With the Old Breed: RA 4.5 Allied Side

[John 3rd]

I about spewed my Coke on seeing that! WELL DONE you funny man you...

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

Executive Summary? Be the first to do an AAR in Powerpoint!

But where is the 'take Australia' set of slides? [:D]

[Encircled]

Be interesting to see one from the allied perspective

I can already imagine one heading

Slides 1-896,750 - dud torpedo attacks

[Cribtop]

Q-Ball, that is one of the top ten funniest slides in the history of the Boards! [:D]

Cap Mandrake and GreyJoy are PO'd that you just made the list, as they previously claimed all ten spots between them. [:'(]

[BBfanboy]

Only one question on the slide, Q-Ball:
WHAT SYNERGY? Or did you mean to type emnity (they both have 3 syllables and end in Y).

[ny59giants]

John - Got 5 turns in Saturday and had a 6th in my inbox. Just to let you know it can be done. [:D]

[John 3rd]

Hell Michael. I kill for just a single turn a day right now! Nice work on your day.

We're going out to the school this morning and making an offer. If he says yes, Paula and I are going into business!

[John 3rd]

Decemeber 13, 1941
Miri Area

As a student of History I feel that Force Z is a horrific tragedy. As an Allied player I always want to get in at least ONE good whack with these fine ships before losing them. Well...certainly managed to do that off Miri on the evening and morning of Dec 13-14, 1941!

Using CL's Dragon and Durban (plus 2 DD) as a scirmish line, Force Z moves into the area around Miri. Its presense is kept quiet through the night as the CLs initiate battle driving the enemy towards the waiting 15" and 14" big guns of the capital ships. Dragon's TF does well as it sweeps into Miri's harbor. They sink an AMC carrying LOTS of vehicles, damage a DD, then sink an AK, AKL (damaging another AKL and PB), crush an AKL as they veer out to sea, tangle with a pair of DDs and run smack dab into an Invasion Force consisting of nearly 20 ships. The Radio's broadcast the sighting report as the Invasion Force retreats away from the CLs. They may THINK they are getting away right until the big guns open up at 23,000 yards!

Dawn finds Prince of Wales, Repulse, Durban, Mauritius, and 6 DDs prepared for a fight. Worried about a CERTAIN Betty--Nell Attack they do the most they can to destroy the large enemy convoy. Repulse and Prince spread their big shells around at the desperately fleeing Task Force. Shell after Shell hits their targets and 7 gunnery rounds later the DDs join in the act. The Japanese are protected by DD Fubuki and 3 APD. They are sunk fairly quickly. This is not to say that they aren't effective. Fubuki does hit Prince of Wales with a Long Lance but it has low order detonation causing little damage (Sys 6, 2 Flot, 5 Eng). The AKs and APs are CRUSHED. The battle sees the valiant DD, 3 APD, 9 AK, and 2 AP sunk with over 1,000 troops entering the shark-filled waters. Only an Escort, and 2 badly damaged AKs escape.

As both TF try to head for safety, Force Z expends the last of its main gun ammo sinking an Escort-Class ship and DD Yamagumo.

Amazingly the day passes WITHOUT the expected Betty attack! The two TF high-tail it back towards safety just as fast as their boilers will allow!

HUZZAH! Japanese losses consist of 2 DD, an AMC, an Escort, 3 APD, 10 AK, 2 AKL, 2 AP, Additional damage done to another Escort, 1 PB, 2 AK, and an AKL. SOLID WORK!

[BBfanboy]

Solid work indeed! That has to set back his invasion schedule quite a bit - not because of the 1000 troops but because of the vehicles, equipment and supplies that the landed troops will not have.
I have not found PoW gunnery to be that good against warships, even in daylight - slower targets are a lot easier!
One thing consistent - she's a torp magnet! [:(]

[John 3rd]

Got that right!

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
Dec 14, 1942

Our turns proceed slowly. After the GLORY of Force Z's Deep Strike at Miri, the worms turns just a bit...

North Pacific
No Action

Central Pacific
KB is STILL loitering between Midway and Wake. Doesn't make much sense. I have 4 DMS racing to mine Midway tomorrow. A small Marine Detachment will land there with 10,000 Supplies in about 4 days.

Wake needs supplies and an AKL is closing the distance.

South Pacific
Troops begin landing at Lunga. Three of the small Inf Coy plus a small detachment of CD are landing.

Port Moresby is looking TOUGH with the American reinforcements (2 Base Force and 2 Heavy Artillery) there. Expanding the AF and Forts.

Philippines
Am going to make a stand at Lucena. Looks like the majority of the troops are in the south.

Order 4 Phil ID to attack Northern Luzon. There is not much of a Japanese presence up there so I shall attack if possible.

Bring the 3 old Four-Pipers back to Manila. They tangle with four older Japanese DDs in an inconclusive fight. The Dutch (2 CL and 6 DD) are coming up here. His CVs retreated to re-provision at Babeldoap and so I am trying to take advantage of that. Have run 9 small 1,000 Supply AKLs up from Tarkan and Balikpapan. Looks like they shall make it and bolster supply some.

DEI
Force Z runs into a TF of 2 CA (Mogami and Mikuma) and 4 DDs. Normally I would celebrate but Prince and Reuplse are OUT of maingun ammo. CRAP! A lengthy 15 round daylight fight ensues. Prince takes 11 8" shells and it cause a good amount of SYS Damage. Durban gets roughed up as well as DDs Isis and Express. In return Mikuma is beaten up pretty well as well as 2 DDs. Everyone heads for Singapore for repairs and ammo.

