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RE: Too much Iron in my Diet - Mundy vs Cannonfodder
Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2015 10:49 pm
by jwolf
ORIGINAL: Mundy
Despite the pain, I am enjoying this.
Kudos for your great attitude! And I hope you can return the pain, and then some, before too long! [:)]
RE: Too much Iron in my Diet - Mundy vs Cannonfodder
Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2015 2:04 am
by Rio Bravo
ORIGINAL: jwolf
ORIGINAL: Mundy
Despite the pain, I am enjoying this.
Kudos for your great attitude! And I hope you can return the pain, and then some, before too long! [:)]
I agree jwolf, Mundy's attitude is outstanding considering those pesky evil empire bandits are causing havoc all over the place.
hang in there, Mundy...reenforcements will soon be pouring in for your allies.
RE: Too much Iron in my Diet - Mundy vs Cannonfodder
Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2015 8:53 am
by Mundy
Less than a month until F6Fs roll in. Those'll dish out the hurt. A month from now, I should have at least two squadrons flipped over to them.
I'm looking forward to the Jug showing up too, but that's still a ways out.
I think by July, I can expect maybe two Essexes and a couple new CVLs too. A couple more CVEs are also on the short list, I think
To recap, I have:
3 USN CVs -Perth
1 RN CV (Victorious) -Pearl Harbor
8 USN CVEs -Perth
5 USN battleships are at Sydney and I think one or two are at Perth. The Pennsylvanias at Pearl finished their upgrade and will be shipping within a week or so with all the assault transport plus troops from there. With all the crap going on at Suva, I may take the Panama/Cape Town route. I think I had more BBs available there, too. The Nevadas will be in the yard awhile (3+ months) with their big upgrade. They got their 5"/38 turrets like their successor class. Remember that there was no Pearl Harbor attack, and I've only lost one USN battleship the whole game. This game steered me away from the Manila raid, as I don't think it was worth it. I lost maybe 7 subs there, and I've long since made up those numbers. On the upside, a division of KB let him land without hassle at Mersing early on, which crumpled my whole Malaya defense.
Imagine if I had had them all sitting at Suva. I could have been the "decisive battle".
If my pieces were set up, I'd have been tempted to kick off my invasion. Americal just left Townsville after trucking there from Normanton. All the Katherine expedition are back and enroute to Perth. They will still need recovery time after all those weeks getting bombed endlessly.
My stacking limit at Perth is reaching its limit. I think I'm at 75,000/90,000. I'm keeping the main landing force there. If it gets too full, I'll send the weakest ones to Busselton to come in with the follow-on forces in the regular transport TFs. Maybe I'll send them to Geraldton instead for the Oosthaven/Exmouth ops. I have a lot of time to think about it. I'm hoping he's holding the DEI on a budget, but this will be an 800 lb. gorilla when it lands.
RE: Too much Iron in my Diet - Mundy vs Cannonfodder
Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2015 4:22 pm
by Sangeli
ORIGINAL: Mundy
My stacking limit at Perth is reaching its limit. I think I'm at 75,000/90,000. I'm keeping the main landing force there. If it gets too full, I'll send the weakest ones to Busselton to come in with the follow-on forces in the regular transport TFs. Maybe I'll send them to Geraldton instead for the Oosthaven/Exmouth ops. I have a lot of time to think about it. I'm hoping he's holding the DEI on a budget, but this will be an 800 lb. gorilla when it lands.
In retrospect I think it was a mistake to leave your units in Perth so long waiting to load up for invasions. Exmouth is still in Japanese hands and is within range of some of the longer ranged Japanese patrol planes. Same thing with your CV fleet. I would imagine that by now CF has sniffed out that you have an invasion force waiting there. You'd be better off keeping all of this outside of patrol plane range and only moving them forward just before the operation is finally ready to go. I think you underestimate the value of keeping your cards hidden in this game.
Anyway, if CF has his eyes on Australia it may be wise to call this mission off and see to defending Australia. You are only in March 1943. Look at some of the late game AARs here. There is no need to rush it. Also, shouldn't intel monkey tell you if he's holding on a budget?
RE: Too much Iron in my Diet - Mundy vs Cannonfodder
Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2015 4:40 pm
by Mundy
21 March 1943
With some run-ins, I can see what's making up KB.
