Once Again into the Breach - Mike (J) vs. tc464 (A)

[Mike Solli]

Thanks for getting me back on track, guys. I guess The Yamatos will head back to the Home Islands. I need to find the other BBs. I have no idea where they are, but if I had to guess, I'd say they're stationed in the SRA.

My wife, some time ago, "put away" my game and I can't find it. I need to find it to get the rules book to look up this stuff myself.

For 5 Fleet area, I'm going to move both CV fleets to the same hex. Do you guys recommend combining them or stacking the fleets?

Tony, I'm going to work on either Ominato or Hakodate to get a port to level 8. They both are at level 7 right now.

I really think I can destroy the US forces on Adak.

I know he has at least 3 CVs around Munda (Enterprise, Yorktown and Saratoga). Lexington took a Judy 500kg bomb in the Aleutians and is showing up as sunk (but did not sink). She's out of the picture, so there's Hornet (recently in the Aleutians), Wasp and Essex (neither of which I have seen yet). So it's possible they may arrive, but there's no sign of them.

[ny59giants]

For 5 Fleet area, I'm going to move both CV fleets to the same hex. Do you guys recommend combining them or stacking the fleets?

My initial thought is to combine. Just because either TF could react towards the enemy CV and have less than ideal CAP. Maybe just a hex apart, but weather could effect strikes going each way. Neither TF is large enough to take care of itself, IMO.

[Mike Solli]

Thanks, Michael. I trust your opinion. I'll combine them.

China

Below is a shot of the remaining Chinese Army. Still very large but a good chunk of it is surrounded or beat up remnants.

The 101k in the SE is surrounded with no supply. I'm letting them wither.

The 67k NW of Changsha is in the process of being surrounded. I'll let them wither as well.

The 10k E of Chengtu is beat up and will be attacked by 3 Tank Division next turn.

The forces in Chengtu and the base to the south are fresh.

The 4 units to the west are remnants.

Chungking has all the units that were rebuilt. Probably some decent ones too.

I have 200k+ troops in 3 armies (plus other forces headed to that area from the rear too. My plan is to buy out the bombers from Manchuoko and use them to bomb Chungking to the Stone Age. Lots of pilot experience and little threat to the army. I'll buy out good divisions as I can to move to more important sectors. The two large groups I'll leave to wither because they have no supply.

[ny59giants]

IJA divisions in China - buy out the heavy divisions with ‘43 infantry squads. That is what I’m doing as they should stand up better to Allied troops.

[Annagil]

Oh, my, goodness, Mike is back and this thread is alive! I had to dig out my forum's credential from my old computer just to say welcome back!

[Annagil]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

My wife, some time ago, "put away" my game and I can't find it. I need to find it to get the rules book to look up this stuff myself.

If you mean teh actual manual, it can be downloaded here: ftp://ftp.matrixgames.com/pub/WarInTheP ... Promo].pdf

[Mike Solli]

Thanks, Annagil! It's really good to be back. I downloaded the manual and it's only a promo, about 1/3 of the pages. I'll get there. [:D]

[Annagil]

ups. my bad. but I'll fix it. PM.

[rustysi]

Ahhh, my 'fix' is back.[:D] This should be fun.[:)]

[Annagil]

Mike, I've sent you two PMs with a link to the actual manual, but neither appear in my sent folder. To rule automatic deletion by the system, could you confirm reception?

If not, if you provide me an email address, I'll send it there.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Annagil

Mike, I've sent you two PMs with a link to the actual manual, but neither appear in my sent folder. To rule automatic deletion by the system, could you confirm reception?

If not, if you provide me an email address, I'll send it there.

Annagil, I got it! Thanks much! I really appreciate it!

[Mike Solli]

Burma

This is a stalemate, which is great for me. I've stymied Ted since day one. In addition, I've trashed the RAF constantly. I'm gaining amazing amounts of experience for my pilots. I constantly pull out experienced pilots and replace them with rookies. Good things going on here!

