War and Peas - Hortlund (J) vs. Canoe (A)

[adsoul64]

I don't know the reason but I was under the impression that this AAR was delayed.

[pws1225]

I wouldn't worry too much about the traffic over on Steve's AAR. All the hub-bub isn't about the game at all, but rather his vacation pictures with the Swedish Women's Ski Team. None of us had any idea that Swedes were so flexible.

[Prydwen]

Now, this cannot be coincidence or a reflection of the merit of my AAR. Steve is a Swede who probably sits around all day in a Speedo.

I wouldn't worry too much about the traffic over on Steve's AAR. All the hub-bub isn't about the game at all, but rather his vacation pictures with the Swedish Women's Ski Team. None of us had any idea that Swedes were so flexible.

And now that's twice in like four posts that I've laughed out loud. If I'd been drinking I'd have a liquid all over my screen.

Joe

[Canoerebel]

Well, here's the Swedish Bikini Team fromt the old Old Milwaukee commercials. If Steve sits around in a Speedo with these lasses around...well, more power to him!

[Canoerebel]

1/1/42
 
Yay, it's not 1941 any more!  The Year of Surprise has ended (though I realize the the Era of Surprise may be in effect).  New Years Day was a good one for the Allies, though in subtle ways that may mean nothing compared to the overall aspect of the game right now.
 
NoPac:  A KB division is parked NW of Coal Harbor, making it impossible for me to insert replacements by sea.  Mines are in place there and the Allies are bringing in Canadian and American troops by air.  AV is up to 70 and it should go up to 100 in short order.  So Coal Harbor will require a bigger commitment than Steve has show in this region to date.  He didn't land enough to take Juneau, which came as a surprise, and I'm not sure he has enough ashore to handle Anchorage.  There are still alot of enemy ships in the Gulf of Alaska, so I don't yet know if he's feinting or for real.
 
West Coast:  American and Canadian ground units have been distributed here and there to protect resource centers from para-assault.  Yorktown made it out of San Diego without running afuol of enemy subs, which was actually an important move as Steve has implemented a blockade of sorts.
 
CenPac and SoPac:  Saratoga and four Allied combat TFs are moving west looking for targets.  I no longer have good information on all aspects of the KB, but I don't think any fleet carriers could have reached far enough south to be a threat quite yet.  I won't risk Sara much further unless I re-develop good inforamtion, but the surface combat ships will proceed.
 
Eastern DEI:  Ent and Lex are retiring slowly to the south.  I'm thinking about keeping one in the area.  If Steve catches a whiff of carrier planes, he'll have to proceed with caution here, which is the best I can hope for now. I might move one of the carriers to the west, to handle opportunities around Cocos Island or Port Blair.
 
Java:  Steve has troops ashore, but nothing big yet as far as I know.  In fact, he can't yet take lightly-held Batavia or the mountain choke-point to the east.
 
Luzon and Malaya:  As mentioned earlier, Steve has three divisions as the former and Imperial Guards at the latter.  He has enough to attend to matters, but not in a particularly expeditious manner.  But as long as I know where four good divisions are, I can be pretty sure that something huge isn't imminent in Oz or India.  If he's coming for either it will probably be later rather than sooner.
 
China:  Steve pulled back before my good Chinese army could attack an isolated division, but a second Chinese army crossed a river and shock-attacked another division plus a brigade.  The Chinese previaled, forcing the enemy to retreat.  The Chinese took considerably heavier losses, but this was an important victory.  One of Steve's spearheads has been ground down a bit, while the Chinese gained some experience and strengthened the solidity of the current MLR.

[Prydwen]

Well, here's the Swedish Bikini Team fromt the old Old Milwaukee commercials. If Steve sits around in a Speedo with these lasses around...well, more power to him!

More power to him if it's the current team. The old team is... old... [:D]

Joe

[Crackaces]

NoPac: A KB division is parked NW of Coal Harbor, making it impossible for me to insert replacements by sea. Mines are in place there and the Allies are bringing in Canadian and American troops by air. AV is up to 70 and it should go up to 100 in short order. So Coal Harbor will require a bigger commitment than Steve has show in this region to date. He didn't land enough to take Juneau, which came as a surprise, and I'm not sure he has enough ashore to handle Anchorage. There are still alot of enemy ships in the Gulf of Alaska, so I don't yet know if he's feinting or for real.

I am a newbie to this game but not to wargaming ..

Why would anyone use the precious amphib bonus to feint Alaska? To get you to move stuff up here? Then why prevent you from falling into "his trap"? Clearly given that criteria the KB and forces are committed Steve has made a move -- that is the KB has committed to action. I do not believe given that premise that it qualifies as a feint but the question might be the level of committment to the objectives and your thoughts on the effort to counter ???

Ok back to the Sweedish Biki Team [8D]

[Canoerebel]

You're probably right, Crackaces.  My feelings that this might possibly be a feint are probably producs of wishful thinking.  I felt exactly this way in my game with Q-Ball when it became apparent that he was coming for India.
 
