::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjoy (J)

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Looks good. [:)]

Start building Noumea up as soon as you feel its "secure". A nice 50 VP multiplier there. [:)]

It took me a while to realize it's only a 35k SL for Noumea. Once I saw that I got the units ready to go and prepared the whole lot to invest within about two weeks. With a division there it would be tough to try to take Noumea if it can build up a bit and after the invasion bonus. If I see anything coming a bunch of Marine Defense battalions will head to the New Caledonia ports as well.

I'll be building Noumea to the max quickly and moving up to do the same up the chain.

[obvert]

Here's a question:

Of course to get replacement devices for troop units it costs the equivalent of load in supply.

I had always thought repairing of disabled squads also had a supply cost. I realized I didn't know what that cost was exactly, so I searched and found a ton of good, old threads. one had a quote from a dev (BigJ62) saying repairing disabled squads cost no supply! Was I off base completely, and is this still true? No supply cost to replace disabled devices?

http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/fb.asp?m=2289042

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: obvert

Here's a question:

Of course to get replacement devices for troop units it costs the equivalent of load in supply.

I had always thought replacements also had a supply cost. I realized I didn't know what that cost was exactly, so I searched and found a ton of good, old threads. one had a quote from a dev (BigJ62) saying replacements cost no supply! Was I off base completely, and is this still true? No supply cost to replace disabled devices?

http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/fb.asp?m=2289042

There's a difference between disabled and destroyed...

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: obvert

Here's a question:

Of course to get replacement devices for troop units it costs the equivalent of load in supply.

I had always thought repairing disabled devices also had a supply cost. I realized I didn't know what that cost was exactly, so I searched and found a ton of good, old threads. one had a quote from a dev (BigJ62) saying repairing disabled devices cost no supply! Was I off base completely, and is this still true? No supply cost to replace disabled devices?

http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/fb.asp?m=2289042

There's a difference between disabled and destroyed...

I'm just talking about disabled squads, and the quote from BigJ62 mentions disabled squads costing nothing to replace. It also states that replacements cost equal to the device load, (which is destroyed or never present devices).

ORIGINAL: BigJ62

Cost nothing to repair a disabled squad, the cost for replacements is equal to its load cost.

All I'm interested in is making sure that there is no cost for repairing a disabled squad. I thought there was, but according to this post, which seems definitive, there is not. Just looking for confirmation.

EDITED: Late when writing and I originally misused the term replacements meaning disabled squads. Doh! Probaby where Lokasenna's response came from in its brevity. [;)]

[pharmy]

I wouldn't put any stock in coastwatcher report, allied or Japanese. Just a quick check of the my vs AI Allied operations report shows zero ships in Rabaul when there is 2 a dd escorted 8 tk convoy there, along with 30 other dispersed ships. Luganville has over 40 warships - 6 are sighted none named. Only correct guess out of 8 ports is an AV at Tulagi, but one is also reported to be at Kavieng. And its reported to be the AV Arabia Maru, which is not in the Sopac theater at all. Checking back through the operation files, the ones where speed and direction are noted, those seem semi-accurate.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: icepharmy

I wouldn't put any stock in coastwatcher report, allied or Japanese. Just a quick check of the my vs AI Allied operations report shows zero ships in Rabaul when there is 2 a dd escorted 8 tk convoy there, along with 30 other dispersed ships. Luganville has over 40 warships - 6 are sighted none named. Only correct guess out of 8 ports is an AV at Tulagi, but one is also reported to be at Kavieng. And its reported to be the AV Arabia Maru, which is not in the Sopac theater at all. Checking back through the operation files, the ones where speed and direction are noted, those seem semi-accurate.

Good to know. Too bad this is the case though as coast watcher reports in reality were exceedingly accurate, some down to exact ship numbers and types.

I've just been reading The Coastwatchers by Eric A. Feldt who was commander of the operation through the beginning of the war. Really amazing what they did and went through to do it. A great read and tribute to those men and the native people who for the most part helped them. (Most of the natives anyway where they weren't swung by Japanese intimidation or propaganda).

Some of the reports have been confirmed by air search for ships out of port, so maybe those are more likely to be accurate as you say.

[ny59giants]

Stacking Limits on Pacific bases - I have multiple sheets of paper with bases I'm invading or reinforcing to avoid overstacking. It looks like this....

Noumea: AF x(y) P x(y) SL - 35k
Americal ID - xyz AV (Assault Value) Load Cost (troops/cargo) SL xy Location (so I can find out where they are to get transports there)
BF... (write down Aviation Support vs AV)
Art...
SeaBees...
Tank...

