Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop (J) vs CF (A)

[Cribtop]

April 14, 1942

Subs

We decided to take one regiment from Zamboanga to continue the central PI campaign. S-36 shoots at but fortunately misses a troopship in this convoy. KXVIII torpedoes but does not sink a TK in the Makassar Strait. We will need more ASW patrols, both air and naval, in this region before our new TK convoys are safe.

4th Fleet

No Change.

SE Fleet

Buka falls.

14th Army

San Jose invaded.

16th Army

No change.

25th Army

We rail in a TK regiment to recently occupied Soerakarta in order to seal the 4 Dutch LCUs formerly from Tjilatjap in the bag. Oscars sweep Madioen but there is no CAP. An invasion TF is cooling its heels at Palembang awaiting the arrival of 18th Division. Then we will invade western Sumatra (true).

15th Army

We are close to fully manning bases in central Burma and have identified a concentration of enemy fighters and transport planes at Myitkyina (they just flew in as they weren't there about 3 days ago). We hope to unleash the IJAAF on these units, where are probably flying supply over the Hump.

Akyab is just about fixed up from enemy bombardments and will then make level 2 forts. Supply situation is now excellent here.

China

Marching on Lanchow and Tienshui. We are bombing the cut off forces at Tienshui to burn supplies, add DIS and prevent fort construction.

Other

More air groups and LCUs arrive as reinforcements.

[Mike Solli]

Hey Cribtop, I just found this (and Cuttlefish's) AAR. What a wonderful time I'm going to have catching up! [:D]

[Cribtop]

Great to have you back on the boards, Mike. You're one of two consultants that ensured my economy hasn't crashed yet.

[Cribtop]

April 15, 1942

ALERT! Enemy troops discovered at Tennant Creek!

Subs

Two of our subs miss a convoy inbound for Pearl Harbor despite being in ideal position. The suck continues. [8|] I-25, 1 hex NE of Pearl launches a frustration attack on DD Walkes, one of the local ASW DDs. This of course misses.

4th Fleet

Our CVE Raiders are moving into position between Johnston and the Line Islands. We hope the big convoy that just arrived at Pearl from the NW means a big convoy departing Oahu from the SW soon. If so, we may hit pay dirt.

A kamikaze xAK unloads supplies at Nukufetau to support our seaplane base there.

Roi Namur makes level 4 forts.

SE Fleet

At Tokyo, numerous Naval Guard units load up for the front.

Lihir invaded.

Woodlark Island's seaplane base is supplied from Rabaul.

14th Army

The Vals recently positioned at Manila catch and sink an xAKL trying to sneak in vital supplies. Glad we finally remembered to do this. Cribtop HQ frets about how many other kamikaze supply ships reached Bataan in previous months.

DA San Jose on Panay Island takes the base with 61:1 odds, casualties 20(2) vs nil.

16th Army

We had a tank regiment approaching Tennant Creek in NW Oz with hopes of eventually occupying the rail head at Alice Springs. No joy! Instead we find ourselves adjacent to 8 enemy LCUs at Tennant and begin to beat a hasty retreat to Daly Waters. A movement arrow indicates the enemy is attempting to pursue. Not great news, but it shows Cuttlefish is paying attention to his defenses in Australia. We should outrun the enemy with a 30 mile head start, but what is the composition of the enemy force? What happens if/when they reach Daly Waters? We believe Darwin will be ours by then, and supply should be tough for the Aussies over the desert, but this is a discomforting development.

Another armored regiment will soon arrive in Broome, which is mercifully defended by only 1 LCU.

25th Army

We are pushing toward Soerabaja and moving to ensure that the enemy units cut off near Tjilatjap are destroyed. Our small tankers are beginning to drop Oil at Singapore, but it appears the black gold is being sucked to Bangkok. We want it to stay at Singers for eventual transport to the Home Islands.

18th Division begins to load at Palembang for the Western Sumatra Op.

15th Army

3rd Air Division HQ finally marches into Moulmein and boards trains for Rangoon. This will release several base forces and allow an air offensive out of Mandalay.

China

We accumulate enough PPs to buy out a crack 80 EXP division from Kwantung Army. The unit in question was already in strat mode and heads for the border tomorrow.

[ny59giants]

My game as Allies is at May 28th and a Japanese Tank Regiment just arrived. I told him this base is in "No Man's Land." Keeping troops there usually requires the use of transports to supply them. If he tries to pursue you, bomb his troops and cause him to use up his supplies. Then, maybe turn around and attack if your troops are supplied.

Singapore and Oil - If you are using a Beta Patch, then turn Stockpile "ON" for Oil. Bangkok will get enough from Burma.

OT - Sorry to hear you missed all that much needed rain as it hit New Orleans and now is headed for me in Tenn. The NE corner will get about 2" worth.

