There was not one battle, not one skirmish, where the Allied player got the upper hand?
I am an extremely cautious player, and seeing unprotected transport ships just get slaughtered while the (Alaska) region are obviously the schwerpunkt (I can't figure out the reason why, it makes no sense to me, but what do I know) made me... uncomfortable. Just a slaughter.
This seems a cakewalk.
Is this the case of the Allied player "I have to do something!" syndrome, where the valid (and probably correct) option is to do precisely nothing in 1942?
Allies have won some fights...and it is definitely not a cakewalk. Lots of actions happened just in time with freshly arriving forces.
Sometimes things just fall into place...for example my airplane research is doing a great, great job.
There was not one battle, not one skirmish, where the Allied player got the upper hand?
I am an extremely cautious player, and seeing unprotected transport ships just get slaughtered while the (Alaska) region are obviously the schwerpunkt (I can't figure out the reason why, it makes no sense to me, but what do I know) made me... uncomfortable. Just a slaughter.
This seems a cakewalk.
Is this the case of the Allied player "I have to do something!" syndrome, where the valid (and probably correct) option is to do precisely nothing in 1942?
I think a number of the observers here are wondering what the Allied goals are here after the initial realization that Japan was very willing to fight for the area. Usually the Aleutians are a great place to wage some limited battles as Allies early, but as you say, it's not really a great idea to keep sending in waves of transports after knowing the Japanese are going to come for them. Or base 4Es on an isolated island in range of bombardments. Or bring surface fleets in range of the KB without adequate cover.
Lowpe is doing his job well, and I think the Allies are going to have a rough one throughout unless some different tactics based on solid and appropriate strategic goals for this period in game are prioritised.
Losing all of these permanent VPs for no apparent reason is just building a steeper hill to climb for later.
Well, you know this could all be a diversion...sacrificing some merchant shipping to take Ceylon on the cheap (which makes the most sense until POW and Repulse showed up). Since I am not defending Ceylon with anymore than garrison requirements, this doesn't make sense....but tying down the KB here makes her very far from the SRA and Burma and Ceylon.
Thinking about the Allies mindset I know he has called my style fearless. So, I think in part he was taken aback by the tactics used. I consider myself pretty timid, and when I get burnt it usually is operator error in not changing a setting or sometimes not having enough fuel and the TF dithers.
Another thing I know from previous AARs, which are excellent and fast reads for full game developments, is that he really likes to base 4E and all bombers very close to the target. I think I have NJP to thank for that tactic.
And finally, Wargamr is not inexperienced...he has completed a lot of games against solid opponents like Mr. Kane (twice!). I don't think I would like to play Mr. Kane![:D] Could he be worse than Obvert, though. What a shellacking.[;)]
Allied Ships
xAP Forafric, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
xAP Forafric is sighted by SS I-31
SS I-31 launches 2 torpedoes at xAP Forafric
and then the cruisers:
Night Time Surface Combat, near Adak Island at 162,52, Range 2,000 Yards
Allied aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft losses
SOC-1 Seagull: 1 destroyed
Japanese Ships
CA Nachi, Shell hits 1
DD Inazuma
DD Shikinami
DD Ayanami, Shell hits 1
Allied Ships CL Trenton, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
DD Monssen, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Frazier, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
DD Sims
DD Anderson, Shell hits 1, on fire
Poor visibility due to Rain with 21% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 21% moonlight: 3,000 yards
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 2,000 yards
Magazine explodes on CL Trenton
CL Trenton sunk by CA Nachi at 2,000 yards
DD Monssen engages CA Nachi at 2,000 yards
DD Monssen sunk by CA Nachi at 2,000 yards
CA Nachi engages DD Frazier at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
DD Anderson engages DD Shikinami at 5,000 yards
DD Ayanami engages DD Frazier at 5,000 yards
Magazine explodes on DD Frazier
Night Time Surface Combat, near Adak Island at 162,52, Range 1,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Nachi
DD Inazuma
DD Shikinami
DD Ayanami
Allied Ships
DM Preble, Shell hits 6
And again:
Night Time Surface Combat, near Adak Island at 162,52, Range 1,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Nachi, Shell hits 1
DD Inazuma, Shell hits 1
DD Shikinami
DD Ayanami, on fire
Allied Ships
APD Colhoun
APD Little, Shell hits 3
APD Crane, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage APD Kilty, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
AO Platte, Shell hits 16, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Mariposa, Shell hits 5, on fire
xAP Empire Star
xAK Makua
xAK Alcoa Polaris
xAK Alcoa Pioneer
xAK Hurricane
xAK Clevedon
xAK William R. Gibson
xAK Caleb Strong
xAK Robert Morris
xAK William Dawes
Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching!
