Off to see the lizard.....

[Chickenboy]

By the way...it's banal platitudes and innocuous bromides like I've provided above that will boost your post count on this thread. In terms of the real game thread, you've got triple the hits and the replies of the Gorn. [:D]

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

By the way...it's banal platitudes and innocuous bromides like I've provided above that will boost your post count on this thread. In terms of the real game thread, you've got triple the hits and the replies of the Gorn. [:D]

Post counts? Did someone say post counts?

[AW1Steve]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve
I can't say I'd have put all of my carriers in shallow , restricted waters , but I'll certainly do my best to take advantage of the situation. [:)][:)]

Not beating up Manila and then operating in the DEI with your carriers is asking for a submarine to put a tin fish into one of your carriers. Go get 'im, Yankee dog!

In keeping with your 'everyone fights' mantra, I'd be putting those submarines to work early and often. In my game against the AI, I've had surprisingly good luck with the submarine fleet. Yes, the Mk. 14s suck and the duds are maddening. But 'even a blind squirrel finds an acorn now and again'. Get enough shots off-particularly at underescorted TFs-and it'll eventually pay off.

Strongly recommend you start training up Dutch bomber pilots on "NAV" bombing. If you get 2-3 months to train them, they can really expand their effectiveness.

Whatchu doin' with the AVG?

For the short term , all fighters , including the AVG will provide cover for escaping ships. I'm considering moving at least part od the AVG down around Singapore , then perhaps to Batavia for the short turn to provide fighter cover for escapees. He'll bag a lot of small freighters , but it will cost him big time. Once the birds have flown , then I'm wide open for suggestions on employment of any of my sources. What I'd like to do , if possible , is to bloody his nose enough to make him more cautious. And from what I've seen , I think he's going to be generally quite cautious. That's good. That's real good. [:)]

[AW1Steve]

Here's something I was working on. This is a start. I've got a lot more coming.

It looks like Geoff is going to stay with his previous form (as I noted about his previous AAR). He's going deep , and in trying to "cut me off" he's leaving a lot of gaps in his rear. That means opportunity.

I'm betting that he'll find a place to rendevous his CV's and reform the KB. At least his fast four. He may leave Kaga with a "baby KB". But if I were him I'd fear that the allies would form all three USN CV's up and strike in his rear. That means he won't leave carriers in the DEI for long. THAT's when I'll be able to move my trapped ships.

I noticed something else on his strikes...NO NETTIES! That makes me suspect he's playing it smart and using them as MPA (maritme patrol airplanes) vice as heavy strike aircraft. He will be trying to preserve them , and have to scatter them around for scouting coverage. Which suggests that he'll only use them with Zero's covering them. That reduces their range , to that of the zero's (except in low threat enviroments). I belive that's good for me. It makes it easier to stay outside of his view (especially for my convoys). It also suggests that he will try to make up for them with his surface ships.


My immediate actions are to 1) sorte every sub I own. Small subs can go into and hunt in the littorals of the DEI. My big fleet boats will form a big Pacific scouting line , until they can be upgraded. I'll probably do a few mine runs , till I run out of them.

2) try to combine as many fighters together as I can to provide some cover to escaping ships. I don't need to preserve fighters , or even ships , if I can cost him Naval aviators. I need to kill as many as I can , no matter the costs. Malaya, Java, the DEI and even the PI is "dead ground". I don't expect to save much there , but I can lead him on a merry chase and maybe cost him a few pilots. And with all those fat bottomed CV's in shallow water , I might get lucky. I don't need to sink one , just put a fish into it. That will put it out of action for a while. In theory , if I can do that to 2 , I'll be even. We'll see. I'm not anxious to fight him now, not at even odds.

[AW1Steve]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve
I'm basically (at the urging of Chickenboy and others) a sitting duck.

What's that I'm being blamed for? The Allies are a proverbial sitting duck on the first turn pretty much no matter which way you slice it.

If you'd played "December 8 start" you'd be down the POW, Repulse and the usual carnage at Pearl Harbor, Ford Island and Hickam too. Another 2 BBs sunk and several others in extremis and your repair yards clogged up good for the forseeable future. Dozens / hundreds of damaged aircraft-particularly your scarce PBYs. You got off lucky. Seems like limited Manila damage. You got off lucky there too.

Where is he invading?

I will list the places as soon as I get the actual turn. All I've got is the 001 file. If I get the chance I'll run it again and write stuff down.

[AW1Steve]

BTW Andre, I don't really blame you. But I do hold you responsible. AS In "I screwed up. But I hold Andre responsible". [:D]

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve
I'm basically (at the urging of Chickenboy and others) a sitting duck.

