Vettim89 vs Greasylake - Reversal of Fortunes

[vettim89]

11 May 1944

A day off as Larry got him a new puter for Father's Day.

Allied counter air ops finally bring fruit. The japanese lose 59 a/c today mostly on the ground including 13 G4M2, 7 Jack, and 4 each of Jill, Val, and Judy. The Japanese have withdrawn all but fighters from the Molucas and Manado. Allied losses today are 9 B-24J and 10 singles of various types. Also I notied a Glen lost to ATA combat - darn the luck eh. Guess he'll have to send that sub home for a new a/c. No attacks today at Amboina and the ALlies use the time to get more engineers offloaded. A shock attack is ordered in combination with some aerial bombardment. I need this base captured like yesterday. Troops leaving Darwin for Namlea which only has 2400 troops there.

Up north a FastTran TF moves part of a RCT to Adak. Just some security troops in case Larry tries something stupid. Once these troops are in place I will hustle a BF over there to provide for some Cap as I move my transports in with CB, supplies, and more AV support. Once Adak is up and running, I move on Amchitka. FInally tehn Attu. Finnaly got some a/c up there with the range to reach Attu and hopefully start getting some recon of that base soon.

I am moving a newly arrived 64 plane B-25 unit to Chungking to harras the Japanese in their northern offensive. A lot of damaged ships from the Padang op are nearly fully repaired. The RN CV's are the problem with two in the 8-9 range and one at 27. The SEAC 4-E's are switched to city attack/resources to eliminate some of teh free supply Japanese troops ahve been getting.

Out in the SCS, a US fleet boat attacks a lone AK on the surface during daylight - take about some big brass ones on the part of that commander. The ak is hit by two TT and 7 shells and succombs to her wounds. Another fleet boat hits a DD and suffers a very ineffective counter attack. I beleive I have found my wounded ducks. Have to see how these next few turns play out but Larry may find that his "safe harbor" at Manila is not so safe very soon

[gladiatt]

Took me a few days to read all your AAR from the beginning: i find it interresting, and i like your style of writing (and of play). Congrats' .

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: gladiatt

Took me a few days to read all your AAR from the beginning: i find it interresting, and i like your style of writing (and of play). Congrats' .

Thank you. I feel like I am plodding along. WHen I read Canoerebel's AAR or Forlorn Hopes and I see Allied players on Japan's doorstep in mid to late '43, I just shake my head and think: How do they do that? Still I like to keep my opponent wondering. My two biggest coups would definitely be the Madagn Op and the Padang op (they rhyme!) Both of these put a strong albeit isolated base right in the middle of my opponents most exposed flank.

[gladiatt]

ORIGINAL: vettim89


Thank you. I feel like I am plodding along. WHen I read Canoerebel's AAR or Forlorn Hopes and I see Allied players on Japan's doorstep in mid to late '43, I just shake my head and think: How do they do that?

Well, you could be in a worst shape. Not at all insulting him, but just to compare to Terje439, you're making far better !
(And Terje, if you read: good luck and much congrat for your stuborn attitude...).
And once more thanks for the enterteinement.

[HMS Resolution]

ORIGINAL: vettim89

Thank you. I feel like I am plodding along. WHen I read Canoerebel's AAR or Forlorn Hopes and I see Allied players on Japan's doorstep in mid to late '43, I just shake my head and think: How do they do that? Still I like to keep my opponent wondering. My two biggest coups would definitely be the Madagn Op and the Padang op (they rhyme!) Both of these put a strong albeit isolated base right in the middle of my opponents most exposed flank.

One of my favorite things about reading your AAR has been how methodically you've applied force to targets and how carefully you plan.

[vettim89]

12 May 1944

Amboina falls under the weight of a 17 to 1 Shock attack. ALready there are 72 P-38J and 48 P-47C. Due to our HR, they cannot fly the next turn having transferred more than 9 hexes. So I will have to endure one more turn of potential attacks then the base should be safe. What is really nice is all those medium bombers that lack the range to hit the Japanese from my current bases will now be able to hit Weda, Sorong, Babo, and Moratia from her.

Some how the combat TF I noted last turn walked right over 5 us fleet boats and didn't even get detected. Depending on what intel I can gather, Manila may be hit next turn by the Superbees. As this may be a one time even before the base is heavily capped, then I want to be certain the Japanese are there in force before I hit the base.

[vettim89]

Just a note so you know, Larry is on vacation for the next week or so. Actually good to get some time out of game myself. This game will get to you. I find myself laying in bed at night thinking about it. Maybe I should join Canoerebel's support group.


