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From my "Leaders" list.....

Naval Headquarters
• The qualities and skills of the HQ leader has no influence or bearing on the HQ function.
• A Naval HQ is a good place for your stupidest, most incompetent admirals to become heroes

Notes on Naval HQ Employment:
• Place a Naval HQ in a forward repair depot. This will facilitate rapid repair and return to battle. A forward repair depot is a reasonably large port near the area of action. Reasonably large means size 5 or better so that damaged devices can be repaired.
• Place a Naval HQ far forward so that crippled ships in danger of sinking can slip into a nearby port within the HQ's range and enhance their chances of being saved.
• Place a Naval HQ in a Major repair shipyard to speed repairs (not sure if the HQ will exert an influence on a port that is already size 10).
• Most Naval HQ have naval support squads, so can assist in loading/unloading cargo and rearming ships.


Air Headquarters
• High Air Skill - This influences the number of strike and patrol aircraft that will fly.
• All other skills have no influence or bearing on the HQ function.

Notes on Air HQ Employment:
• Air HQ have a dramatic influence on level bombers. It is important to have an air HQ within range of your level bomber bases.
• Air HQ exert significant influence over other strike aircraft. It is good to have an air HQ in range of your bases from which strikes other than level bombers fly.
• Air HQ exert an influence over patrol aircraft. It is beneficial to have an air HQ in range of your bases with patrol aircraft.
• In Naval TF’s with Carriers (CV, CVL, CVE), the TF commander serves as the Air HQ for the carrier aircraft.

Note that the leadership Value of Headquarters Commanders is completely irrelevant other than its influence on the Headquarters unit itself. That is it will influence how rapidly the HQ unit gains experience. The only value of the HQ Unit's experience is for its own defense. Therefore, do not bother installing your "strong leaders" in HQ Units. Look for the qualities that are specific to their function.


Air Combat TF
• Air Skill - The TF Commander functions as an Air HQ for the airgroups. This will influence how many strike aircraft will fly.
• Aggression - Influences how likely the TF is to react and move toward an enemy. High aggression can result in your carrier group running into a fight. Be careful in this selection.
• Surface Skill - To save your hind quarters (and I am not talking Russian Helicopters), if you are unfortunate enough to get in a surface engagement.
• No other skills or qualities have any influence.

Surface Combat TF
• Surface Skill - To gain surprise and cross the T in an engagement
• Aggression - High Aggression will increase the likelihood that the Surface Combat TF will react and seek a fight (be careful... A TF for two DD's with an Admiral of 100 aggression will probably pick a fight with some BB's... This rarely ends well for the DD's)
• Air Skill - Of small import, but it influences the float plane operations from the Capital Ships.
• No other skills or qualities have any influence.

Bombardment TF
• Aggression - Influences the probability that the TF will convert to a Surface Combat TF.
• Surface Skill - Influences TF in a fight the same as Surface Combat.
• Air Skill - Of small import, but it influences the float plane operations from the Capital Ships.
• No other skills or qualities have any influence.

Action this turn my readers...

Will Post more in a bit.

Excellent!

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Action this turn my readers...

Will Post more in a bit.

You don't sound too happy [:(]

On pins and needles...

November 9, 1942

In the realm of the EXPECTED, Dan stays put on the 9th. More TF are seen gather just off Townsville. This MUST be the main attack! You'll see in the next Posts that there are now choices as to the MAIN Assault...

SS spar with some sacrificial lambs NE of Townsville but no excitement.

Kido Butai
1. Refuel. The AOs still have 20,000+ fuel left. Plan to break off the four emptiest and send them to get more go-go juice.
2. 2 CVLs will arrive at Tulagi tomorrow and change out aircraft.
3. Resting the CAP a bit by lowering CAP from 60% to 30%. Am far enough back that I would spot any sort of US CV threat.

What this day allows:
1. Mines deposited at PM and Terapo.
2. Review all Air Flotilla and Air Division Leaders. Make three changes.
3. Heavy equipment of SNLF Assault Brigade arrive at Terapo tomorrow.
4. A group of 14 AK(a) cross PM and nears Milne. They are headed to Lunga for a potential pick-up of the ID located there.
5. CVE TF arrives at Taberfane. BB TF one day behind.
6. SNLF Assault Brigade will arrive at Merauke tomorrow or the day after.
7. Terapo goes the Lvl-3 Forts and Milne moves to Lvl-4: NICE!
8. SS Line begins to reform.
9. A STF of 4 CA, 1 CKL, and 6 DDs forms at Milne and heads to Horn Isle. Mission: Bombard Cooktown.

