Matrix Games Forums

Whilst my surface fleet heads off to a very uncertain future, what is not uncertain is the fate of the Soviets in the Northern theatre.

The Northern front has now turned into a battlefield clearance exercise as the last pocket of Soviets on the immediate battlefield are crushed. Once this pocket is eliminated effectively 5 x Inf divisions, 6 x Armd Brigades and a tank division have been eliminated or shattered beyond repair.

The South is a very different matter, with the Russians still located just outside Harbin but each week their combat power slowly diminishes as I reinforce from the Home Islands. Russian arty causes the biggest issues. I wish I could re-use all the captured guns up North on him down South[:D]

Wow, will be helluva battle to watch. [X(]

It should be pretty wild.

I doubt (I hope) that I don't run into all of his warships in the next 24 hrs. He would have easily over 100+ warships spread over the 4 hexes with a stack of Fletchers and modern CLs. However he is also protecting some valuable cargo (troop convoys and CVs).

I'm hoping to get lucky.

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Wow, will be helluva battle to watch. [X(]

Oh Dear.[X(]

You at least seem properly disposed.

Good luck.

ORIGINAL: njp72

It should be pretty wild.

I doubt (I hope) that I don't run into all of his warships in the next 24 hrs. He would have easily over 100+ warships spread over the 4 hexes with a stack of Fletchers and modern CLs. However he is also protecting some valuable cargo (troop convoys and CVs).

I'm hoping to get lucky.

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Wow, will be helluva battle to watch. [X(]

Having some strong alcohol within reach when you run the turn might be a good idea... [:D]

These kind of big turns are usually disappointing. Wouldn't shock me to see the Allies haul tail and retreat.

But really who knows.[&:]

What is left of your carrier force?

Well have no fear Lowpe, once Mike thinks he has the advantage he doesn't swerve he ploughs right through which makes him a very dangerous opponent.

He smashed my airfields which I thought he might (though the results were devastating) and then ran head first into my surface groups.

Despite having this significant tactical advantage, we only managed to sink 2 BBs outright and after some follow airstrikes from his carriers, we lost the same including old Yama.

Air cover for my surface groups is a problem as my major airfields were not only hit by BB bombardments but around 200 4E bombers.

Still we are not retreating, not yet anyway. KB is fully intact we haven't lost a CV yet [:)]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

These kind of big turns are usually disappointing. Wouldn't shock me to see the Allies haul tail and retreat.

But really who knows.[&:]

What is left of your carrier force?

And here is the second major engagement.

I suspect about half of the USN and IJN fleets did not end up engaging which makes for a fascinating next turn.

He is nursing at least 2 crippled BBs and I have one which is also quite sick, but not fatally so.

One trump card I still possess is an untouched KB and friends and I suspect he has no idea where it is lurking. Not sure what he will do tomorrow.

Now this I completely agree with.

Unfortunately Joc these critical turns are arriving very early in the morning (Oz time) so I am only equipped with a strong cup of coffee.

Not really adequate for the carnage being inflicted on both sides.[:)]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

ORIGINAL: njp72

It should be pretty wild.

I doubt (I hope) that I don't run into all of his warships in the next 24 hrs. He would have easily over 100+ warships spread over the 4 hexes with a stack of Fletchers and modern CLs. However he is also protecting some valuable cargo (troop convoys and CVs).

I'm hoping to get lucky.

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Wow, will be helluva battle to watch. [X(]

Having some strong alcohol within reach when you run the turn might be a good idea... [:D]

Clash of the titans!

How badly damaged are the big girls?

Well two are dead including mighty Yama and two are reasonably banged up.

He just smashed into me again and in the latest fighting we can scratch 2 more Allied BBs and another CA for minimum damage to the IJN.


So in the last 5 days the butchers bill would be:

Allied
- 4 x BBs (confirmed sunk)
- 1 x BB probable sunk
- 3 x BBs heavily damaged
- 2 x BBs moderate damage
- 1 x CA sunk
- 2 x CLs sunk
- 6 x DDs

IJN
- 2 x BBs sunk
- 3 x BBs moderate/ heavy damage
- 1 x CA sunk
- 4 x DDs sunk

The IJN thus far has had the better of the night fighting at very close range.

Formosa is now subject to massive air raids by 4es and sweeps by P47s. Next turn will be very interesting if he comes for a third time.

Not sure how much longer we can hold out but we must be hurting him[:)]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Clash of the titans!

How badly damaged are the big girls?

Where will you be able to repair the damaged BB? Yokohama has perhaps the best static AA in the game. Hiroshima second best, but half as many as Yoko.

I guess that is a good trade VP wise.[:)]

How is the air war doing?

Looks like you gave a bit more than you got, which is very positive for Japan at this stage. Losing Yamato will help conserve fuel! [;)]

Taking out a fast BB or two is huge and the old behemoths really come into their own in 44 with AA upgrades and their use in landings, so this seems good for you so far. Is the KB arriving soon? Good time to use it if you've got Judy/Grace on board.

Good to hear from you Obvert. I have been missing your wise input around the place.

Yep I thought the timing and the conditions were right so I deployed the fully intact KB and friends last turn and achieved............ very little[:(]

On the plus side I didn't lose too many pilots or aircraft but my attempts to hit DDs, CLs and CAs were woeful.

I completely concur, Allied BBs cause me more grief than just about any other allied weapon system. Bombardments just shatter my defences, airfields, supply consumption etc.

ORIGINAL: obvert

Looks like you gave a bit more than you got, which is very positive for Japan at this stage. Losing Yamato will help conserve fuel! [;)]

Taking out a fast BB or two is huge and the old behemoths really come into their own in 44 with AA upgrades and their use in landings, so this seems good for you so far. Is the KB arriving soon? Good time to use it if you've got Judy/Grace on board.

Allied AA is so good at this point it's tough to hit unless you get a nice big set of transports or CVE in the sights.

ORIGINAL: obvert

Allied AA is so good at this point it's tough to hit unless you get a nice big set of transports or CVE in the sights.

You were still nailing the Allies and good into mid 45. Dog! I am so jealous.[:D]

Yep, knocking those BBs down to prevent shore bombardments is nice. Ask me how I know!

I keep noticing lack of flak being critical in the outcomes of recent CV clashes.

Nice to see the Allies getting knocked about in late 44. You are keeping him on his toes.

Thanks Bif and welcome aboard.

I have landed some decent blows but so has he. It is a very bloody affair at the moment but I am happy that my forces are still competitive.

Russia has been great fun.[:D]

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

Nice to see the Allies getting knocked about in late 44. You are keeping him on his toes.

August 44 continues to be the most critical and hard fought month of the war and it is not over yet.

On both sides more surface combatant from a VP perspective have been sunk this month than just about the rest of the war combined[X(]

This turn I decided to take a risky gamble and send my remaining surface ships after his supply lines rather than his warships. I hit the jackpot but unfortunately the sheer number of allied taskforces limited the damage.

Because of the endless surface combat that took place from 80+ ships my boys were unable to retreat properly and got rightly smashed by big carrier strikes despite having 150 fighters on cap.

The end result was great fun but a tactical blunder.

What were the final numbers on this one? How many APAs for the old CLs? The Allies don't have unlimited numbers of those and each invasion drops a few more. So I'd gladly trade Naka and Tama for a handful or more of them.