Been playing Aces High online. Not a bad game

[Canoerebel]

Yessssss....you should joooooiiiiiiinnnnnnn meeeeeeeeeeee.

[vettim89]

15 May 1944

Larry returns from vacation adn I welcome him with an invasion of Nalea. Perfect timing. Mines did some bad stuff here as my MSW did not sweep.. I have 3 to 1 AV here and as you can see the Japanese are low on supplies. Thought I would give an overview of the SRA in general. Mopping up at Makassar and Amboina. These troops seem to be putting up more of a defense after the base fell than before. Also, annoyingly them seemed to all be able to grab supplies as the vacated the bases.

SS Soulpin hit a TK off Batavia and suddenly the sea is alive with Japanese ships. Seems Larry is trying a miny breakout. LBA did not fly today due to bad weather. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

Two CV's have left Panama for PH. Once there they will form up a couple of stout TF's to head south. They will releive the tired CV's in the SRA.

[ny59giants]

I see that Boela is still an Allied dot base. Any thoughts of grabbing it and building it up??

[vettim89]

16 May 1944

AH no and here is why. The fickle weather gods struck again and the Kamikaze's came down and hit my TF off Nimlea. The US CVTF just 60 nm away did not launch any CAP. I lost 3 LCI, a DD, and had two LSD chewed up. Fortunately the troops are ashore. Counter air will hit Manado and Moratai next turn from 5 bases. So, I am reluctant to hit any bases that cannot immediately operate CAP. My 4E's are tired. I wanted to rest them but the moment necessitates the go once more into the breach.

The large convoy leaving batavia is now approaching Kuching. Bad weather presented any of the 150 plus 2E/4E bombers in range.

Only consolation is that the Japanese took a lot of air losses today. Larry even had Emily's on Kamikaze attack. I wonder how long Oil will be an issue as he is down with the SRA. At this point his TK losses are so high that he problem would have a hard time moving the Oil if he still had access. The tanker Soulpin hit last turn sunk this turn.

[ny59giants]

AH no and here is why.

Then use Fast Transports, transport planes, and/or numerous patrol plane squadron to move in a Sea Bee or two (EAB could work). A fragment of an Aviation Rgt are very easy to do this way once it gets close to size 1.

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

AH no and here is why.

Then use Fast Transports, transport planes, and/or numerous patrol plane squadron to move in a Sea Bee or two (EAB could work). A fragment of an Aviation Rgt are very easy to do this way once it gets close to size 1.

Well I do have a lot of engineers to play with, but see below.

17 May 1944

The Allies take Namlea in a breath. Av support in place and 50 fighters already based there. With this base in my hands I can push even harder for the Moluccas and the northern Celebes. Boela just became irrelevant. Sorong would be a better choice as it is very lightly held. Down at Darwin troops have returned and are resting from the Bandjermasin op. In addition the 43rd ID has moved there from the Gilberts. The 31st division (formerly on GC) is at Townville recovering fatigue with a full TOE. The 32nd ID is being pulled from Madang and is being replaced with two Aussie BGD. While all these units rest and prep my focus will turn to eliminating the resistance and Makassar and Amboina.

There are four CVE sitting at Panama with another to arrive in two days. These will move to PH where there are another eleven CVE waiting. Two Essex CV's are inbound to PH and Yorktown, Wasp, Bunker Hill, and CVL PRinceton are also there. The Independence Class CVL's and the Essex are due for June upgrades. I will upgrade the three Essex at PH plus Princeton then send them to Darwin. I will then rotate the most needy CV/CVL out of that zone for repair and upgrade. Once this is accomplished, I will finally be ready for Marcus Island. Of course by then I will also have a bunch more CVE and a few CV's too.

Over in SEAC, the stalemate at Ban Don continues but the Japanese suffer between 2000 to 3000 casualties a week from aerial and ground bombardment. The 4E LBA there is now focusing on elimintating the resource centers in Malaya and Indochina. No more free supply points will be allowed. The RN CV's are repping up at Colombo but need upgrades. Victorious sits at 27 syst damage; so it will be a while before she puts to sea again.

In China, 150k Japanese are at Kungchang. I moved a newly arrived USAAF B-25 group to Chungking to harrass this force along with the Chinese bombers.

A US fleet boat put a TT into CL Oi just off Manila. She will likely make it as she is just one hex from port. The Superbees may need to hit this target again. Cursor intel say 72 ships in port right now.

That is about as close to a whole map summary as you can get

[vettim89]

18 May 1944

There are times when finesse, elegance, and sometimes a little luck will do you well. Other times just brute strength and overwhelming force are the best answer. Today was a day for brute strength, but that will have to wait.

