Hairy Yankee Reports: Q-Ball (A) v Greyjoy (J)

[Q-Ball]

12/30 through 1/7/42

Wow, been awhile since I posed, so I better catch up from this end. Greyjoy's AAR has about 1,000,000 hits already, so I you're probably up to speed.

SRA:

Things have been fairly quiet since Palembang fell; Mindanao is mostly gone, but aside from that, GJ's moves have been limited. I think that's about to change.

A few days ago, he landed at Menado and Ternate. After the fall of Palembang (and placement of an Air HQ at Singkawang), I shifted alot of my naval strength to the southern DEI, where the only air support was HOSHO/ZUIHO. Some of our cruisers raided Menado and Ternate, sinking AKLs, nothing big. I just missed hitting the HOSHO/ZUIHO, and kept ENTERPRISE south of Ambon, hoping to ambush whatever the next move is.

I think GJ is on to me though; a plane overflew ENTERPRISE, then a couple days later subs popped up all over. He probably knows ENT is there. I would gladly take on HOSHO/ZUIHO, but I can't risk an encounter that includes KAGA and RYUJO, which I haven't seen in awhile. Those 4 CVs would be bad. So, we are pulling back to the south, and he'll probably be able to land at Ambon or Kendari, or whatever the next step is.

See the screenshot below for what's going on.

Phillipines:

I mentioned before, Cagayan is the last base on Mindanao. Luzon is down to Clark/Manila/Bataan. The siege begins. I plan to wait awhile, then move every to Manila. I plan to abandon 20,000 HQ troops and useless mouths at Bataan; no sense feeding them!

INTEL:

I haven't received any intel on phase 2 targets, other than 25th Infantry Division is prepping for Karachi. That is a little interesting, but I know that division is a Kwantung Army formation, and that report could just be noise.

The basic plan isn't changed; I am moving all Australian Reinforcements to India, plus 18th UK, the 7th RTR, and anything else I get. They are all digging on key coastal bases. Additionally, I have 6 USAAF units reaching Cape Town in a few days; these will be shippped to India. India is priority #1.

Australia is #2. The 2nd Marine Division should reach Sydney shortly, and another US Army Regt is on the way. I will be sending more US Army troops as I get them, but they come kinda slow. I'm less concerned about Australia, though, because the Aussie militia is OK at start.

[Q-Ball]

12/30 through 1/7/42: Southwest Pacific

SW Pac:

IJN is moving faster here, courtesy of KB support.

After terrorizing several transports and the good people of eastern Australia, KB turns north to support landings at Port Moresby, Milne Bay, and Tulagi. At Port Moresby, I think he has enough to take it; 1st week of January would be pretty early to do that.

Thankfully, with KB up north, I have just enough of a window to drop off some troops at Noumea. Which at this pace I'll lose, but hey, they'll be a speedbump anyway.

Elsewhere:

With all IJN CVs engaged in SRA or SW Pac, not much happening up north.

Baker Island was siezed by the Japanese; we have dropped-off some Marines at Canton Island, which I would like to hold as a staging base.

SARA and LEX are sailing north to the Aleutians. Why? Well, we can bomb things unmolested, and halt all trasnport traffic, at least for awhile. Plus, the cruiser crews can train for NIGHT by lobbing shells onto Adak Island. All grand fun!

[obvert]

I mentioned before, Cagayan is the last base on Mindanao. Luzon is down to Clark/Manila/Bataan. The siege begins. I plan to wait awhile, then move every to Manila. I plan to abandon 20,000 HQ troops and useless mouths at Bataan; no sense feeding them!

I never considered doing this. Doesn't their support help the combat troops?

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: obvert

I mentioned before, Cagayan is the last base on Mindanao. Luzon is down to Clark/Manila/Bataan. The siege begins. I plan to wait awhile, then move every to Manila. I plan to abandon 20,000 HQ troops and useless mouths at Bataan; no sense feeding them!

