Return of the Sheep! - JocMeister(A) vs. MrKane(J)

[Lowpe]

Remember, we are the peanut gallery throwing out ideas, but it is your game!

I like the idea of you steaming into harms way with your carriers very much. You should have strong search, and even localized superiority. I like that plan more than striking at the HI.

Just because Mr.Kane did something, or is aware of a tactic or strategy, isn't reason not to test his defenses. Even a feint, and or probing can cause him to re-allocate scarce search which might give you an advantage somewhere else.

So, is auto victory not much of a concern now?

[HansBolter]

I'm unclear on how he will gain VPs for strat bombing in Oz.

I thought you could only gain VPs for strat bombing in Japan and the continental US.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

I'm unclear on how he will gain VPs for strat bombing in Oz.

I thought you could only gain VPs for strat bombing in Japan and the continental US.

Japan, US, and Australia.

Not India and not China.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I like the idea of you steaming into harms way ..... very much.

Sounds like Jocke did that last night, took some hits and is headed for the repair yards to fix up system damage ... [:D]

[Lowpe]

Flooding? Listing?[:D]

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"] February 5th -42 [/font]
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9 hours of sleep and I still feel tired! At least I had fun! [:D]

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China
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Tom suddenly orders a flurry of Japanese attacks in China. Most is successful. Japanese Panzer Armee continue to wreck havoc.

Ground combat at 85,40 (near Sian)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 3372 troops, 0 guns, 624 vehicles, Assault Value = 338

Defending force 15521 troops, 122 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 204

Japanese adjusted assault: 424

Allied adjusted defense: 73

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Allied ground losses:
5622 casualties reported
Squads: 347 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 186 destroyed, 54 disabled
Engineers: 14 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 36 (29 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Units retreated 5

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
8th Armored Car Co
23rd Tank Regiment
12th Tank Regiment
15th Tank Regiment
9th Tank Regiment
5th Tank Regiment
5th Armored Car Co
10th Tank Regiment
3rd Tank Regiment
11th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
47th Chinese Corps
8th Route Army
42nd Chinese Corps
84th Chinese Corps
4th Group Army

There are many more like this as the Chinese front around Sian is pulverized in just two turns. Lack of supply and fatigue from over 2 months of attacks finally takes it toll. Only roadblock standing amazingly is the one to Ankang. The Panzer Armee is just 40 miles from Sian. I have over 11 Chinese Corps hunkering down in Sian. All are almost completely shattered with AV between 0 and 42. Some more Corps will head into Sian hopefully boosting AV to around 500. They will hopefully have time to respawn at Chungking before Tom reaches there.

More troops are leaving the Changsha region to create a small reserve in Chungking. I´m dangerously low on troops in Southern China now.

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OZ
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The KB recombines outside Marybourogh. For now he has shaken off the slow allied Subs as they zigged south. More are en route though but it will be a couple of more days. I hope to get at least 10 on the heels of the KB.

The combined KB strikes at the Resources at Toowoomba

Morning Air attack on Toowoomba , at 94,159

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 48 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 76
B5N1 Kate x 19
B5N2 Kate x 128
D3A1 Val x 130

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 2 damaged
D3A1 Val: 4 damaged

Resources hits 110

Total VPs lost to Strategic bombing so far is up to 348. This will rise quickly once LBA is established and he can get air superiority over Sydney and Melbourne. While I have 125 P40s in place pilots are really poor with most around 40/50/30. The P40 pools are also very low. Only have 5 squadrons in place is also limiting my ability to cover many locations. I´m scrambling to get more to OZ but it will take time.

[JocMeister]

Oddly enough I never got a turn from Tom last yesterday. Sent him an email this morning to let him know I was back in case he misunderstood me earlier. Hopefully we can get some turns going this weekend before I´m back to work.

Tom is VERY quick in returning turns and I´m usually the one that decides the pace (slows it down). Its almost like playing vs the AI. Whenever I want to do a turn I check the inbox and its there. [&o]

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"] Japanese clear the skies over Sydney [/font]
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The air "war" in OZ is decided on the first day as the Japanese blast through the CAP at Sydney. The Zeroes come in from extreme altitudes and dive on the defenseless and inexperienced US pilots.

This is the first of 6 Japanese sweeps.

