the USN, but stopped them at Perth. The rest of the Royal Navy, all the BBs and other ships, are moving to Perth. Air units from all over Australia are moving to Perth, plus more base forces, tanks, artillery, etc, for shipment to Port Hedland.

If he doesn't move on Northern Australia, the buildup will be useful anyway, as we can start a front on Timor...stay tuned.

This area is importance to both sides. You needs to keep CF at bay here to prevent raids into the IO between Perth and Capetown. It may cause you to re-think bringing "Big E" back to the USA and the west coast. He needs to prevent you from getting back into Timor and attacking his economic assets.

What are your supplies and troops at Darwin??

Have you made any effort to keep track of his Air HQs?? He needs those for his Nell/Betty to carry torpedoes and you may be able to plan operations around where they are (and aren't).

Port Hedland - Have you found out that instead of using CD unit that artillery is as good for when a possible Bombardment TF comes for a visit?? Any way you could lay and maintain a defensive minefield here??

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants


This area is importance to both sides. You needs to keep CF at bay here to prevent raids into the IO between Perth and Capetown. It may cause you to re-think bringing "Big E" back to the USA and the west coast. He needs to prevent you from getting back into Timor and attacking his economic assets.

You may be right there, not sure...I have another 30 days at least to think about it. I don't expect an intervention by KB unless he sees CVs. I am unsure of Baby KB composition; it was sighted a few days ago at Singapore. I do know it doesn't have Ryujo; she is so banged up that probably still under repair.

What are your supplies and troops at Darwin??

I have about 400 AV, a pile of untis, plus another Australian Militia Division on the way in about 2 weeks, walking up from Alice Springs. Supplies are about 20K. Not too bad all around.

Have you made any effort to keep track of his Air HQs?? He needs those for his Nell/Betty to carry torpedoes and you may be able to plan operations around where they are (and aren't).

I wish I could! But no real solid Intel. A couple reports, but nothing to really build on.

Port Hedland - Have you found out that instead of using CD unit that artillery is as good for when a possible Bombardment TF comes for a visit?? Any way you could lay and maintain a defensive minefield here??

Haven't found that on CD units. I have a couple Dutch minelayers I am sending there, but they are short-legged; taking awhile.