Maybe send in a surface strike group on a bombardment mission?
I've found BBs particularly effective at destroying enemy submarines etc. A few 15 or 16 inch shells into a CV hull could work wonders and with an appropriate level of care I am finding it possible to sneak to within 4 or 5 hexes of strongly-held enemy bases. It is risky but so long as the size 4 airfields are closed down your BBs have a good chance of surviving.
In addition if I were you I'd put my bombers on port attack (possibly with naval attack as a secondary mission). Your bombers ( and their crews) are replacable and thus by definition expendable in return for appropriate gain. Getting a few 500 lbers into his carriers would, IMO, be very appropriate gain even if it cost you a month's worth of four-engineds.
P.s. My email seems to be down at the moment so after posting the last turns in my two AARs I'm going to be working on the RHS game... At the present moment I'm still researching plane upgrade paths... I can already see that I'm particularly going to like the Ki-83 Stan... Any twin-engined plane with a top speed of 428 miles per hour, a ceiling of 39,904, a range of 720 miles and a gun power of 56 ( courtesy of the very powerful but inaccurate 57mm cannon it carries) is going to be just devastating to Allied bombers and invasion fleets. The only pity is that we only get to play with it from March 1945 onward.
The vastly different road and rail nets in RHS definitely require a very different approach than the one prevailing under stock or CHS... It'll definitely require a more amphibious approach.
I'm going to start the joint thread in the Scenario Design/Game Editor thread later today with some of the issues I've found so far. That way they can be fixed before the game starts since once I'm oriented and have the planning done the actual inputting of orders shouldn't take too long. I'm on call on Wednesday so it really might be the weekend before I can have anything for you. Sorry about that. In the meantime you just keep kicking away in the Aleutians .
John Dillworth: "I had GreyJoy check my spelling and he said it was fine."
Well, that's that settled then.
A Bombardment TF to visit Adak!!! That is an bold idea and I do like it! [:D] (Dave might not even be expecting something that risky!!!)
I have now a US BB (BB West Virginia, BB Idaho and BB New Mexico) TF to move from Anchorage to Cold Bay! [;)] This way the leap will be much shorter and I might get a suprise assault on him... and If this goes bad than I have lost 3 old BB's and some escorting ships. That is an acceptable risk indeed!
Kodiak is at level 4 airfield (62%) and building. I think I will use around 100 B17's on that port/naval assault on Adak. I don't mind taking heavy casualties either so if I can get couple of his CV damaged than that is worth the risk and effort.
I should mention however that there are Japanese BB's in Adak too. (BB Musashi, BB Yamamoto and co.)
I have those 2 US CV's still lurking in Anchorage waiting for an opportunity if Dave makes a single mistake.
Royal Navy reinforcements to CenPac are now Perth and will head out to Sydney immediately.
Yeah, I have looked the RHS setup too! It is totally diffrent what I'am used to. It will requiere quite a lot of planning for allied side too.
Eherm. thankfully that bomber will be arriving in early 1945 or otherwise I would be in big trouble! [:D] ...oh like I'am not in trouble already! [:D]
Don't worry about tight schedule you got. Take your time and plan carefully. It is going to be hectic in my life too. (Daughter is now very demanding tiny little person!!! [:D]) ..so real life will take priority naturally for both of us. [:)]
...concerning this game... well we are moving ahead smoothly since I'am not ready yet for any serious offensives across the pacific. Just moving troops into position and trying to make Dave pay for his adventure in Aleutians!
Bomber? Oh no, that'll be a bomber interceptor ...
Put a tank main gun and a twin-engined plane side by side on a runway and I see the possibility of creating a bomber interceptor . It mightn't hit often but I'm sure that once the Stans get into action unescorted four-engined raids will be a thing of the past. [&o]
John Dillworth: "I had GreyJoy check my spelling and he said it was fine."
Well, that's that settled then.
Bomber? Oh no, that'll be a bomber interceptor ...
