Speedy vs Fabertong - time to smack back the Penguin

[Smeulders]

Well, I'll hope you'll carry on with the game, the losses in man and ships aren't nice, but far from insurmountable. It's a fine AAR and I'd hate to see it go.

[anarchyintheuk]

I can understand your frustration but I hope you continue.

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Tend to agree with Mike on this one. Also the nearer to enemy ports my subs are they more likely they'll be spotted and attacked with LBA. That increased risk coupled with the low potential reward (sinking an AM) doesn't feel good.

I thnik you're right on the LBA minelaying. I just don't see why the Japanese should always get blatant knowldge that I'm doing it. Kind of makes it pointless in game since the large amount of AM's can easily remove any mines laid. Bit different to reality when they closed down Japan's waterways.....anyway[;)]

as it is now, it´s still the kind of tradeoff that it was in WITP. Think about it this way, you can use your bombers against bases with 500 enemy fighters and the bombers won´t be hurt, in return the enemy gets to know you´ve dropped some mines. Insane, but that´s the way it is. We also get perfect intel on doing A2G attacks or artillery bombardments. Seems like we all use intelligence shells and bombs... [:)]

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Anyone any ideas?

AE result? Not everything has become better. [;)] I´ve had the same thing happening (retreats not making any sense) and then the usual whipeouts. Lucky me, I´ve yet to see a whipeout of such a big TF. Now imagine if these all would have been APA! [X(]

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Hmm. Doesn't make any sense to me. Think logically about what you're asking? You're telling a slower TF to follow a quicker TF to a destination?

Also don't forget here though the problem is also that the Amphip TF's moved BACK into Port Hedland and the SC TF's were left 46 miles to the NW?!?

Going to have to think on ths one. It's not the lost troops that is the issue as much (although VERY annoying for 3 months lost work and will have to abandon northern Aus and go for something like NG) It's the lost AP's that are a real problem.

Not fair we redo the turn since not Faber's fault AI ***** up. Hmm not sure what to do on this one.

Have a very sour taste in my mouth about AE right now.

yeah, unfortunately you have to have the slower TF follow the faster one in AE. This ends up in lots of screwed movements for me though and I usually have my slow transport TFs in the lead until they get near the target and only have them following the SC TF when sprinting in to the target on the last day.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Hmm. That is disconcerting on the increased Japanese ASW [:(] I have always rated my efforts at sub use but, from looking at the Japanese reinforcement queue, it does seem strangely daunting with the number of 'E' vessels entering service along with 3in A/S mortars and Type 2 DC's..... Even more so since the Japanese soon start to receive 5-8 TK/AO a month as reinforcements. Sheesh. I can only hope I find some way to be successful!

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CBI -
Seems pointless useing 4E for minelaying as I say it's advertised to the Japanese and they can easily send AM's to clear. Today for example DMS's cleared over 60 mines at Port Blair[8|]

Well now you know how you can use your subs effectively. Place a cordon sanitaire of subs around a location you will drop aerial mines. Then sink with sub launched torpedoes the Japanese AMs when they arrive to sweep the mines.

Regarding your concern about advertising aerial mine dropping without the presence of enemy CAP. It was the case in classical WITP, and to the best of my knowledge remains so in AE, that Allied planes dropping mines can not be intercepted by enemy CAP. Hence CAP may well be present, but because it does not make contact, the CAP interception screen is not shown. That would still give the Japanese notice of a minefield having been air dropped.

Alfred

No, you can drop mines at night. No reason at all to ever drop them in daylight.

[crsutton]

Speedy,

Stay the course. You had a disaster but the Allied can easily recover from a disaster. In fact, there is only one real disaster that the Allied cannot recover from and that is losing your carrier force. Any land fragments left can be easily built back to full strength. You got to watch your AP and AK losses for a while but should have enough to spare. Take a few days off. It is not such a big deal.

This may be a day late and a dollar short but I always put a couple of old BBs into my large amphib task force (a few CAs won't hurt either). Not only do they suppress costal guns but, they can soak up the hits that would kill your transports. I actually use CAs and modern CLs for my surface escorts forces. They are much better fighters at night than old BBs which seem to eat torpedoes and don't hit much. I have been leading with my Amphibious TFs but may have to change my SOP due to the advice I am hearing here.