Afternoon Air attack on Sydney , at 90,167

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 18 NM, estimated altitude 32,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 67

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 5 destroyed

When the dust settles no less then 48 allied planes are either shot down outright or written off after the battle. Almost 30 pilots are either killed, wounded or missing. The allies retreat with their tails firmly tucked in behind the legs.

A month worth of replacements in a single day. Will be 20 days or so before I can replace the losses. This was the best pilots I had. Any defense will have to come from the ground from now on. I need more time to train, that was made painfully obvious today!

[ny59giants]

Those ABDA air groups are just good enough to be used to train and then withdraw them in two months. Don't forget, BOTH those planes and pilots go back in your pools, so all is not lost, but things don't look good right now.

[JocMeister]

I had actually moved pilots into the squadrons that had been training since day one in mainland US. Had hoped for a little bit better! Ah well.

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"] February 7th -42 [/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

I see Tom started his own AAR. Really cool. Almost clicked it by accident before I saw it wasn´t my own! [:D]

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China
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The front is now in total collapse. Japanese armor is moving to cut Sian off from the North. I´m scrambling to put some defenses in place but I simply lack the troops. Everything at Sian not intended to die there is moving due East as I won´t have time to move them across the clear hex to the North before the armor will shock attack across.

I probably will have to give up on keeping the oil flowing from Lanchow. I don´t even have the troops to defend the Changsha basin right now. I have to lessen the number of hexes I need to cover and right now the only option I see is to abandon the approaches to Lanchow.

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OZ
------------------------
After clearing the skies the KB retires towards Noumea on the 6th and disappears on the 7th. No doubt to replenish. This is bad timing for me...more on that later.

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Subwar
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I´m still getting more attacks then usual (1-2 per day). But still no hits. Either duds or misses. 8 Fleetboats arrive in SOPAC this turn. They are given the best commanders I have and I hope I can get some results.

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"] February 8th -42 [/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

Turns are flying back and forth today!

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China
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Some good results on the desperate and last remaining roadblock south if Sian!

Ground combat at 85,44 (near Nanyang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 25837 troops, 260 guns, 99 vehicles, Assault Value = 701

Defending force 20335 troops, 72 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 399

Japanese adjusted assault: 268 [X(]

Allied adjusted defense: 631

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1433 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 148 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled

Allied ground losses:
399 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 50 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Assaulting units:
116th Division
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
1st Field Artillery Regiment
15th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
8th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
5th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion

Defending units:
29th Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
3rd Group Army
31st Group Army

Finally have enough troops to try and clear Ankang itself. Here is info from the bombardment!

Ground combat at Ankang (82,42)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1553 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 337

Defending force 1653 troops, 15 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 62

Assaulting units:
39th Chinese Corps
95th Chinese Corps

Defending units:
Yokosuka 1st SNLF
Yokosuka 3rd SNLF

Wish I would have know he was so weak earlier...


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Port Blair
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Another small success as an attempted landing is thwarted. Should by me a week or two as Tom pulls out the following day. [:)]

Ground combat at Port Blair (46,58)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 328 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 52

Defending force 587 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 21

Assaulting units:
Rangoon BAF Battalion
1st Gloucestershire Battalion
Port Blair Adv Base Force

Defending units:
III/81st Naval Guard Unit

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Other news
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I´m currently doing something very, very dangerous with my CVs...fingers crossed I can pull this off. Will need loads of luck and perfect timing. CVs have just topped off the tanks and are in position. Now I just need two more pieces of the puzzle. Sadly the pieces are outside my control and the opportunity may never come.

Also have two small offensive actions planned for the coming turns.

[Lokasenna]

Little note... Aren't the AVG pilots the best pilots you have? I probably would've moved them to Australia. It's a bit more important than Burma/India, IMO, and AVG pilots might've killed some more of KB's finest. Maybe. Or some of the pilots from the Luzon units - aren't some of those pretty good to start out? Aside from the USN and USMC Wildcat units, most of the Allied pilots that start anywhere near CONUS on December 7 are pretty poor.

Curious about your CVs. I'm thinking you're raiding Rabaul or something similar...

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

Little note... Aren't the AVG pilots the best pilots you have? I probably would've moved them to Australia. It's a bit more important than Burma/India, IMO, and AVG pilots might've killed some more of KB's finest. Maybe. Or some of the pilots from the Luzon units - aren't some of those pretty good to start out? Aside from the USN and USMC Wildcat units, most of the Allied pilots that start anywhere near CONUS on December 7 are pretty poor.