What's that I'm being blamed for? The Allies are a proverbial sitting duck on the first turn pretty much no matter which way you slice it.

If you'd played "December 8 start" you'd be down the POW, Repulse and the usual carnage at Pearl Harbor, Ford Island and Hickam too. Another 2 BBs sunk and several others in extremis and your repair yards clogged up good for the forseeable future. Dozens / hundreds of damaged aircraft-particularly your scarce PBYs. You got off lucky. Seems like limited Manila damage. You got off lucky there too.

Where is he invading?

I will list the places as soon as I get the actual turn. All I've got is the 001 file. If I get the chance I'll run it again and write stuff down.

When you run that combat replay it does create the 4 report files.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve

BTW Andre, I don't really blame you. But I do hold you responsible. AS In "I screwed up. But I hold Andre responsible". [:D]

Sound perfectly reasonable! [:D]

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve

BTW Andre, I don't really blame you. But I do hold you responsible. AS In "I screwed up. But I hold Andre responsible". [:D]

Oh. Right then. [:D]

I'm no longer following the Gorn's AAR, so you can blame me for the duration of your game here if you wish. Consider me your unofficial IJ turncoat.

Allied dog.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve
My immediate actions are to 1) sorte every sub I own. Small subs can go into and hunt in the littorals of the DEI. My big fleet boats will form a big Pacific scouting line , until they can be upgraded. I'll probably do a few mine runs , till I run out of them.

I'd like you to consider being more aggressive with your fleet boats in the short term, Steve. The Pacific scouting line approach is-I think-a reasonable approach for a few months from now. But if he's got his entire carrier fleet and numerous invasion fleets in the DEI, this is an unprecedented opportunity. You can't make an intercept without an asset present.

I'd rather have a 20% chance (with 80% dud torps for the time being) at a big score than no chance. You've got 25 submarines at Manila that are untouched. Remarkable! The best place for them to put warheads on foreheads is *not* in some strung out picket line between Kwajalein and Ocean Island (BORING! [>:]) but in the DEI where you *know* there are myriad targets of opportunity.

He's being aggressive. You have teeth and claws too. You've got to direct all your 'pointy bits' (veterinary vernacular) towards him wherever you can. Exploit the advantage that he's giving you to the maximum extent. Carriers operating in the DEI? You should be swarming him with submarines. Every last one of them. Good torps or not.

Thus endeth my spiel.

[Lovejoy]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

He's being aggressive. You have teeth and claws too. You've got to direct all your 'pointy bits' (veterinary vernacular) towards him wherever you can. Exploit the advantage that he's giving you to the maximum extent. Carriers operating in the DEI? You should be swarming him with submarines. Every last one of them. Good torps or not.

+1 to this

Even just seeing one of my carriers in a submarine crosshairs is enough to scare me. Make him worry every turn that your submarines will find his carriers. The Allied torpedo gods may bless thee yet!

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve
My immediate actions are to 1) sorte every sub I own. Small subs can go into and hunt in the littorals of the DEI. My big fleet boats will form a big Pacific scouting line , until they can be upgraded. I'll probably do a few mine runs , till I run out of them.

I'd like you to consider being more aggressive with your fleet boats in the short term, Steve. The Pacific scouting line approach is-I think-a reasonable approach for a few months from now. But if he's got his entire carrier fleet and numerous invasion fleets in the DEI, this is an unprecedented opportunity. You can't make an intercept without an asset present.

I'd rather have a 20% chance (with 80% dud torps for the time being) at a big score than no chance. You've got 25 submarines at Manila that are untouched. Remarkable! The best place for them to put warheads on foreheads is *not* in some strung out picket line between Kwajalein and Ocean Island (BORING! [>:]) but in the DEI where you *know* there are myriad targets of opportunity.

He's being aggressive. You have teeth and claws too. You've got to direct all your 'pointy bits' (veterinary vernacular) towards him wherever you can. Exploit the advantage that he's giving you to the maximum extent. Carriers operating in the DEI? You should be swarming him with submarines. Every last one of them. Good torps or not.

Thus endeth my spiel.

+10 - This is a good call!

Edit to add: Oh, gawd - he's going to be unbearable now!

[AW1Steve]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve

BTW Andre, I don't really blame you. But I do hold you responsible. AS In "I screwed up. But I hold Andre responsible". [:D]

Oh. Right then. [:D]

I'm no longer following the Gorn's AAR, so you can blame me for the duration of your game here if you wish. Consider me your unofficial IJ turncoat.

