Headhunter - Lokasenna (A) vs. mind_messing (J) - No MM yet

[Lokasenna]

By far my biggest challenge as the Allies is moving enough Supply/Fuel to support operations. I am OK at maintaining hubs, but the levels of supply talked about by other AFBs in their past games (multiple millions...) are orders of magnitude beyond what I have accumulated. Sydney has a stockpile of 1.4M, and the whole east coast of Australia has many hundred thousand more, spread around. I am building up a stockpile at Port Moresby, but it's slow going given that he periodically strikes from Hansa Bay and Aitape, so I am only using LSTs and xAKLs to ferry it in. So far I'm up to 60,000.

Lunga and Tulagi will be new hubs and are slowly accumulating materials... slowly. There is less than 100,000 in each place.

For Fuel, Luganville and Noumea are doing alright at 79,000 apiece and Sydney has close to 350,000. I use short range TKs to run this up to places like Tulagi and Lunga...

Doing this little breakdown has caused me to think "OK, what are all my xAKs doing...." 84 are sitting at San Francisco (relatively recent arrivals), while 61 are at Pearl and 61 are at Noumea. I just don't have the patience for creating dozens of TFs that can slot into Size 2 and Size 4 ports to maintain my operations without any bottlenecks. I'll need to get over that, however CONUS and Pearl are the only places with xAKs and Supplies right now. Noumea is under 100,000.

[Lokasenna]

And here's my CENTPAC search patten. I haven't gotten search set up from Tabiteuea yet, but probably don't need to as long as Nauru is operable. I have set the range to avoid probably CAP at Roi-Namur/Kwajalein. Ponape and Kusaie are not yet fully functioning for him, but are still too dangerous for me to move on with KB at Truk and definite bomber presences at Mili and Ponape, as well as Truk. Bombers could also be based from Makin, Maloelap, and Roi-Namur...

However, I will begin suppressing Kusaie with Fletcher bombardments soon [:)]. Right after I take Tarawa... for the time being, I am scouring Ocean Island with some 4Es from Ndeni and the Fletchers have been assisting with that and with bombarding the airfield at Tarawa. They'll switch to Makin and Kusaie after a gaggle of landings at the dots south of Tarawa and at Tarawa itself.



I've repeatedly detected enemy SCTFs north of Kusaie, and got sniffs on KB as well, so I think my arcs are working Ok. 2 units are at Nauru, while 4 are at Ontong. Only 2 units at Ontong currently searching - 1 with arcs, 1 on random.

The IJN TF at Kusaie is presumed to be cruisers/destroyers (6 ships, BB and CLs...), while the TF north of there is a possible supply run to the Marshalls. 3 ships sighted. The TF at Ponape appears to be a convoy. Probably more troops... 4 ships sighted, 1 AP. A few more TFs, probably ASW. I am trying to vector currently undetected subs to these locations to learn more.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna



By far my biggest challenge as the Allies is moving enough Supply/Fuel to support operations. I am OK at maintaining hubs, but the levels of supply talked about by other AFBs in their past games (multiple millions...) are orders of magnitude beyond what I have accumulated. Sydney has a stockpile of 1.4M, and the whole east coast of Australia has many hundred thousand more, spread around. I am building up a stockpile at Port Moresby, but it's slow going given that he periodically strikes from Hansa Bay and Aitape, so I am only using LSTs and xAKLs to ferry it in. So far I'm up to 60,000.

Lunga and Tulagi will be new hubs and are slowly accumulating materials... slowly. There is less than 100,000 in each place.

For Fuel, Luganville and Noumea are doing alright at 79,000 apiece and Sydney has close to 350,000. I use short range TKs to run this up to places like Tulagi and Lunga...

Doing this little breakdown has caused me to think "OK, what are all my xAKs doing...." 84 are sitting at San Francisco (relatively recent arrivals), while 61 are at Pearl and 61 are at Noumea. I just don't have the patience for creating dozens of TFs that can slot into Size 2 and Size 4 ports to maintain my operations without any bottlenecks. I'll need to get over that, however CONUS and Pearl are the only places with xAKs and Supplies right now. Noumea is under 100,000.

