Return of the Sheep! - JocMeister(A) vs. MrKane(J)

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister
You are right though. I should be more confident then I am but its hard to keep confidence up as the allies in 42.

You gotta play Japan sometimes.[:D]

[Barb]

Actually going into carrier fight in this situation could be a good thing to do. If you can put 2/3rd of KB out of commission, his ground troops would be left without support. Then it is up to USAAF.
Also loosing carriers close to your own base will probably save most of your planes/pilots. On the other hand most of the Japs will have to ditch. Just make sure to get into 4 hex range (for Devastator strike) and to get as many SBDs through as you can - with good weather!

Do not forget that allied troops surrender when forced out of the base and cannot be saved. If he will run 8 BBs and 20 CAs against your single base, there is almost nothing that can save your ground troops in a ground attack...

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: njp72
My 2 cents for what its worth. In my current game against Wargmr, my world (Japan) started to crumble in late 42 when he started to fight
back aggressively without taking large risks.

To a degree a large part of the Empire's advantage in 42 is psychological. Of course the trick is to fight back hard without losing carriers
which against this guy might be dangerous.

Hi, and thank you. I will try my best! [:D]

ORIGINAL: aztez

Looking forward to big naval and carrier battles which are likely to happen unless you deciede otherwise! [:D]

Really don't see any other scenarios considering all the events and signit intel... Good luck.. you might need it.

Thank you! I think I deserve a little bit of luck this time! [:D]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe
You gotta play Japan sometimes.[:D]

I had a Jap game I gave up on in early 43. Was against the AI though and I hardly touched the industry. Sadly I think I got a little overambitious and broke the AI. [:)]

ORIGINAL: Barb

Actually going into carrier fight in this situation could be a good thing to do. If you can put 2/3rd of KB out of commission, his ground troops would be left without support. Then it is up to USAAF.
Also loosing carriers close to your own base will probably save most of your planes/pilots. On the other hand most of the Japs will have to ditch. Just make sure to get into 4 hex range (for Devastator strike) and to get as many SBDs through as you can - with good weather!

Do not forget that allied troops surrender when forced out of the base and cannot be saved. If he will run 8 BBs and 20 CAs against your single base, there is almost nothing that can save your ground troops in a ground attack...

Hey Barb,

Good points. I´ll keep them in mind. [:)]

[ny59giants]

Where are your CVs?? List them please....

What about sending the Brits over to SoPac??

What are the models of fighters and TBs on your CVs now?? How many have F4F-4 Wildcats and Avnegers?? Do you have Marine fighters on them??

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Where are your CVs?? List them please....

What about sending the Brits over to SoPac??

What are the models of fighters and TBs on your CVs now?? How many have F4F-4 Wildcats and Avnegers?? Do you have Marine fighters on them??

I´ll send you a PM once I get home! [:)]

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

I´ll send you a PM once I get home! [:)]

Nonsense, fight the bloody war and report back to everyone. No preferential treatment.[:-]

What happened to those 7 turns a day, eh?

I so want you to eat crow after you come out victorious here![:D]

ps: a draw victory point wise is a major win!

pps: figure out where he will rearm his BB's and see if they can be ambushed by subs, mines, planes or ships. He probably has some gaping holes in his naval search!

[JocMeister]

I just sent the 6th turn back to Tom about 5 minutes ago... [:'(]

Just havn´t been much to report during the last 3-4 turns! Update coming shortly. [:)]

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]9th of June -42[/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

Intel keep pouring in. Invasion fleet never materialized. Instead Tom consolidates the New Hebrides.

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China
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Tom finally realizes how empty Southern China is and sends in an ID to secure the bases. I had hoped I could at least present a semblance of a roadblock...but no.

Ground combat at Hengyang (80,53)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 12522 troops, 98 guns, 36 vehicles, Assault Value = 405

Defending force 16223 troops, 76 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 541

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 556

Allied adjusted defense: 136

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Hengyang !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
364 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 32 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Allied ground losses:
6285 casualties reported
Squads: 142 destroyed, 72 disabled
Non Combat: 153 destroyed, 48 disabled
Engineers: 21 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 11 (6 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Units retreated 3

------------------------
Burma
------------------------
Japanese forces clear the last Allied base in Burma. Allied defenders head into the Chinese mountains. One of the big Corps I had bought out was destroyed. Was pretty pissed about that until I discovered it will respawn in Aden (changed HQ to Southeast Asia). Good to know for the coming carnage. [:)]

------------------------
OZ
------------------------
No more sweeps from Tom. He also stopped bombing in the southern parts of OZ. My IDs have recovered now. Better think of something useful for them to do...

------------------------
SOPAC
------------------------
So the big news is...nothing! The invasion TF never materialized. We have more interesting SIGINT though.

This unit is prepping for Pago Pago and have been aboard ships when last found.

1/3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion is located at Rabaul(106,125).

