Avian aggression leads to murder most fowl - Sqz(A) vs. Chickenboy(J)

[witpqs]

I forgot - are you using optional stacking limits?

[SqzMyLemon]

Andre wanted a stock and officially patched game (no beta's or mods) so no SL's. Stacking limits are the way to go, but I'm ok playing without them.

[pontiouspilot]

I will follow this AAR closely.

You have had some nice ambushes so far. Since you have a very aggressive Japanese player and you know where he needs to go my advice is don't be shy. The early IJN forays provide very fertile ground for aggressive surface action by Allies. The only proviso to this is if IJN CVs are in area. As you know from playing as Japanese player it takes some time for repositioning of land based Jap. air units. Generally until they have a good base or 2 in DEI I have not found the land based air a big risk either as an attack threat or even as effective spotters. Also, (I gather you do not play as Allied player often, if ever)....I find Allied Sigintel to be very useful if you have an effective BS filter.

As far as doing much with US carriers pre-Wilcat/pre-Avenger ie much before late '42 I only do it if I know there is no possibility of IJN Cvs anywhere around. What I do is firstly unload all US carrier planes at important bases eg. Hawaii,Suva, New Caledonia, maybe Midway etc...secondly I then use the empty CVs to clean out the west coast of available air groups and even though they are green as grass, at least they make a good show in the right place. This also gets them there quickly which is often a surprise to a Japanese player. I have found that using the well trained USN air groups in this way spares them from going down with the ship so to speak. Many Jap. players don't expect to find good navy planes early on at those sites.

Will we ever get spring????

[SqzMyLemon]

I was hoping to be able to influence the battle for Java somewhat aided by U.S. CV air, but instead of sailing directly for Australia with CV's Enterprise and Lexington at game start I decided to retire to Pearl Harbor. In hindsight it was the wrong move since KB ended up redeploying to the Central Pacific after the Manila strike far sooner than I anticipated. CV Saratoga was ordered to Cape Town at game start but hasn't arrived yet. She'll eventually be joined by CV Hornet. I'm not sure it's smart on my part to split the CV's so early, but I want some flexibility.

However, this is all rather moot with the pace of the Japanese advance preventing me arriving in time at Java to influence events. At least I will be in position to aid the Cape Town - Australia LOC and maybe catch some raiding enemy SCTF's unawares.

My experience with the Allies is minimal. This is my second PBEM with them, but both Scenario 2 and both against extremely aggressive opponents so I've never really gotten a chance to do anything other than react and stay alive. I did reach August 43 before that game ended so I do have an idea on what conditions will be like moving forward. As you can tell I'm trying to set things up for a stand somewhere within the next few months, but until then conserve what forces I can and nibble away is the order of the day.

As to Spring, ugh, enough already. It's getting so bad you almost have to go on vacation in the Summer now just to get some decent weather.

[Capt. Harlock]

Japanese units poor onto Java

Does that mean that Japanese units will eventually rich into Australia? [:D]

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

Japanese units poor onto Java

Does that mean that Japanese units will eventually rich into Australia? [:D]

Ack, I try to proofread and catch all those errors. Smartass! [:D]

[SqzMyLemon]

Andre must have anticipated my ambush at Sian. No bombers flew, but AVG encountered small Oscar sweeps of nine aircraft or less four times. It's obvious I'm going to have to change it up and avoid being predictable. AVG patrolling at 8k and 15k to interdict unescorted bombers instead suffered bounce/dive attacks over and over again from Oscar's set to 25k or higher. Not one Allied fighter got on the 'six' of an Oscar, but losses could have been worse considering the tactical situation. AVG's banged up a little with 1 destroyed and 9 damaged crates stuck on the ground at Sian out of an initial number of 37 aircraft. One Oscar was shot down.

In China, a small Japanese force gets spanked by a Chinese Corp in 3x terrain. It hasn't been all Japan so far as a few Chinese units have been able to offer solid resistance inflicting decent casualties on the Japanese. AAR follows:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 84,56 (near Nanchang)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 3376 troops, 16 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 125

Defending force 6544 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 170

Japanese adjusted assault: 0

Allied adjusted defense: 100

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 99

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

Japanese ground losses:
2006 casualties reported
Squads: 25 destroyed, 127 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 9 (2 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Assaulting units:
2nd Ind.Mixed Regiment

Defending units:
28th Chinese Corps

Other than that a quiet turn.

