Rematch: Ragnarök - mind_messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A)

[mind_messing]

December 26th, 1941 to January 4th, 1942

North Pacific

Japanese forces seize Attu, and a small detachment is moving to take Adak. I have absolutely no ambitions in this theater; I've an AF unit on Attu to run floatplanes from and I'll leave a Naval Guard at Adak to prevent the Allies from developing the base for a few months. At the very least I hope to draw off some Allied shipping into a sideshow theater while I develop the Kuriles and Hokkaido.

I doubt that Loka will consider an invasion up here given how our last game played out, but a late-war invasion of NorPac does seem to be the prevailing Allied meta to close out a game.

Central Pacific

The I-4 starts the 1942 off on the right foot for the Allies off the US West Coast, marking January 1st with a nice fireworks display. I'm pretty pleased, as to date the wolfpacks off the West Coast have had no sightings whatsoever.

Sub attack near San Luis Obispo at 216,86

Japanese Ships
SS I-4

Allied Ships
CV Yorktown, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Kilty
DD Crane
DD Kennison

Fuel storage explosion on CV Yorktown
SS I-4 launches 4 torpedoes at CV Yorktown
DD Kilty fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Crane fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Kennison fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Kennison fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Kennison fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Kennison fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

That's the Yorktown out for a few weeks, hopefully. I suspect it's ran off-map with slight damage, but if it's still pushing westwards, hopefully one of my subs off Pearl will finish it off.

South-West Pacific

The KB covers the successful invasion of New Caledonia, with Japanese troops running the colonial French garrison off the island, and establishing a seaplane base at Noumea. A fragment of a naval guard unit is en-route to Norfolk Island, to set up a second floatplane base here and keep the IJN well informed of Allied naval units in the area.

After the successful landing at Noumea, the KB sinks a small collection of merchant ships, before embarking on a series of strategic bombing raids on the Eastern Australian coast, the results of which are pretty disappointing. Besides a smattering of VP's for merchant shipping sunk in port, only about 300 VP's worth of damage to industry is inflicted. Low on ordinance and fuel, the KB has turned back to Truk to refuel, resupply and regroup with the IJA 4th Division, which is preparing to embark for Fiji.

Malaya

The slow, abet steady advance here continues, but should pick up now that the bulk of IJA forces are in position. IJAAF bombing cadres are ready and waiting to move in to range to hammer the defenders of Singapore before the IJA divisions cross the causeway.

DEI

Manado, Ternate and Ambon are all captured by Japanese forces. The invasions of Kendrai and Samarinda are expected within the week.

Singkawang now hosts the cream of the IJN fighter corps, and regular sweeps of airbases on Java and Sumatra will commence shortly.

China

The tank rush on Sian has turned 180 degrees and is retreating to safer terrain: I've overcommited, and risk the spearhead getting broken off. It's not a major issue as there's a big infantry push moving up to consolidate the gains, and it might not make much difference in the long run.

Chinese holdouts in Sinyang are the last obstacle before opening the central railroad, and should be dealt with shortly.

Two IJA divisions from Manchuria are moving to Wenchow to eliminate the Chinese holdout.

Two IJA brigades are moving east of Nanning to hopefully isolate the Chinese defenders here. In the long term, these two brigades will take Nanning and then march north on the long march to Kunming and hopefully interdict the Burma Road.

[Bif1961]

The Yorktown will probably duck back into LA or SD to fix whatever damage the fuel explosion caused, so yes it will be gone for a few weeks to a month or so. That delays some of his plans as it is 1/4th of his carrier force. Do you have designs on the line Islands to make him take a very round about route to support NZ and OZ? The longer the route the better for you and you can use your subs on his limited and ever shrinking convoy routes there.

[mind_messing]

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

The Yorktown will probably duck back into LA or SD to fix whatever damage the fuel explosion caused, so yes it will be gone for a few weeks to a month or so. That delays some of his plans as it is 1/4th of his carrier force. Do you have designs on the line Islands to make him take a very round about route to support NZ and OZ? The longer the route the better for you and you can use your subs on his limited and ever shrinking convoy routes there.

Loka has never had any luck with his CV's in the early war in our games, so hopefully the bad luck will continue. It's a nice boon at a critical time.