[Cribtop]

April 16, 1942

A rare bad day in China.

Subs

A DD escorting tankers near Gebe chases off K XIII.

4th Fleet

The Raiders are away on their second hunt.

SE Fleet

Green Island is invaded and falls to SA. Lihir falls. Lots of Naval Guards are unloaded at Rabaul for distribution to the perimeter.

14th Army

No change.

16th Army

The enemy continues to chase our tank regiment north. We are preparing to bomb them once they get in range. It will be interesting to see whether Cuttles pushes a true counterattack here or is merely running us back to Daly Waters.

25th Army

Djokjakara falls. 10 Falcons are destroyed on the ground. It's really a mystery why CF lets his planes in the DEI get caught like this. Perhaps he is trying to deny my fighters experience gains?

15th Army

Akyab, unmolested for weeks, makes level 2 forts.

China

In an attempt to close off a hex side at Tienshui, 110th Division entered the hex today across a river. We thought this would be ok as we have more AS in the hex than the KMT (certainly more than 1/3rd of their AS). Apparently this only counts if you enter the same hex side. Ugh. The accidental shock attack trashes the division. 20% casualties and only 4 squads left undisabled. A painful lesson and the division will have to refit at Sian.

We learn through this misadventure that the enemy has quickly piled up level 3 forts. Given that, the terrain and the current balance of AS, we cannot take the base until it starves. Cribtop HQ orders that the surrounding hexes be garrisoned to prevent relief and the starving process begins. This is ok as pushing on while leaving the 32 LCUs in our rear would only net us stalemate at Kienko. CF still has a 41 LCU reserve at Chungking. Not all of these are combat units, but enough are that we feel unprepared to face them until big reinforcements arrive.

DA 1 hex SE of Lanchow pushes back the former Kungchang garrison, odds 14:1, casualties 1272(44) vs 209(2). Lanchow's oil and industry will fall soon.

[Cribtop]

April 17,1942

Subs

Just for fun we try a midget sub attack on Canton Island. The midget founders trying to launch from the mothership. We at least expected to reach the harbor before dying. [8|]

4th Fleet

Our seaplane base at Nukufetau is now fully supplied.

SE Fleet

No change.

14th Army

Almost to Iloilo on Panay.

16th Army

A bizarre incident. We shamefully allowed DD Yukaze to run out of gas while escorting a convoy of 1250 TKs in the Moluccas. In desperation, we ordered the big C1 class sub I-20, which just happened to be transiting the area, to move to Yukaze's rescue. We didn't expect a sub to be able to refuel a DD but it worked! Cool. This will be treated as an experiment and not repeated unless I find evidence it was historically possible. Overuse of this could be gamey, IMHO. Cute move though.

25th Army

Marching on Soerabaja. 18th Division has finished loading for western Sumatra. One day to load supplies and we sortie.

15th Army

Chittagong is slowly becoming an enemy forward base. Our last recon showed 1 LCU, but today we snap photos of multiple ships in harbor and 5 LCUs, along with fighters and auxiliary aircraft at the runway. We will definitely be visiting this port with aircraft and perhaps even Tanaka Force shortly.

China

The enemy probe near Wuchang, countered by our former Pingsiang force, is compelled to withdraw in the face of superior numbers. We want to keep lots of KMT LCUs pinned in the central front by minimal IJA forces. This will put more enemy units in danger once Red Dragon commences.

DA in the far north against an isolated HQ unit with 1 AS gets an awful die roll and nets only 1:1 odds, casualties nil/nil. We'll try again tomorrow.

Other

Cribtop Intel reports BB Royal Sovereign is still afloat. This is no surprise. We hope she is sheltering at Colombo as SigInt today shows an anchor sign there. As soon as western Sumatra is ours and MKB can sneak in undetected we may pay Ceylon a visit. For now, Cribtop HQ is content that CF probably has no clear idea as to the whereabouts of our CVs.

[ny59giants]

Chittagong - I know in Scenario 2, the Allies get 3 mobile CD units with 6" CD guns. I like at least one to go to Chittagong. Add in the static BF with its CD guns and this base can hit back. [:-] Just don't want you to set range at under 10k and get some holes in your ships. [:D]

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

IJAAF - Home Island units are training in Tokyo. In Manchukuo, all air groups (save one Sally group we bought out to augment 5th Air Division) are training in four rear bases, divided by group type. We have two fighter bases, one recon base and one bomber base for training. Not much downgrading is possible from the Nate, but we will slowly downgrade bombers to Ida, Sonia and other trash. The four Manchukuo IJAAF transport groups were bought out and sent to the DEI to help with some air assaults planned in that AO.

