Spanking Lowpe (NJP72 vs Lowpe (A))

[BBfanboy]

Lowpe had Banshees at Toowoomba and/or Brisbane that chewed up the initial IJ landings at Bundaberg. Let's hope more ships try to get there - it will be like the Cactus AF at Guadalcanal going after the Japanese transports - the troops might get ashore but their supply won't.

[Lowpe]

Jan 13, 1942

Never a quiet night...Off India we look to sink the IJN destroyers that are behind our lines, while fleeing from the approaching invasions task forces...

After a skirmish with destroyers, our light cruiser force catches the IJN destroyers sinking Shirakumo and setting the Shiratsuyu on fire with good close in hits.

[Lowpe]

Rabaul, looking to catch some convoys, instead meet the Furutaka. The IJN doesn't have torpedoes, and ours miss...

[Lowpe]

Go, go Glasgow!

[Lowpe]

Japan lacking recon.

[Lowpe]

Our recon...it is still looking good here I think.

We are using our Chinese baseforces with AA on the front line x3 terrain hexes. They have decent AA...but Japan isn't really using their air forces to pound China into oblivion. Just a little bit and mostly in open terrain.

[Lowpe]

Japan invaded Davao today...the situation map below.

Playing two games always put too much demand on me and my play suffers, but having only 1 game is not enough game...my happy spot is around 1.5 games I think. But, Lok has been slow in turning the latest turn around, so I have more time to ponder things this day...and I have had in the back of my mind plans for a few days on how to use the bypassed bases to inflict harm on Japan. Namely: Singapore, Cagayan, Luzon.

One of my guiding principles is that every day you must do at least one surprise attack on your opponent. Yesterday it was the raid at Rabaul. From Japan's email with the turn: It is starting to become a bit disconcerting to have surface groups just appear out of no where and frighten the bejesus out of me I might have to start implementing some better counter measures.

This tactic works well on many fronts.[:)] Also, it gives me something to look forward to every turn. Especially important when getting the snot kicked out of you every day...you can point take immense joy in those little victories.

So, it seems to me it is time to turn Singers into an aerial offensive threat. Nail the bombers that visit there, hit the oil in Java with B17s. I have another guiding principle in this game, and that is to use 4E Beasties strictly against infrastructure.







You can see already over the last few days, that Japan has indeed set up countermeasures. He has small destroyer escort SAGs almost everywhere now.

PS: Forces on Mindanao are now moving supplies, such that there is, and troops to Malaybaly for a festung hold out.

[Lowpe]

I lost two Cats today...which is never good, and there are 5 disabled at Davao that I will lose tomorrow...but you can see a secondary reason to use Singers offensively, and that is to cause Japan to react and lose even more planes to op losses.

I don't understand why Japan drives their planes so hard.

Below: all plane losses sorted by total.

[witpqs]

Playing two games always put too much demand on me and my play suffers, but having only 1 game is not enough game...my happy spot is around 1.5 games I think.

Many people find 2.6 children to be ideal.

[:'(]

[Lowpe]

I guess about a week ago, the Allies pulled off their long planned ambushes in the Rabaul theater, catching troop convoys and more doing great work, but the IJN responded with the KB...and all those beautiful cruisers were at risk as the task forces had no ammo left and not enough fuel for escape runs.

I managed to get all but one light cruiser away by hiding in bases, got some search Cats in the area to help search, and yesterday made our breakout, covered by Achilles and LeTriomphant and friends raiding Rabaul. The only task force with DL is Achilles...so I believe our escape has worked, but we are super low on fuel.[:(]

Luganville is a resupply base with support ships to rearm, and fuel will be transferred from the support ships to the warships.

I can't remember where Platypus starts the game, Darwin?, but she is a ship that upgrades in early 44 to an AR, and I would be loath to lose her..but she needs to refuel the Canberra force. Note that since several of these SAGs have no ammo, I switched their mission to escort...I believe that helps them avoid combats by evading.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Playing two games always put too much demand on me and my play suffers, but having only 1 game is not enough game...my happy spot is around 1.5 games I think.

Many people find 2.6 children to be ideal.

[:'(]

I have 3, and you aren't wrong.[:D]

[Lowpe]

If only I had some paratroopers in theater...they are on a boat somewhere in the Pacific headed here.

[Lowpe]

The Yanks are coming, and none too soon!

[ny59giants]

Major LCUs in Australia - How many of them have reached 50 in experience levels? I know you have a few more weeks before your infantry squads are stockpiled enough to start the upgrade process.

[Lowpe]

Perth

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Major LCUs in Australia - How many of them have reached 50 in experience levels? I know you have a few more weeks before your infantry squads are stockpiled enough to start the upgrade process.

None. Perth Division is closest.

[Lowpe]

Now that the decision to fight has been made, the Exeters appearance along with the British light cruisers and 8 Yankee destroyers have caused the IJN invasion fleets to pull back at least for now...which is giving us time to get troops into place.

It is important to keep Ledo in Allied hands to feed China supplies. This might be our number one strategic priority right now. Our 2nd is Australia, especially in denying strategic VP there to Japan.

Our forces made good their escape from Prome prior to combat...

I almost sent our light cruisers flank speed south to intercept the invasion fleets, but our NavS spotted heavy cruisers, and I figured that Japan would create one or two CA/DD screens...and I did not want to tangle with those. But now, I see he hasn't...which means I might get more aggressive.

[Ambassador]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I lost two Cats today...which is never good, and there are 5 disabled at Davao that I will lose tomorrow...but you can see a secondary reason to use Singers offensively, and that is to cause Japan to react and lose even more planes to op losses.

I don't understand why Japan drives their planes so hard.

Below: all plane losses sorted by total.

I’m no specialist of Japan, but the only game I played the Empire, I suffered from heavy ops losses on my A6Ms too - because I abused their long legs and used them to achieve air superiority much farther, and escorting the bombers. Run a squadron at extended range for a few days, with a couple of fights, and the planes & pilots’ fatigue levels will rise very high, and if at that moment you want to rebase them further, losses can quickly escalate. From my noob’s view on Japan play, the Zero’s range is one of its main advantage, but it’s also a liability if used too hard.

[Grollub]

Thanks for an interesting game and good AAR! [:)]

Just wondering about the situation in NORPAC & CENTPAC? All quiet?

[Encircled]

Getting into your opponents head is key in a game like this

If he's worried about your reactions in Jan 1942 then you are doing well