What am I doing to counter him?  In NoPac and West Coast, my options are limitied:  see to the garrisons at important bases to guard against paratroop assault; try to shoe-horn troops into Coal Harbor via air transport; make sure my airforce (such as it is at this early date) is in position; and don't over commit by doing something like sending my carriers into the teeth of the KB hurricane.
 
Other than that, my main effort will be to try to slow or hurt Steve elsewhere until everything can stabalize a bit and I can figure out where I am, where Steve is, and what I can do.

[Capt. Harlock]

Meanwhile, his AAR is lit up with activity while mine has gone ominously dark.

Are you referring to replies or hits?

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Piercing the Peanut Gallery:  By the way, gentlemen (and lady?) of the Peanut Gallery, I see right through you!

One of the myriad small pleasures of a PBEM match is picking up on the tiny, unintentional, vague, hard-to-read signals that come from various sources.  I'm sure you all have experienced this....

Right now, for instance, Steve is feverishly working his turns.  Meanwhile, his AAR is lit up with activity while mine has gone ominously dark.  Now, this cannot be coincidence or a reflection of the merit of my AAR.  Steve is a Swede who probably sits around all day in a Speedo.  Meanwhile, I am a supple and winsome southerner known for his rugged good looks, modesty, and uncommon writing ability.  So I know something's up when Steve's AAR is going gang busters.

Seriously, I love the fact that the forums are occupied by people who do everything within their power not to breach OpSec.  You guys are good apples all.  But I see right through you! 

So, what does it mean?   I am convinced that Steve is up to something majestic.  It may be NoPac or that may be a feint.  I"m good at picking up subtle signals, but unfortuanely I seem to lack in making a quick, decisive and accurate evaluation.

I read both AARs. I can tell you without damage to OpSec that the traffic you see over there is a discussion of this season's herring catch. It is of uncommonly fine quality, with firm, supple scales, bright, happy eyes, and flesh smelling faintly of horseradish sauce. (A genetic mutation is suspected.) Sweden has taken the week off to gorge.

(I posted this only to give PH the idea that your AAR has suddenly lit up with interest. Since you announced you were not going to read the superior strategic advice coming at you from all quarters the regulars have retired to a secret Web forum to discuss your lack of grooming as well as General Lee's overall incompetance. In the background one can hear the soundtrack from Ben Aflack's (quack, quack!) finest films.)

I hope I have not said too much . . .

[BBfanboy]

BW58, at first I wasn't sure if you were describing the herring or the women's ski team - the scales being part of the genetic mutation thingy. [;)]
As for the Speedo that started this tangent, I am fairly sure that Swedish men only take a towel [and a laptop on ice] with them to the sauna. If the aforementioned ski team were to join him there I am sure they would [un]dress appropriately!
There! I did my part to light up this AAR. [8D]

[Canoerebel]

Bullwinkle, that's marvelous!  I've re-read your post several times to savor the layered humor, jibes and plays on words. 
 
I needed to clear some cobwebs this afternoon, so I went for a zesty mountain bike ride through a green tunnel on a green mountain.  As is usually the case, the diversion gave me time to sort through factors and make some deductions.  Those deductions may or may not be on target, but here's my reading of the tea leaves.
 
Steve's moves in NoPac are taking a long time to pull together.  He has not been particularly efficient or fast, even though he's already at Juneau.  I suspect that this operation is slow unfolding because he's bringing in a big force from Japan, which takes time to transit the ocean.  It also requires the protection of the KB.
 
There are three possible targets:  (1) a Canadian coast offensive designed to set the table for a strategic bombing campaign vs. American industry; (2) Hawaii; or (3) a massive invasion of southern California, meant to take LA and SD, destroy industry, and set up bombing missions against other targets.  (Yes, I realize this triggers line-of-death reinforcements, but it's a possibility).
 
Hawaii, as far as I am concerend is expendable.  So not much that I need to do there (other than get the damaged BBs out of port, though that's easier said than done).
 
I've taken about as much action as I can for a Canadian coast offensive.  Steve can definately get the bases he needs, but I think a sustained bombing campaign might be more difficult - or less effective - than we might at first suspect. 
 
An invasion of Southern Cal is a thought that intrigues me.  It's nuts, but it might be possible.  I need to look at this more carefully tomorrow.  The main thing I need to do is have decent ground troops in strat mode close enough to deploy. Also, where do the line-of-death reinforcements arrive?  San Fran?
 
If I'm reading the tea leaves accurately, the KB is on guard duty in NoPac.  That would free the Allies to engage in some operations deep into CenPac - Truk and even Babeldaob.  I'll keep that in mind.
 
I am getting the feeling that Steve does not have immediate plans to leap-frog to India or Hawaii.  Lots of little things suggest this - including the fact that four divisions are committed to Luzon and at least one to Malaya.  This suggests that Steve wants to keep the Allies bottled up, but doesn't intend to blitzkrieg the area so that he can move on to Oz and/or India.  (Now, he may have long term plans for either place, but time is on my side, so I'm more concerned about short-term at the moment.)

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Bullwinkle, that's marvelous!  I've re-read your post several times to savor the layered humor, jibes and plays on words. 

