Matrix Games Forums

The way to have your cake and eat it too is to simply have two cakes.

I would suggest that you combine your US Marine Regiments into their respective divisions as long as they have the same prep target so you get extra devices. Then you can split it up. You can also "look ahead" in the queue to see the additional regiments coming and set their prep target there. Once that is done, if you own a base you can fly in some of the devices to where you want them.

If you have an AO with your convoys, they will also refuel your escorts. Then the AO can be unloaded at an intermediate stop since it will only have a partial load and then a convoy can pick up the AO on the return voyage.

Don't let the KB sitting out in the Ocean impede your movements, just move elsewhere and do things that need to be done such as helping New Guinea. Or just move in, unload for one turn, then move out. As long as your ships can unload in one turn, you can have the KB reacting, using fuel and having damage build up. When you do this, check the DL and the spotting reports for your task forces. Be patient. If the enemy reacts and you have moved out of the way, the enemy uses its precious fuel. You can also mob the enemy with submarines, Mark 14s will sometimes work but the Mark 10s have a good hit percentage even if they don't pack that large of a punch.

I would like to combine the Marine divisions, but at the moment their elements are scattered from California to Australia. In the medium term the plan is to replace the Marine units defending Noumea, Suva, Luganville etc with US Army units, then recombine them as you suggest. It’s going to take while, though.



24th February 1942

Another one of those fairly quiet turns


CHINA

Chinese 3rd Guerrilla and 7th Armies attack at Sihong, finding ‘B’ detachment of 32nd Div. Losses were fairly even. Despite the swamp terrain I’m going to shock attack tomorrow - it’s either break out, get wiped out trying, or sit in the swamp and starve.


DEI

Nells attack Oosthaven again, sinking xAPc Reteh and PC Bingera. Dutch Buffalos from Batavia claimed 7 of the Nells, likely an exaggeration but probably not a good return for Japan nonetheless.

The Djambi Commando attempting to retreat towards Padang was caught and obliterated by the Japanese 5th Tank Rgt and 2nd Recon Rgt,

Sparrow Bn successfully gets clear of Ambon, apart from the inevitable leaving behind of some motorised transport, and the CO.


PHILIPPINES

The 3 xAKLs successfully offloaded their 500 supply at Bataan and escaped unscathed. Bizarrely, some Japanese barges turned up at Bataan on a similar mission. Mines and coastal defences saw that they did not get away unscathed. Intercepted Japanese communications suggested that they won’t be trying this again. It does indicate that the Japanese must be having problems keeping their forces in Bataan supplied overland.

xAK Nirvana is now docked at Bataan; if I can get her 3,200 supply unloaded that would be a major boost.

xAK Hoegh Silverstar with 5,200 supply is almost at Balikpapan, where she’ll refuel for the run in to Bataan. Surely now though, the Japanese are going to block this route.

BBs Yamashiro and Kongo plus 3 cruisers and 4 destroyers bombard Cagayan.


SWPAC/SOPAC

KB has disappeared again. I’ve got good search coverage to the south so I’m reasonably confident it didn’t head that way.

RangerJoe wrote: Wed Feb 21, 2024 4:52 am

If you have an AO with your convoys, they will also refuel your escorts. Then the AO can be unloaded at an intermediate stop since it will only have a partial load and then a convoy can pick up the AO on the return voyage.

Excellent idea, Ranger Joe, if you don't mind the micro-management. As Lowpe is discovering, at some point click fatigue becomes a real issue for AFBs. What I do is set small tanker convoys to unload fuel on those waypoint bases. The less time I spend dealing with convoys the better.

M Peaston: Good luck with those supply runs to Bataan. Savor the small victories in the early days when you're mostly getting pummeled.

Cheers,
CB

CaptBeefheart wrote: Wed Feb 28, 2024 3:12 am

RangerJoe wrote: Wed Feb 21, 2024 4:52 am

If you have an AO with your convoys, they will also refuel your escorts. Then the AO can be unloaded at an intermediate stop since it will only have a partial load and then a convoy can pick up the AO on the return voyage.

Excellent idea, Ranger Joe, if you don't mind the micro-management. As Lowpe is discovering, at some point click fatigue becomes a real issue for AFBs. What I do is set small tanker convoys to unload fuel on those waypoint bases. The less time I spend dealing with convoys the better.