Regarding the Line Islands: it's a bridge too far for my tastes. Too far from anything worthwhile but too close to Pearl Harbor. Fiji and New Caledonia are better in my view as they're closer to the end-nodes for his convoys - easier to interdict convoys as they arrive with men and cargo than intercept them in the open ocean. Plus, operations in this region also tie in with my overall strategic plan for the region.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

The Yorktown will probably duck back into LA or SD to fix whatever damage the fuel explosion caused, so yes it will be gone for a few weeks to a month or so. That delays some of his plans as it is 1/4th of his carrier force. Do you have designs on the line Islands to make him take a very round about route to support NZ and OZ? The longer the route the better for you and you can use your subs on his limited and ever shrinking convoy routes there.

Loka has never had any luck with his CV's in the early war in our games, so hopefully the bad luck will continue. It's a nice boon at a critical time.

Regarding the Line Islands: it's a bridge too far for my tastes. Too far from anything worthwhile but too close to Pearl Harbor. Fiji and New Caledonia are better in my view as they're closer to the end-nodes for his convoys - easier to interdict convoys as they arrive with men and cargo than intercept them in the open ocean. Plus, operations in this region also tie in with my overall strategic plan for the region.

Do you plan for operations in OZ?

[Bif1961]

North OZ and maybe NE if his loses have been high in aircraft and combat shipping importantly carriers, if not then just Northern Oz. Anything to delay an offensive into DIE and threaten the oilfields. Colombo Diego Garcia and other Islands to make his convoys take the longest route possible and suspect to I-boats with glens looking for targets.

[mind_messing]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

The Yorktown will probably duck back into LA or SD to fix whatever damage the fuel explosion caused, so yes it will be gone for a few weeks to a month or so. That delays some of his plans as it is 1/4th of his carrier force. Do you have designs on the line Islands to make him take a very round about route to support NZ and OZ? The longer the route the better for you and you can use your subs on his limited and ever shrinking convoy routes there.

Loka has never had any luck with his CV's in the early war in our games, so hopefully the bad luck will continue. It's a nice boon at a critical time.

Regarding the Line Islands: it's a bridge too far for my tastes. Too far from anything worthwhile but too close to Pearl Harbor. Fiji and New Caledonia are better in my view as they're closer to the end-nodes for his convoys - easier to interdict convoys as they arrive with men and cargo than intercept them in the open ocean. Plus, operations in this region also tie in with my overall strategic plan for the region.

Do you plan for operations in OZ?

Darwin will be a denial operation, I'll take the coastal bases along the northern Oz coast if they're offered. Horn Island and the other offshore islands I'll use as outposts for the Lower DEI.

Proper mainland operations on Oz are off the cards, unless I win a lopsided carrier victory in the next twelve months.

I'm sticking to my overall plan for '42 in taking a good slice of buffer territory, knocking China out of the war, turning Burma into a junglified Maginot line and setting up the New Zealand-Oz-New Caledonia region to be the KB's stomping ground for 1942.

It's a bit of PsyOps, but I want Oz to become a bleeding ulcer for the Allies throughout 1942; one that needs continually to be patched up with ground, naval and air reinforcements. If Loka holds back assets to attempt an early counter-attack, I want to be striking industry in Oz for the VP's with a free hand. If Loka commits assets, I'll hopefully be able to fight them off on their own terms.

We've recently had a few email exchanges with our '45 game, which is starting to wind down. Loka is convinced that the IJ can't win outside of autovictory; I want my Oz ops to look like a serious attempt at AV.

It's actually not, I don't really like playing for AV as it takes away much of the fin of the game. In my view any half-decent player can stomp the Allies in 1942 to the point of gaining an AV. The real challenge of this game is fighting through to a draw or marginal win in '45.

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

North OZ and maybe NE if his loses have been high in aircraft and combat shipping importantly carriers, if not then just Northern Oz. Anything to delay an offensive into DIE and threaten the oilfields. Colombo Diego Garcia and other Islands to make his convoys take the longest route possible and suspect to I-boats with glens looking for targets.

Ceylon is off the cards, as is Deigo Garcia. Too far from anything worthwhile. I've always fancied a large-scale raid on Ceylon as Japan: turn up, land five divisions, wipe out everything Allied on the island then sail away, but I've never felt it would be worth the fuel and possible losses.

Northern Oz is a certainty. North-east is a unlikely possibility, if things go well.

I think my current plan is pretty solid for making the Allies have a difficult time with Oz. If the New Caledonia/New Zealand/Eastern Australia area is under close scrutiny from IJ search, it really leaves the long, exposed Western approach to Australia, which is good ocean from the long-range IJN subs.

