Aussie Affair, Beta's Twilight

[Luskan]

Not even a launch. Tanaka was off on the other side of the world at that point. I wanted 3 times as many destroyers and I wanted to catch him with his pants down.

Win some loose some.

[Raverdave]

Luskan has lost a shitload of DDs so many infact that he is now running BBs without ANY DD escorts. Just sent in CV TF to pound Rabal. Lost of action is soon to come as I start to probe his outer defensive ring.

[Luskan]

bbs without dds? eh? where????

[Raverdave]

Given that we both started this game while it was in beta, it is fair to say that we have both made some large mistakes that we have avoided in later games.

My main problem is that I have lost too many fighting ships to stupid acts...and Luskan is one hell of a player who never lets you get away with a mistake. These stupid acts have main come from a desire to hit back as it can be a very frustrating 12 months as the allied player.

The next big problem for me, and this is all my own fault, is that I have engineering units spread from arsehole to breakfast as "part" units. And it is taking one hell of an effort to try and reform these units. It is also hampering my ability to to support my airfarce in the SWPAC.

Luskan sent me an email that I thought would be good for all you jap players to read. I hope he does not mind me posting this online.


"So many things I would do differently if we were playing over.

I'd expand my industry slower - and I'd aim more long term for plane production instead of a6m2, val, kate and betty only (instead of later models).

Obviously I'd rearrange my target priority for my shock and awe first week a little.

I wouldn't ignore the solomons as long as I did etc. Can't see myself committing to take the place while there are still lots of resource providing places in Java - but now I'm much better aquainted with invasions of Java/defence of Java - the allied OOB at the start of the game through to feb etc. I'm confident no one could hold it against me (my subsequent WITP games have benefited GREATLY from this one.

I've only got 1 other game still going - because Oliver Heindorf is the only allied opponent who hasn't lost all his cvs to me early, then followed up by getting bitch slapped in the classic "Allies go on the offensive WAYWAY too early."

e.g. someone tried to invade Kwajalein. The CD units and betties killed the american inf units (marine division included) which should have been protecting Hawaii etc.

One genius tried to snatch Truk with a fast transport group (eh???)

More than half the allied CVs in my other 4 witp games were sunk by my land based aircraft when the allied player got silly. Attaking Major jap airbases in early 42 . . . . going to get you sunk every time.

Most allied opponents (you and Oliver excluded) can't play China or Burma. I eat China alive in a totally ahistorical romp because the chinese army tries to stand and fight early on - up front with long supply lines (same in burma). They loose so bad I take the whole map up to India.

Don't have a counter for your conservation strategy in China. I would take Akyab earlier however - and leave it as a lightly defended forward outpost to absorb some of your level bomber's range."


Well now I am well on the way to Japan, and it will be here that I start to make the really big mistakes, how bad those mistakes are will depend upon how well Luskan is able to exploit them.

[Oliver Heindorf]

once Luskan get the idea of your playing style, you are doomed.
first 3 months went ok with me ( excluding burma, where I sucked and he had a little bit luck destroying lots of units instead that my just ran away (retreating ) ) but now he is kicking my butt around the globe. Well, I stop complaining becasue it leads to nowhere anyway.

I find it intresting that your game started in beta status and it is still running fine and reliable.

I followed this AAR from 1 year ago and I still cant stop reading it, gr8 job!

[Raverdave]

ORIGINAL: Oliver Heindorf

once Luskan get the idea of your playing style, you are doomed.
first 3 months went ok with me ( excluding burma, where I sucked and he had a little bit luck destroying lots of units instead that my just ran away (retreating ) ) but now he is kicking my butt around the globe. Well, I stop complaining becasue it leads to nowhere anyway.

I find it intresting that your game started in beta status and it is still running fine and reliable.

I followed this AAR from 1 year ago and I still cant stop reading it, gr8 job!

Oliver,

mate if it is any consolation you have been "beaten" by what I consider one of the best IJN players on this forum. He is a real gun player who will whip you at every chance that he gets. Just so long as you keep your CVs floating you should still have a chance.[;)]

[Oliver Heindorf]

hehe, no need for a consolation yet, I am still up and running fine ( hopefully [:D] )
as long as I have ideas and surprises for him ready, I feel OK. The feedback I got from him supports me in this matter [;)] I will never forget my raids on his solomon islands invasions fleets [:D] BOOM !

[Luskan]

It's easy to be better than your opponent when I've been playing the game 2 years and they've only been playing 5 months!

Although I can play the japs pretty well now, the lessons i've learnt playing them make me a very boring allied opponent - I'd sit on my ass all game and hide until late 44 when I can't be stopped.

Interesting to note that Oli's strategy in China is so effective - he hasn't tried to defend the whole chinese line - just 1.5 points on it. I KNOW I could take the weaker bases and avoid his massive buildups, but the problem is I'm not sure who would be flanking who! I've stolen Burma however and soon the lack of supplies will lead to a chinese crumbling. Still ahven't got Manila or Singapore yet (fighting in earnest).

Here is my last turn vs Raver - the turn before he sent three lone MSWs up near the Admiralty islands. I think he was going to use them to start paring away at the minefield that is Rabaul. Fortunately for me my betties proved just how elite they were. 12 betties, 3 groups of 4, three hits, three sunk msws.