You will eventually need an assistant just to run your naval operations dept and logistical efforts. Running the Japanese economy with Tracker is easier than late war Allies, IMO. [X(]

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]MAY 8-9, 1942[/font]

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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font]A few missed attacks. One by an S-boat on the small coastal tankers being used by Japan to go to Sakhalin.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]INDIA: [/font]Recon makes me happy! Really happy! [:)]

Lucknow has 160 fighters and 12k Japanese troops. Scanning over some of the other nearby bases now, but this is the only one with a field above level 1. None of the bases along the West coast appear to have Japanese forces. His 'defense' here is definitely not comprehensive, and so I must now ask why?

My answer would be that it's simply a holding forward position to slightly stall and get more economic benefit from the operation. With Calcutta a wrecked shell and without big fuel dumps captured (most of it was pooling in Bombay) there is less here than he'd likely planned on. He's gotten a few months of extra HI and supply generation from a few bases like Madras and Jamshedpur, and oil/fuel from Ledo now for a month, but if we can move forward starting around June 10 (by which time troops will be in position more or less) the duration of this benefit can be reduced to a small blip in the course of the game. He'll likely break even at least, and the extra oil will be really useful, but if the stalling defense costs in supply and in a material sense in troops, guns, planes and ships, maybe I can bring the equation back into the red for the Japanese. We'll see! [;)]

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]Pacific: [/font]Operation Palisade starts off well. The base force lands at Belep Islands. A small Aussie Cat unit moves in which can search up to around Tulagi. Noumea forces are a day out. Several days more for units to arrive at Tanna. About 7 days before either of the actual 'invasions' at unoccupied Efate and Luganville. One regiment is on it's way to Noumea, the other two will begin loading tomorrow. More base forces, engineers and AA arrive at Suva in 3 days. No more SIGINT regarding Fiji. The 32nd division is nearing Christmas Island.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CHINA: [/font] I've decided to experiment with turning the units at Pinsiang to reserve mode. They've been bleeding supply from bombardments and this should theoretically mean they don't fire back or change back to combat. It would also mean a DA would throw them into Move mode for defense, which is not ideal, but neither is being low in supply, which is the case now. Worth a try.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]PI: [/font]Luzon is now being invested seriously by the extra Japanese troops that have been shown in SIGINT moving here. Nine units have moved into Manila in addition to the 900AV that has been in Clark for months. At least 5-8 more are still moving in as well. I'll move tanks to Manila, but it still has three forts and could be tough, or at least provide some resistance still. About 200 bombers a day pound these bases though. Lots of supply out the window!

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SIGINT:[/font] I have to watch my P's and Q's here. It's not too far for a sprint for a fast SCTF from Tulagi to Koumac, Luganville or Efate.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Radio transmissions detected at Tulagi (114,137).[/font]

He is building some defenses at Colombo, and there is a lot of activity to and from Trincomalee. I would imagine Nick would think this would be the likely spot to hit first, to outflank the Japanese in India and bring the Bay of Bengal into contention. In this case I'd like to threaten Diego, toy with the idea of invasion of Ceylon, but really plan on getting a solid move forward on the subcontinent before risking naval forces. It's too early even in late summer to get to frisky with well-defended amphibious invasions close to other major Japanese bases.

15th Ind Engineer Regiment is located at Colombo(29,48).

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]Here is a shot of the troops moving now to the NE from the central Changsha/Pingsiang area. Wonder where they're going? Wenchow?

Also I just noticed Pakhow is collecting oil? Why? No refinery there. Annoying. [/font]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Stacking Limits on Pacific bases - I have multiple sheets of paper with bases I'm invading or reinforcing to avoid overstacking. It looks like this....

Noumea: AF x(y) P x(y) SL - 35k
Americal ID - xyz AV (Assault Value) Load Cost (troops/cargo) SL xy Location (so I can find out where they are to get transports there)
BF... (write down Aviation Support vs AV)
Art...
SeaBees...
Tank...

You will eventually need an assistant just to run your naval operations dept and logistical efforts. Running the Japanese economy with Tracker is easier than late war Allies, IMO. [X(]

I've always thought this!!

I'm not too ordered about notes and plans and things. I'll have to do some of it, but actually writing the AAR is part of the planning. I can make a map and list things here and that is a good reference for me too.

Prep is one of the ways I've been organizing forces. Just assigning things once I know I want to go somewhere and letting them prep, even if they're support units, just to get a sense of where it's all headed.

I will have to sit down and make some lists soon once I need to make actual contested invasions in late 42. I don't want to be sitting around with a conquered base and not enough follow-up troops to make it work.