Hey Cribtop, I'm still way behind reading this AAR (13 Dec 41), but I've had really good luck with Manchuoko bombers (Sallys and Lilys) by basing them in a far western Manchurian city right on the border of China (can't remember the name) and having them bomb Chinese troops. Their experience rose very quickly. Just a thought....

[Cribtop]

Good idea, Mike! I've been thinking of how to raise the EXP of trained pilots. Could even escort the bombers to raise fighter pilot EXP. Have to consider how this impacts on our house rules, though. Might buy out a few air groups and use them in that role as CF could argue bombing from Manchukuo without paying PPs violates the spirit of our rules.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Cribtop
Might buy out a few air groups and use them in that role as CF could argue bombing from Manchukuo without paying PPs violates the spirit of our rules.

Agreed. I would buy them out before use in China .... and I've used them the way Mike describes and it works quite well. EXP jumps quite nicely.

[Cribtop]

Consider this a plan, then, gents. Will really help in late war to have experienced - not just trained - pilots.

The entire ChiCom army in the north is basically cut off and probably starved already. Ripe targets for bombing and a good way to keep them neutralized.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

March 29, 1942

Lots of less modern DDs will complete upgrades tomorrow. Many will be allotted to tanker convoys as Cribtop HQ has determined that it is time to start hauling oil back to the Home Islands in bulk now.

Cribtop, can you (at your convenience) give some details here? Upgrades to APDs? A lot of folks talk about converting certain classes to APDs. I'm still not convinced that's the best solution. Just curious on your take.

Thanks,

Mike

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

Can't remember the class, but basically one convoy of 3 small xAKs plus escort for Ocean and two such convoys for Nauru. They barely fit but can build up about 65K resources in Truk by the time the approx once per month supply or reinforcement convoy stops in - no dedicated convoy to Japan as I'm sure it's not worth that. Just enough of a old Railroad Tycoon 2 player that I hate to see empty hauls. [:D] I'll check tonight on exactly what ships are involved.

Loved Railroad Tycoon 2 so I can totally relate to your point about an empty haul. However, do you think the fuel expenditure getting those resources from Ocean and Nauru is worth it? I've only got two hubs set up and practically ignore most of the resource producing bases on the map other than for local consumption, as I don't have many issues keeping the Home Islands resourced up from closer sources. Think how many more miles KB could patrol [;)].

Here's my take on it: Eventually, Japan will be isolated. Honshu uses a huge amount of resources each month. The bigger the surplus, the longer the factories can produce. Yeah, it uses precious fuel. I think it's worth it. By the time Japan is isolated, there probably isn't much of a fleet left. Keeping the HI going with whatever fuel is remaining will keep the economy from collapsing just that much longer. I use some small xAK(L)s for both Ocean and Nauru. Anything headed to Truk from either Japan or Babelwhatsit go back loaded with resources. The resources either directly or indirectly work their way back to Japan.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

PS It's always interesting and often surprising what gets readers interested enough to post and what does not. I expected a lot of comments about the destruction of the AVG and the fall of Sian, and instead we get involved in a discussion of hauling bird poop out of Ocean Island. [:D]

What could be more important than that?! [:D]

[obvert]

I've been thinking of how to raise the EXP of trained pilots. Could even escort the bombers to raise fighter pilot EXP.

Training fighters I just put them on 100 sweep train at 100ft, 0 distance. Brings up straffing, experience, defense, and some air skills depending it seems on the experience of the best ace in the group.

I train the crap out of pilots in 42 as Japan, trying to get a good group for 43 ready for the major battles (and losses). Usually to 50-60 EXP, 70 AIR, 50-60 straffing, 60-70 defense.

Once I get them there, the Oscars 1c seems able to handle P-40s easily, destroy P-39s and anything Chinese, and get positive results against most Hurricane groups.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Insano

I didn't in any way mean to diminish your glorious and imperious victory of destroying AVG on the ground. Actually I would rate that as equivalent to sinking an allied CV. Banzai!

I have to agree with Insano here. Just think of how many IJAAF pilots that will save!

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

Kendari hits level 7 airfield. Cribtop doctrine calls for major bases to expand to level 7 (with a few level 9s at REALLY big bases) in order to allow for air group upgrades "in the field." This is one such base.

Geez, I never thought of that! My philosophy (until now) was to not increase above level 4. Make the Allied player build when he took a base from me. Now I need to figure out which to increase to level 7!

[SuluSea]

Mike or C-top , do you guys monitor your merchant shipyards and cycle some  off when X amount of points are accumilated and/or running in consistant excess?

Thanks!

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

April 3, 1942

Other

Covered by TBs on picket duty and our recently activated sea plane patrols near Marcus, and directly escorted by a pack of DDs, two large tanker TFs leave the Home Islands. Together with TKs already in the SRA, these ships will begin hauling Oil back to Japan and distributing fuel to forward hubs like Truk.

I hope you're not taking fuel from Japan....