An invasion of Southern Cal is a thought that intrigues me.  It's nuts, but it might be possible.  I need to look at this more carefully tomorrow.  The main thing I need to do is have decent ground troops in strat mode close enough to deploy. Also, where do the line-of-death reinforcements arrive?  San Fran?

Glad you liked it. Herring are just inherently funny.

I don't recall the details from that very oldie goldie thread on Emergency Reinforcements, but I recall that the "device dump convoy" shows up and dumps at Salt Lake City. About 90% sure.

[Canoerebel]

1/2/42
 
NoPac:  Nothing major happens up here today.  Just that general feeling that storm clouds are slowly but ominously building up just beyond the horizon.  Is a major amphibious force head for North America, or am I just way off?  (Rhetorical question; don't reply, of course.)
 
CenPac:  CA Minneapolis and CL St. Louis team up to face a TF of three CAs (Furutaka, Kinugasa and Aoba) followed by a second TF that includes CA Nachi.  That's alot of firepower.  The Allies get the better of the match, doing a little damage to those first two CAs, but will lose DD Helm.  This action occurs at Rabaul.  CA Indianapolis will try to intercept those same enemy TFs tomorrow.
 
Eastern DEI:  Hermes springs into action as her Stringbags torpedo and sink three xAK near Lautem.  That's really a pretty good show for this little ship.
 
What do you guys think?  Last week, I requested a temporary cessation of detailed advice analysis until I could wrap my head around the issue.  I really like the results.  It just seems more sane and less "puppeteers controlling the puppet's strings" this way.  I know alot of smart folks could offer plenty of good analysis and advice that the Peanut Gallery might benefit from, but I think this is the way to go.  Where to draw the line?  I dunno.  It's a gray and shifting line.  For instance, Historiker early on suggested that I consider a garrison of Cocos Island.  I mulled it over and took him up on it.  Little tips and hints are welcome, but I would prefer at this point to avoid a micromanagement/inundation kind of thread.  Thanks.

[ckammp]

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Bullwinkle, that's marvelous!  I've re-read your post several times to savor the layered humor, jibes and plays on words. 

An invasion of Southern Cal is a thought that intrigues me.  It's nuts, but it might be possible.  I need to look at this more carefully tomorrow.  The main thing I need to do is have decent ground troops in strat mode close enough to deploy. Also, where do the line-of-death reinforcements arrive?  San Fran?

Glad you liked it. Herring are just inherently funny.

I don't recall the details from that very oldie goldie thread on Emergency Reinforcements, but I recall that the "device dump convoy" shows up and dumps at Salt Lake City. About 90% sure.

All West Coast line-of-death reinforcements arrive at Salt Lake City, with 2 exceptions:
1) Canadian 2nd Army Tank Bde arrives at off-map Canada hex.
2) US Provsional Tank Bde arrives at Mojave.

[Canoerebel]

Thanks Bullwinkle and ckammp.  That's helpful info.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel


What do you guys think?

Well, it is 2012. Times have changed. I think if you feel it is the right time to make a major lifestyle announcement then you should just do it! I will support you and I am sure 1 or 2 others will too. [;)]

[Cap Mandrake]

By ra way, that takes some brass ones to put Hermes in harm's way. I salute you!

[BBfanboy]

Follow your gut. You have an uncanny ability to remain cool and figure out what is important and what is not.
I have followed two of your other AARs and your instincts served you well.
I also think the theoretical analysis of the efficacy of an attack through Canada would come up against difficulties if it was really tried. No one executes a plan perfectly, mistakes, weather and dice rolls can make a shambles of theory. I think your estimate of fighter defence holding of most of those fragile bombers is right on.
Keep doing what you are doing and adjust as new info comes out. You have time to react.

[Canoerebel]

I had the pleasure of reading Chez's AAR from our game last night.  His last post was last May and he stopped abruptly in like Feb. '42, but it was still eye-opening to learn of his early plans, how they went awry, and how effective small Allied attacks were in blunting his momentum and ultimately his early objectives.

Another thing was how much input he was getting about my "tendencies" from other players.  There was alot of "that's right!" exclamations coming from me as I read, and I could see me replicating some of those same things in this game against Panzer.  I hate being that predictable and no doubt he's using (or trying to use) that against me.

After sleeping on it last night, I really want to take a close look at the possibility of a So Cal invasion.  In particular, me thinks I had better retrieve one US Army division that I sent up north.  At a minimum it needs to be positioned centrally or even in the south.  But both SD and LA have decent garrisons right now. SD is traditionally my main port of debarkation, and I had shifted some troops to LA due to the sub blockade to the south.  I also need to look at all other available beaches and bases to evaluate enemy blitzkrieg potential.

I also need to ramp up my picket ships off the West Coast. I've only used a very few thus far, so there are gaping holes in the screen.  Does anybody think that following Pearl Harbor, Japan could have snuck a massive invasion force to the West Coast?  No way.  SigiInt and other things would have caught that.  I need to make sure I'm in the same position.

My general feeling right now is that a line-of-death invasion against the West Coast is unlikely, but merits complete analysis and precautions before I dismiss it.