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No turn from Erik last night so I found myself finishing reading "The Dogs of War" and contemplating the game.

I'm not enjoying it and haven't for some time, as is obvious. I've given up on air operations and trying to 'beat' low CAP which doesn't bode well for the future. I'll focus on avoiding unsustainable losses by not targeting bases that have even a modest Japanese CAP. Facing low CAP, my units are not committed in a way that gives me any chance of success, so I just won't anymore.

I've pretty much given up on trying to 'win' the game. So for me now this is about trying to make the remaining time of this game fun. I'll play it out, but I'm not stressing about getting to Japan any longer. I know once I'm in a position to strategic bomb I'll be facing low CAP on steroids and it will be a disaster for my air force and probably cause me to have a coronary. So I just won't worry about it. I'm setting myself one goal and one goal only in this game, destroy the Japanese Fleet. Erik plays for VP's, so he'll win this game based on the fact there probably won't be any strategic bombing of Japan. I'm not concerned anymore about winning or losing. I'm just going to have fun now and if that means I get beaten badly...I don't care. It's all about the journey now for me and how I can make it enjoyable.

If you expect a rational play style with the end goal of turning the Japanese Home Islands into rubble, this AAR will be meaningless to you. It's now about me having fun and getting to the end without me losing my mind.

No turn from Erik last night so I found myself finishing reading "The Dogs of War" and contemplating the game.

I'm not enjoying it and haven't for some time, as is obvious

It's a good book, give it a chance! [:'(]

Some things about AE are the way a particular PBM contest goes, but many things are just differences between AE and IRL. And those (AE vs IRL differences) break up into (for lack of a better word) technical effects versus player choice effects. The strategic bombing of the HI in my own meager experience and in the PBMs that I have followed is just way harder in many cases than IRL. Every Japan player knows that it's coming and makes better choices with that hindsight. So, you have to carry it out differently.

You can only achieve good strikes without heavy sweeps and escort when the defender is unprepared. Once he's alerted you need the fighters. You can use the range of the B-29's to hit some places where your opponent does not anticipate a strike at that time, which will have the added benefit of spreading out his defenses. Your best strikes will come when you can also use the B-24's to strategic bomb the HI because of the number of raiders it will give you.

Train up your B-29 and B-24 groups on other targets. Your HI raids will take serious casualties even when making good strikes, so you better make sure those crews can hit their targets. In an odd way the high casualties will cause a more historical self-limiting of using the 4EB. You will get fewer effective shots than against other targets close to your lines, so you must make them count.

Even more so than IRL, you need fighter bases close enough to fight in the skies over the HI. At this game date you will have to be ruthless about bypassing enemy positions to get in close to the HI.

On the way make the most use of the beasts you can in the meantime plus get them experience. Mass raid the biggest ports you can reach. Hit defending troops where you invade. Shut down airbases with them. It was all done historically.

ORIGINAL: witpqs

It's a good book, give it a chance! [:'(]

Ha, I meant the game, not the book. I enjoyed the book and finished it last night.

I appreciate the post, really, but I'm beyond trying to jump through AE's hoops anymore. I'm done and have beat myself up enough to know I have to concentrate on making this fun for me rather than try to win any longer. I won't win for any number of reasons anyway, both real and perceived.

I plan on doing exactly what you suggest with my bombers to train them up and limit losses, but defended targets will be avoided so essentially any bombing campaign I conduct will be all but meaningless to the outcome of the game. I will conduct a long series of tactical operations which may, or may not, lead to reaching Japan. I'm not concerned with playing on a strategic level anymore. I willingly gave that up after the second eight hex strike.

I'm playing for me now.

So, just what am I going to do.

Burma will remain a diversion. Australian units will continue withdrawing from the theatre for deployment to the Pacific.

China...dead end. Since I can't strategic bomb in China I'm not wasting a single aircraft in the theatre. If I can somehow get Burma liberated and enough supply into the theatre to supply the Chinese Army, then I'll send Chinese forces back into China.

I'll continue the slow process of liberating Australia. There is next to no Japanese opposition anyway, but it still takes time.

The only offensive action I will take will occur in the DEI and New Guinea. The fleet won't move until October once the CVE's rejoin after upgrades. I won't conduct offensive air missions against Japanese strongpoints anymore until the navy has trashed the airbases.