I never considered doing this. Doesn't their support help the combat troops?

You need to keep enough support for the troops, and I am keeping USAAFE Command HQ, as well as South Luzon HQ in Manila. But those are enough to provide HQ support; the Naval HQ is useless, the base troops are useless once the planes are gone, and you don't need more than one Corps HQ,etc. There is surplus there.

[artuitus_slith]

What about the AA thats attached to the baseforces?? I would keep any base force that had AA guns (non disabled) and discard the rest. Also why hold at Manila rather than Clark Field/Bataan? Just a question since im new to AE and thinking about starting a PBEM soon.

Note- I am reading both AAR's but since i only intend to ask questions and not offer strategy, I feel comfortable posting in both AAR's. Is this generally acceptable?

[jeffk3510]

gmoney-

Many people read both sides of a game, and are very curtious to each side. All I would suggest is being neutral and enjoy. Be careful about giving specific advise/observations.

For the most part, there isn't any trouble with it that I have seen.

[ny59giants]

Where are your B-17Ds?? How about flying them into Luzon and hit either the port at Takao or CamRahn Bay?? If Singapore is still open, then can hit Saigon from there. I keep some Nates on CAP over these ports as I've had this done to me. Coming out of China is a third option.

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Where are your B-17Ds?? How about flying them into Luzon and hit either the port at Takao or CamRahn Bay?? If Singapore is still open, then can hit Saigon from there. I keep some Nates on CAP over these ports as I've had this done to me. Coming out of China is a third option.

Good question, couple points.

First, the results I have gotten on port attacks using B-17Ds early is disappointing. I bombed Baledebop a couple times, for no results other than damaged B-17s. In my game vs. PzJ Hortlund, exact same thing, except he was allied, and the bombers did diddly other than get shot down. I personally don't think Port Attacks with 4Es work unless you have at least 50 or so, and pulling that number together is tough. Another problem of course is poor pilot quality early.

The other factor is that the airstrips at Manila and Clark are both damaged, so damaged B-17s would eventually be lost by bombing.

I am hoarding the 4Es right now to build up some mass. I am transferring many to Australia, and training them up to do some damage. I'm going to not use them for awhile to get numbers going.

1/8 through 1/10/42:

The big action these three days was a major surface fight off Tarakan. I lost. Here is how it went down:

--I observed a landing at Tarakan, and my recon reported a large number of transports, and a few destroyers to protect them. I knew mini-KB was off Menado, with more cruisers, but took the risk and set 5 cruisers on a night run to Tarakan, hoping to sink a pile of transports
--Instead, we ran into surface combattants. At Tarakan itself, we lost BOISE and CORNWALL to surface action, while sinking 2 modern DDs, and issuing a huge beating to KISO, such that she probably sank (almost 30 shell hits).
--After expending our ammo, though, we ran into more cruisers
--The coup d grace was that mini-KB had moved to cover the Makassar strait, and nailed our retreating cruisers. ENTERPRISE (the RN cruiser, not the CV) and MAURITIUS went down; HOBART is still afloat, but ended the day 4 hexes from Kaga making 10 knots....she'll be a goner tomorrow. We also lost the 2 old DDs accompanying the TF.

So that's 5 good Allied Cruisers in exchange for 1 CL and 2 DDs. Not a good ratio, particularly since these were some of my best night fighting cruisers (I personally prefer the 6-in Allied cruisers in a fight; I think they do better)

This might be the end of our resistance in the DEI. I am probably going to "show" some cruisers on station just to keep him honest, but I think Greyjoy is now being careful to protect his invasions, and I can expect another beating if I try to intervene.

I do think this slowed him up though; I have shown a parade of cruisers in the DEI (all the Aussie ones, all the RN ones, several USN ones, etc), so he probably is wary of taking chances.

At this point, Tarakan is about to fall, and Menado is gone. He hasn't landed on Java yet, and I still hold Balikpapan/Ambon.