NW Australia

Off the coast of Exmouth Bay, a small group of TF have stayed just close enough to be seen but not close enough to be attacked fro 4-5 days. Beyond doubt this is a DECOY Force, however, it is vulnerable. Move 24 Emily (to go with 18 Kates) into the hex and order them to Naval Attack. See if we can bag a few ships!

Just off the north edge of the map are two supply TF bringing in enough supply to last for a while at each base.

NW Sumatra

It is funny how planning and operations do sometimes truly WORK.

For the last few months the air brawl over Burma has necessitated a strong need for an R&R Training Facility close enough to hop right back to Burma but far enough away it isn't known or vulnerable. I chose this base to be Georgetown. We've built the base UP: AF-7, Pt-5, Forts-4+. Two large Base Forces and an Engineering unit provide the air support and strength for the base. Usually there are 3-4 Air Units down here refitting, training, and resting. This day finds nearly 48 Zero and 75 Betty-Nell.

Frantic calls issue from Jakes flying ASW out of Sabang this morning. Several Allied TF are spotted including one or more British CVs/CVEs! Once the panic subsides, six TF are spotted close to Sabang and, possibly, threatening a landing there or down the coast at Sibolga. The CVs truly reveal there 'strength' when a strike of 11 SBD and 12 Swordfish catch 5 AKs unloading fuel at the Port. Three AKs are sunk and the excitement begins to mount.

For tomorrow set Bomber/Fighter Range to 10 from Georgetown. Don't have TTs but do carry nice falling objects called bombs. In a lucky moment, we realize that there is an Air Division just two-three days away originally headed for Moulmein. It now heads for Georgetown.

Base Status:
Sabang is Fort-3, AV 167, and lots of supplies.

Sibolga is Fort-4, AV 120, and OK with supply.

Actions:
1. Move a Daitai of Vals to Port Blair from Burma along with a Daitai of Zeros and Chutai of Tojo. They'll move into action next turn.
2. Begin loading the Reinforcement unit for this region (4th Mixed Brigade) at Soerabaja and order it to head for Benkoelen.
3. All those conveniently arrived Transport Planes that were about to be used dropping Paras in India are now hauling troops: 45 Topsy arrive at Pt Blair and begin hauling the Imperial Guards ID to Sabang for a quick reinforcement while another similar-sized group begin flying in two Base Forces to Sabang.
4. A reinforcement convoy carrying 8th Army HQ, an Army HQ, two Base Forces and 3 Construction units divert (having just rounded Singapore for Rangoon) to that Port Tang???? just south of Medan. We've built-up Medan and Tang??? to Sz-3 AF.
5. Four I-Boats have just finished repairing at Singers so they'll conveniently get used to hunt over here.

Is this a REAL Assault??? Looks like it. Nice to have a bunch of convenient, POSITIVE things happen here!

Thoughts...

Isn't this GREAT??!! Who knows what is about to happen??!!

The main attack MUST be at New Guinea, however, he may try to get lucky by grabbing something cheap over in Sumatra. Only problem is that it won't be CHEAP!

Off the shores of Cocos I have watched a similar show unfold as that off Exmouth. Several TF prowling around trying to gain my attention.

They shall get it tomorrow. Order 18 Emily to Naval Attack--Search along with 36 Nell to Naval Attack. There are 18 Kates that can attack as well but he doesn't move that close. They get ready to fly over to Benkoelen for possible action off Sumatra.

Order all these planes to attack at Exmouth, Cocos, and around Sabang in an effort make it LOOK like I am transferring assets to these areas and weakening New Guinea. This is my trying to get into Dan's head. We'll see what happens but MARK THIS DOWN there will be lots of action next turn!

November 10, 1942

This game has been such a chess match with Dan and I! There have been several times I've 'thought' I knew where he was heading:

1. At first I thought he was for sure coming into the Aleutians due to his proclivities and fascinations there. Don't know if that was the right guess or not and will find out later when we wrap up and do our post-BSing meeting over the game.