Curious about your CVs. I'm thinking you're raiding Rabaul or something similar...

Yes they are. 2 of the AVG squadrons pilots were flying P40s over Sydney. Sadly the Zero have higher max ALT then the P40. So the Zeroes get the dive...and the rest is history. [:(]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

Little note... Aren't the AVG pilots the best pilots you have? I probably would've moved them to Australia. It's a bit more important than Burma/India, IMO, and AVG pilots might've killed some more of KB's finest. Maybe. Or some of the pilots from the Luzon units - aren't some of those pretty good to start out? Aside from the USN and USMC Wildcat units, most of the Allied pilots that start anywhere near CONUS on December 7 are pretty poor.

Curious about your CVs. I'm thinking you're raiding Rabaul or something similar...

Yes they are. 2 of the AVG squadrons pilots were flying P40s over Sydney. Sadly the Zero have higher max ALT then the P40. So the Zeroes get the dive...and the rest is history. [:(]

You might try flying very low if there is anything left down there now. This is an idea that could work if you have no max altitude limits in the HRs. If he's going to the high 20s, then maybe at 3k you'd avoid those (or at least not take any worse losses than you did at 15k), but then be able to ht a bombing run if that comes in later (and lower).

Still not sure if it'll work, though. When I've tried it before the divers got to the low flying Cap anyway, but those were usually your P-47s! [;)]

[offenseman]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister


Yes they are. 2 of the AVG squadrons pilots were flying P40s over Sydney. Sadly the Zero have higher max ALT then the P40. So the Zeroes get the dive...and the rest is history. [:(]

Some good news about that. The air values in DBB are different than stock and those Zeros have maneuverability of only 2 in the upper tier. My first encounter of AVG vs Zeros at 29k was not a happy one for Japan. Then I started to fly them at 24k and success came immediately, even against AVG. Given that, it may be worthwhile to fly AVG in the upper tier anyway.

[rook749]

ORIGINAL: offenseman
Some good news about that. The air values in DBB are different than stock and those Zeros have maneuverability of only 2 in the upper tier. My first encounter of AVG vs Zeros at 29k was not a happy one for Japan. Then I started to fly them at 24k and success came immediately, even against AVG. Given that, it may be worthwhile to fly AVG in the upper tier anyway.

If he goes into the two highest bands, meet him there when you are using DBB as you have much better odds at the higher altitude.

P-40E 18/17/12/09/02
A6M2 33/33/27/19/02
--------------------
Diff 15/16/15/10/00

[JocMeister]

I had my best squadron up at 21k and the rest at 15 and 10k. Can´t access the higest MVR band anyway as the max altitude of the P40 is 26,600 ft. So I can just as well keep them as low as possible on the highest band I can reach.

I think the main culprit for the poor results are the worst of the "best" pilots. I have nowhere near enough "decent" pilots so I had a lots of EXP 40-45 pilots mixed in with the better pilots. That has never worked well and didn´t today either. I´m going to scrap that and create just 2 really good (with early 42 standards) squadrons instead.

At least I can jump in and out possible catching something nice eventually. [:)]

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"] February 9th -42 [/font]
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I´m pretty shaky each time I open the turn. I hate being this exposed.

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China
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Our Ankang roadblock manages to survive yet another attack. This is pretty amazing tbh.

Ground combat at 83,45 (near Nanyang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 36998 troops, 564 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 879

Defending force 33812 troops, 187 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 491

Japanese adjusted assault: 365 [X(]

Allied adjusted defense: 832

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1087 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 97 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1067 casualties reported
Squads: 18 destroyed, 90 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 23 (4 destroyed, 19 disabled)

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OZ
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The defenders of Horn Island are completely wiped out after 3 days of bombings from the air and a BB bombardment. Japanese land and take the empty base.

I now have confirmation of at least 7 different CAs operating outside OZ. KB is still out of sight. This makes me very nervous.

May have messed things up badly at Brisbane. Japanese armor have already reached the town. I must have missed them last turn.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

I´m pretty shaky each time I open the turn. I hate being this exposed.

You may not like it, but I think this is when the game is at its best. Back to the wall, desperate measures, nail biting, uncertain where the next shoe will drop. Great!

If your carrier plan doesn't work, just plan for another. You are going to get a golden chance, you simply need persistence and the luck you will manufacture.

I stopped by and wished your opponent well, but I saw the first couple of posts so no specific advice from me. But you know your day will come!