M Peaston: Good luck with those supply runs to Bataan. Savor the small victories in the early days when you're mostly getting pummeled.

Cheers,
CB

The AO could also be in a separate convoy even with the tankers and if they follow the other convoy to the waypoint base where the AO/tanker convoy quits following the main convoy, the same job is accomplished while the AO/tanker convoy can then unload at the waypoint base. Only a couple of additional clicks then although having the AO in the convoy is about the same.

Actually, depending upon the destination and the waypoints, there may be no need for further travel with an AO. From San Francisco to Christmas Island is a stretch for some escorts but refueling at Hilo could be done and then there should be enough fuel to reach Christmas Island. But if a player wants to have a TF go from Conus to Australia, they may need more than 3 waypoints for the lower fuel capacity escorts without refueling from convoy vessels.

Thanks again guys for the advice on refuelling convoys; I might try a few different things out and see which works the best for me.

Thanks Capt Beefheart; supply in Bataan has increased a little, meaning it will hold out a little longer, therefore Japanese units tied down for longer, and meanwhile the date for Japan’s assault bonus expiring ticks ever closer….. A small victory that I hope may have a small but lasting effect on the course of the war.



25th February 1942



The Allies report having suffered no air losses, of any kind, across all theatres today.


CHINA

The Japanese continue their mopping-up operations in the 11th War Area; Chinese forces attack again at Sihong, but fail to break out.


PHILIPPINES

xAK Nirvana unloads 1,000 supply at Bataan and should unload more tomorrow. Supply in Bataan is now 2,900.

Cagayan fell to the Japanese. The defenders retreated to the dot base of Gingoog to the northeast, but they have little supply. I did have hopes of Cagayan holding out for a bit longer.


ABDA

DD John D Edwards should make Soerabaja tomorrow. If she does, that’ll be another small victory in my book.

Most of the Allied naval surface forces are being withdrawn from the DEI, apart from the south. The defence of Java will be left to ground and air forces.

Warspite and Force Z are at Geraldton at the moment. After refit, Prince of Wales will join Eastern Fleet and operate with the RN Carriers. Warspite will also join Eastern Fleet and reinforce the ‘R’ Battleships. Force Z will reform with Repulse and the Heavy Cruisers Australia, Dorsetshire and Cornwall, initially operating out of Port Hedland. A light cruiser squadron operating out of Darwin, consisting of Boise, Java, Tromp, Dragon and Dauntless, will be responsible for protecting communications between Darwin, Saumlaki and Koepang. A second light cruiser squadron, Enterprise, Danae and Durban, operating from Perth, will protect convoys from Perth to Darwin and Koepang. Force Z will be available to assist each group as needed.


SWPAC

6th AIF Div starts unloading at Melbourne, and 29th Bde starts unloading at Port Moresby. Slowly but surely, the pieces are starting to fit into place.


SUBMARINE WARFARE

Providing the highlight of today’s action, ACM Oak successfully rammed and destroyed a torpedo fired SS I-5 off San Francisco. Unfortunately Oak was lost in the process.


There’s one more thing worth mentioning. RMS Queen Mary arrived at New York today. The new Generalissimo-to-be, in mufti, remained unnoticed amongst his fellow passengers. Had he been wearing his ceremonial uniform I’m sure he would have been noticed, but thankfully this was safely packed away in his trunk. He is due to meet Roosevelt in the next few days. I wonder what Roosevelt will make of him?

26th February 1942


For the second day running the Allied air forces have suffered no losses from any cause. Can I make it a hat-trick?



CHINA

The Chinese forces trying to break out of Sihong have worn themselves out. I’ll have to stand them down for a day or two, then try a different approach. I’ll cycle the Chinese units in and out of combat, trying to make sure I can attack each turn, and try to wear the Japanese down.


INDIA/BURMA

Elements of 7th AIF Div reach Akyab, which I hope to be able to successfully defend against the Japanese.


PHILIPPINES

In the Sulu Sea Japanese light cruisers sink the 3 xAKLs trying to make it back to Tarakan. They also catch and sink xAK Hoegh Silverstar en route to Bataan with her precious cargo. Nirvana is still unloading at Bataan, she has about 1,000 to go and supply at Bataan is at 3,000.

Now the Sulu sea route has been effectively blockaded all follow-on cargo ships bound for Bataan have been diverted to Soerabaja.