[pharmy]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: icepharmy

I wouldn't put any stock in coastwatcher report, allied or Japanese. Just a quick check of the my vs AI Allied operations report shows zero ships in Rabaul when there is 2 a dd escorted 8 tk convoy there, along with 30 other dispersed ships. Luganville has over 40 warships - 6 are sighted none named. Only correct guess out of 8 ports is an AV at Tulagi, but one is also reported to be at Kavieng. And its reported to be the AV Arabia Maru, which is not in the Sopac theater at all. Checking back through the operation files, the ones where speed and direction are noted, those seem semi-accurate.

Good to know. Too bad this is the case though as coast watcher reports in reality were exceedingly accurate, some down to exact ship numbers and types.

I've just been reading The Coastwatchers by Eric A. Feldt who was commander of the operation through the beginning of the war. Really amazing what they did and went through to do it. A great read and tribute to those men and the native people who for the most part helped them. (Most of the natives anyway where they weren't swung by Japanese intimidation or propaganda).

Some of the reports have been confirmed by air search for ships out of port, so maybe those are more likely to be accurate as you say.

Actually sorry, you are right - I only checked the first instance, but you get two reports per day and the non-empty one is usually the correct one - example below. I guess evening and day phase. And the sightings are pretty accurate. In my example below the night phase Rabaul report is more accurate. Port Moresby has around 15 ships, none are sighted though in the past ten turns that they have been there. For JFBs - Wenchow is always empty but says 0-4 ships, and you always disregard it only to find a damaged sub when you invade.


Coastwatcher Report: AV Arabia Maru reported in port at Tulagi
Coastwatcher Report: harbor at Milne Bay is reported empty
Coastwatcher Report: harbor at Port Moresby is reported empty
Coastwatcher Report: 7 ships reported in port at Rabaul
Coastwatcher Report: AV Arabia Maru reported in port at Kavieng
Coastwatcher sighting: 10 Japanese ships at 120,150 near Luganville , Speed unknown
Coastwatcher sighting: 2 Japanese ships at 120,150 near Luganville , Speed unknown
Coastwatcher sighting: 4 Japanese ships at 106,125 near Rabaul , Speed unknown
Coastwatcher sighting: 10 Japanese ships at 120,150 near Luganville , Speed unknown
Task Force 257 slows down to allow following TF 79 to catch up

ML No. 194 followed by E13A1 Jake at 35,40 near Madras
Coastwatcher Report: AV Arabia Maru reported in port at Tulagi
Coastwatcher Report: AV Arabia Maru reported in port at Milne Bay
Coastwatcher Report: harbor at Port Moresby is reported empty
Coastwatcher Report: harbor at Rabaul is reported empty
Coastwatcher Report: CMc Ma 1 reported in port at Kavieng
Coastwatcher sighting: 13 Japanese ships at 119,151 near Lakatoro , Speed 0 , Moving Southwest

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Bomber pilots were critically low for me from 44 and onward. In the end I was flying 40 EXP pilots. Doesn´t help that most of the B29 squadrons arrive with LOWNAV trained pilots... [8|]

Yes, I was totally unprepared for 1/45 (or was it 1/44?) when every American bomber group expands-mediums and heavies. You actually have to train and stockpile pilots from the beginning to fill out the pilots. I was so short that I just had to pull a lot of units out of the line to train up pilots. The good news is that there really was no problem using the poorer pilots after 1/44. You just have so many bombers that it does not matter. and 45 experienced pilots with 50 bombing skills will do just fine.

This is not unlike the actual situation in 44-45 where the Americans just stuffing planes with scads of well trained but green pilots. Really no choice.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: obvert

Here's a question:

Of course to get replacement devices for troop units it costs the equivalent of load in supply.

I had always thought repairing of disabled squads also had a supply cost. I realized I didn't know what that cost was exactly, so I searched and found a ton of good, old threads. one had a quote from a dev (BigJ62) saying repairing disabled squads cost no supply! Was I off base completely, and is this still true? No supply cost to replace disabled devices?

http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/fb.asp?m=2289042

Yes, this is correct. They need only to rest. However, I think that if a unit is in very low supply or no supply disabled units will not recover, or at least recover very slowly.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: crsutton

ORIGINAL: obvert

Here's a question:

Of course to get replacement devices for troop units it costs the equivalent of load in supply.