What's KB Up to:

KB was off Port Moresby for a few days, giving me just enough time to run some units into Noumea, and get the convoy carrying most of 2nd Marine Div to Sydney. So that's good.

KB is heading Southeast at this point though, back into the Coral Sea, so we may have to clear everyone out again. I have a couple big convoys brining aircraft and base troops to Australia, (plus fuel), so I may need to divert them to the south.

There was a move toward Horn Island, where it looked like he would land........but they turned back suddenly. I wonder if he counted the units; I have 4 units and 4000 troops on Horn Island, so he's going to need more guys to take it. The guys in Port Moresby should probably be enough.

[Canoerebel]

GJ doesn't seem to be doing too badly, which is a good thing. I was afraid that his complete lack of experience as Japan combined with your ability and experience playing both sides might result in a complete disaster as he tried to come out of the gates. You've forced him to think, you've administered some punishment, you've pulled some creative moves, and he's reacted pretty well overall. I think you have the upper hand in the game, but GJ is pretty bright, learns quickly, and is just a flat out good sport. That augers well for an enjoyable match for both of you. Have fun!

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

GJ doesn't seem to be doing too badly, which is a good thing. I was afraid that his complete lack of experience as Japan combined with your ability and experience playing both sides might result in a complete disaster as he tried to come out of the gates. You've forced him to think, you've administered some punishment, you've pulled some creative moves, and he's reacted pretty well overall. I think you have the upper hand in the game, but GJ is pretty bright, learns quickly, and is just a flat out good sport. That augers well for an enjoyable match for both of you. Have fun!

I wondered how he would do; I have more experience than him, but I also hoped he would get a ton of help from the gallery, especially since his AAR gets up there with Cuttlefish's in terms of # of hits per day.

He started slow, so I was a bit worried, and hoped his morale was keeping up. I think I frustrated him early by really fighting forward in the DEI. But after my initial surprises, he responded well to them, and basically brought the hammer. That broke the back of my air force, got him ashore, and dealt with all the cruisers I deployed. He's moving pretty fast through the Solomons; they are basically all taken, so that's pretty quick. He's in good shape in China. The only place he's a little behind is Java and the Southern DEI, but not THAT behind; it's only mid Jan, and I think he's in position to move.

The addition of KAGA to the SRA was a really good move; I like that idea, and I'm stealing it next time I play Japan. Mini-KB is a little weak, but add KAGA and they can deal with any air package the Allies can put up before Feb 1942.

[Q-Ball]

1/11/42

Flight of the HOBART:

HOBART finished the prior turn with 58 float damage, and making 10 knots. Somehow, she survived encounters with 3 IJN TFs, including one with some DDs that pumped another dozen hits into her! Sadly, she finished the turn floating, but barely, with 94 flt. damage, and fires raging. I went ahead and scuttled her to not give GJ the satisfaction of seeing her sink, but amazing she survived even a day.

SRA:

I am pulling back the DEI naval forces to a point in the Timor Sea beyond his air search, and we will await developments. I have 2 AOs there (the ones that escaped from Manila, which I fueled up at Balikpapan), so we can maintain station for awhile.

At the moment, I have roughly the ENTERPRISE CV TF, plus REPULSE, 5 good CL/CAs, and a light TF of 3 old CLs (Dragon plus dutch CLs). I lost 5 cruisers in the Battle of Tarakan, so I'm sitting tight for now, seeing if there is an opportunity. If GJ brings KB through the Torres strait, we will flee the area immediately.

Naval Losses to Date:

BB ARIZONA (Forgot to mention; CALIFORNIA survived PH, in bad condition, but alive)
CA: CORNWALL, EXETER
CL: DeRuyter, BOISE, PHOENIX, MAURITIUS, ENTERPRISE, HOBART
7 DDs, but all of them are Dutch or Clemson-class; nothing special

Estimated IJN:
1 CA (Ashigara)
2 CL (Kiso, Kashii)
12-14 DDs, most of them modern types; that's quite a few

Of course, I'm not 100% sure on the IJN losses, but pretty sure on these.