IMO you are over-angst'ing it! Make one or two TF per turn at SF that has 10 to 12 xAK in it plus an escort. Send each to someplace that needs supply. Set it to 'Do Not Refuel' if it has the range. Then set up waypoints - including 'yes' to using the waypoints on the way back - that will take it through a safe route.

Aside from watching in the same way you do everything else that is most of it. Of course you will be sending some smaller merchants from PH and even more from "hubs" closer to the front to other bases and you do have to do those things. If you do not pump a whole bunch of supply forward now you risk having shortages slow you down. Your opponent is already working to slow you down every which way he can: don't help him! And if you are playing DBB 28-C, that means you have reduced cargo capacity to begin with...

Getting off my soap box now! [:D]

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna



By far my biggest challenge as the Allies is moving enough Supply/Fuel to support operations. I am OK at maintaining hubs, but the levels of supply talked about by other AFBs in their past games (multiple millions...) are orders of magnitude beyond what I have accumulated. Sydney has a stockpile of 1.4M, and the whole east coast of Australia has many hundred thousand more, spread around. I am building up a stockpile at Port Moresby, but it's slow going given that he periodically strikes from Hansa Bay and Aitape, so I am only using LSTs and xAKLs to ferry it in. So far I'm up to 60,000.

Lunga and Tulagi will be new hubs and are slowly accumulating materials... slowly. There is less than 100,000 in each place.

For Fuel, Luganville and Noumea are doing alright at 79,000 apiece and Sydney has close to 350,000. I use short range TKs to run this up to places like Tulagi and Lunga...

Doing this little breakdown has caused me to think "OK, what are all my xAKs doing...." 84 are sitting at San Francisco (relatively recent arrivals), while 61 are at Pearl and 61 are at Noumea. I just don't have the patience for creating dozens of TFs that can slot into Size 2 and Size 4 ports to maintain my operations without any bottlenecks. I'll need to get over that, however CONUS and Pearl are the only places with xAKs and Supplies right now. Noumea is under 100,000.

IMO you are over-angst'ing it! Make one or two TF per turn at SF that has 10 to 12 xAK in it plus an escort. Send each to someplace that needs supply. Set it to 'Do Not Refuel' if it has the range. Then set up waypoints - including 'yes' to using the waypoints on the way back - that will take it through a safe route.

Aside from watching in the same way you do everything else that is most of it. Of course you will be sending some smaller merchants from PH and even more from "hubs" closer to the front to other bases and you do have to do those things. If you do not pump a whole bunch of supply forward now you risk having shortages slow you down. Your opponent is already working to slow you down every which way he can: don't help him! And if you are playing DBB 28-C, that means you have reduced cargo capacity to begin with...

Getting off my soap box now! [:D]

I don't think I'm over-angsting if I'm experiencing said shortages . I need to be better about hauling supplies. I need more PCs and SCs, but don't get many more... I have plenty of YMS! Can't put those into Cargo TFs, though, so I can't CS them. I do have ~1.5M Supply at Pearl, which is plenty for a long while. I'll have to start sending big ones out. Especially now that I have Tabiteuea.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

I do have ~1.5M Supply at Pearl,

That's all? Hmmm [:'(]

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

I do have ~1.5M Supply at Pearl,

That's all? Hmmm [:'(]

Why would I need any more? I'm not fighting there!

I tend to send my convoys directly from CONUS to, say, Australia rather than stopping off at Pearl. I just don't keep up with them, which is why only Australia has any reasonable amount of supplies and my actual LCU/aircraft hubs are under 100K each.

I did have to divert a bunch of xAKs to help with supplying Portland roads for quite some time, however. Running my 4E bombers out of that location required me to ship in supply by the bucketful as it won't flow up that long dirt road fast enough to maintain operations.

