Matrix Games Forums

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58


In my game all but a couple of the merchants in HK were sunk on the first turn before I entered a move. I would not have used a second of dwell time to load them with anything. They need to be running like the IRS is after them.

But if you DO want to load fuel, how is that possibly "gamey"? It's your fuel, they're your ships.

+1

I target the shipping in HK as soon as the HR's will allow ... very few, if any escape. As CB says, loaded with fuel they go down that much faster. Even a Ida can sink one. [:'(]

12-22 to 12-28:

Good comments, to answer Pax I think I have been punching at the edges already; I can take Tabiteua almost as soon as I feel like, because Arorae is built-up enough to cover it without CVs. I also plan a couple other moves at the perimeter. A major move into the DEI, though, is going to attract KB, and I don't have enough to counter KB AND an IJN Air Fleet. I can handle one or the other, but not both at once.

But, some possibilities are open with the fall of Darwin, which I'll outline. First, action elsewhere.

Burma: Still a stalemate; he has alot committed there, and I won't be able to break through with my less than 100% commitment.

China: I will post an updated map, but the IJA has broken into the Chungking plain. He is isolating the remaining cities and units. I hold all roads into the plain, though, so that is likely complicating his supply situation. Just trying to keep the IJA busy there as long as I can.

IJA Moves: Even so, I see through Intel alot of units leaving China. 9th Mixed Bde is at Christmas Island; this is a China unit. So is the 68th Division, which is headed to Kendari. There have been a couple others. Clearly, he is taking advantage of the collapse of China to start buying units. My guess is that he is buying trashed ones, and allowing them to recuperate at their new destinations. That's what I would do.

He is clearly building up the perimeter. I think by holding Cocos and a few other things he has a long perimeter to defend; this is my hope.

Southern DEI:

Darwin falls as expected, since Greyjoy really pulled everyone out of Australia. What next here?

First, I need to get some convoys to Darwin. No easy task, as you can see he has major bases close-by. I am going to start with low value ships under LRCAP, to get some supplies in, before I try troops or fuel.

This is a touchy area, but if I can build Darwin and Bathurst Is, I can maybe get some things done under LBA, like a landing at Saumaki, or the island to the south of it. This is also a great area for PTs; once I have a base within 6 hexes of his, I can harass any IJN shipping in the area with PTs.

But in near term, I need to get stuff to Darwin. If I can start a move north, there are alot of ways to advance without any CV support. This would be key.

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

12-22 to 12-28:

Good comments, to answer Pax I think I have been punching at the edges already; I can take Tabiteua almost as soon as I feel like, because Arorae is built-up enough to cover it without CVs. I also plan a couple other moves at the perimeter. A major move into the DEI, though, is going to attract KB, and I don't have enough to counter KB AND an IJN Air Fleet. I can handle one or the other, but not both at once.

Yep, and I agree with your strategy and tactics. Just wanted you to consider stepping them up a bit as many places may be defended lighter than normal due to his focus in China. He's counting on the KB to deter you, but it can only be in place at a time ... and it uses a lot of fuel getting there.

Another thing to consider: he's built up his economy (air factories), but he hasn't taken much more than historical. I have to suspect that he hasn't saved that much HI yet. Certainly not to MikeS standards. Something to keep tucked away for late game.

12-29 to 1-7-43

With the turn to the New Year, lots of action around the map, particularly around Darwin.

But first, let's wade into the nightmare that is China

China:

My lines around Kienko, which have held for a couple months, finally collapsed. A path opened from Sian into the Chungking plain via the north, so it's happened: The plains are invested.

He also had broken into the plains from the south, though there I still hold all the roads. It doesn't matter that much, as I'm now pretty much down to Chengtu, Chungking, and pockets of units all over the place.

So we are in Phase III: The end in China

I do still hold Kunming to Paoshan, and hope to hold it awhile. That's the only area I am flying supplies into.

I foresaw the collapse in China, but still sucks to see it happen. Greyjoy made me pay for every mistake, so he did a great job on the land campaign.

Battle of Bathurst Island:

My initial attempts to bring supplies to Darwin resulted in a sharp action off Bathurst Island.

First, I was tardy in my CAP, and Betties from Timor (I think), sank PENSACOLA with 2 TTs. OUCH!

Next turn, my remaining TF (LOUISVILLE, ACHILLES, LEANDER, and severa DDs) were met with an IJN force consisting of 4 old CLs, and about 8 DDs, but mostly older ones.

