The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

[BillBrown]

AEs are size 5400. Most of them come from converting C2 Cargo Class xAKs. But if you let them do their 6/43 upgrade you can no longer
convert them to AEs.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

I'm pretty sure 7 w/o nav support is the minimum for 8" guns so much bigger ports w/o nav support are needed for BBs.

Basically I try not to rely on ports for rearming the big boys as so few on the board can fill that bill.

I always try to get AE/AKEs of appropriate size into the locales where I need to rearm the beasties.

I also try to have at least one tender per BB being rearmed if not more.

Some good news for a change - a Level 7 port will reload most BB ammo. Exception is the Iowas (A) or Yamatos (J) that need level 8. The thing is, the Port DOES get benefit from naval support so a USN BF will probably load most of them in a Level 6 port. I'd have to look up the ammo load cost numbers in the manual but a complete USN BF has 100 Nav Support.

[Bearcat2]

You start with 2 AE 5400; Mauna Loa & Lassen, get the Shasta in 5/42.
Size 7 can rearm any allied ship, at least it says so in my manual
To rearm a 16"/50 at port 6; you need 188 Naval support Sq
port 5 - 204 naval support Sq
port 4 - 212 Naval support Sq

[BBfanboy]

Look for the C2 Lassen class cargo ships that are around 6200 capacity. Some of the names I recall are Harpoon, Red Jacket, Royal T Frank, and of course Lassen. There are quite a few more so maybe some missed that upgrade BillBrown mentioned.

[jwolf]

Sorry for the hijack -- but as for converting (some of) the cargo ships to AE, when can you do that? I assume the Allies have so many cargo ships that completing these conversions is a no-brainer?

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: jwolf

Sorry for the hijack -- but as for converting (some of) the cargo ships to AE, when can you do that? I assume the Allies have so many cargo ships that completing these conversions is a no-brainer?

At the beginning of the game the Allies need to move a lot of cargo forward so converting all of them is not really recommended. I convert around six of them right away and more later when offensive ops are starting and the BBs are coming back from repairs and upgrades.

[BillBrown]

There not all that many that can convert to AEs, and I protect them as best as I can.
There are a large number of Hog Island Freighters and Harriman Freighters that can be
converted to AKEs. They are smaller, but are very effective in reloading CAs, and
sorties and torps on CV TFs.

[jwolf]

OK that makes sense, so let's say you start these conversions sometime during the second half of 1942?

[Canoerebel]

Thanks for the input and helpful information. It's July '43 and I've been industriously upgrading all of my ships as they reach port.

See, I'm an ideas guy and not a details guy (some people are both; I suppose they are unbeatable).

I do learn details, but it's usually a long, laborious process accelerated a bit when I mess something up and realize it. But after awhile, details tend to vanish from my brain.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

I do learn details, but it's usually a long, laborious process accelerated a bit when I mess something up and realize it. But after awhile, details tend to vanish from my brain.

I can relate .... and confirm that it gets worse when you get to be of a certain .... vintage.

[Lowpe]

Congrats on getting Ailinglaplap on the cheap! I thought for sure John was going to come in guns a blazing.[&:]

[Canoerebel]

He'll have his chances, I think. He's had nearly a week now to get his ducks in a row and plan a mighty counterattack. Circumstances may have thwarted him (if his carriers are upgrading, that would explain things). But you know the feeling you get when you've been loitering awhile - that the enemy is taking full stock, making plans, and has had enough time to orchestrate a masterly counterstroke? That's the feeling I'll be getting in a few days.

There is a chance (but I think it's pretty small) that John has Half KB South moving in to defend Tarawa. I think I'm willing to take that chance since Tarawa at level 3 airfield plus Half KB South probably isn't an overwhelming force against the current Death Star make up. But I hope I can take Makin next turn and have another PBY squadron patroling these waters.

[BillBrown]

If we are going to talk about vintages, I am 69.

[desicat]

The kind of counter attack you are expecting would be far and away more desirable than a well planned and prepped Operation designed to do deep damage. A counter attack would again show he has yielded the initiative and is reacting to you while an Operation into a pre-planned offensive (like Burma) could be dangerous and long lasting.

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: jwolf

Sorry for the hijack -- but as for converting (some of) the cargo ships to AE, when can you do that? I assume the Allies have so many cargo ships that completing these conversions is a no-brainer?

At the beginning of the game the Allies need to move a lot of cargo forward so converting all of them is not really recommended. I convert around six of them right away and more later when offensive ops are starting and the BBs are coming back from repairs and upgrades.

On the first turn before any ship leaves port I comb through every ship to find conversion and IMMEDIATELY start the conversions.

There are somewhere around 20 (very rough number) available at game start and at least another 20 enter as reinforcements over the first few months.

I see them as so valuable in the AKE/AE role that I don't want to risk losing them to submarines from shipping cargo.

Yes I have an overabundance of them in the first few months, more than I can put to use, and it does put a crunch on overall shipping capacity, but I see it as an investment in the future.

As soon as I am ready to start offensive actions I have more than enough support ready to deploy.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

I'm pretty sure 7 w/o nav support is the minimum for 8" guns so much bigger ports w/o nav support are needed for BBs.

Basically I try not to rely on ports for rearming the big boys as so few on the board can fill that bill.

I always try to get AE/AKEs of appropriate size into the locales where I need to rearm the beasties.

I also try to have at least one tender per BB being rearmed if not more.

Level 7 will do most BBs without additional Nav Support. Here is the table from the manual:

[Canoerebel]

7/5/43

Operation Roller Coaster: Amphibious landing at undefended Makin takes the island, with Sea Bees also unloaded and base force enroute. A PBY will operate to provide southern sector search. To the southeast, it's D-Day at Baker Island. Some of the Allied units come ashore in good shape, but one battalion gets chewed up in the auto shock attack. The enemy is hit hard too, and forts drop for 3 to 1.