A strong Japanese SCTF has been tracked for three days in a row now. First spotted near Makassar this enemy TF is now seen off the New Guinea coast approching Hollandia. CV Kaga and friends are now located off the coast near Balikpapan. Dutch submarines that have had some success now can't hit anything. I believe they've recorded one dud and 3 misses during the last four attacks with one Japanese CA appearing in the crosshairs but evading successfully.

[crsutton]

Just don't know how valuable it is to go after the American subs. Aside from the occasional lucky hit they are pretty useless for the first year of the war. A patient Allied player will have plenty of them by the time his torpedoes get better. Although, I think you are correct holding the old BBs in reserve until later. I think they become very valuable once the Allies go over on the offensive. So, if the loss of the subs is an early war inconvenience, I consider the threat of those upgraded BBs later on a more more viable threat. And although the non historical turn allows the Japanese player some more flexibility, I think it is a big mistake to use it because it lets the to British BBs get away. These are the two best Allied surface ships in the Pacific for about a year and can make trouble. I for one would want the historical start just to see them sunk.

[SqzMyLemon]

Thanks for the post crsutton.

I'm hoping BB Prince of Wales and BC Repulse teamed up with a few American CV's can make trouble for the Japanese in the IO or defend against landings against Timor or Northern Australia.

I agree on the old BB's. I'm hoping holding them back until upgraded will come back to haunt Andre and allow me much more flexibility. Their fire support during amphibious landings and added AA values will prove their worth in the long run.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: crsutton

Just don't know how valuable it is to go after the American subs. Aside from the occasional lucky hit they are pretty useless for the first year of the war. A patient Allied player will have plenty of them by the time his torpedoes get better. Although, I think you are correct holding the old BBs in reserve until later. I think they become very valuable once the Allies go over on the offensive. So, if the loss of the subs is an early war inconvenience, I consider the threat of those upgraded BBs later on a more more viable threat. And although the non historical turn allows the Japanese player some more flexibility, I think it is a big mistake to use it because it lets the to British BBs get away. These are the two best Allied surface ships in the Pacific for about a year and can make trouble. I for one would want the historical start just to see them sunk.

Use them to suss out aerial search patterns, and for sub transport, and for sub minelaying.

Also, sending some out to "attack" isn't a bad idea to gain intel on enemy ship movements in general. A failed attack can often give lots of knowledge about what ships are where, and possibly even where they're heading.


+1 to what crsutton says about Force Z. They're great ships, if they can be held onto. If you pick the right time to use them, you can really sow some chaos into an IJN landing or three in the southern DEI. Wait for the IJN to proceed past LBA, maybe get a little overconfident, and then nail them. If you can.

[pontiouspilot]

RE: US subs...the older, smaller numbered variety SS allegedly don't have the dud problems the newer fleet boats have. I use the new ones just as Loko recommends. They can be very useful to keep Manila or Singapore alive with supplies a little longer.

Force Z: I think they are infinitely more dangerous as raiders early on than attached to CVs!! Maybe this isn't what you meant?? Everything in DEI should be "Injun Country" if Force Z alive....great ambush country, good escape lanes and usually crappy weather.

Old BBs: If you didn't lose a lot at Pearl I look on them as "expendable"....not wasteable but expendable. They scare the hell outa Japanese landings early on requiring IJN BBs or Cvs in response. If they get in a fight they usually have a closer base to reload than the IJN who seems to have to sail all the way home to reload. It is never a bad idea just to sail them around so they get spotted. IF you can provide air cover on Bay of Bengal coast ie. Chittagong, Calcutta etc they will deter any cute landing behind your flank. Also the old British "R" class are more experienced than the bulk of USA BBs early on. If in right Tf they have saved the day in Bay of Bengal for me.....and yes they got the sheet mauled outa them but they succeeded. Against my Aussie friend the venerable Tennessee herself saved Midway from a Jan '42 invasion. I got lucky and the single IJN carrier couldn't find her in bad weather. She sank 1xCA, xCl 1xDD and everybody else ran never to be seen. I was fully prepared to sacrifice her...turned out she thought otherwise.

