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ORIGINAL: desicat

ORIGINAL: bradfordkay

I am assuming that he is talking about Stone Mountain in Georgia - which is one of the largest monadnocks in the world. It's basically a huge rock (granite) sticking up out of the surrounding landscape - rather like Ayers Rock near Alice Springs, Australia. It lies very close to the city of Atlanta and so was turned into a state park - with a huge relief carving of Jefferson Davis, Robert E Lee and Thomas J "Stonewall" Jackson riding their horses was cut into the side of the mountain.

Exactly what I was referring to. If CR has been there I was curious for his take on the experience, him being a Reb and all.

He probably posed for the "Stonewall" Jackson image ...
Thanks for filling me in on the park site. It's a long way from here but maybe I'll get there now that I know about it.

In CR's absence I'll try to answer. We had relatives in the SE (South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida and Georgia). While visiting an aunt I went to Stone Mountain with my family. I was in my teens. The carving is pretty darn impressive. Visible from the tourist shops way at the bottom of the mountain. Up top, however, was my favorite part. It has a room with a huge 3D relief map of Georgia. The map lights up various battle sites and describes Sherman's campaign in northern Georgia, outflanking the CSA forces again and again until Atlanta is besieged and taken. Followed by the March to the Sea.

Cool description, but my ancestors basically get their butts whipped, which was sort of depressing.

I would rate Stone Mountain as worth the trip if you are in the area, but not cool enough to go there just to see Stone Mountain.

Cribtop's description is pretty much spot on... I lived in Georgia for fifteen years and visited a few times. You can definitely see the carving from a decent distance, but the most impressive part is going up to the top - the views all around from there are pretty spectacular.

My buddies and I did get thrown out of the park for riding our mountain bikes up to the top in 1987, but at least we weren't fined.

We are back from out extended camping trip across the good ol' USA.
 
Cribtop and bradfordkay nicely summed up Stone Mountain.  It's worth seeing, but it combines some of the best of the South (the carvings on the face of the mountain, the hike to the top) with some of the worst (the ugly visitor center at the top and the traffic all around the park).
 
Stone Mountain used to be owned by a man who was the Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan in Georgia.  Today it is owned by the state and is a state park.  It's worth seeing if convenient, but I definately wouldn't go out of my way to see it.  Going to Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park would be more fruitful, insightful and restful.

As you know, when I was a kid I spent a lot of my summer time at my family home in Clarkston. Stone Mountain was just a few miles down the highway and way cool back then as it was an partially finished relic that had been abandoned. No park then and you could walk right up to the debris mound under the carving. Hike right up the mountain as well. The finished carving is nice but I miss the old place.

I haven't been to Stone Mountain in 20 years, but all the descriptions here are as I remember it. I'd also say that the laser show at night is (or at least was) tastefully done, not just a spectacular for the sake of having a spectacular (which usually means it's just a spectacle).

1/7/42
 
As usual, a prolonged absence induces some "holes in the memory" about some of the tactical and operational things I had under consideration and underway.  I'm hoping I didn't leave a TF without orders steaming into the enemy lair, but it's possible.  The strategic situation, though, I still have a good feel for.
 
NoPac:  Nothing of note to occur here today, so no further clarifications about PH's longterm plans.
 
CenPac:  The two USN combat TFs seem to have penetrated the enemy perimeter.  One is scheduled to arrive at Babeldoab in two days and is currently northwest of Truk.  The second is just off the New Guinea coast and is well to the west of Kaeving and probably three days out of Babeldaob.  An oiler and DD escort are trailing the first group and is currently positioned south of Wake Island.
 
DEI:  Steve's efforts to gobble up Java on the cheap have been stymied, at least temporarily, by small Dutch garrisons holding the high ground or forts.  Nothing major, but enough to force him to bring reinforcements.
 
Singapore:  The Japanese haven't crossed the causeway yet.
 