Put a tank main gun and a twin-engined plane side by side on a runway and I see the possibility of creating a bomber interceptor . It mightn't hit often but I'm sure that once the Stans get into action unescorted four-engined raids will be a thing of the past. [&o]
Oh.. Well maybe I can fiddle with your production via sabotage [:D][:D]
The US BB TF has now sailed from Cold Bay. These ships are ordered to bombard the enemy shipping at Adak. Let's see whether Nemo's bold idea brings success! [:)]
100 B17's have now moved into Kodiak. (Still level 4 but 97% complete upgrade) These bombers are put 1st on Port attack and secondary mission as Naval attack.
Japanese ASW TF's hit 2 USS submarines near Adak. Also DD Yugure is torpedoed by SS Paddle [:D]
Dutch Harbour airfield remains unoperational due to heavy bombing runs by US airforce.
Royal Navy reinforcements are making good progress towards Sydney.
That is the latest developments. It is intresting to see the results from next turn. Hopefully I can hit few of his CV's! [:D]
Everything did not go as Allied HQ planned. (It rarely does againts Dave)'
To put it shortly the US BB TF was spotted by the enemy and received the attention of the mighty KB itself.
Day Air attack on TF, near Umnak Island at 102,36
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 46
D3A Val x 42
A6M3a Zero x 33
B5N Kate x 24
G3M Nell x 12
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 4 destroyed, 23 damaged
B5N Kate: 2 destroyed, 20 damaged
G3M Nell: 6 damaged
Allied Ships
BB New Mexico, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
BB West Virginia, Bomb hits 7, on fire
CL Cleveland
BB Indiana, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CL Montpelier
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 104,35
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 63
A6M3a Zero x 65
G3M Nell x 15
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged
Allied Ships
BB New Mexico, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
BB Indiana, heavy damage
That leaves me with BB Indiana and BB New Mexico badly damage. However BB West Virginia should be operational soon again.
Those B17's that I send didn't have better luck either.
Day Air attack on TF, near Adak Island at 98,36
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 42
A6M3 Zero x 1
A6M3a Zero x 25
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 24
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed, 8 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed, 9 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 10 destroyed, 4 damaged
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Adak Island , at 98,36
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 41
A6M3 Zero x 1
A6M3a Zero x 26
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 68
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed, 13 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 5 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 16 destroyed, 31 damaged
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Adak Island , at 98,36
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 41
A6M3 Zero x 1
A6M3a Zero x 25
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 35
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 3 destroyed, 3 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 6 destroyed, 13 damaged
... at least that should have scared him somewhat. I will let my US 4E bombers to have a another crack at Adak next turn. Just maybe I can get lucky!!! [:)]
It was a nice idea ! .. shame you havnt got any speed 5 BB or BC around .. maybe just use fast CA's for bombardment as 8inch shells will punch holes in flattops and can escape out of range too. ( bar the darn betties .. any LR cap to cover them would help hugely .
fun game
I've never seen RHS .. so can't comment but i like the 'look' of the CHS varient . I always imagined they were similar but i guess not given what your both saying abaout it ..
Nemo .. you hooked on WitP now ? [:D].. with 3 AAR's ? maybe a new game vs Mog .. can you actually find time for work in-between e-mails ? [;)]
sorry for the spelling . English is my main language , I just can't type . and i'm too lazy to edit
It was a nice idea ! .. shame you havnt got any speed 5 BB or BC around .. maybe just use fast CA's for bombardment as 8inch shells will punch holes in flattops and can escape out of range too. ( bar the darn betties .. any LR cap to cover them would help hugely .
fun game
I've never seen RHS .. so can't comment but i like the 'look' of the CHS varient . I always imagined they were similar but i guess not given what your both saying abaout it ..
Nemo .. you hooked on WitP now ? [:D].. with 3 AAR's ? maybe a new game vs Mog .. can you actually find time for work in-between e-mails ? [;)]
The idea was good but as I said these ideas rarely pay off againts Dave! [:D][:(] I'am kind of use to that... and it is a fact that had Dave really exploited some of the "gray areas" of the game he could propably be planning a invasion of West Coast by now! [:D] Oh, but he is a gentleman! [:)]
I kind of like the idea of fast surface TF (CA and such) hitting his navy but he has his battle fleet there too so I'am not willing to risk those ships just yet. Maybe my LBA's will get lucky and hit something major or maybe he will be scared and back off from Aleutians. (I'am definately not withdrawin here since this is the best chance of getting something done in this war)
Fighter escort cannot be arranged due to limitation in range of my fighters.