You've already guessed half of what my submarine doctrine will be: the Glen and long-range submarines will work out of Java to cover the Western convoy approaches while the short range boats will operate out of Noumea to cover the Eastern approaches.

We'll see how it turns out.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: mind_messing


I'm sticking to my overall plan for '42 in taking a good slice of buffer territory, knocking China out of the war, turning Burma into a junglified Maginot line and setting up the New Zealand-Oz-New Caledonia region to be the KB's stomping ground for 1942.

It's a bit of PsyOps, but I want Oz to become a bleeding ulcer for the Allies throughout 1942; one that needs continually to be patched up with ground, naval and air reinforcements. If Loka holds back assets to attempt an early counter-attack, I want to be striking industry in Oz for the VP's with a free hand. If Loka commits assets, I'll hopefully be able to fight them off on their own terms.

We've recently had a few email exchanges with our '45 game, which is starting to wind down. Loka is convinced that the IJ can't win outside of autovictory; I want my Oz ops to look like a serious attempt at AV.

It's actually not, I don't really like playing for AV as it takes away much of the fin of the game. In my view any half-decent player can stomp the Allies in 1942 to the point of gaining an AV. The real challenge of this game is fighting through to a draw or marginal win in '45.

I like your strategy here ... a bit of the ol' "Rope-a-Dope". [;)] Seriously these are the types of strategies that I think can work in PBEM ... but you can only do them when you know your opponent well. Loka is a good player, but he is a person and everyone has their blind spots. you might have found one of his. GOOD LUCK!!!

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

I've always fancied a large-scale raid on Ceylon as Japan: turn up, land five divisions, wipe out everything Allied on the island then sail away, but I've never felt it would be worth the fuel and possible losses.

I've always wanted to do exactly the same thing! Someday!

[Anomander Rake]

Most IJN fighter squadrons using the Zero can be resized to size 81, and divided into 27 plane components. Whereas previously I used all three detachments in combat, I'm going to try to keep the absolute best for the front lines.

It is gamey, isn't it? Mechanics of resizing is for flexibility of aviation groups on aircraft carriers. Game hasn't possibility to freely create air forces.
For example not carrier capable air forces (like army air forces) can't be freely resized. So, IMHO resizing mechanich should be limited. Actions as in the quote (resizing and dividing to to increase the quantity air groups) are especially against the game.
My english isn't very good, sorry for it.

[PaxMondo]

Resize is up to the players.

The game imposes its own limits on IJ: supply. more aircraft in play use more supply per turn, and IJ rapidly will hit supply limits and the economy crash. In my games (against AI), I limit operational groups to 49, training groups can be larger. The reason for that is simple: 49 was a common size for IJ groups, and was apparently their target size. It was NOT used universally, but as best I can determine it was due to pilot/aircraft shortages, not intent. Think of it like the Brits Dowding vs Park; Dowding believed in small squadrons that were nimble, Park believed in large 'wings' that could impact. IJ appeared to be more the Park thought, but never had enough of anything to always do it. Noteworthy: neither did the Brits and Dowding won out.

Anyway, sorry for the digression. With supply being a limiting factor, the whole resize question is mostly moot except for impact upon pilot training. Again for me, my opponent Andy AI gets new pilots in at +60 exp (and the number are essentially limitless) ... to effectively combat that, I need all the training I can get.

[mind_messing]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

I've always fancied a large-scale raid on Ceylon as Japan: turn up, land five divisions, wipe out everything Allied on the island then sail away, but I've never felt it would be worth the fuel and possible losses.

I've always wanted to do exactly the same thing! Someday!

Considering your meticulous nature in planning operations, that makes me feel a great deal better! I've always had the feeling that it might just be my natural recklessness bleeding through into the game.

ORIGINAL: Anomander Rake

Most IJN fighter squadrons using the Zero can be resized to size 81, and divided into 27 plane components. Whereas previously I used all three detachments in combat, I'm going to try to keep the absolute best for the front lines.

It is gamey, isn't it? Mechanics of resizing is for flexibility of aviation groups on aircraft carriers. Game hasn't possibility to freely create air forces.
For example not carrier capable air forces (like army air forces) can't be freely resized. So, IMHO resizing mechanich should be limited. Actions as in the quote (resizing and dividing to to increase the quantity air groups) are especially against the game.
My english isn't very good, sorry for it.

