first game

[borner]

You will probably have 350 or more by the time I can come at you. When I do I have no doubt it will be an impressive battle of attrition.
 
 
One thing IKE's ARR's have show me is what happens when you come at him too quickly with the strategy he is using. Despite his comments otherwise, I think I have plenty of time. It is late Dec. The game is not even half over yet. Having never played into 43 against a real player, I am unsure when the average US counter-attack will begin. However, I think given our losses, I have the upper hand at this point. Provided I do not make any more errors and give it back.

[borner]

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
 
Thought it was time to give a re-cap. The points are good guys 6334, Ike 9672, a lead of 3338 for Japan.
 
Base points  7120 Japan / 3156 US
Air points 1098 us losses / 963 Jap losses 
army  points 258 US losses / 154 Japan
Ships
US
3CV's (Yorktown, Lex and Hornet) 3DD's 1PG, 2APD, 7SS 6PT, 1AP, 1AK
Japan
 4CV (Akagi, Kaga, Soryu, Zuk) 1 CVL, 2 fast BB's, 1AV, 6ML, 8DD, 2APD, 6MWS, 2PG, 9PC, 4SS, 39AP.
 
 
 

[Ike99]

800 Allied soldiers along with 20 guns have surrendered at Gili-Gili....

Japan-9,811......and growing.
Allies-6,338

WHEEEWWWWW

WHEEEEEEEE

HERE COMES

1943

The Clock is ticking for Borner now....

[tocaff]

Now that '43 has arrived you don't need to go crazy and attack as there's still time to amass Corsairs to sweep the skies.  Ikes bomber force, if met by CAP and AA, will shrink quickly and then his problem is not so much the # of planes, but pilot experience.  The loss of ships hurts both side, Japan more so.  Remember that mines are disruptive, but have never stopped an invasion and that supplies can disappear quickly under a constant air and or ship bombardment.  P-39s are deadly against barges so consider PM as a good focal point since your LBA can hit it and then from there, if you take it, you can move overland to other bases while cutting off NG from supply with your LBA.  Ike will skillfully contest all you try to do so it'll be interesting.  Ponts can swing quickly to the other direction depending on loses for either side.

[borner]

I am not nearly as focused on the points as IKE seems to be. I still say it is just talk to try and get me to come forward too early, when he knows he can pound me with far more of an advantage. I am still very thankful for the naval combat we had a few months back. It went far towards evening the naval strength between us. With my CV's and CVE's, my carriers should be close to even to his, and this will only get better and better for me.

[tocaff]

You can bet that the KB is weakened through loses to seasoned pilots and any action that draws Ike away from his bases could result in the death of cripples as they struggle to reach a port.  Ike will no doubt plat it smart and make you come to him as he's not prone to making mistakes, although the Japanese only get to make 1.

[Ike99]

You can bet that the KB is weakened through loses to seasoned pilots and any action that draws Ike away from his bases could result in the death of cripples as they struggle to reach a port.

Nothing will pull my capital ships out from under my own land based air umbrella. When he comes forward he will suffer, Corsair or no Corsair. I haven´t lost a single cruiser and just a handful of destroyers. Yippy! and Shokaku has returned from Tokyo! [&o](My favorite Japanese Carrier) These with the long lance are the weapon of choice in 43´.

As shown with Gili-Gili. A turn is divided into a day, and a night. I can operate at night quite freely and his carriers can´t stop me. I placed an entire Rgt in a single turn under the nose of his carrier force. It´s not a problem.

Give me 3 days...or I should say 3 ¨nights¨ and I can put an entire Division and their supplies on any Japanese base. [;)]

I think our air losses are really quite low. He is not so reckless with his bomber force as past opponents and I am not one to force an unfavorable position.

I believe Gili-Gili was more than a raid. 50 men dropped off by a submarine is a raid. 1,000 men with guns and carrier support is not. I also saw mine sweepers and AP/AK´s forming up off Australia. From Australia to New Guinea is a big jump with a long way to fall if you get it wrong. [8D]

I am unsure when the average US counter-attack will begin.

It can begin anytime. I think without the Corsair though an Allied counter offensive can´t really succeed. It´s not enough to land 50,000 men and capture a base, they have to be able to supply what they land. That´s a whole lot of mouths to feed. With all the Japanese bombers and fighters operating so close to their home fields I can´t see that happening without the Corsair.

[Marc gto]

this is good stuff ike

[borner]

I am glad Shokaku has returned. You needed a flagship as you were out of full size CV's.

[Ike99]

Borner meets Long Lance and 4 Allied ships go to the bottom.....

[borner]

The plan..... land on a little island. Lay some mines around it, place about a dozen subs on partol, have my CV around, and hope he sends a TF into the area. No where was it supposed to read have a Fast transport TF there at the same time to get pounded into dust. The Army members of the staff must have written that into the fine print. The plan worked, except that my subs missed and no mines were hit. Other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?
 

[Ike99]

....place about a dozen subs on partol,

I´m not sure, never tested it, but I´m guessing WWII submarines have a real hard time hitting ships doing 34 knots.

[borner]

Sure seems that way. The game is still not half over though my friend

[Ike99]

Sure seems that way. The game is still not half over though my friend

Your right. It isn´t, but my points lead now is well over 4,000 now so I know you have to do something soon.

I´ll be waiting for you won´t I. [;)]

[borner]

Now Ike, you know as well as I do that if I come at you with only 2CV's for cover, your Bettys will pound my AP's into dust. I beleive this happened in one of your previous games. Don't worry, I'll come visit you soon enough. As I said earlier, we are not even half way yet, I think I have plenty of time.

[Ike99]

Now Ike, you know as well as I do that if I come at you with only 2CV's for cover, your Bettys will pound my AP's into dust.

What do you mean? Haven´t you heard? The Allies can lose every single carrier they have and still win the game. You don´t need any carriers. (or so I have been told [;)])

Or don´t you subscribe to that subscription? [:D]
(put borner on the spot here! Hahaha![8D]

[borner]

[left]I remember reading that somewhere too, not sure I beleive it though.   Personally, I like the idea of having a bigger carrier force than you in about 6 weeks.[/left]

[Ike99]

I remember reading that somewhere too, not sure I beleive it though. Personally, I like the idea of having a bigger carrier force than you in about 6 weeks.

Are you certain your going to have a bigger carrier force than me in 6 weeks? [:D]

[borner]

very interesting indeed! In IKE's combat report, which as Japan, is the one the game moves forward on, there were 2 different air attacks on tis TF, with one hit with each one. When my system ran it, only one attack, with no hits. I know this has been covered in other Forum discussions, but I would like to ask any WiTP players reading this if they notice the same differences in that game as well.
Ike also got lucky in that his planes hit the best CVE that I had. Still, it's my own fault for not fully understanding how close my carriers were going to be passing to that base and what could happen.

[borner]

The first game I started PBEM several months ago is over.    What was left of the KB caught my carriers as they tried to cover my cripple that was heading back to port. The Brave (and stupid) [:@] commander of the WASP split off, and took a pounding for his trouble. She will not make port, plus Enterprise, my last active CV, took 3 good bomb hits and is out for some time. I managed to sink one of IKE's in return, but it was not enough. I now would have no CV's to cover an assault into the teeth of the land-based air IKE has saved up for just such an occasion.

My thanks to IKE for taking on someone who was a rookie at the time, his comments/insight as I was learning, and of course, the quality ARR. [8D]


There will be a re-match. Ike and I are switching sides. Stay Tuned