In surface action, LOUISVILLE was heavily damaged, but nothing sank on my end. We sank a MINEKAZE class DD, and heavily damaged 2 others that were finished off by subs. Alot of Netties sortied though, and I had CAP from Darwin; over 50 IJN planes were shot down, mostly by F4F and P-40E.

So, we lost a CA, another heavily damaged (but will live), and in return we sank 3 older DDs, and shot down 50 planes. Overall, a slight IJN victory, but I did manage to run a ton of convoys in.

Darwin:

So we lost the battle, but won the campaign, as several convoys are unloading supplies, fuel, units at Darwin. We shall soon have a major base there, prior to a move on Selaroe and Babo.

The IJN has alot of ships around this area; I hesitate to commit BBs, because he can see them coming through Torres Strait. For now, I just have cruisers. We'll see when I make a serious move.

That is one micro sized map you got there!  [;)]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

That is one micro sized map you got there!  [;)]

[:D]

ten times downloaded ... [:D]

and even if downloaded it stays tiny.... - maybe he wants to check whether our eyesight is still 20/20

but it is still a very clever move by Q-Ball, the sudden activity in a more or less quit AAR should make someone quite
nervous.

ORIGINAL: MAurelius

and even if downloaded it stays tiny.... - maybe he wants to check whether our eyesight is still 20/20

Ok, I'll fess up right now: mine hasn't been 20/20 in a LONG time. No need to check. [:D]

1-8-43 through 1-15-43

Sorry about the map size, fixed it. Just seeing how many folks are reading this![:D]

China:

The defenses to the east of the Chungking plain completely collapsed, so he is in the plain. He has not invested Chengtu and Chungking, but that's all that's left of the main part of China.

Kunming holds on the other side, but I think it will fall; he is flanking it through the mountains, and will win the airbattle over it

Australia:

On to better things....Oz is going well, IMO.

Darwin is building up nicely; since that one surface engagement, I have been moving things there unmolested. I should have the troops gathered there to make a move on Saumlaki within a month.

I am also doing final preparations for a move on Milne Bay. This is really a sideshow, but I want to a) draw strength from the main area, and b) secure the Torres Strait. I don't want to commit the troops it would take to clear the 35,000 guys at Port Moresby, but if I take Milne Bay, he'll eventually be forced to either let those troops starve or abandon PM overland. He won't be able to reach it via sea anymore.

Indian Ocean:

I am also planning a landing in the IO, for sometime in March of 1943

Do you need Milne Bay??

Would one, or two, of the nearby islands serve the same purpose but be more lightly defended??

Same in the DEI, why Timor if the islands between Timor & Bali will do?

Just wanted to let you know that I am enjoying your AAR but not commenting much as I am reading and commenting (carefully, I hope) on Greyjoy's. But nice job at Darwin. Losing a CA for in order to get supply to Darwin is a good trade. The major strategic gain negates the tactical loss. A tactical loss for the Allies means much less than it does for Japan.

And as I discovered myself, China is the one theater the Allies can totally screw up (Well played! [:D]), and not really have it affect the outcome of the war.

Hello, I am not the person who is posting much on other persons AAR but I like it very much

As I read both sides, don't expect me to say anything else that I sit back and enjoy the show

ORIGINAL: JeffK

Do you need Milne Bay??

Would one, or two, of the nearby islands serve the same purpose but be more lightly defended??

Same in the DEI, why Timor if the islands between Timor & Bali will do?

Well, stay tuned....answers to follow. In general, I am a big beleiver in bypassing strong points. The Allies can bomb bases in their rear, and it's almost better; isolated units can't be re-built. There are over 60,000 troops on Timor, including nearly 40,000 in Koepang. No way I'm landing at Koepang!

1-16-43 to 1-22-43:

China:

The Japanese are rolling in the plains; they have entered Chengtu, shutting down the LI there. I have 80,000 troops there, so it's probably awhile before he can take it. At Chungking, I am moving units out of town, so they don't get overstacked.

Northern Australia:

Here it's been the most busy.

Greyjoy has anticipated my next moves on Selaroe, unfortunately; Selaroe has 4,000 troops, Babar has 3,500, and Samlauki has over 11,000. That was quick!

Fast Transports brought in troops to Selaroe under my nose on the 16th. On the next run, though, I had DBs up and running at Bathurst Island, which is already lvl-2. The attacks were spread out, but we put bombs in 4 different CLs. I had Beauforts at Darwin, but they were bombing Samlauki instead of on NavT. Too bad!