I had always thought repairing of disabled squads also had a supply cost. I realized I didn't know what that cost was exactly, so I searched and found a ton of good, old threads. one had a quote from a dev (BigJ62) saying repairing disabled squads cost no supply! Was I off base completely, and is this still true? No supply cost to replace disabled devices?

http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/fb.asp?m=2289042

Yes, this is correct. They need only to rest. However, I think that if a unit is in very low supply or no supply disabled units will not recover, or at least recover very slowly.

Good. I have always noticed the correlation between low supply and slow recovery and thought this was from using supply to repair devices. Nice to be wrong about that.

With almost no combat in over two months, nearly all replacements off and no infrastructure building, I still can't get China into a decent supply situation. I've now slowed replacements even more to just three Corps in Chungking, and we'll see if that helps.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Stacking Limits on Pacific bases - I have multiple sheets of paper with bases I'm invading or reinforcing to avoid overstacking. It looks like this....

Noumea: AF x(y) P x(y) SL - 35k
Americal ID - xyz AV (Assault Value) Load Cost (troops/cargo) SL xy Location (so I can find out where they are to get transports there)
BF... (write down Aviation Support vs AV)
Art...
SeaBees...
Tank...

You will eventually need an assistant just to run your naval operations dept and logistical efforts. Running the Japanese economy with Tracker is easier than late war Allies, IMO. [X(]

I've always thought this!!

I'm not too ordered about notes and plans and things. I'll have to do some of it, but actually writing the AAR is part of the planning. I can make a map and list things here and that is a good reference for me too.

Prep is one of the ways I've been organizing forces. Just assigning things once I know I want to go somewhere and letting them prep, even if they're support units, just to get a sense of where it's all headed.

I will have to sit down and make some lists soon once I need to make actual contested invasions in late 42. I don't want to be sitting around with a conquered base and not enough follow-up troops to make it work.

This is my method as well. I go into Tracker's LCU page, filter for "plan enemy base" and "active", and then sort by target.

Or if I'm garrisoning, I can take off the plan enemy base filter... Works very well for me.

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: crsutton

ORIGINAL: obvert

Here's a question:

Of course to get replacement devices for troop units it costs the equivalent of load in supply.

I had always thought repairing of disabled squads also had a supply cost. I realized I didn't know what that cost was exactly, so I searched and found a ton of good, old threads. one had a quote from a dev (BigJ62) saying repairing disabled squads cost no supply! Was I off base completely, and is this still true? No supply cost to replace disabled devices?

http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/fb.asp?m=2289042

Yes, this is correct. They need only to rest. However, I think that if a unit is in very low supply or no supply disabled units will not recover, or at least recover very slowly.

Good. I have always noticed the correlation between low supply and slow recovery and thought this was from using supply to repair devices. Nice to be wrong about that.

With almost no combat in over two months, nearly all replacements off and no infrastructure building, I still can't get China into a decent supply situation. I've now slowed replacements even more to just three Corps in Chungking, and we'll see if that helps.

Yeah, while it may not actually cost any supply to repair a disabled device (it won't "charge" you), the unit does need to have at least some supply or it won't repair.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]MAY 10-11, 1942[/font]

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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font]Finback does a little business on the surface. These fleet subs are getting in the works for Japan at least. Not much of value, but hitting some small stuff still helps.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]INDIA: [/font]Cochin is bombed taking away our Cat base. Only one plane lost though, which is good. The rest all moved back to Bombay in good shape.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]Pacific: [/font]Noumea is filling up with new troops, as is Tanna. All is on schedule, and once the supply is dropped the TFs will head back to pick up more.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CHINA: [/font] At Pingsiang the experiment with reserve mode is working but the biggest of my Corps keeps popping into combat mode regardless during the bombardment. I'll keep switching it back.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]PI:[/font] A DA at Clark gets the defenders whittled down a bit more. It won't be long now. The Japanese take 200+ disabled, but only a few actually lost.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SIGINT:[/font] Another diversionary SIGINT note. The 24th starts out at least in Mishan.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]24th Division is planning for an attack on Brisbane.[/font]

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 10, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub attack near Shimushiri-jima at 131,51

Japanese Ships
xAKL Choyo Maru #2, Shell hits 4

Allied Ships
SS Finback

SS Finback attacking xAKL Choyo Maru #2 on the surface
Peterson, W. decides to submerge SS Finback due to damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 11, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 31022 troops, 311 guns, 122 vehicles, Assault Value = 922

Defending force 29297 troops, 329 guns, 338 vehicles, Assault Value = 821

Japanese adjusted assault: 1274

Allied adjusted defense: 2104

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 0)

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

Japanese ground losses:
2350 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 174 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 35 disabled

Allied ground losses:
303 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 11 disabled
Guns lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 22 (1 destroyed, 21 disabled)