[BBfanboy]

Agree with the above discussion about how to use subs, but keep in mind that the fleet boats awaiting 1943 torpedoes need to gain experience in making
attacks and avoiding counterattacks. Dud attacks are disheartening, but not totally wasted.

The old S-boats may have a more reliable torpedo (around 80% bang rate) but it has a smaller warhead and does not do as much damage. Many IJ ships will
survive such torp hits but not the ones from the Mk14 when it works.

I have used PoW in early battles and got creamed if Captain Leach was in command and Tom Phillips was in charge of the TF.
When I canned them and put Palliser in command, Force Z could hit back as well as it received.

The older BBs can be useful before the big amphib assaults of 1943 if they get good captains (at least 55 Naval Skill and 50+ aggression) and the crew
gets some experience. Best way to get an experience jump is to bombard an exposed enemy point where the BB can get away into air cover by daylight, or where
enemy airfields are all shut down. Intentional surface battles at this stage are too iffy because of the Long Lance threat.

[pontiouspilot]

BBboy bang on.....but for as fearsome as Long Lance should be I have only been seriously lanced once. I have frankly quit worrying about them. Maybe I've just been lucky but the game perhaps doesn't give them the bang they deserve.

Hey, frozen lemon and BBboy....spring coming 11 above by Tuesday....Calgary supposed to be 22!!!!

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Agree with the above discussion about how to use subs, but keep in mind that the fleet boats awaiting 1943 torpedoes need to gain experience in making
attacks and avoiding counterattacks. Dud attacks are disheartening, but not totally wasted.

The old S-boats may have a more reliable torpedo (around 80% bang rate) but it has a smaller warhead and does not do as much damage. Many IJ ships will
survive such torp hits but not the ones from the Mk14 when it works.

I have used PoW in early battles and got creamed if Captain Leach was in command and Tom Phillips was in charge of the TF.
When I canned them and put Palliser in command, Force Z could hit back as well as it received.

The older BBs can be useful before the big amphib assaults of 1943 if they get good captains (at least 55 Naval Skill and 50+ aggression) and the crew
gets some experience. Best way to get an experience jump is to bombard an exposed enemy point where the BB can get away into air cover by daylight, or where
enemy airfields are all shut down. Intentional surface battles at this stage are too iffy because of the Long Lance threat.

Palliser is my commander of choice as well. He has great stats.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: pontiouspilot

BBboy bang on.....but for as fearsome as Long Lance should be I have only been seriously lanced once. I have frankly quit worrying about them. Maybe I've just been lucky but the game perhaps doesn't give them the bang they deserve.

Hey, frozen lemon and BBboy....spring coming 11 above by Tuesday....Calgary supposed to be 22!!!!

22ºC is the stuff or dreams for us chosen frozen! We had a warm day two days ago and then yesterday it snowed all day, but very lightly.
Today we finally got above 0º and because I live on the 18th floor, my balcony is clear of snow so I BBQ'd some pork chops. Manna to we who
have been denied that flavour for over four months.
Regardless of the desire for instant spring, I hope the melt goes slowly enough to avoid major flooding like Calgary/Canmore had last year!


OK, Sqz [hijack off] back to you!

[SqzMyLemon]

Thanks for the discussion gents.

What submarines I do have left are active and routinely spotting and attacking enemy ships, just no love in terms of duds lately.

The old BB's will come in handy, but right now there isn't a need to risk them. They will be active at some point in 42, but when and where has yet to be determined.

On a weather note I do believe Spring is here! As to hijacks, post away. I encourage posts about any subject in my AAR's so feel free to mention anything that comes to mind.