Allied dog.

Thank you! I always treasure your insight and mentorship. [&o][:)]

[AW1Steve]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve
My immediate actions are to 1) sorte every sub I own. Small subs can go into and hunt in the littorals of the DEI. My big fleet boats will form a big Pacific scouting line , until they can be upgraded. I'll probably do a few mine runs , till I run out of them.

I'd like you to consider being more aggressive with your fleet boats in the short term, Steve. The Pacific scouting line approach is-I think-a reasonable approach for a few months from now. But if he's got his entire carrier fleet and numerous invasion fleets in the DEI, this is an unprecedented opportunity. You can't make an intercept without an asset present.

I'd rather have a 20% chance (with 80% dud torps for the time being) at a big score than no chance. You've got 25 submarines at Manila that are untouched. Remarkable! The best place for them to put warheads on foreheads is *not* in some strung out picket line between Kwajalein and Ocean Island (BORING! [>:]) but in the DEI where you *know* there are myriad targets of opportunity.

He's being aggressive. You have teeth and claws too. You've got to direct all your 'pointy bits' (veterinary vernacular) towards him wherever you can. Exploit the advantage that he's giving you to the maximum extent. Carriers operating in the DEI? You should be swarming him with submarines. Every last one of them. Good torps or not.

Thus endeth my spiel.

I'll definitely go with your advice , even though it goes against all I've been taught and experienced (in real life). Big subs in shallow waters! (SHUDDER!). Gene Flucky would be disappointed with my trepidation , but absolutely applaud your aggressiveness! [:D]

[AW1Steve]

Part of the reason that Boise loss upset me is that I need every Brooklyn I can get. I use them (as intended) , along with Porter and Sommers DD's to screen a battleship group. West Virginia class or if I'm short of those California's. They get early repairs and updates , all of the ships in the TF get cherry picked skippers , and the best battleship admiral I can conjure up. Then use with decent aircover , either LBA or distant CV. It's a huge surprise to run into these Bad boys with a loaded convoy guarded by CL's and DD;s. [:D]

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve
My immediate actions are to 1) sorte every sub I own. Small subs can go into and hunt in the littorals of the DEI. My big fleet boats will form a big Pacific scouting line , until they can be upgraded. I'll probably do a few mine runs , till I run out of them.

I'd like you to consider being more aggressive with your fleet boats in the short term, Steve. The Pacific scouting line approach is-I think-a reasonable approach for a few months from now. But if he's got his entire carrier fleet and numerous invasion fleets in the DEI, this is an unprecedented opportunity. You can't make an intercept without an asset present.

I'd rather have a 20% chance (with 80% dud torps for the time being) at a big score than no chance. You've got 25 submarines at Manila that are untouched. Remarkable! The best place for them to put warheads on foreheads is *not* in some strung out picket line between Kwajalein and Ocean Island (BORING! [>:]) but in the DEI where you *know* there are myriad targets of opportunity.

He's being aggressive. You have teeth and claws too. You've got to direct all your 'pointy bits' (veterinary vernacular) towards him wherever you can. Exploit the advantage that he's giving you to the maximum extent. Carriers operating in the DEI? You should be swarming him with submarines. Every last one of them. Good torps or not.

Thus endeth my spiel.

+10 - This is a good call!

Edit to add: Oh, gawd - he's going to be unbearable now!

"Going to be"? [;)]

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve
I'll definitely go with your advice , even though it goes against all I've been taught and experienced (in real life). Big subs in shallow waters! (SHUDDER!). Gene Flucky would be disappointed with my trepidation , but absolutely applaud your aggressiveness! [:D]

You see, I don't think this is aggressive at all. This is defensive.

In the same way that a row of triple concertina wire, pre-registered artillery, overlapping machinegun fields of fire with staked range markers, command detonated land mines and 'dumb' antipersonel land mines is bolstering an infantryman's defensive position. You are similarly employing and properly placing your mobile defensive assets to cause the greatest difficulty for your opponent possible.

Running and hiding will legitimize and even expedite the Gorn's DEI adventures. There is plenty the Allies can do defensively if given an opportunity. I'd just as soon avoid the knee-jerk default defensive deployment when there is an embarrassment of Japanese riches waiting to be destroyed. And you're just the guy to do it. [8D]

[Chickenboy]

Whassup? [&:]

[witpqs]

I say the best defense is a bloody good AAR! Now give us some meat! Raw meat is best! [:D]

[Lecivius]

Yeah, all this waiting, the war starts, and nada. It's like a game starts after an all day delay, and then the teams leave the stadium for dinner. How goes the war?