2. We had the whole NW Australia gambit of his where I guessed correctly he was going to Exmouth at the same time I was withdrawing from Geraldton. That worked out fine and DANDY!

3. In there also fell the Marshalls invasion. He caught me without any air search and nearly achieved a HUGE lodgement there, however, that Operation cost him decently as I reduced the Americans in the Tarawa Area.

4. The drive coming up from Australia was first tipped off to me by my I-Boats down around New Zealand picking up lots of activity with TF moving west to NZ or Australia. His withdrawal of units in Geraldton also tipped off another Operation involving Aussie units. The occasional 'Heavy Radio Traffic' from these two areas also had me leaning southwards. Seeing the TF begin their slow advancement along the east coast under LBA was the final nail in the coffin. Man---I could SEE the Offensive coming up hitting Terapo, Horn Island, and swinging west towards Merauke! This sort of assault would open up all of the eastern DEI. It is the sort of attack I would do if I had the resources. Seeing this all led to the movement of reinforcing New Guinea and beginning to build-up those magnificent potential bases at Gove and Wessel to complement Darwin and Timor.

Well...I GUESSED WRONG THIS TIME!

Those Convoys moving south of New Zealand, the Radio Traffic, and everything else were right. He was moving west with a bunch of stuff all right but it wasn't directed at New Guinea. He has hauled all this stuff across the Pacific to land in the Indian Ocean at Sumatra! HOLY CATS! Don't know why you wouldn't simply send them through the other end of map board but OK.

It now appears that Sumatra and, perhaps northern Malaya, is the target. I say appears because it isn't 100% certain but sure looks like it.

OK. The turn:

Four Invasion TF escorted by 4 old BBs attack Sabang. Troops offloaded include 18th Brit ID and an American BF. My LBA at Georgetown goes in as planned but is hammered by serious American CAP (48+ F4F). This is my first indication that HERE is the REAL target. The Betty--Nells score some hits (CVE Long Island and a BB) but nothing exciting. The real nail in the coffin is a small strike at a TF west of Sabang that encounters the might of the American CV Fleet (150 plane CAP).

Only good thing I can say here is that his CAP over Sabang is so busy fending off my Zeros and Bombers that all my Transports manage to fly in and drop off nearly 45 AV of the Imperial Guards ID.

Small Landings occur at the undeveloped bases of Sinabang and Nias.

I KNOW my opponent and friend here. Dan landing just a bit to sniff out my defenses and see what is attainable. Now he will bring in the kitchen sink. I expect more landings at Sabang, several of the outlying Islands along the west coast of Sumatra, Sibolga, as well as coming around the NE Tip of Sumatra. Moving in on Mergui and Victoria Point makes sense too...these are excellent moves in that they would cut me off (for the time being) from Burma by everything but the land route. Makes sense to me and has a solid foundation of logic behind it.

Reaction: NEAR PANIC!

Don't panic though. There is opportunity here. He is now committed to an 'all-or-nothing' approach in this campaign. EVERYTHING Allied appears to be in the IO going after the Burma and Sumatra Region. It is a one-dimensional, powerful thrust.

The immediate damage must be contained with what is there and then wait for reinforcements. Reactions:
1. Stop attacks on Naval Shipping as I don't have the immediate firepower to punch through that CAP.
2. Have nearly 100 Transports flying out of Pt Blair. Half remain dropping troops at Sabang and the other half begin an airlift into Medan. Don't want to weaken Pt Blair TOO much since this base is now massively important. MUST keep it. Nice thing is that Pt. Blair and Burma have BUNCHES of supply so they are not in immediate peril whatsoever.
3. Have troops (described in earlier entry) presently landing at Tand??? (Base below Medan). CAP them so they can land those HQ units and Base Forces.
4. Pick-Up several small Inf units at Rangoon and send them to Merqui and Victoria Point. Those bases just have Base Forces present at the moment.
5. Buy-Out an ID in Shanghai for deployment. APs already waiting so it moves tomorrow.
6. The 2nd ID at Munda is loaded so it moves out as well.
7. The Inf Brig at Soerabaja is already loaded and headed towards Benkoelen.
8. Begin loading another ID at Lunga for redeployment as well.
9. KB stop loitering and heads for Soerabaja.
10. CVE and BB TF at Taberfane move back to Koepang.