[Mike Solli]

The SRA is humming along. I found my other 4 BBs at Singapore. I decided to hit Darwin again. I did it a while ago and trashed the place, destroying a bunch of Avengers in the process. I'm going to send in 2 bombardment fleet, each with 2 BB, 2 CA and escorting DDs. They'll hit 2 days in a row.

4 Fleet (Central Pacific) is still quiet, as it has been since the war's start. I continue to build up defending forces and forts. Should Ted decide to attack here, it'll be a grind for him.

Finally, SE Fleet.

Ted attacked and dropped off 2 divisions at Munda. I had sent KB1 (3 CV, 1 CVL), Soryu, Shokaku, Zuikaku and Ryujo composed of:

99 A6M5
30 A6M3a
54 D3A1
54 B5N2
18 B5N1
6 D5Y1-C Judy (naval search - on the Shokaku)

They're to the NE of Munda and unspotted.

Ted has 2 TFs in Munda's hex, the invasion fleet of a bunch of APAs and a CV TF of 3 carriers, Enterprise, Yorktown and Saratoga, with Hellcats. Note that the Hornet and Lexington were recently in the Aleutians so that leaves Essex and Wasp unaccounted for. I don't think those last 2 CVs are in the area.

I was planning on sending my carriers in to engage with the US CVs, but many of you suggested against it. I'm taking your advice. They're going to remain in the area. Should Ted's carriers withdraw and leave the APAs behind, then I'll take a shot. Otherwise, I'll withdraw. Munda is expendable. I will have to consider what to do with the Solomons garrison though.

Anyway, here's the map:

[Mike Solli]

Finally, Akagi and Kaga completed their refits in the Home islands and are heading out to Truk. That's what, 4-5 days?

[ny59giants]

Why Truk and not the Aleutians? The Allies will have to commit forces to capture Adak. Wouldn’t another 140 planes help more there? If Adak falls the rest of the Aleutians will fall soon afterwards, IMO.

[Mike Solli]

That's a good point, Michael. They only have an escort of 2 DD, but they'll merge with the rest of the carriers so it really doesn't matter.

Sorry about your Giants, but I'm a Browns fan, so I'd kill for them to have the Giants record. [:D]

[ny59giants]

From a strategic point of view, you need to keep control of western Aleutians. With Allies at Adak the blockade of Japan can be easier done(manly subs). Losing a few bases in Solomons does not have any potential economic impact.
In my game Allies landed at Adak and Noumea within a few days. I went after further conquest in Aleutians because of these factors. Adak is now mine and just landed at Dutch Harbor.

[Mike Solli]

Yeah, I'm realizing that. I've been reading other AARs and see the futility of the Allies wasting time and resources taking base after base in the Solomons.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

Burma

This is a stalemate, which is great for me. I've stymied Ted since day one. In addition, I've trashed the RAF constantly. I'm gaining amazing amounts of experience for my pilots. I constantly pull out experienced pilots and replace them with rookies. Good things going on here!

Yes, the only good thing for me about Burma ... great training ground for pilots. Can really train up a lot of high exp/skill pilots.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

Yeah, I'm realizing that. I've been reading other AARs and see the futility of the Allies wasting time and resources taking base after base in the Solomons.

In several games where I've played both sides in the SW and So Pac areas, around the Solomons and New Guinea, I've developed a different take on this theatre.

For the Allies this is an economic war in several ways, not just hitting oil and hitting industry. If the Japanese fight in the South, they have to carry everything with them down there. They spend a lot of fuel, a lot of supplies, a lot of airframes (transferring planes or having them sunk on ships) and they end up losing a lot of cutoff troops and other units. Ships have a long way to go for repairs and The Allies benefit from multiple island landing areas, so Japanese strong points can be by-passed.

The Solomons are strategic and economic. If Japan fights there they suffer. If they don't the Allies end up with a lot of quickly developed bases to strike at Cent Pac and move toward the PI.