Here come the Rebels! (Canoe v. Q-Ball)

[HMS Resolution]

I'd think AMCs wouldn't be able to catch the destroyers, though. Lord knows, in my game against the AI, my old C and D class cruisers can't catch those stupid IJN DDs that blockade ports.

[Capt. Harlock]

I'll guarantee you that NoPac has his attention now. He'll have to detail some cruisers (at a minimum) to patrol these waters. I wouldn't be surprised if he sent some carriers this way.

Hmm -- I wouldn't think carriers would be much use for another two months, when the weather improves (slightly). In the meantime, any chance of you putting together some Raleigh-class cruisers for a little shore bombardment?

[Canoerebel]

That's something I'm considering, but eventually my "stinger" ships are going to bump into a larger enemy, so I need to be cautious.  Here's what I'm considering at the moment:
 
1)  Occasional TF visits to Paramushiro to see if I can catch Q-Ball landing reinforcements.  This would be a good use of cruisers.
 
2)  Some raids against Home Island ports (to be supported by an AO well to the east). 
 
3)  Q-Ball is going to come up with something in order to suppress activity in the Aleutians.  To counter his efforts I'm thinking of developing Nome into a refueling, re-arming base for awhile (stationing an AO and AD there). 

[HMS Resolution]

Alternately, could you change tactics a bit, have some subs mine the ports or the approaches? 

[Canoerebel]

That's a good idea.  I wish I had also thought earlier to assign some DMs to the area.
 
Another idea I'm mulling over is to use Tasmania as a major fuel and supply hub in SW Pac.  Convoys from the West Coast and Capetown would arrive there, then smaller ships would transport to Oz, New Zealand, etc.
 
I don't want to do this, yet, however, because (1) I don't really need it yet and (2) I don't want to draw Q-Ball's attention to the area.  Sweeps by the KB would be most unwelcome in '42 when I'm pretty defenseless.
 
But later on, when the Japanese stop thinking "expand!", I think Tasmania would make a convenient, secure depot.

[Smeulders]

ORIGINAL: crsutton
Perhaps a good use for Allied AMCs is to patrol and intercept this sort of stuff as they generally have pretty good armament. Don't know if it works for Japanese AMC as it looks as if they have smaller guns.                                       

Just intercepted a Japanese AMC by a Dutch DD and 2 Clemson DD, it didn't take long for the AMC to go down. They look very fragile against destroyers as their low speed and manoeuvre make them easy targets for torpedoes. I'd guess that Allied AMC may be similarly vulnerable.

[JohnDillworth]

Another idea I'm mulling over is to use Tasmania as a major fuel and supply hub in SW Pac. Convoys from the West Coast and Capetown would arrive there, then smaller ships would transport to Oz, New Zealand, etc.

This is an interesting idea and I am going to try it. I am planning to run a bunch of AK convoys from the east coast to cape town with fuel. I think I will then run it from Capetown to Tasmania. I am in February 42 and won't need the fuel for a while but when I do it should be closer than usual.

[Canoerebel]

1/1/42 and 1/2/42
 
Calendar:  The Year of Surprise has ended and we are now a few days into the Year of Japanese Expansion, which will be succeeded by, respectively, the Year of Attrition, the Year of Allied Expansion, and the Year of Conquest.
 
Surprise!  Speaking of surprise, I somehow managed to overlook an Allied CL force parked at Carnarvon, southwest Oz coast.  The Mini-KB showed up a few hexes west and tried to "tickle" the Allied ships.  Fortunately, the ships proved to adept at evasive action.  I'm splitting the TF into one-ship TFs that will flee in a variety of directions.
 
Stingers:  All the Stinger forces have successfully left enemy territory.  Two of them are north of the Aleutians and will need to reprovision at Kodiak or someplace like that.  One is at Pago Pago.  The fourth is steaming north of Midway and will seek opportunities to sting.
 
Japanese Expansion:  Banjremasin and Lunga fall and an invasion force will arrive at Port Moresby tonight.
 
Tricksy Game!  The game begins with several troop convoys heading for "hopeless" destinations like Singapore.  It's easy to lose track of these "incoming" TFs among all the fleeing, "outgoing" traffic.  In my previous game, several got roughed up; but this time I think I found them and redirected them to safer ports.  In particular, two Brit brigades are reinforcing Ceylon.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Tricksy Game!  The game begins with several troop convoys heading for "hopeless" destinations like Singapore.  It's easy to lose track of these "incoming" TFs among all the fleeing, "outgoing" traffic.  In my previous game, several got roughed up; but this time I think I found them and redirected them to safer ports.  In particular, two Brit brigades are reinforcing Ceylon.

I'm about where you are in my new game. I also got those guys to Ceylon, then sent them directly to Port Blair. I'm not going to have the 18-months seige there I had in the first game, and PB is invaluable in 1943.