[JocMeister]

Not sure what your problem is. Just wait until you have 100 xAKs somewhere, load them up and send them somewhere else! [;)]

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Not sure what your problem is. Just wait until you have 100 xAKs somewhere, load them up and send them somewhere else! [;)]

I think it's motivation [:'(]. Also, I'm not comfortable sending ships out with only 1 escort, but perhaps I should start - it's not like his subs are anywhere near my back lines. I never encounter any until I get west of Pearl. I'm also loathe to use actual DDs to escort these things, unless it's to front line bases.

More maps and such coming later, as my work day opens up...

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna



By far my biggest challenge as the Allies is moving enough Supply/Fuel to support operations. I am OK at maintaining hubs, but the levels of supply talked about by other AFBs in their past games (multiple millions...) are orders of magnitude beyond what I have accumulated. Sydney has a stockpile of 1.4M, and the whole east coast of Australia has many hundred thousand more, spread around. I am building up a stockpile at Port Moresby, but it's slow going given that he periodically strikes from Hansa Bay and Aitape, so I am only using LSTs and xAKLs to ferry it in. So far I'm up to 60,000.

Lunga and Tulagi will be new hubs and are slowly accumulating materials... slowly. There is less than 100,000 in each place.

For Fuel, Luganville and Noumea are doing alright at 79,000 apiece and Sydney has close to 350,000. I use short range TKs to run this up to places like Tulagi and Lunga...

Doing this little breakdown has caused me to think "OK, what are all my xAKs doing...." 84 are sitting at San Francisco (relatively recent arrivals), while 61 are at Pearl and 61 are at Noumea. I just don't have the patience for creating dozens of TFs that can slot into Size 2 and Size 4 ports to maintain my operations without any bottlenecks. I'll need to get over that, however CONUS and Pearl are the only places with xAKs and Supplies right now. Noumea is under 100,000.

IMO you are over-angst'ing it! Make one or two TF per turn at SF that has 10 to 12 xAK in it plus an escort. Send each to someplace that needs supply. Set it to 'Do Not Refuel' if it has the range. Then set up waypoints - including 'yes' to using the waypoints on the way back - that will take it through a safe route.

Aside from watching in the same way you do everything else that is most of it. Of course you will be sending some smaller merchants from PH and even more from "hubs" closer to the front to other bases and you do have to do those things. If you do not pump a whole bunch of supply forward now you risk having shortages slow you down. Your opponent is already working to slow you down every which way he can: don't help him! And if you are playing DBB 28-C, that means you have reduced cargo capacity to begin with...

Getting off my soap box now! [:D]

I don't think I'm over-angsting if I'm experiencing said shortages . I need to be better about hauling supplies. I need more PCs and SCs, but don't get many more... I have plenty of YMS! Can't put those into Cargo TFs, though, so I can't CS them. I do have ~1.5M Supply at Pearl, which is plenty for a long while. I'll have to start sending big ones out. Especially now that I have Tabiteuea.

This is what I meant by angst:

I just don't have the patience for creating dozens of TFs...

Just do some every turn and it ain't so bad.

BTW you can use YMS with cargo ships if you make them Transport type TFs.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

BTW you can use YMS with cargo ships if you make them Transport type TFs.

Yeah, but I can't CS them that way [;)]. That doesn't solve my angst!! If only Transport TFs could CS...

I'll get around to it. I'm actually better at letting things pile up and then solving everything in a monumental, manic effort. I work (and play) in surges rather than in increments.

Still waiting on a turn for today, so I think it's time for screenshots.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: witpqs

BTW you can use YMS with cargo ships if you make them Transport type TFs.

Yeah, but I can't CS them that way [;)]. That doesn't solve my angst!! If only Transport TFs could CS...

I'll get around to it. I'm actually better at letting things pile up and then solving everything in a monumental, manic effort. I work (and play) in surges rather than in increments.