Then this turn I caught a small transport TF in the lower indonesian chains. Raver is trying to staff/build some smaller airbases there to extend his air umbrella to the point it can threaten Kendari. kendari is safe - but there are lots of smaller bases around the place that I haven't finished building (and I haven't got enough CD units to protect them all). Those narrow waters are going to become a surface combat battleground in months to come, so I've made sure many major fleet units are refitted prior to the beginning of the nastiness.

My Rangoon fleet is back to full compliment as my last Singapore/Rangoon rotation has completed (damaged ships to singers for repairs).

Enjoy.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/20/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Lautem at 33,78

Japanese Ships
CA Kako
CL Yura, Shell hits 1
CL Kinu
DD Arashi
DD Hagikaze
DD Natsugumo, Shell hits 1
DD Minegumo
DD Samidare
DD Suzukaze
DD Akatsuki
DD Hibiki

Allied Ships
AK Santa Teresa, Shell hits 2
AK Empire Lake, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
AK Høegh Merchant, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AK Mabella, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Rabaul , at 61,88


Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 6


Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
26 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
2 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 4th Mixed Regiment, at 36,28


Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 12
Wellington III x 89
Hudson I x 9
B-25C Mitchell x 138
B-24D Liberator x 36


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
236 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
6 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Blenheim IV bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
18 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
20 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
13 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
6 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
24 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Blenheim IV bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Hudson I bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
4 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
18 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
15 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
9 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Blenheim IV bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Hudson I bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
6 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
7 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
4 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Blenheim IV bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Hudson I bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
2 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
5 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
4 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 42nd Naval Guard Unit, at 58,84


Allied aircraft
Beaufort V-IX x 32


No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 6000 feet
11 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 6000 feet
6 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 6000 feet
6 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 47,46

Japanese Ships
PC Ch 9
PC Ch 8
PC Showa Maru #5
PC Showa Maru #3
PC Shonan Maru #7
PC Shonan Maru #6
PC Sonan Maru #6
PC Gamitsu Maru #1
PG Zuiko Maru
PG Saiko Maru
PG Magan Maru
PG Koei Maru
PG Keijo Maru
PG Edo Maru
PG Chosa Maru
PG Hashidate
MSW Tama Maru #2
MSW Ranzan Maru
MSW Fukeui Maru #7
MSW Atsu Maru
MSW Asahi Maru
MSW Wa 2
MSW Wa 1

Allied Ships
SS Sailfish


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Myitkyina

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 10786 troops, 124 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 23401 troops, 88 guns, 179 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
32 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Admiralty Islands

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 17407 troops, 160 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 252 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 710 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
754 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

[Luskan]

Some important things have happened in the last week or so of turns. Firstly, Rabaul has started to come undone on me. I am no longer confident that I can get supplies and troops in and damaged units out. Raver's air power really is awesome down in that area of town.

In mnore important news I have finally finished my fast track research into the Oscar 2A. Why is this important? Because I am now producing hundreds of them per month, and all those NATE pilots who have had NOTHING TO DO (I didn't put them into combat once) except train, train train and do more training, are now finally getting decent planes. Fairly soon my 700+ Nate pilots will be 700+ oscar pilots. I don't think I have a nate squadron with an average exp of less than 85!!!!!!!! This is a MUST strategy for any jap player. I'm hoping that these 700 pilots will take over all sorts of defence duties that their elite naval fighter comrades have been covering.

With the exception of those pilots lost aboardmy underwater cvs, my naval air wing is intact - and has had a bit of retraining on its own. Time for some live targets again (before Raver can match my deck space with uber allied fighters).

Suplies are plentiful, resource and oil stockpiles are the largest they've ever been - all my industry expansions are finished and I think everything really worth waiting for is out of the pipeline and is on the map. I cannot improve on the total (thanks churchy!).

[Raverdave]

Well here are a few of the current plans and operations that are currently under way. Both are fairly straitforward with little need to explain. In the DEI operations I will be using the successful tactic that was used against Rabal: Shut it down, surround and isolate, then by-pass.

[Raverdave]

DEI Operations

[Raverdave]

Hmmmmm....sumfink is wrong with the pic file.[&:]

[Raverdave]

Ok take two..............

[Raverdave]

Cool That worked......now for the second file

[Luskan]

enough with the yawn fest of pics and send me a turn already!

[Raverdave]

I'm the one waiting for the turn !!!!!!!!

[Oliver Heindorf]

enough talking guys, keep it on !!

[:D]

[Capt. Harlock]

You have to admire Raver -- not only is he willing to announce his move ahead of time, he gives us diagrams. Of course, this is from the man who kept boasting about how heavily defended Java was. . .

[Luskan]

Diagrams????????? All he does is post a pick with a big pink or beige arrow pointing towards every base on the map?

A couple of quiet turns have passed. Not willing to divulge too much at the moment. Things are afoot.

[Raverdave]

*Sniff* At least I am brave enough to telegraph MY next move, unlike the cowardly yellow banananananana. And as for Capt. Harlot...er Harlock well my Java plan DID work didn't it ?[:'(]