First a IJN SCTF was spotted last turn SW of Manila. Unsure what Larry is up to here but this force slipped into the Sibyan Sea where it bumped into SS Redfish which was in transit to patrol west of the PI. CA Kumano stumbled upon two little presents the US CMDR sent her way. This TF is about to walk over three more US fleet boats. Wonder where these guys are headed?

The huge TF with two US ID, a RCT, a UK BGD and oodles of support units arrived in Trico this turn. These are the troops for Sabang if the RN can get her CV's out of drydock any time soon. There is always Nicobar Is. I own this dot base and may use fast transport to lift in some BF and engineer units to get that base up and running. Actually that sounds like a great idea.

See next post about brute strength

[vettim89]

So, Larry thought Manado was a good place to pick on my TF's operating in the Andaman Sea area. Then he thought: "CAP, we don't need no stupid CAP!" Six raids from five different bases and, ah well, you can see the results.

This was my e-mail message to Larry

Aaaah, Grasshopper, I see you have not yet learned the folishness of leaving many flying machines uncapped at a base within range of the mighty Four-engined Dragon. I see we still have much training to do.

<bows>


For those of you keeping score that is 20 to1 loss ratio.

[Alfred]

ORIGINAL: vettim89
For those of you keeping score that is 20 to1 loss ratio.

Only in base 10...only in base 10[:D]

Alfred

[vettim89]

19-20 May 1944

After a lot of action, it slows down. Just some highlights

* On the 19th the LBA hits Menado again and claims about another dozen airframes. I think this bases is about shot for Larry

* Checked Tracker and the TK count is now at 42 for the IJN - 24 large and 18 small.

* CV Enterprise, CV Wasp, and BB Indiana depart PH for Darwin.

* Recon of Shanghai's port show 76 ships. The B-24 at Hengshow will hit there in a few days

* LBA hits Kuala Lampur's Rsources which are now halved in the orginal strength. I think I will use the Superbees to eliminate resources at Saigon, KL, Hanoi, and Bangkok. The RAF LBA will hit the smaller resource centeres in Malaya.

* Another Av regiment is loading at Abemama for deployment to the SRA.

* Doing some math still but I think I will have the lift resources to hit at least two of the three bases on the list simultaneously - probably Weda and Moratai as these are the most lightly held

[vettim89]

21-23 May 1944

Three slow turns on most fronts until the 23rd. The e-mail message from Larry came in as "Bombs Away". With the fickle Weather God's one never knows what missions will actually fly on a given day. Today was one of those rare days with almost everything flew. In summary:

* B-29's flew out of Rangoon and about obliterated Bangkok's Resources

* Liberator III flew out of Moulmein and Vitoria Point and did the dame to Singora's resources

* B-17 flew out of Maumere and hit the troops at Makassar

* PB4Y flew a night mission and hit Marcus Is AB out of Wake

* B-24J flew out of Hengchow and hit Shanghai's port chewing up about a dozen AK/AP

* LBA out of VP and Moulmein hit the troops at Ban Don

* LBA out of Bandjermasin hit the troop pocket east of that base

* LBA at Makassar hit troops there

* B-25J in the Gilberts hit Maeolap's AB

* P70 out of PM hit Lae AB

* SBD out of Buin hit Rabaul AB

[vettim89]

24-31 May 1944

Really not much happening. Moving stuff around mostly. SOme highlights

* The ground resistance at Makassar has finally been eliminated with 33 K Japanese troops now gone. Still working on Ambonia. TF departs Darwin to lift the 4 ID and 4 ARM units out of Makassar to go back to Darwin for R&R.

* Larry tried one offensive mission - image attached. One Betty did make it home to tell the tail

* Larry has started training in China again. He found a very remote base that I can't reach to cover. I am fixing that now.

* That last Chinese FS is now flying P-51B. All the rest were already upgraded

* LBA has been attacking resources in Malaya, Bangkok, and Kendari.

* Fast transport TF's leave Port Blair for Nicabar Island to deposit a large US BF there.

* Three TF depart Dutch Harbor to take engineers supplies and a large BF there. Once this AB is up and running, I will move on Amchitka

* Still about a week away from the new US CVTF to arrive at Darwin. The outbound one is approaching Townsville where it will refuel and head to PH for rapair and upgrade.

* CV Ticongeroga and CV Bennington arrived at PH on the 31st and will immediately undergo upgrade on 1 June - hows that for timing?

* Oh, and P-47D arrives 1 June.

[FOW]

Why are you sending your AC TFs back to PH?
&nbsp;
The upgrades can be taken at Sydney and Aukland - just need some ARs there to speed up repairs.
For heavy Sys Damage then going to PH / West Coast is preferable