[koontz]

Nice probing moves aginst the Empire! Will hopefully
draw his forces tordwards the HI.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: Smeulders

ORIGINAL: crsutton
Perhaps a good use for Allied AMCs is to patrol and intercept this sort of stuff as they generally have pretty good armament. Don't know if it works for Japanese AMC as it looks as if they have smaller guns.                                       

Just intercepted a Japanese AMC by a Dutch DD and 2 Clemson DD, it didn't take long for the AMC to go down. They look very fragile against destroyers as their low speed and manoeuvre make them easy targets for torpedoes. I'd guess that Allied AMC may be similarly vulnerable.

Some of the Allied AMC are bigger and carry six inch guns. Durability in the 25 to 30 range. I think they would be a match for one or two DDs but that is about all. Of course Mr. long lance would be a problem. I really can't find much else for my AMCs to do anyways except excort convoys. Japanese subs seem to love sinking them. A couple of the British ship are listed as Q ships. I tried using one as a trap and had it cruising around Columbo. First Jap sub it ran accross blew it out of the water....Well, they worked in WPO.[:D]

[Canoerebel]

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58
I'm about where you are in my new game. I also got those guys to Ceylon, then sent them directly to Port Blair. I'm not going to have the 18-months seige there I had in the first game, and PB is invaluable in 1943.

No way I can try a "Fortress Port Blair" tactic against Q-Ball. He's just turn it into a massacre of Allied troops. My best shot is to make sure it isn't an easy pick-up for him - that he has to commit some time and resources. By landing most of an Indian brigade (80 AV) a few weeks ago, I hope I've accomplished that.

[Canoerebel]

1/3/42
 
Flee for Your Lives!  The Allied CLs that scattered at Carnarvon mostly made good their flight; only CL Java took some damage from bomb-toting IJN strike aircraft.  I'm a little surprised that Brad has sent the Mini-KB this far south this early.  In the first place, I think he's low on mission sorties and torps.  In the second, he sighted my carriers at Sydeny a week or ten days back.  Perhaps he also sighted them later as they made their way east past New Zealand?
 
Air Stingers:  The USAAF B-17s made their first appearance since very early in the game.  Flying from Soerabaja, they roughed up the airfield at Balikpan, destroying a handful of aircraft on the ground.  Now I've moved them to Batavia.
 
Naval Stingers:  The 4-DD TF that recently approached Truk, then withdrew to Wake, then moved north of Midway...is set to rendezvous with an AO well to the east of Honshu.  If this DD force doesn't stumble into some carriers or other bad news, it will refuel and then visit Tokyo Bay.
 
Japanese Expansion:  Q-Ball is landing 144th Regiment at Port Moresby.  The AV of the garrison is nearly that of the aggressors, so I don't know if he's brought enough.  On the other hand, most of my guys have pretty low experience and supply is low too.
 
Allied Reinforcements:  This is a critical, but "behind the scenes," part of the game.  The Allies are currently landing a Marine regiment and defense batallion at Pago Pago (I-2 took some depth charging there from one of the old Stinger TFs); part of 41st Division is aboard AP Queen Elizabeth currently east of Hawaii and headng for Sydney.  Two Brit brigades are on transports heading for Ceylon.  An army battalion is about to depart Seattle for the Aleutians.  And a Marine parachutte batallion recently landed at Midway.
 
Jap Subs:  I-15 lurking off the southwest cape of Oz sank two xAKL.

[desicat]

What is happening at Wake Island? Can it continue to hold? Any traps set there?

[Canoerebel]

Other than supplies, I'm not sending anything else to Wake.  Why not, you ask?  It's one of those judgment calls that could be argued either way.  My feeling is that Q-Ball was thoroughly frustrated with how his Wake landings went.  When he returns, he won't be leaving things to chance.  Perhaps I could beef up the garrison and cause him further angst, but I suspect that I would just be reinforcing defeat.  He won't be messing around next time.

[crsutton]

Yep, playing scen #2 Pago Pago was my "line in the sand". I did not think I could hold Noumea or anything north of it if he wanted them. Turns out he did not venture that way but Pago Pago was a pin pin cusion if he did. Against a competent player like QBall you have to "Rope a Dope" him, and look to hit him when he is not looking.

Hey I like the sound of that. I no longer play the Sir Robin defense but call my version the "Rope a Dope".[;)]

[koontz]

Sounds wise! Even it would possible to fly in reinfocerments?
But likely the REG from Guam will join the party!

[HMS Resolution]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel
...it will refuel and then visit Tokyo Bay.

Sweet fancy Moses!

[ny59giants]

Wake Island suggestion - If you have any spare DD's [;)], form a SC TF of 2 to 4. Then, use your CM and other Minelayers from Pearl to follow them in with orders to follow at 2 to 3 hexes. Come in from North to NE direction. Give him something else to worry about. [:D]

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel


Naval Stingers:  If this DD force doesn't stumble into some carriers or other bad news, it will refuel and then visit Tokyo Bay.

But, but . . .

That's AHISTORICAL!!!! That's SUICIDAL!!![:)]