I cannot commit everything in the New Guinea Region until I see more. This is only one turn but it looks like the real deal. He ALWAYS seems to love the Aleutians and Burma--Malaya--Sumatra Theatres! Same occurred in our previous game. We all have our tendancies and I thought he might break pattern by coming up from due south but NOT! [;)]

These are the first steps and we'll see what the next turn brings. Have got church and then a funeral to go to so I expect to get in one turn today in the afternoon. Need to get back to bed. Woke-up at 3:30am and decided to run the turn and make the AAR entry. It is now 5:30am and the sun is coming up. Need to get a couple more hours of sleep.

How 'bout that??!!

Do you think you can spare some of the troops currently in Burma to bolster Sumatra? Burma is important but worth little to nothing without Singers and Sumatran oil.

Burma only really has two purposes for the Japanese; deny a supply route to China and delay the commonwealth approach to Malaya/DEI. If this invasion sticks then the latter role becomes moot..... of course, if you abandon Burma and break the Sumatra invasion he is still at the gates in Burma.... rock and a hard place anyone?

I forget what China looks like, are you in a position to close down the mountain passes from the Chinese side? If so then at least you can shorten your lines in Burma if you need to.

I think it will be hard to maintain anything but a defensive posture in Burma. Troops will be needed elsewhere but more importantly, aircraft of all types will be needed elsewhere. This is troublesome. The Allies can match you in troops. LBA will help, but I think your best bet is a naval solution, you still have more

Probably be a good idea to put a goodly number of Glen-equipped subs into the IO to suss his lines of supply. These are susceptible to interdiction. He's gotta ship in everything from a LONG way away-that's a weakness.

Concur with those thoughts.

Already had the 48th ID and 9th Air Fleet were moving to Rangoon. Will shift to the total defensive posture we have talked about within the AAR.

Cannot really bring them in until he pulls his CV Air back but will work to buttress things. This is a SCARY attack but, as I said before, it is ONE Dimensional. ALL Allied CVs and bunch of LCU are in this landing and in Burma. If we take command of the sea, I will starve out the Allied Forces while building up my troops. This is very similar to what Lew did in my other AAR when he landed in Sumatra in mid-to-late-42 and he lost 5 ID, 10 Brigades/Regiments, plus about 30 other units. It can be dealt with with a little time and reinforcement.

If Dan fights his somewhat conservative tendencies, he can have ALL of northern Sumatra as well as grab some of the mainland. What he really needs is an air bridge to get his shorter legged fighters down to the arena. His 2EB might be able to make the jump and they shall be troublesome.

At a minimum we need to keep Gerogetown, Pt Blair, Medan--Tand, Cocos, and Benkoelen. Can pretty quickly have Air Flotilla and Air Divisions at most of those and then the fight can begin.

KB will be at Soerabaja in 7 days. Will then swing out to Cocos and move north along with my LBA. The CVE TF will accompany the Fleet. I will bring nearly 800 planes to the party.

He must have HUGGED the edge of the mapboard! Had Emily flying from Exmouth and Cocos tagged to the board edge.

Since the troops and HQ will need some time to get in position there is nothing I can do to stop whatever is happening, therefore, we'll keep most of LBA in New Guinea there just incase this Sumatra move is some sort of weird bluff. Don't believe that thought at all but will wait at least a couple of days before beginning to pull out planes.

Did hurt his shipping around Cocos and Exmouth last turn though. Strikes sank 3 AK and an AVP plus damaged 3-4 more AKs. Not much but it is something.

You know you play too much WitP WHEN you are writing your Sunday School Lesson and type in the date as June 23, 1942...

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

You know you play too much WitP WHEN you are writing your Sunday School Lesson and type in the date as June 23, 1942...

Now that's funny!

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

What he really needs is an air bridge to get his shorter legged fighters down to the arena. His 2EB might be able to make the jump and they shall be troublesome.

Don't forget US P40s (both E and K) can make the jump direct from Ramree to Sabang. A staging field would only be needed for shorter legged British fighters and P39s.