No landings have occurred ANYWHERE in the DEI except Miri.

Malaya
Re-take Port Swettenham and drive out 7 units.

His use of getting these initial bases by Paras has worked great as it has totally disrupted my plans for the battle in Malaya. WELL DONE to my opponent here!

Burma
Serious reinforcements arrive at both Pt. Blair and Rangoon. A Brigade is landing at Blair and two Indian Brigades will reinforce Burma. Each TF is also carrying 10-15,000 Supply.

China
Nothing major to report.

[ny59giants]

Central Pacific
KB is STILL loitering between Midway and Wake. Doesn't make much sense. I have 4 DMS racing to mine Midway tomorrow. A small Marine Detachment will land there with 10,000 Supplies in about 4 days.

Wake needs supplies and an AKL is closing the distance.

No landings have occurred ANYWHERE in the DEI except Miri.

Add these together and I wonder if a 'major' invasion of Hawaii is in the undertaking without the usual preliminary invasions of Midway and Johnson Island and bases. All those troops have to be going someplace together and still remain undetected.

I would send some small two ship xAKs out of Pearl and head NW to go above Midway. Act as pickets. Maybe the older CL cruiser with their FPs, too.

[Q-Ball]

If he's invading Hawaii with the Malayan forces, this will be a short game. There are plenty of troops at Pearl to hold against 5+ IJA Divisions. I suppose he can land at Lahaina, set-up a Betty base, and wait, but that's going to take awhile given the huge stockpiles of everything that Pearl starts with.

I have a different theory. My theory is that your opponent is not very experienced, and is missing on some basics. Even if you are bypassing Malaya for god knows what reason, you would at least land in Kota Bharu. Not landing there boggles the mind, and makes me think your opponent just hasn't thought this through. Time will tell, but that's my theory.

I would run AKLs to Manila from Soerbaya; if he is not alert, they will get through with more supplies

[John 3rd]

Qball: My initial reading of this is agreement with you. He might be coming after Hawaii and that would be BOLD, however, it would REALLY surprise me if he is. We'll see...

Gonna keep the AKLs running and see what I can get into Manila and Singapore.

[Dan Nichols]

John, I know you don't have a lot of time for AARs, but I was wondering if anything happened here?

[John 3rd]

Hey Dan.

Short Answer: Am getting my butt KICKED!

Until I get the boys back in school Aug 14th, I am simply trying to survive and get turns done.

My opponent has managed to keep me off-balanced enough to land some serious punches. He also concentrates Japanese airpower like I have never seen. The KB is staying in one huge unit and laying waste wherever it goes. This helps some since I am easily able to keep track of it but when it appears I have learned the simple truth of RUN FOR YOUR LIFE! Will Post more when I get a chance.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Qball: My initial reading of this is agreement with you. He might be coming after Hawaii and that would be BOLD, however, it would REALLY surprise me if he is. We'll see...

Gonna keep the AKLs running and see what I can get into Manila and Singapore.

Hi just got caught up on this. Well, I thought to enlighten you but I can see from your following post that you are finding out on your own. [;)] Ark (Viperpol) and I have been fighting a tooth and nail campaign ever since the game came out three years ago. We are now reaching the end of 44 and look to go to 1946. It is a scen 2 game so he has some pretty good assets. However, I can assure you that he is a top notch player and will cut you to the knees if you slip up. He does not make many mistakes. Good luck and let us know how it is going.

[ctangus]

Bump?

Just noticed this AAR. Game still on? Any recent updates?

I've been away from the game for a few years but back in WITP days viberpol & I played a 1 May CHS start into mid-'44. I want to echo what crsutton said: out of 7 or 8 competitive PBEMs I played, Arkadiusz was by far my toughest opponent.

Just don't ask me what happened to TF 38 in my game... [:D]

[John 3rd]

Hey Sir.

Our game is still rolling. I found it exceedingly tough to keep TWO AARs going at the same time. Didn't work too well!

He is a NASTY opponent! I have been getting my *SS whipped and it is very disheartening. We're at the end of January. Events:

1. I've taken a page from CR and moved the 18th Brit ID into Palembang and have 2-4 units in all the bases near there up through Oosthaven. Forts at Palembang are at 3 and moving slowly up.
2. He has thrown everything possible into killing China. Though I've managed a few counter-punches it is exceptionally sad here. Doubt if I shall have China by the end of 1942.
3. Lost Lex & Ent at Rabaul when I misjudged KB's location. Good news is I was able to off-load EVERY plane of their air groups so I have an extra 150 planes in this arena.
4. Burma is just starting to heat-up.

He plays with this massed concentration approach that is OPPOSITE of my style and it has taken some time to get used to. The thing that gets me is he spends 2 days making his turn perfect. I get it, run it, and shot it back in about an hour's time. I've NEVER been soooo methodical as he is. This style can be taken advantage of, however, I need to time and prep to spring that trap. Given time it SHOULD happen.

[viberpol]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
He is a NASTY opponent! I have been getting my *SS whipped and it is very disheartening.

This game (John 3rd as Allies, Viberpol as Japan) has just ended 3/20/42 with Japanese major victory.
The result says: 2,95 : 1 for the Japanese.

John 3rd lost his interest in this game and bailed out after receiving serious punches.
I attach the "ships sunk" list for visual confirmation of his naval losses:
2:0 in carriers
8:0 in battleships
19:1 in cruisers

I bear no grudge against John 3rd but somehow feel a pity
because this was to be a Reluctant Admiral game where he was to show
the Allies are not that weak as it seems and can hold the ground against modified Japanese OOB.