China:  The Japanese tried a costly deliberate attack up near Nanning and it failed miserably.  The Chinese should evict the demoralized enemy tomorrow, mauling one division and a couple of brigades in the process.  Things are still fluid in China, but thus far Japan has stumbled a bit.

Welcome back, CR!

In numerous, slow, small ways, you seem to be bleeding PH of momentum. Too early to cheer yet, but it is of such small things that a victory can be constructed.

1/8/42
 
In subtle ways a good day for the Allies, based upon my impression that Japan is having some trouble moving forward in meaningful, smooth strides:
 
NoPac:  New landings at Annette Island.  Steve definately has plans in NoPac, but he should've already taken this base and Coal Bay.  Instead, he seems to be trying to get things back on track.
 
CenPac:  Japanese patrols sight one of the two USN combat TFs closing on Babeldaob.  A small, ineffective strike flies against the TF.  Okay, so surprise is lost and now my TFs must try to retire unscathed.  All of this should convince Steve he has some holes in his perimeter requiring some attention.
 
DEI:  The Allies have enough at Koepang to force Steve to come in strength, which is all I could've hoped for at this point.  He's gathering himself for the push.  I'm trying to figure out whether I want to keep carriers in the area.  I'm leaning against it.
 
Singapore:  The IJ garrison across from Singers just went from 20 units to 31, so Steve should be about ready to start the move to cross the causeway.
 
Burma: A jumble of troops from both sides in and around Pegu.  I'm playing a hand on a hunch that Steve hasn't brought enough to really bull his way through (yet).
 
China:  The Chinese attack and maul 116th Div. and two independent brigades, destroying 497 squads with none disrupted. Those units essentially evaporated.  That is very good for Chinese morale (and experience).

CenPac: Japanese patrols sight one of the two USN combat TFs closing on Babeldaob. A small, ineffective strike flies against the TF. Okay, so surprise is lost and now my TFs must try to retire unscathed. All of this should convince Steve he has some holes in his perimeter requiring some attention.

How far out were you when sighted? Surprised you didn't bump into some transports on the way.

1/9/42
 
NoPac:  Full KB sighted south of Anchorage.  Annette Island falls. BBs Mutsu and Yamashiro are in a TF that sinks an xAK near Kodiak.  My best guess is that Steve was caught by surprise at the lack of opposition and how deep he was able to penetrate into the Gulf of Alaska.  He wants to expand on this, but it's taking time to bring up reinforcements from Japan proper.  Just a guess on this, but it would account for the massive fleet power employed here and his failure to take Coal Harbor when it was there for the plucking.  The USA has roughly 300 fighters in the Seattle area.  Perhaps 100 are schedule to withdraw in the next 30 days, but I'm building a PP reserve so that I can pay to keep them if needed.
 
CenPac:  One USN combat TF is parked and stationary off the northwestern side of New Guinea.  The second, which at one point was between Yap and Babeldaob, has retired uneventfully to the NE and will rendezvous with an oiler tomorrow (this oiler is between Truk and Saipan).  Steve has lots of holes in his patrol arcs.  He may catch and punish my ships, but I'm looking at options about where to try to use the two TFs.  After refueling, the second might even raid towards southern Japan or Okinawa. 
 
SoPac/SWPac: Steve doesn't seem to be making any push in this region.  A USN oiler TF was sighted by a patrol plane south of Suva with 3/3 detection reported.  Otherwise, no push yet out from Rabaul.
 
Oz/India:  18th UK Division will be deployed from Colombo to Oz.  9th Oz Division, newly arrived at Aden, will deploy to Karachi.
 
Eastern DEI:  Betties from Ambon put a torp in CL DeRuyter, which was patroling near Koepang.  I think one of the USN carriers will retire to Perth to replenish.  The second will join the RN CV and CVL near Cocos.  Steve doesn't have enough on Java to break through yet.  This is another instance of that window after Japan's first breakout moves, then having to send the ships back to get second waves.
 
Burma:  The Japanese take Pegu, but not in overwhelming strength.  I may make a small stand at Rangoon and Toungoo.
 