Your English is quite excellent, so don't be sorry for it!

I hope the thread in the main forum has gave you a more in-depth discussion than you would otherwise get here, but as others have said, it is a trade-off between several factors, and not just a one-sided advantage.

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Resize is up to the players.

The game imposes its own limits on IJ: supply. more aircraft in play use more supply per turn, and IJ rapidly will hit supply limits and the economy crash. In my games (against AI), I limit operational groups to 49, training groups can be larger. The reason for that is simple: 49 was a common size for IJ groups, and was apparently their target size. It was NOT used universally, but as best I can determine it was due to pilot/aircraft shortages, not intent. Think of it like the Brits Dowding vs Park; Dowding believed in small squadrons that were nimble, Park believed in large 'wings' that could impact. IJ appeared to be more the Park thought, but never had enough of anything to always do it. Noteworthy: neither did the Brits and Dowding won out.

Anyway, sorry for the digression. With supply being a limiting factor, the whole resize question is mostly moot except for impact upon pilot training. Again for me, my opponent Andy AI gets new pilots in at +60 exp (and the number are essentially limitless) ... to effectively combat that, I need all the training I can get.

That's more or less my own take on the issue. 81 size groups are clumsy for operational use, but I see no reason to use larger groups for training purposes. If I've the planes in the pools and the willingness to trade supply for a more expedient pilot training program, then that's a fair trade in my view.

[Anomander Rake]

I hope the thread in the main forum has gave you a more in-depth discussion than you would otherwise get here, but as others have said, it is a trade-off between several factors, and not just a one-sided advantage.

Thank you for your answer. I really don't like this aspect of the game. Both for my and my opponent side.
You should remember that you can resize some units and it gives you advantage in the first phase of war but your opponent can do this same when when he gets more Corsairs.
Both things give unnecessary advantage of the stronger side.
Anyway good luck.

[mind_messing]

January 5th to January 11th, 1942

Home Islands

I'm starting to sort out dispositions here, even if it is very early to be doing so. Currently, all available engineers are heading to vital bases with static aviation support to build up the airbase and fortification levels.

I've also marshaled the restricted squadrons in the Home Islands and Manchuria to concentrate my pilot training program by location. I've combined all the squadrons that can be combined and placed high INSP leaders to bump along training. Lots of fighters and floatplanes (to be more once I rotate a CS back to Japan to resize them), less so other types, but that will change in due course.

China

Still not got the rail-line to Hankow open, which is stalling my operations. Once Hankow can take rail traffic, I'll be moving a significant chunk of the Manchurian Army to smash into Changsha.

Wenchow should be seized shortly, thanks to two divisions from Manchuria.

I've a tank force preparing to push on Sian, along with a division and a brigade to back it up.

Still puttering about in South China with limited units, but should hopefully make some progress soon.

Luzon

Clark is bottled up, and I've left the artillery, a division and the 65th Brigade to keep the Allies pinned down. Everything else is being pulled out to regroup on Minadano, then on to Java.

Malaya

I've mucked up the timetable here something awful, and it's been a slow slog down towards Singapore, but we're getting somewhere now. Bombing of Singers has begun, and but I'll need to regroup before crossing the causeway.

South Pacific

Fiji invasion force is en-route, but the seizure of New Caledonia and Norfolk Island seems to have rattled Loka, as the USN are sputtering around the island being a nuisance. I'm considering sending the KB swinging past New Zealand to see if they can't catch some of the CA's and CL's present here, but it's cutting in to my DEI invasion timetable...

DEI

Good progress here: Balikipapan is due to fall shortly, as is Kendrai. Ambon is Japanese. Timor is likely up next.

Currently, I'm considering a east-to-west invasion from Timor, through Java into Sumatra. Reason being is that Loka has been very keen to strategic bomb the oil as soon as it is captured, so giving him as little scope as possible to bomb Palembang is critical.

Not seen much from the Allies in terms of naval strength, so either he's ran away (unlikely) or he's digging in somewhere (almost certain). I've been burned once by USN CV's in the DEI, so the pressure is on to wrap up Fiji and get the KB over to where the real valuable bases are.

[mind_messing]

Reports of my demise are greatly exaggerated. I've had a busy few months at the start of the year, followed by complete computer meltdown at the end of last month. Thankfully I've got a brand new build on the go so I hope to crank turns out with Loka as soon as I've the new PC configured for AE!