I'll continue to move in the Marshall Islands until there are no more Japanese held bases.

I won't send subs out to only be sunk by Japanese air ASW or super E's. I will make no effort to get into merchant shipping routes to sink Japanese transports when I know it's only suicide for Allied submarines.

So, I concentrate in the short term on accomplishing some modest objectives that eliminate the Japanese presence in a few theatres.

Almost forgot...try to destroy the Japanese Fleet without losing my own to more eight hex strikes.

It is your game to proceed with how you wish.

Obvert has gotten so far inside your decision making loop you are pretty much just shutting down. I don't understand it given that there are so many ways to attack in the game.

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

It is your game to proceed with how you wish.

Obvert has gotten so far inside your decision making loop you are pretty much just shutting down. I don't understand it given that there are so many ways to attack in the game.

Actually Lowpe, I see it the other way around. I'm trying to remove Erik from my decision making. I'm playing right into his hands right now. Trying to take on low CAP is a losing tactic, so I won't do it. Attacking with massed bombing raids against heavily defended targets is a losing tactic, so I won't do it. Sending my carriers out without the ability to absorb an eight hex strike is a losing tactic, so I won't do it...etc.

You and more experienced players have made it quite clear that what I have done in the past isn't working, so I'm not going to repeat the same mistakes as I have been. Erik is two steps ahead of me. I'm not playing his game anymore, I need to focus on mine. I'm not giving up, I'm just not going to beat my head against a wall anymore. If that means I don't reach Japan or strategic bomb the Home Islands...so be it.

[8D]

I need success. There are opportunities for me to have success in this game, but I continue to rage against the machine and throw good money after bad. I'm trying to stop doing that and concentrate on making the right decisions to have success and enjoy the game again.

I posted a question in Canoerebel's AAR and the answer made me think more on how I'm playing the game.

What is working for other people in other games isn't working for me in this one. CR mentioned a long time ago that I'm up against one of the best players in the community. Had I played Erik a number of years ago I might be doing better, but I'm no longer that player. I'm easily discouraged now, don't understand why certain aspects of the game work the way they do (air model) and just plain tired from not doing well in the game anymore.

So something has to give. This is my attempt to change things for the better. I know Nemo would have a field day with this, but the only one beating me right now...is me.

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon


Actually Lowpe, I see it the other way around. I'm trying to remove Erik from my decision making. I'm playing right into his hands right now. Trying to take on low CAP is a losing tactic, so I won't do it. Attacking with massed bombing raids against heavily defended targets is a losing tactic, so I won't do it. Sending my carriers out without the ability to absorb an eight hex strike is a losing tactic, so I won't do it...etc.

Now that I understand.[:)]

We are slowly moving forward and have reached 24 August 44. There was some down time during Erik's vacation which allowed me a much needed break. Understandably, Erik's enjoyment has shifted to his other AAR where the action is fast and furious, but we are back to almost daily turns since his return.

I continue my preparations for offensive operations in October. The CVE's begin their AA upgrades in seven days and will be ready for re-deployment on 21 September.

The Allied situation remains much as before so I won't repeat the same old information.

Right now my focus is hitting Erik at Hollandia to suppress the airbase and destroy Japanese aircraft. I'm employing new tactics and a major naval bombardment against Hollandia's airbase was conducted on the 24th. Results were good, but I did lose a DD after hitting a mine and subsequently being sunk by Japanese DB's based from Biak. I did sink one MTB and two SSX's during the night naval phase. Here are the AAR's of the naval bombardment of Hollandia.

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Night Naval bombardment of Hollandia at 93,116

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K2-J George: 35 damaged
N1K2-J George: 5 destroyed on ground
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 37 damaged
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 6 destroyed on ground
Ki-84a Frank: 53 damaged
Ki-84a Frank: 7 destroyed on ground
J2M3 Jack: 23 damaged
J2M3 Jack: 3 destroyed on ground
Ki-100-I Tony: 19 damaged
Ki-100-I Tony: 2 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
xAKL Chosen Maru, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
BB Tennessee
BB California

Japanese ground losses:
427 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 11 disabled
Guns lost 22 (7 destroyed, 15 disabled)

Airbase hits 15
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 58
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 1

OS2U-3 Kingfisher acting as spotter for BB Tennessee
BB Tennessee firing at Hollandia
BB California firing at Hollandia

