Matrix Games Forums

ORIGINAL: mind_messing
At the end of the day, they're cheap and expendable and they won't be missed provided the minefields are cleared.

How many 150 mm hits can they take?

I guess it doesn't really matter, your logic is quite clear and compelling. Obviously, I was trying to do it on the cheap....like a lot of things in this game for me.

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: mind_messing
At the end of the day, they're cheap and expendable and they won't be missed provided the minefields are cleared.

How many 150 mm hits can they take?

I guess it doesn't really matter, your logic is quite clear and compelling. Obviously, I was trying to do it on the cheap....like a lot of things in this game for me.

I doubt they'd take many 75mm hits, let alone 150mm hits, but that's really not the point. Better the abundant AMc's taking 150mm hits than the rare DMS ships, keeping the DMS boats for when you need minesweepers in a area fast.

Funnily enough, your problem was that you were trying to the job properly, with the "good" IJN minesweepers, when the cheap AMc's can do the job for less.

The small Tosu class (and the other small boats, I forget the class names) are fairly valuable as cargo ships (except that class that has a tiny cargo capacity), with only nominal value as PB escorts (crappy depth charges and range).

As AMc's, they've some good value: they can clear mines as well as your DMS ships, and there are more AMc's than DMS ships, and the loss of AMc's won't be lamented.

I am conflicted at whether or not to launch another deliberate attack at Soerabaja - three days after my last attack.

The last deliberate attack I put one of the infantry divisions on reserve:pursuit. Unfortunately, their leaders decided not to commit the troops, so they are in really good shape and subsequently, I think I have a chance for a 2-1.

However, my rolls have been pitiful in all 4 previous deliberate attacks, seeing my raw assault value cut by 2/3 each attack. Now his forts were level 6 to start, and my troop losses have been exceptionally light, while I have inflicted heavy, heavy losses on him, but Allied adjusted assault has dropped only from 1600 in the first attack to 1300 in the most recent attack despite a unadjusted AV drop of 2/3s (1000AV initially, to 300AV now). He no longer gets a malus for preparation or experience.

Troops are prepped for the base pretty well, 17th Army HQ at 100%, 2nd Area Army at 51%.

I have a 5-1 advantage in raw assault value...but two infantry divisions are at 19% disrupted seems high to be attacking with.

ORIGINAL: mind_messing
The small Tosu class (and the other small boats, I forget the class names) are fairly valuable as cargo ships (except that class that has a tiny cargo capacity), with only nominal value as PB escorts (crappy depth charges and range).

I converted a lot of the Tosu into ACM to stop minefields from eroding. I have started to switch some back, and will do more.

Kiso is another class that can become sweepers, but they have a 3 ASW attack as PB, but with inferior depth charges so making some of them into sweepers can't hurt much either. I suspect the Kiso AMc is worth more VP wise than the Tosu.

I don't see how I can get to 60 of them however without drastically changing my convoy system. I can probably get to 30 without too many changes...

Oct 6, 1942

A night naval engagement! Off Soerabaja. I think the most enjoyable aspect is the naval battles so it is always fun when the replay starts off with an engagement. Especially when the battle could swing either way.[:D]

Although the IJN CLs take a lot of 5inch hits, almost all of them bounce off the armor, while their shell hits penetrate and do significant damage to the destroyers. The Allies eventually break contact.

And then during the day, the Allied destroyers retreat towards Oz, but not far enough.

Bombardments of Tjilatjap and the Kuriles again, where for the third day running there are no Allied bombers present.

The d@#$n Trusty hits a full Oiler, 18 victory points gone, but then the escorts, decent ones, land 6 hits on that sub...so we hopefully won't be seeing her for a while. And, unfortunately, a DMS is hit with a torp from a sub and goes down east of Soerabaja. [:(]

I chickened out and just bombarded at Soerabaja, but will deliberate attack there this next day. None of the Allied troops have any assault value on the bombardment screen.

Another deliberate attack is ordered west of Ankang (China) in the mountains after bombing and a bombardment.

In the Solomon Sea 8 destroyers are spotted, steaming in without a care, hopefully the 90 or so Vals, 12 Kates, and 20 Bettys can do some damage on the morrow. They are flying out of three bases, so at least one group should fly.

A full sentai of Bettys transfers to Etorofu and is set at max range for torpedo attacks extending their range quite far. Should be a nasty surprise if they fly, and the allies come back.

Plane R&D is picking up speed since the beginning of my takeover. It will be nice to field some better planes, but I plan on fielding almost all the planes so the Allies get to see them and I get to play with them.

I am conflicted at whether or not to launch another deliberate attack at Soerabaja - three days after my last attack.