...this is a fun game and my opponent is tough as hell [:D]
As for Nemo... well don't wake the beast Rob... he is propably plotting assaults on San Francisco in his PBEM's [:D][:D][:D]
San Francisco? Tutt, tutt... Why limit myself to just taking the invasion beaches? No, better to push inland toward New York... [;)]
Rob,
Aye, well I never intended to do more than 1 game but Jutland13 invited me to play and then Aztez's offer of an RHS game offered a chance to try something new and engage in original analysis ( as opposed to rehashing a situation everyone's played before)...
John Dillworth: "I had GreyJoy check my spelling and he said it was fine."
Well, that's that settled then.
San Francisco? Tutt, tutt... Why limit myself to just taking the invasion beaches? No, better to push inland toward New York... [;)]
Rob,
Aye, well I never intended to do more than 1 game but Jutland13 invited me to play and then Aztez's offer of an RHS game offered a chance to try something new and engage in original analysis ( as opposed to rehashing a situation everyone's played before)...
New York, ah [:D] ...Thankfully Finland is off the map or your Japanese forces would end up here eventually! [:D]
Assaulting West Coast would be an suicide so you are more than welcome to try it [:-]
As for this game I really hope that those US 4E bombers can breakthrough his CAP. I could send more BB's and surface vessels to Aleutians but I think that risk would not benefit my chances in this war.
One intresting thing in Allied signit last turn. At least 2 Japanese infantry units are planning for Midway! (I think Dave went for it againts Feinder too)
Currently I have 1250 assaults points + supporting troops in garrison duty. (Level 9 fortifications and some mines) I do not have proper aviation support there so I might send one aviation unit from Pearl Harbour there. I have some Corsairs available but I'am still waiting for the first Hellcats to appear.
I think Midway would be suicidal. He would need 3600 AV just to equal your force ( that's 9 undamaged divisions) and that's before we count preparation bonuses, troops lost on sinking APs, disruption etc... His only hope of taking on 1200 AV in PH is to bomb you out over a long time.
John Dillworth: "I had GreyJoy check my spelling and he said it was fine."
Well, that's that settled then.
I feel that Midway is kind of safe too but Dave has done quite a few suprise assaults on this game so I would not rule out Midway though.
IF he is not going for Midway than he will commit his naval assets in Northern Pacific. I don't see any other options except China where he can launch couple of major ground offensives and propably succeed with them.
Russia would be something too but I don't actually even remember IF we had any houserules regarding this theatre.
...anyway waiting for the turn to arrive and maybe it will reveal more of his future plans.
Couple of turns has passed.
No major raids or strikes are launched by either side in Northern Pacific.
I think Dave has moved some of the CV's out of Adak. The total ship amount indicated by intel makes me think that.
Dave has also started an ground offensive at Dutch Harbour.
Ground combat at Dutch Harbor
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 23295 troops, 157 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 680
Defending force 13473 troops, 96 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 519
Japanese max assault: 674 - adjusted assault: 435
Allied max defense: 452 - adjusted defense: 217
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1
Japanese ground losses:
1534 casualties reported
Guns lost 44
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Dutch Harbor
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 20977 troops, 105 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 530
Defending force 13390 troops, 94 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 513
Japanese max assault: 470 - adjusted assault: 286
Allied max defense: 445 - adjusted defense: 250
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1
Japanese ground losses:
407 casualties reported
Guns lost 11
Allied ground losses:
64 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Allied ground losses:
87 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Dutch Harbor
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 20175 troops, 97 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 473
Defending force 13377 troops, 88 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 512
Japanese max assault: 451 - adjusted assault: 411
Allied max defense: 442 - adjusted defense: 181
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1
Japanese ground losses:
842 casualties reported
Guns lost 16
Allied ground losses:
52 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
I have actually tried to move these units for Umnak base next to Dutch Harbour but the Witp game engine says that not adequate supply path so these guys are not moving anywhere due to this. (They are very low on supplies and Umnak base has 20 000 worth of supplies but it seems that once more those supplies are not moving to frontline troops)
I had ordered 2 squadrons of US 4E bombers to strike enemy airfields at Adak. Unfortunately they did not fly but hopefully they will next turn.