Of mine, I have lost some good CLs, and the other notable one is that the RN has had the lion's share of the losses. I probably need to take it easy on those. (PHOENIX, btw, sank at Pearl Harbor; bad luck that one)

China:

I hate China, but duty compels me to defend it and report on it.

So far, GJ has done a good job in the south, where he replused an attempt to halt production at Canton, and is herding my cut-off forces into Wenchow. I have some problems down there. He is also pressing me around Changsha.

Strangely, no move on the Central Plains. I am not going to attempt to hold the RR line from Loyang to Sinyang or whatever that is, but he hasn't made a move for it. Strange. I'm already planning a fallback on the woods SE of Sian.

I have received a couple intel reports of planning for SIAN, so I think this may be some sort of target.

As far as supplies, I managed to get a few ships into RANGOON, but GJ put an Air HQ at Bangkok with Betties, and shut that down. The last couple convoy attempts have been sunk. I may try one more just to get some supplies there. The Burma road is open, but I don't think for long.....

[jeffk3510]

I am not sure of your plans now, but I had a few days worth of success with my B17s on Clark before it was too hot and I had to get them out. Attacked LCUs on the more open terrain heading towards Clark/Manila at 9k feet. I recall a couple of days worth of good success. I don't know how I picked what targets, but I didn't run into any Zeros for some reason. Took a couple of days worth of bombing runs, and sent them to Calcutta for Harvey to train up (mid 50s exp when I sent them I think). I sent them against Babdelbop (whatever) with about as much success as you had.. just damaged B17s...I see that Clark and Manila AF is damaged though.. that is when mine finally pulled out as well.

I doubt I am telling you anything you dont know, but I thought I would chime in.

Glad GJ is getting a lick here and there.. I was so nervous he would just get pounded coming out of the gates.. You've given him fits though. I love Allied players that make the Japanese pay to take any inch of ground early on.

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: jeffk3510

I am not sure of your plans now, but I had a few days worth of success with my B17s on Clark before it was too hot and I had to get them out. Attacked LCUs on the more open terrain heading towards Clark/Manila at 9k feet. I recall a couple of days worth of good success. I don't know how I picked what targets, but I didn't run into any Zeros for some reason. Took a couple of days worth of bombing runs, and sent them to Calcutta for Harvey to train up (mid 50s exp when I sent them I think). I sent them against Babdelbop (whatever) with about as much success as you had.. just damaged B17s...I see that Clark and Manila AF is damaged though.. that is when mine finally pulled out as well.

I doubt I am telling you anything you dont know, but I thought I would chime in.

Glad GJ is getting a lick here and there.. I was so nervous he would just get pounded coming out of the gates.. You've given him fits though. I love Allied players that make the Japanese pay to take any inch of ground early on.

Thanks for the comments.....we have a HR against alot of ground bombing by 4E, and at any rate, I am preferring to hoard them, for now. We'll need them soon enough......

1/13/42:

I lost track of Baby KB, and there is a large group of ships around Menado. Tempting, but I am going to hold-off; they could be unloading an Air HQ, in which case a CV raid on that stack would be a very very bad idea. At some point, I'll probably send a transport or two toward Menado to see if there is an Air HQ there; if there is, I can't really get any closer than the Timor Sea, where we will hang out for one last throw against a move on Kendari or Koepang, before calling it quits in the DEI.

KB

KB is moving back into the Coral Sea; it's about 8 hexes east of Brisbane at the moment. Not sure what they are trying to accomplish; I can see the move, so I'm clearing transports out of the area, other than 1 at Noumea that is unloading the last of an Art Regt. He can have that one. Other than that, nothing in range.

