Bruce vs Terminus using Terminus' Mare Bellum Mod

[ctangus]

ORIGINAL: BrucePowers

Where do you guys pick your battles?

While my thoughts keep evolving on this, this is my current opinion:

1. Hold at Manila and Singapore as long as possible - damn the losses. Send in as much supply as you can. Ideally you can hold until at least the middle of March. If you can, any Japanese invasions with those forces won't benefit from the Japanese invasion bonus which expires the 1st of April.

In my AAR game (shameless plug) I accomplished that. We're now in May '42 and there's still no Japanese troops on Java. And while there are enemy at Palembang, I still hold all the Sumatra bases.

2. Try to hold in multiple locations within short range of the enemy. Mandalay, Timor, Kai Island, Port Moresby, etc. are good locations for this. Losing any single one of them won't hurt you terribly on the defensive, but keeping even one (preferably more) will help you once you're ready to go on the offensive.

3. My ultimate line in the sand is as follows: Hawaii - at least one of the Line Islands - at least one of Samoa or Fiji - Noumea!!! - Brisbane. I haven't had to, but I'd fight for them with all I could muster if I had to.

[BrucePowers]

Terminus is a very methodical player who has not left me many openings.

[Speedysteve]

Hi Bruce,
 
Many thanks for that. Interesting.
 
The Satsuma class - refresh my memory 51cm guns = 20"?

[Rob Brennan UK]

Hi Bruce , just catching up . the british flyboys will eventually get some hits ( as you saw) but it takes them 2 months or so to improve. same with the dutch martins. both forces can be very useful in march onward for java defence and timor too.

P.S you might be able to upgrade some aussie units before may 42 ( commonwealth restriction).. very useful beaufort torpedo planes can make japan very wary of using bombardment groups willy nilly. could also get some hurricanes into the fight by upgrading the wirra coffins too.

good luck and have fun .. looks as though this mod helps japan in CV's quite a bit. and you get some more in 45 ? hehe no wonder T wanted to play japan [;)]. the additional RN Heavies look fun though.

[niceguy2005]

ORIGINAL: ctangus

ORIGINAL: BrucePowers

Where do you guys pick your battles?

While my thoughts keep evolving on this, this is my current opinion:

1. Hold at Manila and Singapore as long as possible - damn the losses. Send in as much supply as you can. Ideally you can hold until at least the middle of March. If you can, any Japanese invasions with those forces won't benefit from the Japanese invasion bonus which expires the 1st of April.

In my AAR game (shameless plug) I accomplished that. We're now in May '42 and there's still no Japanese troops on Java. And while there are enemy at Palembang, I still hold all the Sumatra bases.

2. Try to hold in multiple locations within short range of the enemy. Mandalay, Timor, Kai Island, Port Moresby, etc. are good locations for this. Losing any single one of them won't hurt you terribly on the defensive, but keeping even one (preferably more) will help you once you're ready to go on the offensive.

3. My ultimate line in the sand is as follows: Hawaii - at least one of the Line Islands - at least one of Samoa or Fiji - Noumea!!! - Brisbane. I haven't had to, but I'd fight for them with all I could muster if I had to.

I would very much agree with ctangus. In my game with Graycompany I employed what I called the "ripples in the pond" stragtegy. The idea was to pick key bases to hold and start shipping men and material there from day one. For me this was Anchorage, PH, Palmyra, Suva, Pago-Pago and Aukland. Once those bases were established I would radiate power outward until I could establish a cohesive defense. This worked well, but Graycompany did not push into the South pacific very hard. Our forces did eventually clash at Canton and Luganville, both of which I one.

You know PI is a lost cause, but you can consider it a victory if you hold well into march and april. You have the troops but need supplies.

How you defend the DEI is all dependent on how much force your opponent uses. In my game Graycompany sent a lot of his army into an invasion of India, so I was able to hold out a long time using just the Dutch forces. I would suggest fortifying around the Java sea. This means bases on Java, Southern Sumatra, Bali and southern Borneo. Let the enemy take northern borneo an fight their way through the jungles. The enemy will have to take the bases on Southern Borneo before an invasion of Java can be launched and you can use your LBA to pound his invasion forces from a safe distance

[niceguy2005]

ORIGINAL: Rob Brennan UK

Hi Bruce , just catching up . the british flyboys will eventually get some hits ( as you saw) but it takes them 2 months or so to improve. same with the dutch martins. both forces can be very useful in march onward for java defence and timor too.

I agree with Rob. The UK and Dutch bombers are very useful, so long as they are shooting at transports and not BBs.

[BrucePowers]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Hi Bruce,

Many thanks for that. Interesting.

The Satsuma class - refresh my memory 51cm guns = 20"?

That would be correct[:D][:D]

Terminus did not skimp on IJN naval units for this mod[:D]

[BrucePowers]

ORIGINAL: Rob Brennan UK

Hi Bruce , just catching up . the british flyboys will eventually get some hits ( as you saw) but it takes them 2 months or so to improve. same with the dutch martins. both forces can be very useful in march onward for java defence and timor too.

P.S you might be able to upgrade some aussie units before may 42 ( commonwealth restriction).. very useful beaufort torpedo planes can make japan very wary of using bombardment groups willy nilly. could also get some hurricanes into the fight by upgrading the wirra coffins too.

good luck and have fun .. looks as though this mod helps japan in CV's quite a bit. and you get some more in 45 ? hehe no wonder T wanted to play japan [;)]. the additional RN Heavies look fun though.

