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RE: Invasion Marianas
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 5:39 am
by njp72
Sigh, so true.
In my game even after sinking quite a number of CVEs (close to 40 I suspect) Wargmr had so many CVs left he chose to duel coastal guns and minefields for fun.
KB was handy to coordinate airstrikes and very helpful for the occasional morale boost but strategically largely irrelevant by mid 44- probably earlier. [:(]
ORIGINAL: JocMeister
The problem with saving the KB for close defense is that by then the allies will be so overwhelmingly strong you can´t really do anything to stop them. Now you still have CV superiority but in 6 months the allies will. And it really won´t matter if you win a CV battle by then as the allies can eat the losses.
What I´m trying to say is that in 6-12 months your ability to cause a significant delay for the allies is gone. Its simply beyond Japans capabilities to inflict that many losses. Look at my losses against Erik in 44 and 45. Pretty horrendous but as far as I can remember it never even slowed me for a day.
I´ll keep my fingers crossed for you. [:)]
RE: Invasion Marianas
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 9:08 am
by Lowpe
Nov 9, 1943
No night attacks.
No day attacks.
Shokaku goes down, Captain saved.
KB 1 hex east of Pagan.
There is a force of 5 destroyers north of KB 3/4ths of the way to the Bonins. At the Bonins Iwo resupplied, and the 1st Independent Mixed Rgt landed 99.9% of their gear at Chi-Chi-Jima.
KB is running low on fuel...what to do, what to do. A part of me is tempted to run straight into Guam, except for all the Allied surface ships[:)].

Deathstar to the upper left of the text block. Sorry, just plain disheartened to dress the graphics up more.
RE: Invasion Marianas
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 9:30 am
by Rio Bravo
This is a fun and interesting read. Thanx Lowpe and good luck in the Marianas!
RE: Invasion Marianas
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 9:32 am
by obvert
ORIGINAL: Lowpe
Nov 9, 1943
No night attacks.
No day attacks.
Shokaku goes down, Captain saved.
KB 1 hex east of Pagan.
There is a force of 5 destroyers north of KB 3/4ths of the way to the Bonins. At the Bonins Iwo resupplied, and the 1st Independent Mixed Rgt landed 99.9% of their gear at Chi-Chi-Jima.
KB is running low on fuel...what to do, what to do. A part of me is tempted to run straight into Guam, except for all the Allied surface ships[:)].
Weather? Is that them to the west, exactly 8 hexes from the KB?!? [X(]
Would have been good for you!
RE: Invasion Marianas
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 9:35 am
by Lowpe
ORIGINAL: obvert
ORIGINAL: Lowpe
Nov 9, 1943
No night attacks.
No day attacks.
Shokaku goes down, Captain saved.
KB 1 hex east of Pagan.
There is a force of 5 destroyers north of KB 3/4ths of the way to the Bonins. At the Bonins Iwo resupplied, and the 1st Independent Mixed Rgt landed 99.9% of their gear at Chi-Chi-Jima.
KB is running low on fuel...what to do, what to do. A part of me is tempted to run straight into Guam, except for all the Allied surface ships[:)].
Weather? Is that them to the west, exactly 8 hexes from the KB?!? [X(]
Would have been good for you!
I have been cursed on this foray...[8|]
RE: Invasion Marianas
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 9:38 am
by Lowpe
I flew a portion of a division out of Tinian, and they are at Yap. In just a few days they are rebuilding nicely. I had thought to move them back to Manila, but I think they might stay at least for now. Normally, the unit is broken down into 1/3rds, but I combined them for the picture.

RE: Invasion Marianas
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 9:42 am
by mind_messing
You've the right idea, fly fragments out, and get them built back up for the next set of invasions.
Make the Allies fight the same unit again and again and again.
Start running down that clock, you've got all of '44 to burn off, so make sure the Philippines are a true fortress, and the Bonins are stacked full of troops.
Keep an eye on Ulithi and Yap, both of those make great little bases for the Allies.
RE: Invasion Marianas
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 9:57 am
by Lowpe
ORIGINAL: Rio Bravo
This is a fun and interesting read. Thanx Lowpe and good luck in the Marianas!
Thanks, welcome aboard!
RE: Invasion Marianas
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 10:16 am
by JocMeister
Wow, you just can´t seem to catch a break. [:(]
RE: Invasion Marianas
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 1:03 pm
by Lowpe
Okay, I sent my turn around.
Allies have no bombers except on the Deathstar. Plenty of fighters though.
This turn will decide it, one way or the other I think. I am incredibly insane! Shhh!!! is the word, no leaks as they sink my ships please!
If you ever wanted to pray, light a candle, sharpen the sword, today is that day!
RE: Invasion Marianas
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 1:10 pm
by Lowpe
Egads! I am already having buyers remorse on my turn.
To the bold go the spoils I hope. This next day will be incredibly important. If it is a win, I have followup forces ready to exploit...
RE: Invasion Marianas
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 2:40 pm
by JocMeister
I´ll keep my fingers crossed for you. You really deserve a good result. [:)]
RE: Invasion Marianas
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 3:30 pm
by DanSez
Good luck.
RE: Invasion Marianas
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 3:34 pm
by Encircled
Good luck![:)]
RE: Invasion Marianas
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 6:26 pm
by Mike Solli
It's really hard for a JFB to admit that at some point KB doesn't sweep the seas clean anymore. [:(]
RE: Invasion Marianas
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 8:41 pm
by chriscollins
I've been lurking around these forums for years now - about time I posted something.
Go back to your original posts at the start of this epic, Lowpe. One of the reasons you get so many views for this AAR is your erudite, thoughtful use of pictures and general all round skill. The "days" of the turns might look dark today and in the future, for your little pixels, but your entertaining wit and style has kept many a player waiting for updates i'm sure. I know I have
I'd dread to be your opponent in a Scen 2 game, I know that much, let alone what you inherited here and have managed to do to this point. Keep smiling.
RE: Invasion Marianas
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 10:54 pm
by Lowpe
Nov 10, 1943
Well, afraid to say Mike S is right....
The day goes fairly well, screening ships keep the Allied surface ships from engaging as the KB assumes a crazy position east of Saipan.[X(]
During the morning, Japanese planes sweep Rota, but unfortunately the Allies drop to a really low CAP and the engagements aren't long, but they still dish out the damage.
Then a morning strike goes in and it looks like 4 CVEs are destroyed. Yeah!
But then the afternoon rolls around, the Deathstar is no longer in severe storms. Our strike, escorted by 143 Zeroes goes in, and the Allied CAP is past the fighters pretty quickly and into the bombers (which had been depleted from the morning strike). No hits...Essex, Wasp, Princeton, juicy juicy targets. Torpedoes had run out.[:-]
The Allied strike comes in, my CAP was 189 A6M5cs plus Tojos from next door...only 80 Zeroes and 1 Tojo manage to intercept and I take it on the chin. Oh my!

RE: Invasion Marianas
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 10:56 pm
by Lowpe
The Allied CVEs don't even have the decency to sink.[:)]

RE: Invasion Marianas
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 10:56 pm
by CaptBeefheart
Ouchie! The dice gods are not with ye.
Cheers,
CC
RE: Invasion Marianas
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 10:56 pm
by Lowpe
I knew I had buyers remorse for a reason!