Two Marine Regts finished unloading at Sydney; this will help secure Australia. US Marines are tough!

Sub Warfare:

I've had better than average results so far this game with subs, but overall I've never felt that I found the right settings for subs. What do you guys do?

I tend to set them to 1-hex react, and park them in sealanes. That's it; no patrol zones. I found that running patrol zones burns fuel and requires alot more management, but doesn't lead to a huge increase in hits. Is that your experience?

The only thing is you have to move them periodically from ASW if you park them, and it can get predictable.

To me, the hallmark of a successful patrol is a boat returning to port with empty tubes; see below. This sub sat 2 nexes north of Truk for awhile, and fired at a few convoys heading in. Great patrol, even if alot of those were duds!

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball
I found that running patrol zones burns fuel and requires alot more management, but doesn't lead to a huge increase in hits. Is that your experience?

I love the patrol zone setting, Q-ball. I find that my (granted, IJN) subs do a fine job of reacting into enemy ships in the area. I generally have a small triangular patrol setting of 1x1x1 with react =1. High aggression and naval skills for Captains selected. Lots of intercepts and hits.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball
I found that running patrol zones burns fuel and requires alot more management, but doesn't lead to a huge increase in hits. Is that your experience?

I love the patrol zone setting, Q-ball. I find that my (granted, IJN) subs do a fine job of reacting into enemy ships in the area. I generally have a small triangular patrol setting of 1x1x1 with react =1. High aggression and naval skills for Captains selected. Lots of intercepts and hits.

+1

I also use patrol areas. If you get your sub into the same hex as the TF sits between turns, your probability of attack seems to be a lot higher as opposed to having the TF move through the hex that your sub is sitting in during the turn.

[artuitus_slith]

This is perhaps the only area of the game i can give some advice since im fairly confident in my ability to use the submarine forces. Use patrol zones as two others have already mentioned. They are effective for several reasons...

1) They lower DL by constantly moving, and lower DL= more effective subs.
2) Depending on the size of the patrol zones you use you can actually stumble across more targets and discover "new" shipping lanes faster than patroling a single hex.
3) Actually lowers the amount of micro-managment in the game since you dont have to monitor every sub every turn for DL since they are moving anyways.
4) More efficient use of your sub assests means you can cover more area in total.

The next decision is how large to make your patrols. The maximium patrol size I use is 6x6x6 and this is only in 'new' areas or open waters such as between Truk/Marshal Islands or Sulu sea ect. For target rich areas where i know the Japanese will be i use 1x1x1. A good example of this is Formosa straights and/or N of the PI. I also use all patrol sizes in-between in various situations. Another tactic I use is using large overlapping patrol zones in areas i suspect alot of shipping is going on, then reducing the size of the patrols once I've Identified new shipping lanes. To help reduce fuel expendeture, use the 'linger x days' command and order your subs to stay for 1 day at each patrol point. In essence you are ordering your subs to patrol one 'leg' of their Patrol zone per day. If you want I can post a Screen shot from my game against the AI to show you what I am talking about.

I hope this helps,
Gmoney

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: gmoney
To help reduce fuel expendeture, use the 'linger x days' command and order your subs to stay for 1 day at each patrol point. In essence you are ordering your subs to patrol one 'leg' of their Patrol zone per day.

Are you quite certain that this wouldn't overrule any 'reaction' that the submarine might take? This is a reason not to use the patrol/do not retire setting. However, if you're ordering your submarine captains to stay in one hex for a day, how will they respond to a sighted / suspected ship 1 hex away on that same day? I've not heard conclusive evidence to suggest that the 'linger' command is lower on the decision hierarchy than the 'react' command.