Night Time Surface Combat, near Gau Island at 133,162, Range 12,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu
CV Soryu
CV Shokaku
CV Zuikaku
CV Taiho
CV Akagi
CA Tone
CA Takao
DD Teruzuki
DD Hatsuzuki
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Shigure
DD Murasame
DD Harusame
Allied Ships
ARD-1
ACM Barbican
ACM Colonel Niles
Improved night sighting under 100% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 100% moonlight: 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
Both TF attempt to withdraw!
Range increases to 12,000 yards...
Both Task Forces evade combat
---------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Gau Island at 133,162, Range 12,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu
CV Soryu
CV Shokaku
CV Zuikaku
CV Taiho
CV Akagi
CA Tone
CA Takao
DD Teruzuki
DD Hatsuzuki
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Shigure
DD Murasame
DD Harusame
Allied Ships
SC-633
SC-707
Improved night sighting under 100% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 100% moonlight: 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
Both TF attempt to withdraw!
Range increases to 12,000 yards...
Range increases to 12,000 yards...
Both Task Forces evade combat
I wonder where Kaga is.
Amongst the armada, another TF is listed by search planes as having carriers in it, but I'm not sure I believe it. Some of the battleships are withdrawing. A big group is 7 hexes NW heading in that direction. His BBs messed up my airbase, leaving airfield service at 57 damage and the runway at 93, explaining why my planes aren't flying. Recon Lightnings and two P-39 squadrons are at Nadi I flipped one of the Cobras to naval attack. That base is untouched right now.
There's no indication of troops about to land at Suva or Nadi. I'm starting to wonder if this is some glorified raid at this point.
Intel's feeding me a bit more.
1943-03-12 8/63rd Division is loaded on AK Sakito Maru moving to Rabaul -
1943-03-15 8/63rd Division - - is planning for an attack on Nadi -
1943-03-18 8/63rd Division - - is planning for an attack on Nadi -
1943-03-20 8/63rd Division - - is planning for an attack on Nadi
It's a little more credible, if the 63rd is at Rabaul. They may not even be there yet. If so, it's an awfully long time to keep a naval siege going until the troops arrive.
Vestal, the ARD and other support ships got killed by subs and KB. The destroyer-minelayers are safe. His TFs haven't done a lot of moving a hex away from Suva, so the subs are concentrating.
Lex is back from the troop escort. Two days to fix the one sys point. I'll send out a Java raid when they're ready.
Exmouth now shows 12 aux planes and about 800 troops. It could be a cake raid for me.
I have tons of extra base forces and engineers at New Zealand, so I'm starting to develop Hamilton, away from the coast. We'll see.
RE: Too much Iron in my Diet - Mundy vs Cannonfodder
Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2015 5:03 pm
by HansBolter
That's very light heavy gun escort for that many carriers in one TF.
Would be sweet to get a serious SAG into their midst.
He is also suffering some coordination penalties for that much concentration.
RE: Too much Iron in my Diet - Mundy vs Cannonfodder
Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2015 5:17 pm
by Sangeli
ORIGINAL: Mundy
There's no indication of troops about to land at Suva or Nadi. I'm starting to wonder if this is some glorified raid at this point.
Intel's feeding me a bit more.
1943-03-12 8/63rd Division is loaded on AK Sakito Maru moving to Rabaul -
1943-03-15 8/63rd Division - - is planning for an attack on Nadi -
1943-03-18 8/63rd Division - - is planning for an attack on Nadi -
1943-03-20 8/63rd Division - - is planning for an attack on Nadi
It's a little more credible, if the 63rd is at Rabaul. They may not even be there yet. If so, it's an awfully long time to keep a naval siege going until the troops arrive.
I disagree with this analysis. A division moving to Rabaul planning for Nadi is very substantive proof given the situation. Moreover, it is not very difficult to maintain a siege of Fiji for a few weeks. It is very close to other Japanese bases and he already as a foothold. Wouldn't be surprised if CF brings some AE ships to that base he took so he can rearm without going back to Noumea.
ORIGINAL: Mundy
Vestal, the ARD and other support ships got killed by subs and KB.
Yup, not surprised. I did warn you that Suva was too forward to be a good support base a few weeks ago.
RE: Too much Iron in my Diet - Mundy vs Cannonfodder
Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2015 7:39 pm
by Mundy
22 March 1943
Cobras went out. I should know better than to expect a lot.
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kandavu Island at 132,162
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 2
A6M5 Zero x 16
Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 25
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 10 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 3 destroyed by flak
Japanese Ships
DD Oboro, Shell hits 1
DD Satsukaze
DD Shikinami
BB Ise
BB Mutsu
Aircraft Attacking:
20 x P-39D Airacobra bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
801 Ku S-1 with A6M2-N Rufe (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
582 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
802 Ku S-1 with A6M2-N Rufe (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
Kaga-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
Ryujo-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
Junyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
Hiyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
Shoho-1 with A6M5 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
Next landing is Gau Island. Another APD run.