DEI

John D Edwards reaches Soerabaja and should be as good as new in about 10 days or so, although when the flotation damage is down I might risk transferring her to a safer port.

In my mind John D Edward’s safe arrival in Soerabaja transforms my raid on Miri from a miserable failure to, well, a mere failure. On the positive side I sank 3 small xAKLs and managed to get my damaged DD back to port. Also Allied aerial patrols have detected a couple of Japanese heavy cruisers near Miri for the past few days, so if I have forced the Japanese to pull back warships to guard their communications that is good. On the other hand I had a golden opportunity to seriously disrupt Japanese communications in the South China Sea, and I did not take advantage. Another ‘small victory’ perhaps, but on this occasion I should have done much better.

Overall though, I am content with the way things are going in the DEI. Obviously, that is with the advantage of historical hindsight - if I was an Allied commander in real life I wouldn’t be quite so calm…..


SWPAC/SOPAC

After much journeying, alarm, diversions and quite possibly indecision, the Flying Dutchmen of the Marine Corps, 1st Marine Rgt finally reach Luganville - ironically their originally-planned destination. Curiously, their commanding officer, Colonel Wilson, who was left behind in charge of 7 broken down trucks in Sydney, has magically reappeared in Luganville in command of the main unit. I don’t pretend to understand the mechanics here, but for once I’m not going to complain.


CENPAC

KBs whereabouts are unknown. However, Sigint detects heavy radio transmissions at Kwajalein, and unusually with such transmissions there no corresponding ‘port’ or ‘airfield’ symbol at the base. From this I think it likely that the transmissions are caused by a large TF. Spruance is ordered to steer clear of the Marshalls. His carriers will rendezvous with the replenishment group near Midway, then all will return to Pearl Harbor.


USA

41st Div is embarking at San Francisco bound for Sydney.


NORPAC

Adak reaches port level one. 259th Coastal Defence Artillery Bn and 154th Field Art Bn are loading at Prince Rupert to join the infantry Bn already at Adak.

Warning - a level one port does not have a pier capable of unloading 155mm guns. You will lose them in the water. Not sure if Naval Support can overcome that.

You can unload them if they are in Amphib TF. If the TF is Transport, they will just sit on the ship & not unload.
You may lose some by dropping the into the water, but not all & it is not an absolute.

Also, if the port is being expanded to the exclusion of all other construction, the base may be able to unload the larger guns. If nothing else, they can be unloaded after everything else is unloaded before the port reaches level 2.

Thanks for the warning BB Fanboy; once again, that’s some good attention to detail there.

Now you mention it I have had problems unloading certain devices at level one ports, but I must have erased the bad experience from my memory. I’ll send the reinforcements to Dutch Harbor, there they can wait until Adak expands or go by amphibious TF as needed. I’ve already got 5th Port Maintenance Bn at Dutch Harbor waiting to transfer to Adak.

I assumed a level one port would remain level one until it reaches level two. Ranger Joe, if I’ve understood you correctly you seem to be suggesting that the increase is incremental - for example, a level one port at 50% construction towards level two can handle larger devices than level one with no construction? That’s very interesting to know……..

M Peaston wrote: Tue Mar 12, 2024 8:10 pm Thanks for the warning BB Fanboy; once again, that’s some good attention to detail there.

Now you mention it I have had problems unloading certain devices at level one ports, but I must have erased the bad experience from my memory. I’ll send the reinforcements to Dutch Harbor, there they can wait until Adak expands or go by amphibious TF as needed. I’ve already got 5th Port Maintenance Bn at Dutch Harbor waiting to transfer to Adak.

I assumed a level one port would remain level one until it reaches level two. Ranger Joe, if I’ve understood you correctly you seem to be suggesting that the increase is incremental - for example, a level one port at 50% construction towards level two can handle larger devices than level one with no construction? That’s very interesting to know……..

No. There is no incremental part at all. A level 1 port with 99% completion towards level 2 will unload just as slow as a level 1 port with no percentage of work done on the next level. What I am stating is that other devices that can unload at a level 1 port will do so as well as any supplies but if you are still building to the next level once that level is completed then the larger devices can and will unload.