[GreyJoy]

I'd be very very cautious to use the old BBs before the Fletchers arrive. Allied pre-war DDs are crap and enemy's subs can have some field days in deep waters against those slow battlewagons. Also Japanese DDs (Kageros etc) are very experienced and will eat alive a SC composed around those old BBs.
I'd keep them for the amphib operations of 1943 and use the allied cruisers only in 1942 (a part from the British BBs which can be usefull even in 1942)

[SqzMyLemon]

I agree about the need to have better ASW for the BB's before committing them Nic, but I think they may be needed to stave off a Japanese AV. At the very least they will support operations to liberate Christmas Island sometime in 1942.

[SqzMyLemon]

Turns were slow over the weekend.

The Japanese have ramped up their bombing campaigns against Singapore, Clark Field and in China. Singapore got nailed by close to 200 bombers last turn. FLAK has been effective usually downing 1-2 bombers. Forts reached level 3 before damage prevented further construction so the base won't last long.

CV Kaga and friends are spotted near Davao. I believe this means the Japanese will now move on Manado, Ternate, Ambon and Kendari.

In China there are some big battles forthcoming. On the main Nanyang - Sian road there are 20-25 Japanese units about to assault 1400 Chinese AV blocking the road. AVG and Japanese Oscar's have contested the skies over Sian for three days now. AVG is starting to get the upper hand, but I expect Andre to commit Zero's soon. I'm trying to delay bombing of the base to allow forts to reach level 4. Chinese troops are digging in everywhere there is 3x terrain. I should start to receive the first of my zombie troops soon. I'm leaving minimal garrisons at rear bases to allow supply to move forward and it seems to be working. However, China is China. I'll slow the Japanese as long as I can, but I'm always prepared to see the situation crumble quickly.

Two British Hurricane units have arrived at Karachi. A third is now deploying to India via ship from Aden. I've already begun strategically redeploying 4E units to Cape Town. They are bound for both Australia and India. I had moved a P-40 unit from the Philippines to India and just converted it to P-38's. This squadron is due to withdraw in April or May 42, but will be sent to China to cause the Japanese trouble. I'm not concerned about using up supply, it will always run out in China, it's a question of using what little there is in an effective way. Right now interdicting Japanese bombing raids to allow my troops to form their MLR seems a good choice.

Other than that, just weathering the storm and positioning forces to offer stiffer resistance moving forward.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

Turns were slow over the weekend.

The Japanese have ramped up their bombing campaigns against Singapore, Clark Field and in China. Singapore got nailed by close to 200 bombers last turn. FLAK has been effective usually downing 1-2 bombers. Forts reached level 3 before damage prevented further construction so the base won't last long.

CV Kaga and friends are spotted near Davao. I believe this means the Japanese will now move on Manado, Ternate, Ambon and Kendari.

In China there are some big battles forthcoming. On the main Nanyang - Sian road there are 20-25 Japanese units about to assault 1400 Chinese AV blocking the road. AVG and Japanese Oscar's have contested the skies over Sian for three days now. AVG is starting to get the upper hand, but I expect Andre to commit Zero's soon. I'm trying to delay bombing of the base to allow forts to reach level 4. Chinese troops are digging in everywhere there is 3x terrain. I should start to receive the first of my zombie troops soon. I'm leaving minimal garrisons at rear bases to allow supply to move forward and it seems to be working. However, China is China. I'll slow the Japanese as long as I can, but I'm always prepared to see the situation crumble quickly.

Two British Hurricane units have arrived at Karachi. A third is now deploying to India via ship from Aden. I've already begun strategically redeploying 4E units to Cape Town. They are bound for both Australia and India. I had moved a P-40 unit from the Philippines to India and just converted it to P-38's. This squadron is due to withdraw in April or May 42, but will be sent to China to cause the Japanese trouble. I'm not concerned about using up supply, it will always run out in China, it's a question of using what little there in an effective way. Right now interdicting Japanese bombing raids to allow my troops to form their MLR seems a good choice.

Other than that, just weathering the storm and positioning forces to offer stiffer resistance moving forward.

Many of those 4Es can fly from San Francisco -> Pearl Harbor -> Suva/Pago Pago -> Sydney. Takes only a week if they start at Eastern US, or 4-5 days if they start on the West Coast. Should be much faster than going through the wormhole. Downside is you may (probably will) end up with a damaged plane here and there along the route.