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Night Naval bombardment of Hollandia at 93,116

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M3 Jack: 5 damaged
N1K2-J George: 7 damaged
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 6 damaged
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-100-I Tony: 31 damaged
Ki-100-I Tony: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-84a Frank: 12 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Trenton
CL Richmond

Japanese ground losses:
32 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 15

CL Trenton firing at Hollandia
CL Richmond firing at Hollandia

On the day, the intelligence report indicated 42 Japanese fighters destroyed on the ground. Even if only half that from FOW, I'm happy. I choose not to follow up with sweeps or bombing missions, because I had a large number of LRCAP assigned to my taskforces and didn't want the fighter cover diluted in any way supporting LBA attacks. I will sweep and bomb Hollandia over the coming days followed by more naval bombardment missions.

In other news, one more day is required to load up the amphibious task forces meant to begin the liberation of Western Australia. Amphibious landings will occur at Esperance, then Allied troops will move overland to Kalgoorlie. Reinforcements will rail to the base once Allied controlled. Then it's simply a matter of mopping up any small Japanese garrison that remains at Perth. I'll remove a modest number of VP's from Erik's base total in the coming weeks.

I feel better about the game these days. The break allowed me to relax and focus on what I want to do moving forward. Hopefully, the AAR will be more enjoyable to follow as a result of a better attitude on my part.

Heavy Allied fighter sweeps are ordered against Hollandia today, 25 August 44. Two larger Corsair squadrons of 36 and 42 aircraft respectively will be the main striking forces. Two P-47 squadrons will also sweep. Three squadrons of P-38L's will provide LRCAP. I set max altitude for these strikes, but in hindsight wish I'd brought the altitude down to between 20-31k. Habit. Recon of Hollandia after the naval bombardment showed 45 Japanese fighters present and no damaged airframes. Erik once again loaded up his damaged aircraft on transports I think, but I never actually spot these TF's for some reason. Not sure how he is doing it, but he's cagey.

I've ordered another battleship task force to Dagua in preparation of another bombardment of Hollandia on the 26th. I've also deployed a heavy cruiser TF to Dagua as well. I've got strong CAP in New Guinea, but I'm vulnerable to a full LBA or carrier strike against my forward positions.

I've ordered a night bombing raid against the port at Sarmi. There are a large number of disbanded ships in port, including around six destroyers. Maybe I'll get lucky, but my expectations are low. I'm using B-29's so if there are NF's, I may take quite a few losses.

Hopefully everything finishes loading up at Port Augusta, then the amphibious forces can sail. It's going to take almost a week to reach Esperance.

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

Erik once again loaded up his damaged aircraft on transports I think, but I never actually spot these TF's for some reason. Not sure how he is doing it, but he's cagey.

If he flies out the serviceable planes, then disbanding to form one group and loading it on a merchant? I would think that would be easy meat for a sub.

Rather he is probably disbanding them, some go to the pools and others are destroyed.

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Rather he is probably disbanding them, some go to the pools and others are destroyed.

Do I get full VP value for the aircraft that are being destroyed through disbanding?

A note on carrier additions to the fleet.

CV Hancock will arrive at Pearl Harbor within a week. CV Ticonderoga arrives at Balboa within a week. Hopefully, the latter CV will be available for the amphibious operations scheduled in October.

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Rather he is probably disbanding them, some go to the pools and others are destroyed.

Do I get full VP value for the aircraft that are being destroyed through disbanding?

I believe so, as they are counted as ops losses, but I have never actually checked to be sure.

Cryptic e-mail from Erik yesterday.

"turn back tomorrow, but I'm too shattered to get to it tonight"

"Those BB's are tough!"

I'm not sure if shattered means tired to the English, or if Erik is referring to events in his other PBEM or ours that took the wind out of his sails.

There are any number of possibilities of what might have happened. I had moved two SCTF's to Dagua, one of three BB's and the other of two CA's. The BB's that had previously bombarded Hollandia were on their way to Rabaul to rearm.

Did KB make an appearance? Did Erik try an all out LBA naval strike? Did he send in SCTF's? Which BB's got hit? Does "are tough" mean my BB's survived, or that they were tough to sink?

Ugh...

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

Cryptic e-mail from Erik yesterday.