Assaulting units:
8th Division
16th Division
15th Army
5th RF Gun Battalion
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
194th Tank Battalion
4th Marine Regiment
14th PS Engineer Regiment
31st PA Infantry Division
192nd Tank Battalion
45th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
1st PA Infantry Division
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
2nd PA Constabulary Division
Far East USAAF
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
201st PA Construction Battalion
301st Construction Battalion
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
1st PI Base Force
202nd PA Construction Battalion
803rd Aviation Engineer Battalion
Provisional GMC Grp
21st PA Infantry Division
Clark Field AAF Base Force
I Philippine Corps
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment

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Reinforcements: Interesting ship.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]CM Keokuk arrives at Mare Island[/font]

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]Here is the Keokuk, CMc-6 in 42. She carries 100 mines, and is rated for 16 knots in game, four knots faster than stated in the Wiki page at least. I'll take it.

She was used mostly as a net laying ship for ASW duties in the war in addition to minelaying. [/font]

[Lokasenna]

I like that little ship, even though she's not THAT useful. Named for the little town in Iowa (my home state) at the confluence of the Des Moines and Mississippi rivers.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

I like that little ship, even though she's not THAT useful. Named for the little town in Iowa (my home state) at the confluence of the Des Moines and Mississippi rivers.

Cool name. Is it Native American?

She'll do for what she did in the war i guess, making sure bases are adequately defended. Laing 100 mines from one ship is always nice, and at least to start there aren't enough big minelayers to do that sort of thing.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

I like that little ship, even though she's not THAT useful. Named for the little town in Iowa (my home state) at the confluence of the Des Moines and Mississippi rivers.

Cool name. Is it Native American?

She'll do for what she did in the war i guess, making sure bases are adequately defended. Laing 100 mines from one ship is always nice, and at least to start there aren't enough big minelayers to do that sort of thing.

Sure is. I don't know if it's a name of a tribe, or somebody, or something else entirely. Never been to the town, even.

100 mines is the most useful thing about her, to be sure. I just don't find mines all that useful for the Allies, unfortunately. Sure, they're good for protecting your bases of operations, but.... it's not like Japan is going to be doing much more invading in predictable places by the time you get this ship.

[obvert]

With enough in port it's a good bombardment deterrent, or at least it was for me in some spots in my Japanese game against Jocke. Once they are known of course you have to drop more, but that can be when you catch someone thinking they can get by the mines because they've raised the DL on them. I've already had some success with sub laid mines, but of course that's a different kettle of fish entirely.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]OPERATION CHARIOT[/font]

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The plans for India are taking shape. Operation Chariot will commence as soon as the para-unit and some US AA units arrive through Cape Town, in about 20-25 days. After some initial recon of the area it seems most of the forward bases Japan grabbed are currently unbuilt and unoccupied. Most still have damage on the fields from earlier bombings.

1. Step one will involve a para-drop on Jubbalore, well into Japanese territory but along a rail line that doesn't pass through any other Japanese bases. It's also in +3 territory to help protect against initial bombing and later troop movements if they come. I'll move a division in after the paras with a few decent engineer units and base forces, plus some under experienced armor and some AA. This will be a holding position only behind which other units can fill in empty bases.

2. Simultaneous to the para-drop units will rail to the vacant and still Allied dot bases surrounding the Hyderabad area. At least one big engineer unit, a few base forces and a brigade will go to each base. Air fields will be built as quickly as possible.

3. Sweeps of the one Lightning group and the best of the P-40s will hit Hyderabad from Poona, which should be a sized 5 field by then, hoping to overwhelm the 60 fighters in base and make way for a raid on the fields by 4E and 2E from Bombay, which will be sized 9 by then. P-39s and Mohawks will escort the bombers. The only other decent air base nearby is Madras at level 5. There are a few level 2 bases. All others are a level 1.

4. Four good divisions will move from Poona toward Hyderabad with some armor and AA. Two Aussie divisions, a Brit and an Indian division will be involved along with the best of the armor. Another several not so experienced divisions will move in to garrison Poona and other bases in the rear.

5. Amazingly there is a base still in Allied hands deep in Japanese territory near Jamshedpure. It's not on the rail, but if possible I'll try to fly something in there, at least as a distraction.

This is the beginning, but I'll leave the rest until it gets started and see what the reaction is like. everything from the PI could move this way, or nothing, and Japanese forces could fall back as we move forward. We'll see.

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SOLID ORANGE HEX - unoccupied Japanese base
OPEN ORANGE HEX - unreconned Japanese base

OPEN BLUE HEX - base still in Allied control

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