In the early game, unless you know for sure you are going to unload at Sydney or another large port, and a lot of times circumstances will dictate a change in plans, you want to move ground units by Amphib TF. Also, for some reason radars get stuck a lot. If you can get something like 10 Naval Support (or shore patrol in some mods?) at the base you can usually unload a radar. In stock, you get a few 30 Nav Support USN units, which I tend to move around by PBY or Coronado to where they are needed.

Cheers,
CB

RangerJoe wrote: Tue Mar 12, 2024 10:57 pm

M Peaston wrote: Tue Mar 12, 2024 8:10 pm Thanks for the warning BB Fanboy; once again, that’s some good attention to detail there.

Now you mention it I have had problems unloading certain devices at level one ports, but I must have erased the bad experience from my memory. I’ll send the reinforcements to Dutch Harbor, there they can wait until Adak expands or go by amphibious TF as needed. I’ve already got 5th Port Maintenance Bn at Dutch Harbor waiting to transfer to Adak.

I assumed a level one port would remain level one until it reaches level two. Ranger Joe, if I’ve understood you correctly you seem to be suggesting that the increase is incremental - for example, a level one port at 50% construction towards level two can handle larger devices than level one with no construction? That’s very interesting to know……..

No. There is no incremental part at all. A level 1 port with 99% completion towards level 2 will unload just as slow as a level 1 port with no percentage of work done on the next level. What I am stating is that other devices that can unload at a level 1 port will do so as well as any supplies but if you are still building to the next level once that level is completed then the larger devices can and will unload.

Sorry Ranger Joe, my misunderstanding. I see what you're saying now.

CaptBeefheart wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2024 7:02 am In the early game, unless you know for sure you are going to unload at Sydney or another large port, and a lot of times circumstances will dictate a change in plans, you want to move ground units by Amphib TF. Also, for some reason radars get stuck a lot. If you can get something like 10 Naval Support (or shore patrol in some mods?) at the base you can usually unload a radar. In stock, you get a few 30 Nav Support USN units, which I tend to move around by PBY or Coronado to where they are needed.

Cheers,
CB

A good thought on the Amphibious TFs; the game can change a lot in the time it takes to get reinforcements across the Pacific. I've also notices unloading radars can be problematic; I assumed it was something to do with the size of the device but never looked into it.

I've made a note to have a good look around at the naval support units when I get back to the game.....I hope they don't get airsick.

Radars are funny. Not that I'm complaining or want anything to be fixed, but it seems like if you are landing a couple infantry divisions you could find the manpower to unload a radar set. Anyway, if memory serves, years ago somebody did some testing and found 10 nav support was the magic number to unload the devices.

I've actually been in a situation where I put the ship that couldn't unload the radar into a one-ship TF sent into harm's way, with the hope it would get sunk quickly and supply would then provide the unit its missing radar.

Cheers,
CB

CaptBeefheart wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 4:05 am Radars are funny. Not that I'm complaining or want anything to be fixed, but it seems like if you are landing a couple infantry divisions you could find the manpower to unload a radar set. Anyway, if memory serves, years ago somebody did some testing and found 10 nav support was the magic number to unload the devices.

I've actually been in a situation where I put the ship that couldn't unload the radar into a one-ship TF sent into harm's way, with the hope it would get sunk quickly and supply would then provide the unit its missing radar.

Cheers,
CB

I hope I won’t have to resort to suicide logistics, but it is a tactic worth bearing in mind…..

In fairness the British experience in the Falklands was that it was extremely difficult unloading supplies and equipment over the beach from civilian ships designed for pierside loading/unloading. I think the QE2 ended up returning home with about half the supplies and equipment she sailed with still on board.

That’s some useful info on the Naval Support. I’m likely to have similar problems with the Norfolk Island Coastal Defence unit, currently in Aukland with it’s radar and other devices. Unfortunately Norfolk Island doesn’t have a port nor the capacity to build one (SPS of 0), so I’m looking around for some Naval Support.

Thinking about it, it might be easier just to send the Coastal Battery somewhere else….


Apologies for the tardy reply and update; for one reason or another I haven’t been able to give either the game or the AAR as much attention over the last couple of weeks as I would like.



27th February 1942

Surprisingly enough, I managed that hat trick - third turn in a row with no Allied air losses of any kind! I hope my pilots haven’t all gone on strike and that is explains why there’s no losses…….

There’s not a great deal else to report on today. Although I did the turn a little while ago and my memory is a little hazy now.