Actually I am happy. I got more air and ground (some right at the outset). This is going to be very playable [:)]

[BrucePowers]

Moving the Banshees to Soerabaja paid off. The carriers moved south and hit Kendari downing 11 P-40Es and sinking 5 Minesweepers. The attack force consisted of 68 zeros 45 vals and 45 kates.

The Banshees did very well

Allied aircraft
Martin 139 x 3
A-24 Banshee x 23
Martin 139: 2 damaged
A-24 Banshee: 3 destroyed, 13 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Mikasa, Bomb hits 2
BB Hiei
BB Haruna, Bomb hits 1
BB Kirishima, Bomb hits 1

A-24 Banshee x 6
A-24 Banshee: 3 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima
BB Haruna, Bomb hits 1

His betties in Kuching are very quiet.

He has not hit Singapore in 3 days

The evacuation of Rangoon is complete. The units split between Akyab and Chandpur.
Akyab is building forts and runways.

[BrucePowers]

I still do not understand China. If I can't understand the problem, I can't work on a solution.

[niceguy2005]

He is probably looking to take Changsa. It is vital to a Japanese offensive. Other key cities are Homan and Wuhan. The other key to saving China in most mods is preserving Chinese supply.

Bruce, what program do you use to create the arrows and text for your maps?

[BrucePowers]

Photoshop elements

[BrucePowers]

Sorry for the delay in updates.

I like this day. I have transport in San Francisco and Karachi.[:)]

[ctangus]

ORIGINAL: BrucePowers

I still do not understand China. If I can't understand the problem, I can't work on a solution.

Yes, China can be hard to understand, but once you do it's not too difficult. Tom Hunter's Lunacy in the Pacific AAR helped me understand China a lot - read it if you have the time.

IMO a key to China is to think offensively - at least tactically if not strategically. Your troops aren't too bad (particularly once they gain some experience) and you have a ton of them.

Looking at your map I'd recommend a few things. 1) Throw as much towards Changsha as you can. You don't want to lose that. In Jap hands it opens up a lot of avenues for attack, but still in your hands it opens up avenues for counter-attack.

2) If you can, send 1 or 2 or 3 Corps to the NE of Changsha to block the Japanese movement there. If he cuts your supply line to Changsha you'll be in trouble.

3) If you haven't already, turn replacements off everywhere to conserve supply.

4) An aggressive Japan in China will open up weak spots for you to exploit. China's a slow theater so you don't have to act quickly. But I'd still recommend watching the map everyday to detect Japanese movement. Within a couple weeks you should be able to spot a location or three that you can counter-attack towards. Look for supply lines with unguarded flanks or better yet, rear-area bases with small garrisons.

Good luck! I hope this helps a little.

[BrucePowers]

Thank you, Ctangus. I think I see what you mean. I am working on maps to show the current situation. I will have them posted in about an hour.

[ctangus]

ORIGINAL: BrucePowers

Thank you, Ctangus. I think I see what you mean. I am working on maps to show the current situation. I will have them posted in about an hour.

I might not still be up (I'm exhausted right now because of a late night last night). [>:] But if you don't hear back from me tonight I'll be sure to check your AAR tomorrow.

[BrucePowers]

Central Pacific situation.

Visuals are more fun than straight text. Terminus is trying to lay an ambush at midway for my Pearl Harbor minelayer. I may be able to take out a sub[:)]

My spelling on the map is terrible. It was done with photoshop elements and I am not going back in to fix it.[:)]

[BrucePowers]

Chinese Situation

Heavy fighting. At the moment I am holding.

[BrucePowers]

Here is one I had to share from Jan 11[:)]

Day Air attack on TF at 25,47


Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 11
Buffalo I x 3
Wellington III x 9
A-24 Banshee x 20


Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Koan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Kuroshio Maru
AP Meiko Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kiyozumi Maru, Bomb hits 2
AP Koryu Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Wellington III bombing at 1000 feet
1 x Swordfish launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x A-24 Banshee bombing at 2000 feet
2 x Swordfish launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x A-24 Banshee bombing at 2000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 1000 feet
4 x Wellington III bombing at 1000 feet
4 x Swordfish launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x Swordfish launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x A-24 Banshee bombing at 2000 feet
4 x A-24 Banshee bombing at 2000 feet
4 x A-24 Banshee bombing at 2000 feet
4 x A-24 Banshee bombing at 2000 feet

And the PM attack

Day Air attack on TF at 25,47


Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 5
Buffalo I x 3
Wellington III x 5
A-24 Banshee x 18


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Kuroshio Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Matue Maru, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kiyozumi Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
MSW Banshu Maru #18, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Wellington III bombing at 1000 feet
1 x Swordfish launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x A-24 Banshee bombing at 2000 feet
2 x Wellington III bombing at 1000 feet
2 x A-24 Banshee bombing at 2000 feet
4 x Swordfish launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x A-24 Banshee bombing at 2000 feet
4 x A-24 Banshee bombing at 2000 feet
4 x A-24 Banshee bombing at 2000 feet

This is the best my air units have done since the start. I think most of the convoy sank [:)]

[BrucePowers]

It was a very quiet day. Very few air missions due to weather.

Although, a very strong carrier strike was launched against Rabaul. I think an invasion is coming.

The IJN sub near Midway has disappeared. The minesweepers will sweep the port tomorrow.

Large convoys with fuel an supply will leave San Francisco within 2 days. Their destination is Pearl Harbor. After the supplies leave, troops will follow.

In China and Malaya my troops are holding.

There may a BB to BB surface action tonight near Palembang. My force is weaker but I should inflict some damage.