Still waiting on a turn for today, so I think it's time for screenshots.

Ah - I use a combination of CS and player controlled TF. BTW, for anybody reading this who doesn't know, you can use waypoints with CS, which is important for routing away from danger areas.

One suggestion, instead of letting a bunch of xAK sit idle, have them make a supply run to Pearl. That way in late '44 - early '45 more supply will be that much closer to the front.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: witpqs

BTW you can use YMS with cargo ships if you make them Transport type TFs.

Yeah, but I can't CS them that way [;)]. That doesn't solve my angst!! If only Transport TFs could CS...

I'll get around to it. I'm actually better at letting things pile up and then solving everything in a monumental, manic effort. I work (and play) in surges rather than in increments.

Still waiting on a turn for today, so I think it's time for screenshots.

At worst the lack of excess at the front will take a few weeks to remedy once you get started, so it's not a really big deal. I've got nowhere over a million supply because I don't need that supply there! I'd rather click to make sure my forward bases are fed and just get the several hundred thousand to my hubs that will keep things going. Like you, I like to protect my ships well, and I won't send out TFs over 25 ships if I can help it. It just doesn't feel right, but also it actually clogs up the works if I do anyway at the destination ports, with collisions I have to monitor, seeing if they refuel their escorts (which they haven't a few times, resulting in empty SC with high damage moving slowly).

The Allies are a lot to manage, but I do like it, and I like thinking of it as a whole system with forethought of strategic goals in mind.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: witpqs

BTW you can use YMS with cargo ships if you make them Transport type TFs.

Yeah, but I can't CS them that way [;)]. That doesn't solve my angst!! If only Transport TFs could CS...

I'll get around to it. I'm actually better at letting things pile up and then solving everything in a monumental, manic effort. I work (and play) in surges rather than in increments.

Still waiting on a turn for today, so I think it's time for screenshots.

At worst the lack of excess at the front will take a few weeks to remedy once you get started, so it's not a really big deal. I've got nowhere over a million supply because I don't need that supply there! I'd rather click to make sure my forward bases are fed and just get the several hundred thousand to my hubs that will keep things going. Like you, I like to protect my ships well, and I won't send out TFs over 25 ships if I can help it. It just doesn't feel right, but also it actually clogs up the works if I do anyway at the destination ports, with collisions I have to monitor, seeing if they refuel their escorts (which they haven't a few times, resulting in empty SC with high damage moving slowly).

The Allies are a lot to manage, but I do like it, and I like thinking of it as a whole system with forethought of strategic goals in mind.

I completely forgot about all that when thinking about why I haven't done it [:D].

[Lokasenna]

Debated where to start off with this batch of screenies... why not the strat map? Seems fitting. We'll start there, get into a few theaters, and finish up with some shots from Tracker.



First, notice my little white circle there... SSTs dropped off some engineers and supply several months back at Batan Island. Built a couple of levels of forts, and will need to send some more supply in a few months. Might not make any difference, but then again it might.

KB is confirmed at Truk for 2 days in a row now. Akagi should be in Japan for repairs. Composition reads as 132 fighters, 145 bombers and 85 fighters, 109 bombers. That likely means 5x CV in the first TF, and 3-4x CV in the second TF. If I had to guess, I'd say that MKB is likely still near the SRA with Hiyo/Junyo and that the smaller TF here is 2-3x Unryus and the 1x Taiho.

My next moves are going to be in the Gilberts. KB doesn't have much ability to intercede here, and I should be able to do just fine with only a couple of CV TFs providing cover. However, my much more immediate move is going to be on Shortlands and Torokina, with the bulk of my CV power. From there, I'll be splitting them to cover the Gilberts and a thrust northwest from Normanton. I want to see how he reacts with KB - does it stay at Truk, or does he move it? If he moves it, can I find it again? Does he keep risking assets in CENTPAC, or does he give up on the Gilberts (and later the Marshalls)?

