Tocaff vs bigred

[tocaff]

Island hop!?!  In this game you need the big bases for ops and the points they'll give you.  A starving Japanese base is still a Japanese base. 

December 1, 1942

Imperial HQ believes that Allied loses to date are as listed below.

4   CV
7   CA
3   CL
44  DD
4    PG
5   APD
1   DM
1   DMS
8   MSW
8   SC
10  SS
19  PT
28  AP & AK
7   AO
1   TK
1843 planes
Approx 1800 LCU points

BR has cratered the craters at the base once known as PM.  PNG is firmly in Japanese hands and a major effort will be required to push them out.  Irau continues to be probed.  The IJN and IJA are resting units and awaiting the expected Allied push.  Naval units that were damaged in earlier battles will be rejoining the fray shortly.  My staff has come up with a master plan that I have presented to the Emperor that guarantees victory in my area of operations.

BANZAI!  BANZAI!  BANZAI!

[bigred]

I see I still have plenty to learn.

[Wirraway_Ace]

ORIGINAL: bigred

I lost one division at GC and 3 Divisions at PM. I suspect that PM can be held, but the defender will need more game play experience. The defense of PM should not be tried by the allied player in his first email game.

We all learn the same lesson...and I don't think PM can be held against a reasonable skilled Japanese opponent in 17 or 19.

[tocaff]

Hell, BR is doing OK.  He just needs to play against humans and get the occasional; spanking, like we all did and do.  His loses, though heavy, came at a cost to me too and we all know that the Allies get stronger as the game progresses while the Japanese strength decreases through attrition.  If he's game I'd love to play another scenario 19 against him after this one is done where we switch sides.  Like I said before, BR is a good opponent who is reliable and intersting to play against.  

[RGIJN]

Indeed, I agree to that. He really does a great job, even against certain odds and facing some initial losses. Above all, his strategy is a pretty raffish one so the game we are running currently is even less foreseeable. It makes it a very interesting challenge! (and we´re just in June...)

[borner]

Sounds like he is doing very well to this point? It took PM how long to fall? That is really going to cut into the time Japan has to dig in before he returns.

[tocaff]

Dig in!?!  You've got to be kidding!  BR is constantly bombing the hell out of PM so I couldn't even repair it, let alone build.  Still if he decides to hit me there it'll be a long and hard road to take enough bases for a win.  I've got plenty of troops and surprises on PNG.  I see more activity in the NHs as he's putting increasing pressure on Irau.  It'll be a good fight when he goes on the offensive wherever he makes his move.  The greatest advantage for the Japanese player until the defensive lines start crumbling is interior lines.  Nothing like being able to redeploy faster than the other guy, if you can pull it off.  

[bigred]

Date, 12-5-42:  I appriciate all commentary.  I have run out of cover ships for any tansport offensive action.  This has made it nessasary to wait for invasion fleet ships and cover forces.  Tocaff is concerned that I have thrown in the towel because of the lack of allied activity.  I am not sure if I will be able to push tocaff around in 1943 because of Tocaff's report of my 44 destroyer loss.  For gaming purposes I have begun to limit my information flow on his and my loses. This will impact the readers enjoyment but I need to become unpredictable.
DQ(designated quiter),HELL, I'M GONA KICK TOCAFF ASS(nothing personal, Todd).   HOOORAH, he has not fought the marines yet.  Must be scared of them.[:D]

[tocaff]

Marines?  Oh we'll make sushi out of those that survive the landing.  Kick my ass!?!  LOL!  Well that's happened plenty of times before and there'll be plenty more in the future.  I think that the heavy loses of DDs will make my subs a bit more of a positive factor for me.  I see the game as a battle of time as 1943 rapidly approaches.  Although the Allied airpower continues to grow it's can't level and keep that many bases out of action so I've built many bases and my air is dispersed and ready for whatever comes my way.

[tocaff]

December 27, 1942

As the year is rapidly drawing to a close the Allies appear to be making an attempt at a large buildup at Nevea.  Could this be a jumpoff point to hit Irau?  The bombing of PM is unrelenting and it makes the surface of the moon appear smoother than a baby's behind.  The Imperial forces continue their consolidation and preparation for whatever BR has in mind.  I'm looking at every damaged AP and AK as a major blow to his capabilities and sinkings of the same are toasted with sake after debriefings.

[tocaff]

December 31,1942

The situation remains the same since PM fell to the victorious forces of the Emperor.  There are the ever increasing air raids by the round eyed dogs of FDR.  While that happens the IJN continues random raids to disrupt supply convoys.  The Allies loses according to the IJN are
CV   4
CA   7
CL   3
DD  44
PG   4
APD  5
DMS  1
DM   1
MSW  10
AO   7
SS  11
PT  27
SC  13
TK   1
AP & AK  38
Planes loses continue to mount while loses to LCUs only happen by bombardment or air attacks.

