Groundhog Day! - No NJP

[zuluhour]

thought this just me.

[Mike McCreery]

AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!

[Mike McCreery]

The empire strikes back eh?? Well, the allies strike back too!!!! Muahahaha.

I tried to get this AMC group with my heavy cruiser. 5 bombs on 1 and 3 bombs on the other Japanese AMC ships lurking near Suva... Not lurking anymore. One is off radar so likely sunk, I am not sure what will happen to the other but will not wait around with the KB missing from sight.

[Mike McCreery]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

You may not have all of the pertinent artwork for some of those new ship types.

This happened with me when I first started my BTS scenario.

I had failed to download all of the new artwork associated with the scenario.

I went back and got all the artwork I had missed and now rarely encounter a ship with no artwork.

Although I do still have the battleship Legaspi.

Considering I have downloaded zero artwork you may be on to something.

Could you link to the pertinent area so I can consider upgrading? I would appreciate it.

[Mike McCreery]

I need things like this to slow the Japanese advance down. Little by little the tide will turn.

[Mike McCreery]

Hong Kong holds for a day

[Mike McCreery]

December 17, 1944

Skip ahead 5 or so days.

Ambon fell, Singkawang has fallen. Hong Kong has fallen. No invasion of Luzon at this time. NJP is taking a much more Pacific forward start in this game by taking Canton. He never took this island nor pushed in the southeast Pacific in the last game.

The only significant naval confrontation of the war occurred between 4 of NJP's destroyers and a cruiser/destroyer force of the allies. 3 allied destroyers were significantly damaged with hits to 2 of his destroyers.

My primary concern at this time is if NJP is crazy enough to try to take Pearl Harbor or the surrounding islands. I am unloading a regiment at Pearl Harbor this turn. I am sending the 2 other Marine regiments available to reinforce. I am going to fly all the planes off of the Saratoga next turn and sail her back to the east coast to pick up more aircraft for defense.

Pearl Harbor is the one place I will fight tooth and nail for right now.

[ny59giants]

Dutch O19 & O20: I often put them in a Sub Minelaying TF together and use them to try to slow Japan down in DEI until you run out of mines. They are your best sub minelayers in theater. The hex due NE of Palembang is often a good place to lay mines. [;)]

[Lowpe]

You couldn't ask for a better place to fight over than Pearl. I think that would make for a short game.

A CentPac strategy however would be pretty conventional, ultimately aiming for Tahiti if he wants to take it to the extreme. Or perhaps it is all a feint and he is prepping for India again! Or OZ and New Zealand! You just won't know for a while yet.

[Mike McCreery]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

You couldn't ask for a better place to fight over than Pearl. I think that would make for a short game.

A CentPac strategy however would be pretty conventional, ultimately aiming for Tahiti if he wants to take it to the extreme. Or perhaps it is all a feint and he is prepping for India again! Or OZ and New Zealand! You just won't know for a while yet.

On the low chance side he goes for Pearl. Right now it is a high chance he tries to isolate Australia and we will see what he comes up with in India. I think more Australia this time though... Hope I can get AA there fast enough.

[Mike McCreery]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Dutch O19 & O20: I often put them in a Sub Minelaying TF together and use them to try to slow Japan down in DEI until you run out of mines. They are your best sub minelayers in theater. The hex due NE of Palembang is often a good place to lay mines. [;)]

I like this :]

[Mike McCreery]

December 18, 1941

NJP isnt wasting any time with an amphibious assault on Darwin. Nobody is home. They started moving south on day 1. I am more sure now he is going to push hard on Australia. Hopefully the Aussies are up for the challenge. Might try to sail the 6th and 7th back home.

I did manage to poke a few holes in his ships so that is a good thing.

[Mike McCreery]

December 19, 1941

The AVG ambushes some bombers near Kukong.

[Mike McCreery]

Darwin falls...

[Mike McCreery]

Sambas falls and 3 units surrender to a japanese armor unit.

[Mike McCreery]

The XAK Ludington just disembarked from Palmyra with supplies left due to my fear of his attack at the port. NJP likes to send subs into the small ports in the beginning of the game hoping to snag some ships and it works sometimes.

Unfortunately this time the Ludington takes 3 torpedoes and a hit from deck guns to a sub 3 hexes northeast of the island.

Then one of his subs runs into a mine just planted the same day at Palmyra and takes heavy damage.

The game is following the same doctrine as last time although there is another carrier group thrown in the middle. Cant tell where his focus will be yet. His invasion is more orderly and has better backup.

Debating whether to send carriers to Australia to mix it up or just keep them out for now.

[ny59giants]

Debating whether to send carriers to Australia to mix it up or just keep them out for now.

Most players know I like to form my Allied "Death Star" with the four American CVs (Yorktown at end of December). I have single CV TF x 4 with 2 to 4 CA/CLs and 6 to 8 DDs each. I add a Marine fighter group (18 planes). Then, you get the CV fighter groups to resize on 1/1/42 to 27. Thus, having 45 fighters, regardless of types, will increase your survivability. Having 180 fighters will allow you to face all but KB. For right now, stay away from KB and train pilots. Did I mention train pilots?? [:D]

[Mike McCreery]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Debating whether to send carriers to Australia to mix it up or just keep them out for now.

Most players know I like to form my Allied "Death Star" with the four American CVs (Yorktown at end of December). I have single CV TF x 4 with 2 to 4 CA/CLs and 6 to 8 DDs each. I add a Marine fighter group (18 planes). Then, you get the CV fighter groups to resize on 1/1/42 to 27. Thus, having 45 fighters, regardless of types, will increase your survivability. Having 180 fighters will allow you to face all but KB. For right now, stay away from KB and train pilots. Did I mention train pilots?? [:D]

That is risky with the penalties in the early game against Japan regarding large carrier fleets.

By mixing it up I meant getting my air forces down there to possibly help defend if he goes that route. I have one carrier moving back in that direction. Having carrier aircraft at Australia will help confuse the location of my carriers.

1943 is a better time for a carrier battle.

[Mike McCreery]

December 21, 1941

These fleets may be arriving to take Port Moresby and some of the islands to the southeast or they may have intentions on mainland Australia. I have divisions building forts and resting for the most part at this time. Have the Australian divisions ready to re-assemble if necessary but am resting them individually for faster healing time.

I am not going to pay much attention to anything north of Brisbane or west of Port Augusta during the defense phase. I hope to protect my Australian units for later. Having a PITA of a time with some items for the Australians and the British in my other game. I would have all the regiments drop their bren/lewis guns and worry about re-acquiring them later if it let me re-group my divisions!!

If he goes for eastern Australia it might just fit into my later plans nicely.

[witpqs]

Glad to see that someone is posting in the AARs! This place was getting too quiet.