INDIA/BURMA

7th Hussars and 18th Australian Bde are digging in at Akyab; the remainder of 7th Armoured Bde should be joining them in the next few days. 7th AIF Div’s remaining two brigades are heading by rail to Calcutta.

Japanese units (in addition to the Royal Thai Army) identified so far in Moulmein, northern Thailand or moving up Malaya from Singapore are:

15th Army HQ
18th Div
33rd Div
143rd Inf Rgt
112th Inf Rgt
1st Tank Rgt
10th Tank Rgt
55 Mountain Gun Rgt
3rd Mortar Bn



NORPAC

Change of plan. The artillery and Coast Defence battalions will first go to Dutch Harbor. The convoy will leave them there, pick up the 5th Port Maintenance Bn, and take it to Adak before returning to Dutch Harbor for the artillery units. Hopefully they will be able to unload by then. This is starting to read a bit like the goat/wolf/cabbage riddle…….


SUBMARINE WARFARE

Allied Subs tangled with a. few ASW Patrols, but there was no reported damage on either side.

28th February 1942



CHINA

Allied Intel has reported on Japanese shipping, including several AOs, collected in port at Pescadores over several days now. I have a few submarines in area, but Pescadores is in range of CAF Hudsons at Changsha. I tried a night-time attack, but the Hudsons got lost. Intel indicates Japanese bombers, but no fighters, based at Pescadores so the Chinese are going to risk a daylight port raid tomorrow.



INDIA/BURMA

The Japanese make progress in Burma with an unidentified force, seemingly division-sized, arriving at Martaban. More shocking for the British is that a local rising has taken over in Pegu and declared for the Japanese. After much soul-searching the British conclude that this must have been provoked by bribes and threats from Japanese agents; after all, there’s no conceivable reason why the people might otherwise be discontent with British rule…..



ABDA

The Japanese take Sambas, forcing the remnant of 2nd Gordons there to Singkawang.

I’ve moved up a squadron of P40Es to Batavia whilst the Hurricanes are being repaired at Soerabaja. When both squadrons are ready I’ll try sweeping Palembang again.



PHILIPPINES

xAK Nirvana has completed unloading at Bataan and is ready to try the dash back to safety. Supplies at Bataan are now at just over 3,000, about where it was on 22nd February.



SWPAC/SOPAC

1st Marine Rgt is finally safely ashore at Luganville. Lexington will refuel from the AOs near Noumea then head to Rockhampton; she will cover 6th AIF Div’s deployment to Port Moresby before heading to Pearl Harbor or the West Coast - possibly linking up with Enterprise en route.



SUBMARINE WARFARE

Gudgeon finds a working torpedo from somewhere, sinking xAK Yuzan Maru off the east coast of Honshu.
Sargo trades gunshots with xAKL Yosyu Maru north of Formosa, leaving both slightly damaged

You can build a 0 port to a 3(0) port but that takes a lot of time.

You might be able to pick things up and land them using an amphibious TF, sometimes you have to have only the big items on board for a second try, only one item per ship.

In the Aleutians, Adak is far too vulnerable to staff up in the first 6-8 months. The IJN can have local Naval and Air superiority by bringing a CVL and CAs up there while they land one of their many SNLFs. You need to have a base that can host HBs to keep Japan from developing one on Adak. DH is SPS (0) for airfield, so you need to put troops and engineers on Umnak to build it up as a complementary base to DH. Once you have bombers that can recon and bomb Adak and have a decent ground force to fight off a couple of SNLFs, you can start working on that.
I like to send 4-6 S-boats with their working torps to DH to patrol the Aleutians - short range patrols there, some choke points and poor IJN/IJA ASW. And of course, you need enough TK and xAKLs to bring supply to all your Aleutians possessions.

Re the P-40Es on Java - even the Japanese Oscar equipped units have an Air Combat experience advantage over Allied aircraft. If I detected a landing force coming to Java I would put those P-40Es on Naval Strike at 100 feet at normal range so they can carry their 500 lb bomb. They haven't been trained for that kind of attack but at 100 feet you can usually get lucky hits with ~10% of the aircraft you send, and often you can avoid CAP at that altitude because it is busy sweeping high and patrolling at 10K or so. Of course you can't use that tactic too often because the enemy will counter it. My attitude is that you are likely to lose those planes anyway, so why not do something potentially severe to the enemy?