I have a surface combat TF at sea; they will attempt to intercept the damaged IJN CLs tomorrow night. My TF consists of 3 CAs, 2 CLs, and a bunch of DDs.

More details to follow, but I have suffered a crushing defeat. I am likely to lose several capital ships for no losses on the Japanese side, other than KITAKAMI and lots of aircraft. It's a shame I squandered the advantages I accumulated in an afternoon. Oh well.

Unfortunately we had a CV exchange where I was destroyed, and we failed to score a hit. It's that bad.

I should be able to continue the game, but that's going to make it really really bad for awhile

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

Unfortunately we had a CV exchange where I was destroyed, and we failed to score a hit. It's that bad.

Sorry to hear this Brad, but I would make a good guess that Greyjoy's carrier air-groups are shredded now. So KB's effectiveness is suppressed for a few months, and you have new carriers and Hellcats arriving in that time frame. [:)]

Edit; I was wondering if he has reequipped with Judy's and A6M5s, but I will find out when you post your report I suppose.

2-9-43:

I haven't posted in awhile, no fun when you have to report a crushing defeat, but here it goes.

I had organized an invasion of Rossel Is. My plan was to invade and get landfall, then move all my shipping to the other side of Australia for a landing on Christmas Is and Enganno. I wanted Rossel as a diversion, and to also isolate his troops at Port Moresby.

In hindsight, of course, I should have waited for Hellcats and to make sure I knew where his CVs were. I purposely showed him a couple CVEs a week ago in the IO, and started bombing Christmas Is; I hoped to draw his attention and CVs to this area. I thought I was successful, because I spotted what appeared to be CVs off Ambon. In retrospect, a bad sighting report.

So, I went ahead. I even paused to identify what was up, and found KB early enough to abort. A trap I stayed in!

Here was the set--up after turn 1; at this point, I have only lost an LSI, and CL CLEVELAND has eaten 2 torpedos from the 27 subs I spotted. (Yes, 27). I decided at this point to make for the Australian Coast, but we didn't move far enough, probably a refuel.

I wasn't too freaking out, because I calculated that I had 510 A/C vs. 500 or so I thought would be in KB + the Junyos. I didn't know that EVERY CVL was there, but even so, I didn't think it would be so one-sided........

2-9-43

..we didnt' get far enough, however, and a CV Battle ensued. Up to this point, I made a few errors, then Lady Luck abandoned me!

Weather in the morning was Hazy, but my CVs reacted toward the IJN CVs, and also separated! This was critical to the outcome!

The IJN CVs did NOT separate; so, his strikes scored multiple hits, and I scored not a single hit, topped-off by a 200-plane strike that came up completely empty. Nothing, nada; no hits at all!

This is a disaster of course. I expected, with flak and everything, to at least cause him some damage. A couple hits would have been nice. NOTHING!

(well, we did sink KITAKAMI, but that was more harm than help)

Such is luck, maybe I'll get him back in that department later, but for now we have to run, again, for the Australian Coast.

Damage so Far:

ENTERPRISE, and 2 CVEs are sunk. PRINCE OF WALES, and NORTH CAROLINA are doomed, and will be left behind to soak off attacks.

All other CVs can make at least 25 knots and run air ops, barely, and are all booking it at Flank speed for hopeful saftey. I split everyone in two groups, ensuring survival of at least half, because I can't afford to lose everybody.

We took other precautions to hopefully survive:

1. Created 40 PTs at Townsville, and sending them into the night towards the Japanese; hopefully, to intercept cruiser TFs and burn time on his end
2. Cairns is piled-high with about 120 DBs and Torp Planes, plus fighters; he will likely want to stay away from this spot
3. Townsville has 200 fighters on LRCAP to shepherd everything in

If I am really lucky, I won't lose more than 2 BBs, but I probably won't be; I havent' been so far

What Next:

In an instant, I went from feeling pretty good about my position in this game to wondering how I am going to win. Waiting a year, with China gone, there will be IJA troops on every hex stacked to the limit. I can't throw in the towel, but it looks bleak

It's possible that my purpose is to serve as a cautionary tale to others: Wait on using the USN CVs until you get Hellcats!

ouch ! That gotta hurt ! I think he just knew how you played the game before and anticipated it right this time. Better luck next time !