He's going to see me coming once I pass Horn Island, however I'm hoping that he will read my SCTF/amphib preparations at Normanton (happening in the next week or so) to be a strengthening of Gove/Groote Eylandt - indeed, I will be doing just those things and then trying to hide my ships at a dot base near Normanton before I load up. Screenie of this theater to come in a few posts. Darwin can be self-sufficient in terms of air protection now if I can get some supply in, so that's the other major goal of that arrow.


The western part of the map... I have such mixed feelings. On the one hand, I feel bringing more forces over here is probably necessary if I want to push towards Saigon at all. On the other hand, why shouldn't I just focus on the islands (big and small)? If it were earlier in the game, a thrust on Sumatra might be viable from an economic perspective. At this point, I'm not sure it's worth it. We'll see... if I have a glut of CVs in mid-44 then I might try it.

Conversely, do I just abandon my prep for Port Blair and Sabang, and instead bring those slated LCUs (from Aden and India/Ceylon) to NW Australia for use in the SE part of the SRA? Hrm...

[Lokasenna]

Burma

I was going to say it's been a while since I posted about this theater, but I guess it was almost the last time I updated the AAR... Here we go.



To add to my comments in the image, my goals here are more strategic than they are material. The primary objectives here are 1) make him burn supplies and win the supply war, and 2) make him keep all these LCUs here or even bring in more.

To accomplish #1, I simply need to commit to actions here. Nothing too risky. I already went too far with my 2 Indian Divisions near Katha and they got emasculated. With my moves near Akyab I am being more cautious. I did try one attack as an experiment and it didn't go well but it didn't go too badly. As you can see from the screenshot, I'm now able to bring in supplies directly to Cox's Bazar as he is neglecting his search.

To accomplish #2, I need to accomplish #1 and then win a couple of battles to get into his head, to worry him. If he thinks the entire Chinese army is about to rampage down the Burma/Thai coast, he may commit more to this theater and make my moves in the Pacific easier.

Secondary objectives:
1) Eventually burn or recapture the oil at Magwe.
2) If his supplies get low enough, burn his LCUs.
3) If a breakthrough comes my way, push on to Taung Gyi and from there it just opens up to Thailand, at least judging by the experiences of others. This has its own implications.

I would eventually like to capture Rangoon, for its points. I'm fairly confident that I can eventually push down that far, even if it's a slog, simply due to the nature of supply here for the Allies vs. for Japan. It's a real bear for both, but worse for Japan IMO.


General comments:
--Up near Myitkyina, I would love to hit Warazup with that fat stack of Chinese, however I can't be sure he hasn't built level 5-6 forts there and if he has, I can't do it. I'll sit for now and see if he brings more up. If he doesn't, I may redeploy some of these Chinese to the west and aim for cutting the rail line near Shwebo. Then I'll bomb the place and see if I can gut a couple of IJA divisions.
--I have some forces prepped for Ramree, still, but it will require CV/CVE support. I don't have it. I'll wait until such a landing wouldn't be exposed to his big stack near Akyab simply marching down the road and crushing whatever I landed.
--Speaking of that stack, I'm trying to bait him into joining the fight in the jungle hex to the NE and then see if 6000 combined Chinese/Indian/Australian AV can crush whatever he leaves behind. If so, then whatever's in that jungle hex is in dire straits.

Lastly, he has the 2nd Tank Divion and 3rd Tank Division in that jungle hex NE of the road, outside of Akyab. This is an error on his part, IMO. Tanks shouldn't be leaving the road here. IIRC, it takes 23 days at minimum to move out of jungle rough hexes, for tanks. That's a very, very long time if you need to skedaddle.

[Lokasenna]

Here's a shot of the LCUs outside of Akyab. Might be a little light on Support, but that's fine... I can find some base forces somewhere in the theater.

[Lokasenna]

And here's a shot of the current combat hex. Actually have a glut of support here [:)]. I wanted to be sure I was all in the green before trying that attack. The attack is the reason why supplies are in the red for most of the units. Tomorrow, they'll be white again. Supply will be flowing just fine from Cox's Bazar so long as he doesn't restart his naval search to blanket the Bay of Bengal.