Amphibious Assault at Gau Island (133,161)
TF 4 troops unloading over beach at Gau Island, 133,161
Japanese ground losses:
40 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
More Intel:
1943-03-17 5/36th Division is loaded on AK Sakura Maru moving to Rabaul -
1943-03-21 5/36th Division - - is planning for an attack on Nadi
These guys are a minimum of a week out -- probably two or more.
No bombardments this turn. Damage slowly creeping down. I had a cargo TF about to reach Suva, but I diverted them to Christmas. KB doesn't want to stray too far east, it seems. If Suva's left alone for awhile he may have a fight on his hands.
My Java raid will kick off next turn.
RE: Too much Iron in my Diet - Mundy vs Cannonfodder
Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2015 9:24 pm
by Sangeli
ORIGINAL: Mundy
If Suva's left alone for awhile he may have a fight on his hands.
How so? You mean because the air base will have recovered? Or something else you have in mind?
RE: Too much Iron in my Diet - Mundy vs Cannonfodder
Posted: Fri May 01, 2015 8:25 am
by Mundy
No, just potential recovery.
I good part of my aircraft are still active. Just waiting for the base to get fixed.
I have a general question: If you have a minelayer disbanded in port (DM, CM, etc), will it function there in the same manner as an ACM, keeping mines functional?
RE: Too much Iron in my Diet - Mundy vs Cannonfodder
Posted: Fri May 01, 2015 8:37 am
by HansBolter
ORIGINAL: Mundy
No, just potential recovery.
I good part of my aircraft are still active. Just waiting for the base to get fixed.
I have a general question: If you have a minelayer disbanded in port (DM, CM, etc), will it function there in the same manner as an ACM, keeping mines functional?
No only ACMs perform that function. And they burn fuel while disbanded. Every so often you need to go into the ships in port interface in each port where you have ACMs tending minefields and hit the "refuel" button.
RE: Too much Iron in my Diet - Mundy vs Cannonfodder
Posted: Fri May 01, 2015 9:32 am
by Mundy
Thanks Hans. Thought I'd check, since you never know. I didn't know about the fuel issue, so that's good to know.
RE: Too much Iron in my Diet - Mundy vs Cannonfodder
Posted: Fri May 01, 2015 10:20 am
by HansBolter
If you're short on ACMs I believe its YPs (or maybe YMSs can't remember for sure) that can be converted into them to ensure you have enough.
RE: Too much Iron in my Diet - Mundy vs Cannonfodder
Posted: Fri May 01, 2015 10:58 am
by Mundy
I think it's the latter. Some YPs, I think can become minesweepers.
They can't really fight anyway, unless it's against barges.
RE: Too much Iron in my Diet - Mundy vs Cannonfodder
Posted: Fri May 01, 2015 4:41 pm
by Mundy
23 March 1943
The capture of the islands surrounding Suva is apparent now. There's an AKE sitting at Gau now. This basically means that once he has some supply there, CF can probably keep topping off the battleship ammo, keeping up the siege. Nadi got hit by one group, while Yamato hit Suva proper.
At Pearl, the APAs are ready, and I'm packing up two big transport groups for Australia. (dock space) I'm filling them with lots of planes, engineers, Seabees, USMC paras and anything else I can fit. 4 squadrons of C-47s are enroute also. If I can get a good beachhead set up with a huge base, I can probably drop paras around the DEI, causing more headaches.
The other big APA batch is at Sydney, and they'll head for the west coast of Oz soon.
The Attu invaders are only in the 55-60 prep range. The Amchitka troops are further along. It must be easier to train for there.
The US CVs have departed Perth for points north. Over 110 fighters on board, so I'm probably safe from any land based attacks. They're hitting Busselton to top off the tanks, since Perth is empty. A fuel shipment is a day out.
RE: Too much Iron in my Diet - Mundy vs Cannonfodder
Posted: Fri May 01, 2015 6:00 pm
by Mundy
24 March 1943
Some measure of revenge.
Submarine attack near Suva at 131,161
Japanese Ships
LSD Shinshu Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
Allied Ships
SS S-37
Japanese ground losses:
42 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
LSD Shinshu Maru is sighted by SS S-37
SS S-37 launches 2 torpedoes at LSD Shinshu Maru
---------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Kandavu Island at 131,162
Japanese Ships
LSD Shinshu Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
Allied Ships
SS Seadragon
Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
SS Seadragon launches 2 torpedoes
I don't know if Japan has many of these, but it feels good anyway.
