How's the war going vs. the Big Mogamski?

[Ron Saueracker]

Any news playing Mogami online? Is it all bad?:rolleyes:

[U2]

Originally posted by Ron Saueracker
Any news playing Mogami online? Is it all bad?:rolleyes:

No, its not so bad but he keeps you on the edge. Cant afford to make simple mistakes. So far in our PBEM game we are killing subs.

Dan

[Potsy]

I'm playing U2 as well, and he is a sub master. about 12 turns into the game, and I get attacked 3-5 times a nite.

Argh!

[U2]

Originally posted by Potsy
I'm playing U2 as well, and he is a sub master. about 12 turns into the game, and I get attacked 3-5 times a nite.

Argh!

Most of my games are going quite well except for a game against a player in Oregon, USA. In my game against Mogami I have always been a believer in that I will loose and that attitude will get me crushed.

Thanks for those kind words Potsy. Dan "sub master" will be my new title. Actually I have never been so aggressive with my subs in any other game than against you. I will use it next time I have the opp.

Dan

[mogami]

Hi, No reason to be afraid of me or expect any miracles by my units that yours cannot also do. How did I get this reputation even before the game came out? I expect to get better as I go same as everyone else will. In maybe 2 or 3 complete games of scenario 17 as Japan I might actually know what I am up to.
(what occurs in one PBEM game does have influence on what occurs in another). Some of my PBEM results have been quite discourging but educational.
No matter how much time you spend planning operations they still have to be put into effect and have luck on their side. One bad day, one lucky submarine or bomb hit, A mine, or weather changes, not to mention your opponent not reacting or doing what you supposed he would. No plan survives, they can only be a starting point and base for changes to meet actual conditions. Every major action so far in PBEM games has went to my opponent.

[Ron Saueracker]

I think it originated with your analytical posts. How are you finding the game in general, Mogami?

[mogami]

Hi, Ron I think this game was made for PBEM/hotseat as good as the AI is at certain things nothing can replace the human brain.
I usually stay up till I pass out from exhaustion.

[mogami]

Hi, I think I may try to talk Eric into a mini AAR on our PBEM game so far. I find it almost beyond words. As Japan my starting aim is to be ready to attack Port Moresby if conditions arise that would allow it. These conditions begin with removing operational allied carriers. Did not happen. Gili is not part of my opening plan as far as capture goes. (I tended to think giving the Allied player 2 places to defend is better then having him pile it all in PM.)
As part of the Operation intended to draw the carriers into battle
A very small transport TF (important that allied search planes report AP's headed south) Was dispatched with a Naval Infantry Unit. It was not actually meant to complete the trip but the TF commander never retired when the enemy carriers moved north.
Then after debarking the transports were sunk by air attack so I was left actually sitting in Gili Gili. Now supplying this place is not easy. And PM was able to take turns whacking Lae and Gili. And the carrier battle left at least one US carrier in operation while one of mine was retired to Japan for repair. (Much later I learned Yorktown had been sunk)
I continued the build up of supply and fuel and combat units for use in NG. New Carrier reinforcement brought me up to where in Mid June I had Shokaku, Kaga, Akagi, Hiryu, Soryu, Junyo, Shoho, Ryujo
against what I thought were 4 possibly 5 US carriers. (Lexington, Yorktown, Enterprise, Saratoga, Hornet) So how to get a battle north of Gili (for the LBA advantage) I thought if I could mass all my air assets and neutralize the LBA from PM and place my carriers where they could interdict the supply and reinforcement TF's going into PM it would force a carrier battle. (Of course this implies a great risk but doing nothing admits defeat knocking the allied carriers out opens wide a door of opportunity that will last for several months.) The opening stages were very encouraging.
By keeping the carriers at Rabaul with the fighters set to escort I sent massive amounts of fighters with my bombers. When I thought it was safe I moved the carriers south (they need to set 8
hexes from PM to keep transports out. The plan called for LBA groups at Lae to help (the Lae fighters are the ones supposed to intercept transport aircraft) PM had damaged Lae badly prior to my opening air attacks and in the actual course of events never provided any benefit to me (in fact 3 airgroups basically got stranded there.)
As this battle was getting underway. The allies began construction of a base on San Cristabol Island (SE of Lunga)
This is a major threat to Lunga since it would be possible to have LRCAP from here cover invasion TF's. (not to mention recon and bomber groups) I had a very light TF covering Lunga at this time. Since it requires the bulk of Japanese assets to attempt the capture of PM. To compound matters still further a USN carrier force began attacking my shipping between Shortland and Lunga.
The airfield on Lunga was not yet to where it could support airgroups (and there were no available airgroups) Lungas state of unreadiness has had a carry over effect in much of what has followed.
Gili had suffered from a lack of supply from the moment it was captured. Also it was undermanned and the airfield unbuilt. This had placed a severe strain on my floatplanes. As a secondary operation a supply/troop transport TF was assembled to provide for Gili. Also a 2 BB bombardment TF was dispatched and a CA surface combat TF to cover them both. (I thought with PM's air in a reduced state a good bombardment would reduce the need for all the carriers freeing up some to move to protect Lungas supply lines.)

(To be continued after sleep)

[U2]

Hi!

I am not a AAR writer because I just dont have the time and I am not a good writer like other people at this forum. To write a detalied AAR would also give away my plans as the Japs to other PBEM players out there and that is just stupid. However I can give a small recap of what has happened.

Its early July in our game and not long ago we had our first carrier battle ( which happened due to the fact that Mogami by accident had put 1 CV TF on reaction ). I am confidant that I sank two carriers while I have 1 CV and 1 CVL damaged but I will not tell you how much. The battle was also supported by land based airplanes from a forward base which really helped. Eventhough this battle ended in my favor it left me without a chance of a major offensive in the near future.

Before this battle the game had been a sub warfare game and I think we were both wondering if we were going to see any battles at all. I had been VERY carefull because it was Mogami I was playing against and because of that I have lost a lot of time.

Before I can start something BIG again I am making sure that he will bleed to death if he chooses to attack me. Fortress Pacific is in the making.

Any comments Mogami?

Dan

[mogami]

Hi, Dan I am busy constructing a fleet of wooden aircarft carriers. Each will be 25 feet long and carry one aircraft launched by slingshot...I mean catapult. The 4 BB's should arrive any minute
(BB=balsa boat) I'm too busy training Wirraway pilots and ASW subchasers to invade right now, I think you could get away with sending all your troops back to Truk or Japan to keep them healthy, yeah thats the ticket, my wife...Morgan Fairchild is coming to entertain the troops....

[U2]

My God! Wirraway planes coming my way!?;)

Dan

[mogami]

Hello. please forgive me. I downloaded your last move and was ready to respond, when there was a knock at my door. (jeez an AAR based on an encounter with bikers?) My old friends were present (in numbers that suggested surrender) I tried to explain I was busy but to little effect. (I even had a scooter to my self offered....I accepted.) Now many hours later I am amazed (that I am still sucking air) And that I am still awake and worried over making turns that could be done after the sun came up. OH well
if my next move does not make too much sense, I make no excuse (I"ve thought it out)

[U2]

Deleting this message because it was a BIG missunderstanding. Thanks for the kind words Mogami.

Dan

[mogami]