China:  Steve is using bombers to slow the Chinese army that roughed up his troops outside Nanking (spelling?), but they'll make the base before his army can arrive and do any mischief.  The Chinese have 1800 AV at the base with 2300 AV forward one hex.  More are in the woods to the west, guarding the road to Sian.

1/10/42
 
NoPac:  The KB remains posted south of Anchorage.  Her strike aircraft even flew a mission against Kodiak's airfield, which seems a profligate and unnecessary use of that asset.  Steve is very carfully attending to things in the Anchorage area, but I don't have anything to strike back with in the area.  Warspite flags the closest combat TF, which is moving north from the San Fran area to be available "just in case."

CenPac:  Steve's patrols have now sighted both Allied combat TFs (one north of western New Guinea, the other northwest of Truk).  This should now have his full attention, which is the best I can hope for at this point:  get him to watching the back and side doors while my ships begin to retire.

Elsewhere:  Nothing major happening at the moment.

Strategic Analysis:  Steve pushed forward hard and made good progress in the DEI and the Gulf of Alaska, but has recently slowed.  The Allies continue to hold Koepang.  More importantly, western Sumatra and Port Blair are in Allied hands.  India isn't really threatened at all right now.  Oz is threatened on the western coast, but the east side is presently safe as Steve hasn't moved forward from Rabaul.  SoPac and CenPac are quiet.  He's making progress in Burma, but not rapidly.  He really hasn't accomplished anything in China and has gotten his nose bloodied a couple of times there.  That leaves NoPac as his signal accomplishment to this point...but NoPac means nothing unless he actually comes for the West Coast (unlikely) or is preparing to take the bases needed to engage in a prolonged and major strategic bombing campaign of West Coast industry from the bases he has or will take in Canada.  That's the only thing that makes sense at this point.

1/11/42
 
Reading the Tea Leaves:  Steve is mired in the mud of getting his "second wave" troops forward, I think.  But I am having a heckuva time trying to figure out where he's going to hit.  All indications are that he's concentrating in NoPac, but that doesn't make sense, because too many of his divisions are committed at Luzon and in Singapore.  He can't be aiming to invade the West Coast (the notion of which is crazy, but hey, it's a crazy game). Since the KB has been committed for weeks up north, far from a variety of major strategic targets, perhaps he's preparing to hit Hawaii.  I do know that he isn't setting himself up to strike India, at least any time soon.  Oz is still a possibility.  I dunno.
 
NoPac:  KB remains parked south of Anchorage flying silly missions against ports and airfields that don't matter.
 
CenPac:  One TF is retiring slowly east along the north coast of New Guinea.  The other is juking northwest towards Marcus, testing the waters to see if a raid towards southern Japan is a possibility.  Steve might have detailed a Mini KB or two to hunt down these guys, but they are expendable even though I haven't mentioned that to them in their orders.
 
DEI:  One USN carrier has retired towards Perth.  The other plus the RN CV and CVL are in the vicinity of Cocos Island.  I'm not sure I've ever had my carriers so dispersed (York and Sara are widely separated in CenPac waters).  But at the moment I like this arrangement.
 
Philippines:  SigInt that Imperial Guards is on marus bound for Lingayen.  What the heck?  I think this unit was in Malaya (I need to check back through my records).
 
Malaya:  Still no cross-channel move on Singers.
 
China:  An elaborate dance is going on around Nanking (or whatever the heck the city east of Sian might be named).  I'm trying to get a feel for the enemy's strength before I seek another isolated unit or two to attack.

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

That leaves NoPac as his signal accomplishment to this point...but NoPac means nothing unless he actually comes for the West Coast (unlikely) or is preparing to take the bases needed to engage in a prolonged and major strategic bombing campaign of West Coast industry from the bases he has or will take in Canada. That's the only thing that makes sense at this point.