So the Allies now have Makin (dot hex), Jaluit, Ailinglaplap, Wotje, and Mili. They'll attack tomorrow at Majuro (preceded by a BB bombardment). At Maloelap the assault troops need a few more days of rest.

Tomorrow the Tarawa invasion force will slow down a bit and take station just east of Makin. This is to allow the amphibs to get in good position for the invasion and to see if John has anything up. Tarawa airfield shows only a couple of aircraft, but Tabituea has more than 200. I don't mind taking that on, but I am concerned about the risk of a Tabituea/KB duo. That would be tough. But if things lookay okay tomorrow, D-Day Tarawa will be the day after. The garrison looks modest - maybe only 4k troops? If so, the assaulting Australian Div. loaded aboard APA and AK should be enough to handle things relatively expeditiously.

John has three or four subs in the area now - these were the group patrolling in and around Suva. They pick off a president xAP (Buchanan) that was carrying a fragment of 3rd Marines (the unit that took Ailinglaplap).

If KB arrives in the next two days, things are going to get nasty. If not, I think the Allies will take Tarawa. The operation then will have achieved the main desired targets and I'll take a hard look at whether additional ops are desirable or whether it's better to retire to Pearl. John's had a long time to get a close look at everything, so I don't want to overstay my welcome.

Operation Circus: Lots of Georges sweep Adak Island, which isn't offering CAP right now. Half KB North remains posted at Attu. Allied troop movement continues apace, from Dutch Harbor to Kodiak to Prince Rupert, as I try to position troops for Operation Carnival.

Battle of Sumatra: Once again, the overwhelming Japanese force on the west road shock attacks, this time achieving 3:1 odds but failing to dislodge the defenders. The defenders now have no supply, but they held as long as they could have. Whether they stand or fall now really will have no bearing on Sabang. No enemy bombardments today. Bombings focus on Sabang and the west road hex. Artillery bombardment at Sabang again costs Japan a bunch of arty pieces and vehicles. Supply at 3.7k. Nav Search shows a big BB force inbound. Sabang probably falls tomorrow.

[Canoerebel]

I don't see any signs of combat vessels or carriers that could contest the Tarawa landings, but ships can move a long, long way in 24 hours. I'm going to send in a small DD/DMS TF to see if John has combat ships waiting to pounce and to see if there are mines at Tarawa. If there are no signs of trouble tomorrow, then D-Day will take place the day after.

[Canoerebel]

7/6/43

Operation Roller Coaster: Massed Japanese LBA strike from Roi Namur and perhaps Eniwetok, overwhelming the CAP at Wotje, sinking 2 xAP, 3 xAK and CA Portland. I saw this possibility, but this time can be accused of being sloppy or of having blinders. I stripped away too many fighters to bolster the CAP at Mili to aid in the protection for the Tarawa force. Ten minutes after I sent the turn to John, I was reviewing a pre-send save and saw what I had done. I hoped Wotje might slide under the radar or benefit from bad weather. Losing a CA is bad news given all the losses previously taken at Sabang and vicinity.

The rest of the day's events here go well. The Tarawa invasion force moves to near Makin without incident. The DA/DMS force reconnoiters Tarawa hex without incident - no mines, no shore guns, no ambushing combat ships. So D-Day will come off tomorrow. Washington and Massachusetts will lead a bombardment TF, Maryland is embedded in the amphibious TF, and the amphibs (nearly all APA and AK are set at full speed for the three-hex journey. Tarawa may have a non-organic CD unit, but defenses look pretty light. John pulled out the aircraft, presumably on the fear that the base is too weakly held to stand against a shock attack. I hope that's the case.

A bunch of enemy subs are posted just east of Mili, but they're probably moving to hunting grounds inside the group of islands or closer to Tarawa.

Baker Island falls on a shock attack. Majuro holds against a deliberate attack. Maloelap's Ausie RCT needs another day or two of rest before attacking again.

CVL Brandywine flies off her Hellcats to Mili and moves NE, making for Pearl Harbor. She has an escort of only two DDs, so I don't want to send her to waters growing congested now with subs.

No sign of enemy BBs or big combat TFs. Lots of enemy shipping around Kusaie and Ponape.

Operation Circus: Enemy Bettys sortie and pick off a few barges and I think one LST. A sub picks off an ASW AM near Prince Rupert. Half KB North remains posted here. I think as long as she remains here, the Allies will move in CenPac. What may happen is that, post-Tarawa, the Allies may retire to Pearl to rearm and re-allocate assault troops. If Half KB remains at Attu (that's a long way off, so who knows), then I'd move back to CenPac along with the new Essex class arrivals. But the Allied troops for Operation Carnival - the move on Amchitka - will reach Prince Rupert tomorrow. So the Allies can move either way, though it will take weeks to reposition the carriers up this way if that's the direction I'm going.

Battle of Sumatra: No ship bombardments today, but a might one will hit tonight. I expect an all-out attack tomorrow. Supply is down to 2.5k. Enemy bombardment at Sabang destroys 12 enemy arty pieces and 28 vehicles. There's a small chance the Allies can hold this one more attack, but if the BBs do their job, probably not. On the west road, the tattered defenders with zero supply hold against a shock attack by an IJA infantry division and a tank division and three HQ units. The Titans of Sumatra battling to the end.

[Canoerebel]

As a follow up to yesterday's conversation, the support ships at Jaluit included two AKE and one 5.4k AE. The inability to rearm BBs may be been due to the high number of ships rearming smaller ammo first. I've reposition the support ships to Mili temporarily because it has good CAP. But I may try again later.