TF 59 encounters mine field at Adak Island (162,52)
Japanese Ships
DD Ayanami, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
And a new task cruiser task force:
Night Time Surface Combat, near Adak Island at 162,52, Range 1,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma
CA Aoba
CA Kinugasa
CA Kako
DD Naganami
DD Sazanami
DD Yunagi
DD Yomogi
DD Yanagi
Allied Ships APD Colhoun, Shell hits 18, and is sunk
APD Little, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
APD Crane, and is sunk
xAP Mariposa, Shell hits 19, heavy fires
xAP Empire Star, Shell hits 15, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Makua
xAK Alcoa Polaris, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage xAK Alcoa Pioneer, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Hurricane
xAK Clevedon
xAK William R. Gibson
xAK Caleb Strong, Shell hits 10, heavy fires
xAK Robert Morris
xAK William Dawes, Shell hits 17, heavy fires, heavy damage
Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Once again:
Night Time Surface Combat, near Adak Island at 162,52, Range 2,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma
CA Aoba
CA Kinugasa
CA Kako
DD Naganami
DD Sazanami
DD Yunagi
DD Yomogi
DD Yanagi
Allied Ships xAP Mariposa, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
xAP Empire Star, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
xAK Makua, Shell hits 17, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Alcoa Polaris, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
xAK Hurricane, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Clevedon, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK William R. Gibson, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Caleb Strong, Shell hits 23, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Robert Morris, Shell hits 29, and is sunk
xAK William Dawes, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
The day after the big naval fights in Adak, the Allies let loose their bombers against Japanese shipping...including 4E beasts, and in fact the first F variant is shot down by a Kongo. No hits were secured on shipping.[;)]
Two bombardments, and the KB moves up to absorb air air attacks...which were heavily 4E bombers at 10K.
Fighters do well, but in the afternoon the 4E beasties get together for a nice raid and manage to plant one 500 pounder on the Unyo...8/9/9 damage and fires put out.
Raid detected at 73 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 104
A6M2-N Rufe x 22
A6M3a Zero x 11
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 15
B-17F Fortress x 6
B-24D Liberator x 6
Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku
CVL Ryujo
CVE Unyo, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CV Hiyo
CVL Zuiho
CVE Hosho
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 8 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
5 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 8 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 8 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 8 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
3 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 8 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
Another good day in the air...lose 3 amcs and one DMS sweeping Adak - they bag over 60 mines. One small coastal battery won't stop shooting, but only 4 guns are active now.
The bombardments keep punishing his fighter force based there.
i have read through the AAR, and oh boy... If you continue like this auto-victory is assured. Also, why don't u use any art mods? there are so many of them that make the game look way better.
here, if you want to try it out, this is what i use, just back-up your art folder first. It enhances the look of ships and aircraft... It is PBEM compatible as it only changes ART files, nothing else
i have read through the AAR, and oh boy... If you continue like this auto-victory is assured. Also, why don't u use any art mods? there are so many of them that make the game look way better.
here, if you want to try it out, this is what i use, just back-up your art folder first. It enhances the look of ships and aircraft... It is PBEM compatible as it only changes ART files, nothing else
Thanks. I do use graphic mods, for example you can see the improved clouds on the pictures. I run the game on something like six different platforms and don't always have all the graphic mods on all of them.
Allies are still night bombing, at 20K, and I lost 7 Rufes in A2A to them despite flying super low. Rufes simply are not a good night time fighter.
This turn we are moving forward, reinforcing our hopefully captured front line base and moving cruisers, akes, sc, minesweepers, AA into it.
Tomorrow the troops start to load for the Great Sitkin invasion which is next on the list and that will give me a better port and runways 4. Relying upon our cruisers to really bombard all these Islands within 7 hexes.