This unit is also prepping for Pago Pago

3/4th Tank Regiment is loaded on a Toho Cargo class xAK moving to Noumea.

48th is prepping for Upolo.

1/48th Division is loaded on xAP Haruna Maru moving to Rabaul.

So it looks like he has not yet assembled all the forces for the assault. Gives me time to dig in a little more, train and increase defensive prep.

In the meantime Tom starts building up the New Hebrides and secures the allied owned bases. Normally I would try to intervene here but I don´t want to get caught out of position when the invasion comes. Fuel is very precious and I don´t want to burn any more then necessary.

[ny59giants]

Nonsense, fight the bloody war and report back to everyone. No preferential treatment.[:-]

I have Jocke as one of many AE players that I have as mental health clients. So his confidentiality is well protected. [;)]

[BBfanboy]

I have nothing concrete to base it on, but my gut feel is that the Pago-Pago preps you are seeing are phony, to keep you digging
in instead of moving forward. He had massive strength available to go after P-P but never used it. He also knows that after mid-1942 when
you start to get better aircraft and good AA upgrades, it will be risky to stick his neck out that far.
Just a thought - your judgement is what counts here.

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]Here we go?[/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

Hmm, this is very odd. I´m thinking a trap to lure my CVs out. Look at the "CV" fleet. Probably Kaga + all CVEs and the CSs. Stacked full of fighters a no bombers.

No significant troops prepped for Nadi or Suva.

Any other ideas?

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

I have nothing concrete to base it on, but my gut feel is that the Pago-Pago preps you are seeing are phony, to keep you digging
in instead of moving forward. He had massive strength available to go after P-P but never used it. He also knows that after mid-1942 when
you start to get better aircraft and good AA upgrades, it will be risky to stick his neck out that far.
Just a thought - your judgement is what counts here.

You have been right before and you may very well be again. I think we will find out in a week or so. [:)]

[Mike McCreery]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

[font="Verdana"]Here we go?[/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

Hmm, this is very odd. I´m thinking a trap to lure my CVs out. Look at the "CV" fleet. Probably Kaga + all CVEs and the CSs. Stacked full of fighters a no bombers.

No significant troops prepped for Nadi or Suva.

Any other ideas?

If he can maim your CV's bomber groups it would slow you down.

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: Wargmr
If he can maim your CV's bomber groups it would slow you down.

Yeah, I think he wants to remove my CVs from the possible Samoan invasion. He doesn´t even need to sink them. Just gut the groups and the CVs are useless. I wouldn´t be able to fill out even a third of them.

[koniu]

+1 for trap.
I will play safe. No margin for error

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]Here we go? Pt. II[/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

Not seen the turn file. Got the replay and CR with the following comment:

"turn good for you, my invasion forces got messy "

So I was expecting some big fireworks but nothing really happened. Tom swept Nadi, Suva and 2 of the dot bases. I foresaw that and moved the fighters out. I want to hit his fighters on Escort and not sweep where he can dive on me. He may be landing on a couple of dot bases and try to build those up. Can´t really do anything about that if he does. And to be honest I would welcome that. I still think this is just an elaborate feint.

He might actually have the full KB with him. Lost two xAKs in this strike.

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]Here we go? Pt. II[/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

Looking at the turn file it certainly looks like he brought the full KB. I think he is going to land on at least Kandavu. He probably intends to use it as a forward operations base. Rearm BBs, fly LRCAP, get some Mavis search up and running.

Smart move. Then again it will give me a good opportunity to cause some mischief very close to major allied bases... [:)]

[ny59giants]

I warned you earlier about possible isolation of Suva, but thought he would hold onto Nadi. He can do so now by taking bases in surrounding islands and take Suva at later date once he stops any relief efforts. You don't have any bases developed between Pago Pago region and Suva to counter right now.

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

I warned you earlier about possible isolation of Suva, but thought he would hold onto Nadi. He can do so now by taking bases in surrounding islands and take Suva at later date once he stops any relief efforts. You don't have any bases developed between Pago Pago region and Suva to counter right now.

Yes, but right now there is no better place on the map to fight him.

-I have 4 level 4 AFs in the area.
-Most of the allied troops and navy are here.
-I have developed bases in the area.
-Supply is plentiful
-I have a good amount of engineers.
-Its as far from the HI as you can get (almost).

Also keep in mind that it takes a long time to build stuff in DBB. He can´t just drop a gazillion engineers and have a level 7 AF in 4 weeks. It will take him months.

He just grabbed Chengtu. Changsha and Chunking are next. I´m loosing 10k troops per day in China. He is ahead in VPs by 4,3:1.

Besides inland OZ I can think of no better place for me to put up a fight. If I was rolling around 3:1 and China was in no danger I might continue to pull back. I right now need to start fighting back.

[aztez]

You do have bombers that you can sacrifice in the region? Throw some of them at him... to test his CAP and get even better intel.

That definately is full force of KB and he is coming... time to play him and see his cards.