"turn back tomorrow, but I'm too shattered to get to it tonight"

"Those BB's are tough!"

I'm not sure if shattered means tired to the English, or if Erik is referring to events in his other PBEM or ours that took the wind out of his sails.

There are any number of possibilities of what might have happened. I had moved two SCTF's to Dagua, one of three BB's and the other of two CA's. The BB's that had previously bombarded Hollandia were on their way to Rabaul to rearm.

Did KB make an appearance? Did Erik try an all out LBA naval strike? Did he send in SCTF's? Which BB's got hit? Does "are tough" mean my BB's survived, or that they were tough to sink?

Ugh...

Ask for him to send you the replay and combat report.[;)]

Just heard from Erik. It seems in this case "shattered" equates to knackered. [:D]

His BB comment threw me off. He must have been referring to the previous bombardment against Hollandia.

Aug. 29/44:

Allied naval bombardments against Hollandia and Vanimo. AAR's follow:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Vanimo at 93,117

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 damaged
E15K1 Norm: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
CA Minneapolis
CA Astoria

Japanese ground losses:
182 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 45
Port hits 22
Port supply hits 1

OS2U-3 Kingfisher acting as spotter for CA Minneapolis
CA Minneapolis firing at Vanimo
CA Astoria firing at Vanimo

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Hollandia at 93,116 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

113 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Mississippi
BB New Mexico, Shell hits 1
BB Idaho, Shell hits 1
DD Satterlee
DD Thompson
DD Meade
DD Kalk, Shell hits 1
DD Welles
DD Buchanan
DD Laffey
DD Aaron Ward
DD Wilkes

Japanese ground losses:
101 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 33
Port hits 7
Port supply hits 2

OS2U-3 Kingfisher acting as spotter for BB Mississippi
BB Mississippi firing at Hollandia
OS2U-3 Kingfisher acting as spotter for BB New Mexico
BB New Mexico firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
Wake Coastal Gun Battalion firing at BB New Mexico
BB Idaho firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
Wake Coastal Gun Battalion firing at BB Idaho
DD Satterlee firing at Hollandia
Wake Coastal Gun Battalion firing at DD Thompson
DD Thompson firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
DD Meade firing at 9th Base Force
9th Base Force firing at DD Meade
DD Kalk firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
Wake Coastal Gun Battalion firing at DD Kalk
DD Welles firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
Wake Coastal Gun Battalion firing at DD Welles
DD Buchanan firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
DD Laffey firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
DD Aaron Ward firing at Hollandia
DD Wilkes firing at Hollandia

Not a great bombardment, but I wasn't facing the Wake Coastal Gun Bn. before. Erik has snuck the unit into Hollandia somehow. I'm glad to see it deployed forward and not at one of my primary targets for invasion. I lose 4 YMSs trying to sweep mines from Hollandia.

Increased Allied naval activity in the area sets up opportunities for setting CAP traps against the Japanese. I try my second CAP trap today (the first didn't draw an attack) with a small SCTF of one CLAA and 3 DDs as bait one hex northeast of Hollandia and it hits pay dirt. AAR follows:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Hollandia at 93,115

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D4Y3 Judy x 19
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 49

Allied aircraft
Thunderbolt I x 7
Spitfire VIII x 5
P-40N5 Warhawk x 14
F4U-1 Corsair x 16
F4U-1A Corsair x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y3 Judy: 9 destroyed, 1 damaged
D4Y3 Judy: 3 destroyed by flak
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 15 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40N5 Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CLAA Juneau

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x D4Y3 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
5 x D4Y3 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VMF-121 with F4U-1A Corsair (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 21000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 21000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
VMF-213 with F4U-1A Corsair (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 21000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 21000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
VMF-217 with F4U-1 Corsair (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
VMF-311 with F4U-1 Corsair (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes
No.75 Sqn RAAF with Spitfire VIII (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes
No.34 Sqn RAF with Thunderbolt I (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 31000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 31000.
Raid is overhead
15th FG/45th FS with P-40N5 Warhawk (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
15th FG/47th FS with P-40N5 Warhawk (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead

Here's where the action took place today. I'll make the text more legible moving forward, the red doesn't show up well.

Aug. 29/44 continued:

Nice strike Japan put together there, whenever you can get double the escorts/bomber ratio that is pretty good. Didn't do them any good though.[;)]