I don't see that you lost any valuable APs and AKs than can convert to APAs and AKAs. Quite frankly, these are the ships that you can't afford to lose.

Some of the Allied players posting AARs have suffered some really crushing naval defeats. Yours was serious but not crushing.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Firstly, many thanks for your comments over the past couple of days. You'll be pleased to know I've calmed down somewhat and rejected the silly notion of walking away from the game[;)] I accept now that part of what happened was my own making (still think it's silly though you have to have slower TF's following faster ones) and I was a little unlucky with my TF's retreating into the path of the enemy. Anyway it's in the past and time to adapt and move on.

Here's a review of the last 7 days..........

--------------------------

Wake -

Wake fell to the Marines on the 14th. It was a tough fight and a further 800 Marines died on the 14th to taker the place....wiping out 4000 Japanese.

Since then the rest of the supplies have been trickling ashore, the Marines are starting to re-embark their transports and the Marine Def. Bn and Aviation support and ashore and working on cleaning up the place.

My CV's have headed back to PH and have just re-fuelled.

Time is tight and phase 2 of the Operation will commence as soon as the Marine laden transports return from Wake (ETA 10-12 days or so).

There's been no further Japanese interference.

---------------------------

Australia -

The Butchers bill continued to grow as my fleet headed back to Carnarvon then Perth. Junyo and Hiyo sank a further 10 ships bringing the total to 42 ships (24 AP's, some nice AMC's, AM, CL Caradoc, AK's). As crsutton says these are not first line AP's BUT they are still vital nonetheless and has dramatic consequences for what I can and can't do in theatres outside of CentPac. I will have a look ot see if there's any AK's in the theatre I can convert to AP's for starters......

I phyisically no longer have the load capacity to re-attempt Port Hedland or anything in SoPac that requries a lot of shipping.

As such I've had no choice but to abandon any notion of re-taking northern Aus. I've started to withdraw my forces from Katherine and will center around Alice Springs where supplies are more plentiful.

I haven't decided what I'll do in SoPac/Aus now since this is 3 months work and planning down the drain (very frustrating). I will have a think over the next week or so.

There has been some minor retribution though with both Junyo and Hiyo being hit by subs......more later.

----------------------------

CBI -

Question - when does Monsoon run from/to again?

2 main actions to note. First by the Allies on the 15th with the first large scale air operation in Burma for months against the Oilfields at Magwe. OVer 100 x LBA of various types took part escorted by 80 x Hurri from Akyab. A mixed force of Zero/Oscar and Tojo were on CAP throughout the day. 14 enemy fighters were claimed for 20 friendlies. 55% of the 300 capacity oilfield was disabled though which is good.

The second is in China with the Japanese launching an offensive to capture Kanshien. This was spearheaded by the 3rd Tank Division. I was initially outnumbered (1200 AV vs 700) but I have a substantial reserve force and a further 700 AV was there in a few days along with 2 x AT Rgt's which dented the latest Japanese effort:

Ground combat at Kanhsien (81,57)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 34651 troops, 334 guns, 578 vehicles, Assault Value = 1268

Defending force 32580 troops, 455 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1118

Japanese adjusted assault: 839

Allied adjusted defense: 1049

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 3)

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
6860 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 372 disabled
Non Combat: 18 destroyed, 307 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 59 disabled
Vehicles lost 116 (3 destroyed, 113 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
1051 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 140 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 142 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled


Assaulting units:
35th Division
3rd Tank Division
60th Division
62nd Infantry Brigade
9th Ind.Mixed Brigade

Defending units:
14th Chinese Corps
63rd Chinese Corps
9th Prov Chinese Corps
44th Chinese Corps
78th Chinese Corps
57th AT Gun Regiment
18th Chinese Base Force
56th AT Gun Regiment

It also looks as though Faber may be trying something to the SW but we'll see. I'm not overly concerned as I say I have a substantial force of reservs over 3000 AV.

------------------------------

Submarine Warfare -

6 x dud/missed attacks.

First the retribution......

SS Seadragon fired 8 torpedoes in 2 attacks against CV Hiyo NW of Port Hedland on the 15th.....1 hit detonated not causing massive damage.

SS Trusty then tagged CV Junyo on the 20th SE of Singapore. 1 torpedo also hit home. I've vectored 2 subs towards Singapore to try to get her on the 21st.