The last deliberate attack I put one of the infantry divisions on reserve:pursuit. Unfortunately, their leaders decided not to commit the troops, so they are in really good shape and subsequently, I think I have a chance for a 2-1.

The Reserve:Pursuit mode is useful only if you expect to win a particular battle without any aid from units assigned to pursue (for example to get a head start pursuing fleeing troops so as to keep them disorganized and fleeing - best done with tank units.) In your case, the enemy troops in Soerbaja will likely just surrender, so pursuit isn't necessary. Essentially, you cheated yourself out of a divisions worth of AV which may have been very helpful in that last deliberate attack for nothing. Bottom line, next attack in a siege situation, use everyone you have.

ORIGINAL: Quixote
The Reserve:Pursuit mode is useful only if you expect to win a particular battle without any aid from units assigned to pursue (for example to get a head start pursuing fleeing troops so as to keep them disorganized and fleeing - best done with tank units.) In your case, the enemy troops in Soerbaja will likely just surrender, so pursuit isn't necessary. Essentially, you cheated yourself out of a divisions worth of AV which may have been very helpful in that last deliberate attack for nothing. Bottom line, next attack in a siege situation, use everyone you have.

Good to know. I never ever used it before, and was too lazy to read the manual. I had thought troops in reserve might get thrown in the battle at the very end if rolls were made.

Oct 7th, 1942

Only two things of note this turn: 2-1 attack at Soerabaja, drops forts to 1, the base should fall with the next attack once the troops recover a little.

Deliberate attack west of Ankang in the mountains, doesn't force the Chinese to retreat, but they are out of supply and disables a fair amount. My troops will recover, the Chinese won't...[:)]

All quiet elsewhere. The Allied destroyers in the Solomons retreated. KB is well on its way to Truk., I probably need to find time to get some CV upgrades in.

I am waiting for the next Allied shoe to drop...somewhere? Port Moresby is very lightly held, and I will task troops there as soon as Soerabaja falls.

Economy Stats:

500,000 HI. Woo hoo! Saving 4700 a day now!

3,000,000 supply

2,300,000 fuel

2,700,000 oil

13,000,000 Resources.

Fuel and Oil are concerns. I am hoping there will be large stockpiles in Java. I will let you know in a couple of days.

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: Quixote
The Reserve:Pursuit mode is useful only if you expect to win a particular battle without any aid from units assigned to pursue (for example to get a head start pursuing fleeing troops so as to keep them disorganized and fleeing - best done with tank units.) In your case, the enemy troops in Soerbaja will likely just surrender, so pursuit isn't necessary. Essentially, you cheated yourself out of a divisions worth of AV which may have been very helpful in that last deliberate attack for nothing. Bottom line, next attack in a siege situation, use everyone you have.

Good to know. I never ever used it before, and was too lazy to read the manual. I had thought troops in reserve might get thrown in the battle at the very end if rolls were made.

Good to know. I never ever used it before, and was too lazy to read the manual. I had thought troops in reserve might get thrown in the battle at the very end if rolls were made.

That is what happens with Reserve on defense. They get a chance to contribute their AV if needed.

October 8, 1942

IJN forces catch destroyers fleeing from their base in the Kuriles and slug it out at close range...what a great start.

Followed up by a nice naval bombardment. Additional CA will start bombarding on the morrow.
These groups are screened by a destroyer group and have CAP.

Then on the Java front, Tjilatjap isn't bombarded, because the day prior I had the BB group remain on station to bombard during the day...the task force heads back to Xmas IO to rearm and encounters a destroyer force obviously looking for a night time engagement, but they are hours off.

And unfortunately the Bettys can't find the task force due to range or weather, in this case weather.

But over in the Solomons Vals and Kates do find the group of 8 destroyers prowling around:

And then the day turns ugly with two unfortunate air raids. The first, a high altitude sweep. Two of my best radars are there but there is no warning, and the Oscars fall like winter leaves.[:(]

But then again, high altitude lightning raids are a common in this game, but here is the shocker.

Allies fly 70 fighters into Batavia and Tjilatjap and 50 bombers. Incredible damage done at Balikpapen, a day either way and they wouldn't have caught much there, but the timing is perfect.

I had CAP next door and they didn't bleed over, the normal CAP I sent to upgrade to Tojo. Sigh. Pummeled and trashed good.[:(]

It could have been much worse...I stood my bombers down from hitting Batavia for the day to rest...they would have been massacred. He could have hit the factories.

But tomorrow is a new day, and the Army will hopefully launch their last attack at Soerabaja. Another deliberate attack in the mountains east of Ankang in China, where the Allies have finally spotted the danger they are in and have started pulling back.

Two bombardments of his base in the Kuriles, and hunting down some of his surface ships are all scheduled.

Where will those bombers hit next...or will they fly away? Stay tuned.