I forgot to check - [:@] - but I'll check to see if I can withdraw the air at Suva. I don't think I can from Nadi, but we'll see. Maybe I can salvage something.
Looking at Perth, I'm going to need tons of fuel, if anything's going to be staged from there. Shipments have been in the works from the states and Abadan, neither of which is timely.
RE: Too much Iron in my Diet - Mundy vs Cannonfodder
Posted: Fri May 01, 2015 6:27 pm
by HansBolter
Some planes at Suva and Nadi should be able to transfer to the base at the tip of the peninsula north of Auckland.
RE: Too much Iron in my Diet - Mundy vs Cannonfodder
Posted: Fri May 01, 2015 6:31 pm
by SqzMyLemon
ORIGINAL: Mundy
Looking at Perth, I'm going to need tons of fuel, if anything's going to be staged from there. Shipments have been in the works from the states and Abadan, neither of which is timely.
I'd definitely make sure you have the logistics in place to support your operations. Nothing would be worse than committing and then not having the staying power if CF counters.
RE: Too much Iron in my Diet - Mundy vs Cannonfodder
Posted: Fri May 01, 2015 7:09 pm
by Sangeli
ORIGINAL: Mundy
At Pearl, the APAs are ready, and I'm packing up two big transport groups for Australia. (dock space) I'm filling them with lots of planes, engineers, Seabees, USMC paras and anything else I can fit. 4 squadrons of C-47s are enroute also. If I can get a good beachhead set up with a huge base, I can probably drop paras around the DEI, causing more headaches.
And how do you plan on protecting that huge base against naval bombarmdent? You saw what it did to your level 9 base in Suva. Why would it be any different in the DEI once the Japanese have reacted to your landing? If you land at Benkoelen you know the KB and the whole navy will arrive before you get to Palembang. An invasion of Sumatra cannot be done halphazardly like Exmouth or Adak which are just isolated bases. I think you are ignoring some of the realities that this battle of Suva is demonstrating about the supremacy of the Japanese right now.
RE: Too much Iron in my Diet - Mundy vs Cannonfodder
Posted: Fri May 01, 2015 9:57 pm
by Mundy
Maybe I'll club KB like baby seals by then.
I'm setting October as the target month. By then, I'll have added 5 Essex class carriers to my current three. I'll add 5 Independence CVLs, and 6 CVEs to my current 8. On top of that, I'll have fighters which outmatch any Zeke the IJN can put up. All of these arrive by September. If delayed, more will show up by December.
25 March 1943
I salvaged a bunch of resources at Suva and Nadi. I was able to withdraw all the air except for two squadrons worth of 'Cobras, but the 39D pool is pretty healthy, so I can live with that. Troops landed at Nadi -- about 600 men worth. I was sorely tempted to attack them on the beach, but with my luck a bunch extra will dump off by then. Attacking doesn't seem a good Allied strong point right now anyway, anywhere. I don't fully trust the "Fiji Brigade". All the remaining BBs hit Nadi again. I'm sitting on about 250k each of fuel and supplies there, so that won't factor into the battles to come. The USMC defense battalions didn't really thwart the landings much.
My carriers got spotted while still SW of Exmouth. I'll keep the abort option on a hair trigger right now, if things don't feel right. At full bore, KB would be about 5 days steaming away, probably ditching any escorts to do it. They haven't hit any land targets at Suva, and their hanging to the south about 3 hexes. If my subs are left alone and I get no more search sightings, I'll know they've left. I'm toying with the idea of keeping the entire invasion armada (transports, battleships, carriers, escorts, etc) off map at Cape Town. With Cannonfodder's aggressive streak lately, I'm not feeling very secure anywhere.
Maybe I could scrub everything and land 6-8 divisions at Ceylon. I've got some thinking to do right now. Barring the Aleutians, I'm not indulging in any offensive before the fall, and I don't want to leave anything hanging out to dry like Suva. I'm okay with the heavy troop concentrations at Perth right now. If he were to land on the east coast of Australia, I can rail stuff over fairly quickly. I may not stop anyone on the beaches, but I can get a line up before he moves too far. I've been populating some of the lesser bases there with some form of troops, including coast artillery. If he lands at Perth, he'll regret it. Even Geraldton's an armed camp.