SS Hake heavily damaged the fueld laden TK Itukusima Maru with a torepdo well to the SW of Japan. It's doubtful the TK would make it to port burning out of control.

SS S-18 and SS S-32 teamed up to sink the Aden Class AK Tatuha Maru off Shikuka.

SS Wahoo damaged AKL Horei Maru in a gun battle near Okinawa.

[witpqs]

The monsoon runs from May 15 to Oct 15 and is only for bases that have max draw in Burma and along the India/Burma border.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Thanks witpqs - that helps future planning. Won't have time to do what I want now so I'll wait until later in the year until I conduct more in Burma.

---------------------

CentPac -

All Wake invasion forces re-embarked fully by 24th January and are on their way back to PH. Once the transports arrive there they'll be a little R&R for a few days and then we'll embark invasion forces for the next target.....

Wake is operational now with Coronado's, F4F's and SBD's.

Enemy submarine's attempted to interfere with the re-embarkation of the Marines but strong ASW screens reported sinking both SS I-20 and SS RO-67 on the 24th January.

-------------------------

Australia -

Forces continue to withdraw from Katherine and mlost Port HEedland forces have disembarked at Perth. The ships will then head to Sydney for R&R.

I've looked round Aus and Cape Town and there's oodles of AK's that can convert to AP's! As such I've converted enough to cover the losses off Port Hedland! As such within a month I'll be back to where I was in Aus which isn't bad. I have lost about 2 divisions worth of troops though. Some cadres of other forces survived and will re-build in time.

------------------------------

CBI -

A second raid was launched on the remaining oil plants at Magwe on the 23rd.

Enemy air operation was of similar strength to the first raid but my Hurricane escorts suffered heavily at first (17 Hurri losses, 6 bombers vs 13 enemy fighters). The bombers got through though and have now damaged 95% of the oil production at Magwe. Good.

In China the Japanese have not attacked again at Kanshien and have probably stalled, at least for now.

----------------------------

Submarine Warfare -

No joy in intercepting CV Junyo.....

Japanese LBA heavily damaged SS Seadragon which will probably sink! That would be 3 SS's for this month. Not good.

2 duds/misses.

SS Wahoo reported damaging the large TK Omurosan Maru with a torpedo off Okinawa on the 21st.

SS Triton reported sinking the small TK Nishi Maru SE off Formosa on the 22nd.

SS Pollack damaged AK Kamikaze Maru with a torpedo NW of Guam on the 25th.

[Speedysteve]

Any thoughts what these Japanese Ops losses could be from? Can't be from 3 x AK I've sunk since have only hit 1 in the past few days!

[rtrapasso]

Any thoughts what these Japanese Ops losses could be from? Can't be from 3 x AK I've sunk since have only hit 1 in the past few days!

Possibly a large scale supply operation going on somewhere? This really seems excessive, though! [X(]

[ckammp]

re: Japanese Ops losses

Local commanders confused about the concept of kamikaze training?

[DivePac88]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Any thoughts what these Japanese Ops losses could be from? Can't be from 3 x AK I've sunk since have only hit 1 in the past few days!

He could be operating/training from a base with very little aviation support.

[rtrapasso]

ORIGINAL: DivePac88

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Any thoughts what these Japanese Ops losses could be from? Can't be from 3 x AK I've sunk since have only hit 1 in the past few days!

He could be operating/training from a base with very little aviation support.

~45 OP losses from training seems really over the top... [X(]

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

The Japanese ops losses still seem strange to me. Can't think what would cause such a large amount!

------------------------------

CentPac -

Fairly quiet overall. Combat ships are resting and repairing at PH (CV Yorktown ETA is 226 days!) Damaged CVE Suwannee will be returned in 2.5 weeks.

Awaiting return of Wake's Marines still.

------------------------------

Australia -

Japanese LBA bomb the retreating Allies from Katherine.

Other than that I'm keeping Port Hedland supressed with 4E for now whilst a re-supply operation is on going at Exmouth. Then we'll retire the 4E and focus on other areas.

-------------------------------

CBI -

All quiet. Japanese stalled at Kanshien. A Chinese Corps is attempting to cut them off for now......see screenshot.

Quiet in Burma.

--------------------------------

Submarine Warfare -

4 x Dud/misses.