B17's have been bombing Dutch Harbour airfields too "daily". (Unless the weather has prevented the strikes)
I have now actively started patrolling this are with PT boats which are located in frontline bases.
Those 2 US BB's that were damaged are slowly moving towards Anchorage.
RN (CV's + Prince of Wales TF) have now left Sydney and are heading to NZ. From there they will start moving towards CenPac.
I have also lost couple of submarines due to Japanese ASW efforts.
Things have now been some what more peaceful.
It is now confirmed that CVE Tayho was sunk in Aleutians. This means that IJN lost 4 CVE's, 2 CVL's and 1 CS ship in Aleutians. (At least he took some beating)
Still those US troops refuse leave Dutch Harbour to Umnak. (No adequate supply path that is BS)
I have kept bombing Dutch Harbour and the damage level remains at 100%.
There is now aviation support in Umnak. It can now have 90 aircraft based there once the airfield is a little bigger.
US 4E bombers struck againts Adak for the first time.
Day Air attack on Adak Island , at 98,36
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 86
Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed
Japanese ground losses:
68 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 7
That result was somewhat disappointing to say at least.
Dave made a dogfight assault at Yunan.
Day Air attack on Yunan , at 38,32
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 9
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 35
Ki-21 Sally x 42
Ki-48 Lily x 47
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1
Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vb x 18
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vb: 11 destroyed
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Yunan , at 38,32
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 8
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 32
Ki-21 Sally x 43
Ki-48 Lily x 44
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1
Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vb x 14
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 3 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 1 destroyed
Ki-48 Lily: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vb: 5 destroyed, 4 damaged
Allied ground losses:
26 casualties reported
Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 33
Allied ground losses:
9 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Airbase hits 15
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 54
Those Spitfire squadrons are now at Ledo. I have moved 1 US P40E squadron to Yunan to take it's place.
It seems that KB has withdrawn from North Pacific. This could be temporary or it could be a trap.
Those 2 US CV's have now been ordered to move into SF for their upgrades.
British CV + BB Fleet is nearing Wellington in NZ.
Oddly some of my BB's have not yet upgraded allthough their SYS damage is below 5.
U may get them to move if you click hex instead of base flag. Know glitch. Or vise versa.
"To meaningless French Idealism, Liberty, Fraternity and Equality...we answer with German Realism, Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery" -Prince von Bülov, 1870-
KB still lurks in the area since one of my transport TF was hit near Umnak!
Day Air attack on TF, near Umnak Island at 102,36
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10
D3A Val x 15
A6M3a Zero x 36
B5N Kate x 45
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
AK Albireo, Shell hits 4, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AK Eridanus, Torpedo hits 1
MSW Starling, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Mintaka, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Requisite, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Cetus, Shell hits 12, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AK Crater, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Draco, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
I have now moved fighter protection to Umnak along with some US Divebombers. This might be first time when we see FU Corsairs in action!
Also I have added US 4E bomb squadron to Kodiak. This now totals around 150 aircraft which are now set on Naval Attack! Hopefully the KB will stick around in range.
My airforce has been busy bombing the airfields at Adak and Dutch Harbour last turn too.
Japanese seem to have gained an upper hand in Yunan.
Day Air attack on Yunan , at 38,32
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 34
Ki-21 Sally x 36
Ki-48 Lily x 48
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1
Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 20
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 1 damaged
Ki-48 Lily: 3 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 13 destroyed
Spitfire Vb: 2 destroyed
Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 70
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Yunan , at 38,32
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 31
Ki-21 Sally x 30
Ki-48 Lily x 35
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1
Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 8
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-48 Lily: 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 9 destroyed
Spitfire Vb: 3 destroyed
Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 61
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Yunan , at 38,32
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 35
Ki-48 Lily x 24
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1
Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 2
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 damaged
Ki-48 Lily: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
Spitfire Vb: 1 destroyed
Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 38
Not good results. Those Japanese pilots propably do have quite an experience levels behind them.
That was the latest turn. Dave will out until Monday so until than.... [:)]
.