Reading the Tea Leaves:  Steve is mired in the mud of getting his "second wave" troops forward, I think.  But I am having a heckuva time trying to figure out where he's going to hit.  All indications are that he's concentrating in NoPac, but that doesn't make sense, because too many of his divisions are committed at Luzon and in Singapore.  He can't be aiming to invade the West Coast (the notion of which is crazy, but hey, it's a crazy game). Since the KB has been committed for weeks up north, far from a variety of major strategic targets, perhaps he's preparing to hit Hawaii.  I do know that he isn't setting himself up to strike India, at least any time soon.  Oz is still a possibility.  I dunno.

I think you say it all right here. He's not showing any other intentions. He's keeping the KB there. He must be doing something up there, right?

Why not aim some of the 'expendables' up north a bit, see what you find en route and try to give some troops swimming lessons?

It's a delicate balance.  Sending good stuff into the "teeth of the hurricane" sometimes makes sense, but usually it doesn't.  I know much of what he has in NoPac and where they are, so there's no need in committing valuable capital ships up that way right now.
 
Here's the thing:  He's taking an awfully long time if his objective is to engage the continental USA in strategic bombing.  If that was his objective, he should've taken Coal Harbor weeks ago and already been getting things under way.  He's taking long enough that the anemic Allied fighter situation won't be nearly as anemic by the time he can finally get things going.  An actual invasion of the West Coast, on the other hand, would be totally nuts...but I'm still preparing for the possibility.  Forts at Las Vegas just went to level one.  That's a first for me in AE (and accomplished because a Marine 'chutes battalion has been posted there against the slim chance of a paratroop assault at some point in the unlikely future).  How many players have ever built forts at Las Vegas?  But if he was going to invade West Coast, he'd need most of his divisions.  Posting them in Luzon and Malaya suggests no-go for this.

I once bet a grand on a pair of kings there. I don't need to tell you the result. Bout all I ever want to have to do with Los Vegas-ever again... If the Japanese invade it in my game, they can have it.

I think in the 1940's the mafia were taking care of building forts in Vegas. Just let the Japs try and take a casino!

ORIGINAL: crsutton

I once bet a grand on a pair of kings there. I don't need to tell you the result. Bout all I ever want to have to do with Los Vegas-ever again... If the Japanese invade it in my game, they can have it.

Second Best Hand Syndrome, a distant cousin to Sudden Carrier Loss Syndrome. [;)]

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

ORIGINAL: crsutton

I once bet a grand on a pair of kings there. I don't need to tell you the result. Bout all I ever want to have to do with Los Vegas-ever again... If the Japanese invade it in my game, they can have it.

Second Best Hand Syndrome, a distant cousin to Sudden Carrier Loss Syndrome. [;)]

Second only to "Bad Beat Syndrome" [;)]

1/12/42
 
Singapore and India:  The Japanese haven't crossed the causeway.  In my game vs. Q-Ball, where he came for India, he crossed around January 21 (but ahead of that he was already clearing out western Sumatra).  In my game with Chez, in which he didn't come for India, he crossed on January 11.  As stated earlier, I am pretty sure that Steve isn't coming for India given his current dispositions.  I've decided to try to keep this theater "safe" as long as possible.  An Indian CD unit about to arrive at Diego Garcia is being re-routed to Cocos Island.  Singapore, a the key to India, gets a new commander.  I spent 150 PP to replace Percival with Christion, who has good numbers.  I consolidated a few units and replaced at least two other sub-par commanders.  The Allied AV in the base increased from 937 to 1041.  Supply is good.  The Allies should be able to hold here for awhile, which helps me feel good about India in the short term. 
 
DEI:  Japanese are invading Wyndam with a tank unit.
 
NoPac:  Same old thing:  lots of ships, lots of SigInt about units coming to various bases here.  This is the focus of the activity in the game.
 
CenPac:  The combat TF sniffing near Marcus doesn't report being sighted, so she'll slide past and make for southern Japan or vicinity.
 
Subs:  USN subs have made quite a few hits the past three days - mainly around Luzon and off the Canadian coast.