[Lokasenna]

Over the last 2 turns, I've bombed in China. I should've been doing this sooner, but I was letting my bombers sit at Calcutta and the surrounding area while I experimented with bombing LCUs. I moved them to Ledo and did 2 strikes. A strike on another city is happening today, and then I'll be withdrawing them to another airbase as I expect him to bomb Ledo at some point. Hopefully not today.



At Lanchow, we took out almost all of the Oil.

At Chungking, we started tens of thousands of fires. Everything there was fully repaired before the strike. I would have preferred the fires to hit Heavy Industry, but oh well... Although, looking at the numbers, it looks like 1 point of Heavy Industry may have actually burned up. We'll see if the numbers change over the next few days.

Chengtu is next, for tomorrow.

I'd also like to hit Sian eventually.


This is all part of the goal of making him hurt for supply in Asia, but particularly in Burma and the mountains of China.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: witpqs

BTW you can use YMS with cargo ships if you make them Transport type TFs.

Yeah, but I can't CS them that way [;)]. That doesn't solve my angst!! If only Transport TFs could CS...

I'll get around to it. I'm actually better at letting things pile up and then solving everything in a monumental, manic effort. I work (and play) in surges rather than in increments.

Still waiting on a turn for today, so I think it's time for screenshots.

I use CS with transport TFs all of the time. Wen I read this at first I thought I might be imagining things, but no, it is true.

Here is an example.

[Lokasenna]

The Arafura Timor Connection

Operations coming soon... with KB at Truk/in CENTPAC, and only MKB to contest with, this area looks ripe. I have had forces 100% prepped for some time:

Dobo - undefended for months, will bring in AvSupp after landing
1st/102nd Infantry Battalion (38 AV)
20th Seabees
8th RAAF M/W Sqn

Taberfane - the real key to taking this area...
4th Australian Division
4th Armoured Brigade
16th RAAF Base Force
43rd EAB
II Australian Corps
2nd USMC FA Bn

Saumlaki - lightly defended
45th Indian Brigade
14th RAAF Base Force
Port Moresby Brigade
55th Australian Light AA Rgt

Kaimana - undefended by him, will fly in more later
154th USA Base Force (16 AV)
382nd Construction Regiment

Ambon
V US Corps
45th Seabees
3rd Australian Brigade



I have Mitchell and Liberator recon planes standing by to re-recon ([8D]) this whole area in the lead up to my invasions. What is known is that he has no radar at Taberfane, and has been using it as a Zero/Lily-IIb base to prevent me from moving past Merauke. There are only a handful of his units at each of these bases, and none at Kaimana or Dobo. Boela is likewise weak, but I have no forces currently prepped.

My intention is to bring a CV TF past Horn Island (at which point he'll see me and begin reacting) to join previously placed amphibs from Normanton, who will be landing at Tabefane and Dobo to begin with. Fighters will be flown in from Groote Eylandt and Portland Roads. At the same time, an enormous supply convoy will be heading for Darwin. I have a stack of LCUs at Katherine, un-reconnoitered for some time now, with 172 AvSupp and some engineers. Only 5 points of port damage at Darwin... if we can get that taken care of, I can dock and unload TFs up to 60K tons. 30,000 supply or so should be plenty to get Darwin up and running, and with Taberfane in my hands I will be able to keep bringing in more.

The only tricky part here is that he has fortified Timor and I know there are some bigger LCUs in that direction, and some on Soemba at Waingapoe. That would be a tougher nut to crack, but doesn't have to come right away.

My strategic goal here is to begin pressuring him on a second front, and once I push through to the Moluccas I will be in striking distance of Mindanao... Manado recently reached Airfield 9, however, so I know he will not be completely unprepared.

It is worth noting that from Ambon, I can bomb Balikpapan...