The DD loses are causing a certain amount of glee amonst the sub crews as loses are virtually nil now.  The loss of lift capacity, both sunk and damaged, is sure to hurt any offensive plans being hatched.  The Imperial Staff has predicted a single axis attack will occur because of the lack of shipping.  They also go as far to say that any invasion forces will suffer greatly and that even if the barbarian dogs get ashore they won't be kept in supply and ultimately will be repulsed by the glorious forces of Imperial Japan.

[tocaff]

January 8, 1943

The Imperial HQ in Tokyo is getting itchy awaiting the hammer that they expect to hit somewhere along their defensive perimeter.  Some of the staffers are calling for continued offensive operations to keep the Allies off balance.  The bombings continue to grow in feocity as PNG is a graveyard for transports in the GG, PM and Buna area.  Lunga and Tulagi are starting to be targeted and Irau is getting a daily look at the American SBDs, F4Fs and P-38s as they await the unknown future. The IJN continues to maintain their vigil while ships undergo minor repairs.  BR has something up his sleeve and I believe that the arrival of Essex will signal the start of something big as he'll then have an expected 3 fleet CVs to go with the arriving CVLs and CVEs.  Big stuff is right around the corner...

[tocaff]

January 19, 1943

Nothing has changed and the Allies' shipping other than subs and PTs has seemed to have disappeared.  The bombings continue in their ferocity and Imperial HQ is wondering where all of these planes have come from.  They are flying in all weather and the pilots must be suffering from fatigue because a day without bombs just isn't happening.  The official assessment of the situation by Tokyo is that the Allied fleet is gathering for an assault, but where is the question.  The IJN lies ready to repell any attempt at any location. 

[bigred]

Sorry for the lack of activity guys. I have burned alot of assets to learn the boundaries of this game, and the lessons are coming in handy in my other game.
My assesment of this situation will require that I cool my jets for some time so that I have the items needed to push Todd around in the 2nd half of 43. I do not concede this game, and expect a positive result late in 43. Bigred

[tocaff]

February 2, 1943

The scheduled Imperial Staff meeting in Tokyo had to be pushed back due to very bad weather in the SW Pacific area.  The Allied losses are reported as follows

CV   4
CA   7
CL   3
DD  44
PG   4
APD  5
MSW 10
AO   7
SS  11
PT  29
SC  14
AP&AK  39
TK   1
AC losses 2202 of all types
Points to date are 12909/6353

Based on this information and despite the very heavy bombings at our forward bases the staff report to the Emperor is one of a bright forecast.  The Allies have a long hard haul and only 10 months to do it in.  As a result optimistic reports flow.  Our forces continue their work digging in while replacements flesh out losses.  Our reserves are in position, as are huge quantities of supplies and the IJN is in excellent shape.  The only problem the IJN is having is one of no targets as Allied shipping is hiding except for subs.  BR is up to something and my staff tells me that this is the calm before the storm. 

[bigred]

2-8-43: A quote from Tocaff "Bring it on. Hell, I'm tired of being hammered and not being able to fight back. If I lose I go down swinging. BANZAI!"

Well, how the world turns! Is the emperor experiencing a mid Life(game) crisis? [:D]

[tocaff]

Nah, the Imperial Japanese troops are tired of bombs raining down on them and their planes doing nothing to stop it.  An old fashioned fight on the seas or land with blood flowing, now that's different.  The emperor knows nothing of the effectiveness of the Allied bombings.  

[tocaff]

February 9, 1943

The bombings are relentless and bases in PNG are being closed on a regular basis and getting increasingly difficult to keep supplied.  In the Santa Cruz area there is an marked increase in Allied naval activity which bears watching.  If I didn't know better I'd say that the fit is about to hit the shan.  I can only wait as so sail the IJN forward only brings a hail of bombs from the skies.  This starts the fun time for BR in spite of me scoring mine hits on more DDs, a CV and a CVE.  From this point on in the game moderate to heavy damage, though it earns no points, to a ship puts it out of the game because by the time they are fixed, returned and released to theatre could take 8 to 10 months.

[bigred]

So I guess the Kaga is gone since the b26 dropped 3 bombs on it. [:D]

[tocaff]

Sorry, but you'll have to do better because it's just possible that your pilot exaggerated in his debriefing on the # of hits.  Even if he did score 3 hits they're only 250lbers so don't hold your breath waiting for a sinking report.