[artuitus_slith]

Interesting point and i have no idea. However since my subs move so much anyways i rarely have trouble finding targets, so I havent really noticed any loss of effectivness. I dont think it does though if subs on patrol react the same as SC fleets, since just last turn in my game vs the Ai I destroyed the PM invasion (18+ships sank/ 7500 jap soldielrs killed) with a SC TF set to patrol with react to 4 and they reacted to the enemy fleets. Either way on normal anti-merchant duty react isn't very importent imo since once contact is made and a new shipping lane discovered i adjust the patrols anyways. Against naval targets or for picket duties I dont use the 'linger here x days' command and have my subs patrol a straight line 1x1x1 with react on, so I don't think it hurts me against naval forces either.

[Q-Ball]

1/14 through 1/18/42:

Guys, great feedback on the submarines! I really appreciate that. I still have a bunch to learn, and building better sub results should help.

China:

I fear something is up in China.

GJ has taken Tuyun, a city along the rail line. Unfortunately, I didn't garrison it, which was stupid; he para dropped on it! So, I have an infestation of Japanese in my rear, and no quick way to get rid of these guys. Ouch!

In addition, I am getting prep reports for Yenan and Sian from real units. I think he's planning a big push toward Sian, because I haven't seen a big move elsewhere.

Ominous, no doubt, and not sure how I can resolve this Tuyun problem.

SW Pacific:

Kido Butai raiding again into the Coral Sea. They did an ineffectual port attack on Sydney, sinking nothing and damaging some unimportant ships. I saw KB coming, so was able to clear the sealanes of convoys.

Not sure what he was trying to accomplish; maybe a more serious move down here? Could be......I am still prioritizing India #1, but still preparing.

2 Marine Regts are at Newcastle, near Sydney now; good to have some Marines in Oz.

SRA Updates:

See below; huge move on Kendari that I am not messing with. Tarakan also fell, and Betties sortied from Menado toasting a TK convoy I forgot to route differently. Ouch! So, I know there is an Air HQ at Menado, again finding out the hard way.

I am not contesting this move on Kendari; with air support and piles of cruisers, I think my naval resistance in the DEI is at an end...but not 100% sure.

[Q-Ball]

1/19 through 1/26/42:

Well, this game is shaping up. Greyjoy, after a couple stumbles out of the game, is really bringing it to me. I think I'm in pretty good shape everywhere except China, which is turning into a major disaster, thanks to yours truly.

First, though, the good-er news.

SRA:

GJ took Kendari, and appears to be moving on Ambon (that large blob of ships is moving in that direction now). I accomplished my objective, of inflicting enough pain that he feels he has to move ships around in large blobs, which is time consuming for Japan. So, I think I bought myself a couple weeks in the SRA, and sank some IJN ships to boot.

My naval resistance is really over though with Betties lurking. I have one more little hit planned, but that should be it for awhile.

GJ is now moving at a good pace, and I don't really have anything to stop him now. I still hold Balikpapan, Koepang, and Java, but the rest is gone or shrinking.

Phillipines:

Mindinao is conquered. The 102nd Phillipine Division, which was scheduled to appear in Cagayan, will now appear in San Francisco! Of course, it's perm restricted, so while that's a pretty good deal for the soldiers in that division, to spend the war riding cable cars while their brethren rot in a POW camp, not sure how that helps the Allied war effort. So it goes.

Other than that, I'm down to Clark/Manila, the Japs are bombing and bombarding, and seem content to wait for my supplies to run out.

Pacific:

I have some naval forces in the Aleutians, but no sign of IJN ships. I lobbed some shells at Adak, just to train the ships crews, and I wanted to see how much Night experience they gain from shore bombardment. Answer: Not alot, few points.

GJ know I have more up there than he does, so he probably can't reinforce for awhile. I haven't seen KB for a few days, so I need to be careful after Feb 1, in case he goes hunting for me.

Singapore:

I think this is going to be a nasty siege for the Japanese. I retreated to Singapore in very good order, losing only the Kota Bharu forces, and a couple Bns on the way down. Most of my troops safely railed to Singapore, including the guys from Alor Star. Check out 11th Indian Division: Never see it in that good shape.