[mind_messing]

January 22nd, 1942

North Pacific

The first whiff of American aircraft carriers since the start of the war materializes here, with long-range floatplanes from Adak spotting USN carrier forces to the south!



Given the fact that the KB is off Noumea covering the Fiji operation, it looks like Loka is attempting a rehash of his famous NorPac raid. This time I doubt he'll have as much fun, as I've already got plenty of aircraft In the area.

More are transferring from the PI, including crack Betty and Zero squadrons.

Central Pacific

Fairly quiet here today, need to start moving supplies up to the front as the first wave of invasions has depleted the rear-area depots.

South-West Pacific

We attack the Allied garrison at Suva and don't do amazingly, getting only a 1 to 2 attack odds. I'm shifting the Guards Mixed Bde. over from Noumea to support, and once Suva falls, will ship the 4th Division to garrison New Caledonia.

Ground combat at Suva (132,160)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13108 troops, 114 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 447

Defending force 9940 troops, 140 guns, 59 vehicles, Assault Value = 244

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 179

Allied adjusted defense: 217

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

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: leaders(-)

Japanese ground losses:
235 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 38 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Allied ground losses:
377 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 40 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
4th Division

Defending units:
9th Australian Brigade
8th NZ Brigade
114th USAAF Base Force
115th USAAF Base Force
131st Field Artillery Battalion
147th Field Artillery Regiment
148th Field Artillery Battalion
1st RNZAF Base Force

Small units are sweeping up the dot hexes in the region, so we should be in firm control here shortly.

DEI

We've got Balikpapan under firm control, and I've sent most of the IJN ships in the area to disband in port, with the exception of the DD's, which are hunting the Dutch submarine force that has concentrated off Balikipapan.

Once they've been driven off, I'll conduct landings on the rest of Borneo and ramp up the air campaign against Java. Currently it's limited to Zero sweeps from Balikipapan. The actual invasion of Java will need to wait till Singapore falls.

Malaya

Still routine here, with IJA units one hex out from Singapore. We'll deal with the straglers blocking the railroads and then concentrate for the big push over the causeway.

Burma

I've sent a number of spare engineers and aviation support to northern Thailand, in the hope of opening up the air war here in a week or so once the airbases expand. As it stands, the IJA has occupied the pan-handle but I'm waiting for big reinforcements before advancing further.

China

Not much of note other than regular bombings.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

Reports of my demise are greatly exaggerated. I've had a busy few months at the start of the year, followed by complete computer meltdown at the end of last month. Thankfully I've got a brand new build on the go so I hope to crank turns out with Loka as soon as I've the new PC configured for AE!

Ah. Good to see this is happening still and see you posting. Look forward to another epic struggle.

[PaxMondo]

+1

Am wondering why he would de-cloak his CV's so close to Adak .... he must know they will be spotted ...

[mind_messing]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

Reports of my demise are greatly exaggerated. I've had a busy few months at the start of the year, followed by complete computer meltdown at the end of last month. Thankfully I've got a brand new build on the go so I hope to crank turns out with Loka as soon as I've the new PC configured for AE!

Ah. Good to see this is happening still and see you posting. Look forward to another epic struggle.

It's good to be back, but it's hard getting back into it. I can't remember half of what should be going where!

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

+1

Am wondering why he would de-cloak his CV's so close to Adak .... he must know they will be spotted ...

He ended up attacking the port at Adak with a strike that did absolutely nothing due to bad weather. I've a AF unit and some floatplanes on the island, so maybe it's just a soft target for him to attack in Jan '42...?

[PaxMondo]

Maybe ... maybe his intel was poor and wanted to see ... just bothering me he used the asset he did. He's a better player than that ... so either something nefarious or a complete oops .... time will tell.

[mind_messing]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Maybe ... maybe his intel was poor and wanted to see ... just bothering me he used the asset he did. He's a better player than that ... so either something nefarious or a complete oops .... time will tell.

Currently my thinking is that he was trying to ambush my shipping up here, such as it was (a xAK and a PB carrying the AF unit, and a AV).

Potentially he could be covering for a quick and nasty counter-invasion of Adak, or knew I had floatplanes on the go and wanted to attrition them.

Or it's a mistake from not playing this game in a couple months.

Given that it's Loka, I'm inclined to think the former.