SS Triton damaged the troops laden AK Maebasi Maru with a torpedo off Formosa on the 27th.

SS Shad blew up the small CM Sarushima with a torpedo south of Davao on the 28th.

On the other side SS I-176 sank the troop laden (Eng Vehicles) AK Aldinga with 3 torpedoes off Exmouth on the 29th.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

The end of a mixed month overall for the Allies. Wake was safely secured with relatively little loss (few thousand casualties, CV Yorktown/CVE Suwannee damaged) and for the Japanese they lost at least 2 x CA and 4 x SS. SigInt also reported that they believe BB Yamashiro sunk on the way back to Eniwetok. Who knows.

The bad side you all know. The calamity at Port Hedland and the heavy loss of shipping and troops.

February sees the introduction of Martlet's, B24D1's, B25D1's and PV-1's. CV Victorious, BB Massachusetts, CA Shropshire, CLAA Reno and 4 x Gato SS are the shipping highlights. BB Indiana, SoDok and Fletcher/Bristol class DD's have had additional AA mounts installed.

----------------------------------

Points:

Allies: +786 points
Japanese: +1771 points


Bases:

Allies: +2 (+84 points)
Japanese: -1 (+3 points)


Planes:

Allies: +272 lost
Japanese: +196 lost


Troops:

Allies: +784 lost
Japanese: +83 lost


Ships:

Allies: +61 lost (+712 points)
Japanese: +23 lost (+418 points)


------------------------------------

Sub Kills:

Interesting. A much better success rate already. 15 out of 30 attacks were successful. Fewer attacks this month may be partly due to the fact that many subs were in port upgrading their Radar. We'll see.

Dutch Boats:

PB - 3 (1 mine)
AK - 25
TK - 4
CM - 3
DD - 4
TB - 1
DMS - 3
E - 1
APD - 1
ACM - 1

---------------------------------

British Boats:

DD - 1 (1 mine)
AK - 3 (1 mine)
SC - 1
PB - 1
TK - 1
AO - 1 (+1)

---------------------------------

Fleets Boats:

AK - 58 (+4)
SC - 3
AP - 2
PB - 9 (+1)
TK - 4 (+1)
CM - 2 (+1)
ACM - 1
E - 1
APD - 1
DD - 2
CL - 1 (Kashima)

----------------------------------

S-Boats:

AK - 13 (+1)
AP - 1
CM - 1
PB - 3
DMS - 1
SC - 2
TK - 1

Total = 160 ships = 44.82% of reported sunk ships total.

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Any thoughts what these Japanese Ops losses could be from? Can't be from 3 x AK I've sunk since have only hit 1 in the past few days!

I wonder if it could be from disbanding/withdrawing some air units. You know when you are faced with a withdraw or disband option that requires the planes to be lost? Just a thought.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

SqzMyLemon - I don't think that's it since when I've had to disband/withdraw planes they never show up on the losses list.

A fairly quiet start to the month with the main action being from under the sea.....

--------------------------------

CBI -

Nothing in Burma and there won't be I'd guess until after October when the Monsoon is over. I aim to keep on training and building my forces in India until then.

In China. The Japanese are surrounded at Kanshien so it will be interesting to see how supply goes for them. I won't be attacking for now anyway since force levels are fairly even.

--------------------------------

Australia -

Allied forces continue to withdraw south and Daly Waters has now been abandoned.

--------------------------------

CentPac -

The latest offensive has been postponed for a week to allow for 5 more AP's to arrive/repair in PH's shipyard. Might only be 5 but these make a difference to total unload capacity!

All Wake invasion forces are back at PH resting and re-training and interestingly the 6th Marine Rgt was the hardest hit losing 1/3 of their strength during the assault.

--------------------------------

Submarine Warfare -

5 Dud/misses.

A good run of attacks overall though starting on the 3rd with SS Greenling blowing up ACM Oi Maru near Daito Shoto.

On the 4th SS Pollack reported sinking CM Aotaka heading to Guam.

SS Grouper did well in landing 2 torpedoes into CL Oi on the 5th near Pagan. It's unknown whether she succumbed to this attack.

The 7th saw 2 successful attacks by SS Harder and SS Blackfish sinking AK Sensan Maru and AK Reiyo Maru near Soeabaja and Balikpapan.

[cookie monster]

CL OI is probably sunk