Good to hear that the sounds of shovels & dozers will soon start to drown out the crickets in NorPac. Adak is an essential supply-hub, comparable to Pago & Luganville. Since all the Aleutians are under WestCoast command, you can hop Restricted USA airgroups to Adak & points west if you build a chain of airbases, say, Annette Island > Seward > Umnak. Beware building at a 0(0) facility, especially in Winter. Dutch Harbor seems to be especially resistant to airbase construction. I generally use Prince Rupert as the POE for supply/fuel/LCUs for this sector. Don't neglect to call on your Canadian allies for additional air/LCU assets.
Yeah I was tired of hearing those darn crickets as well.
Thanks for the tip on the restricted units and the Aleutians. Now I have a place to send those restricted air groups once they are done training.
Your Dutch Harbor comment is spot on, my airbase there is still a size 0, and expansion is progressing at a snails pace. The long nights and short days probably don't give them much working time.
I wonder what would be the appropriate way to ask the Canadians to help me out. "Eh there, we be needing some assistance, don't ya know." It's been awhile since I've seen Fargo, so I'm a little rusty on my northern dialect. [:D]
You say we're surrounded?
Excellent!
That means we can attack in any direction.
March 1942 and the IJA is not on Sumatra or Java yet -- you are doing well!
The AI must have read your post. I'm about halfway through the next game week, and the Japanese have already landed/captured Semarang, and have landed at Merak and Tjepoe. All I ask is that you don't post something like "Wow Schlussel, all your CV's are still afloat, you are clearly outwitting the AI."
A statement like that could easily doom my air combat TF's. [:D]
Cool - I always wanted to be the "Voice of Doom"! [:D]
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
Good to hear that the sounds of shovels & dozers will soon start to drown out the crickets in NorPac. Adak is an essential supply-hub, comparable to Pago & Luganville. Since all the Aleutians are under WestCoast command, you can hop Restricted USA airgroups to Adak & points west if you build a chain of airbases, say, Annette Island > Seward > Umnak. Beware building at a 0(0) facility, especially in Winter. Dutch Harbor seems to be especially resistant to airbase construction. I generally use Prince Rupert as the POE for supply/fuel/LCUs for this sector. Don't neglect to call on your Canadian allies for additional air/LCU assets.
Yeah I was tired of hearing those darn crickets as well.
Thanks for the tip on the restricted units and the Aleutians. Now I have a place to send those restricted air groups once they are done training.
Your Dutch Harbor comment is spot on, my airbase there is still a size 0, and expansion is progressing at a snails pace. The long nights and short days probably don't give them much working time.
I wonder what would be the appropriate way to ask the Canadians to help me out. "Eh there, we be needing some assistance, don't ya know." It's been awhile since I've seen Fargo, so I'm a little rusty on my northern dialect. [:D]
I've had the BF at DH working on the airfield for 10 months to get 10% of level one built. The BF has 14 engineer points IIRC. It is just impossible and I only let it continue out of curiousity. I put another BF and engineers on next-door Umnak and quickly had a working airfield, and was able to build the port enough to handle supply. The two islands together make a pretty good base.
EDIT: Be fair now - the dialect in Fargo has a strong Scandinavian influence from the Swedish and Norwegian lumberjacks that came over to clear the forests after the Civil War. Canadians in the prairies are more likely to have Scottish, Ukrainian or German accented "Engrish". [:)]
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
DH is a real prob, it took me 179 days to build its AF to lvl 1, while simultaneously building its forts from 0 to 4 - I had better than 200 engr points at work. Contrast that w/ Adak - only 13 days to build a lvl 1 AF, & 120 more days to raise the AF to lvl 7 (while also building the forts from 0 to 4).
I really like the NorPac war, you can get aggressive here. But beware IJ subs, cruiser groups, & attempts to invade Attu!
North Pacific: An xAK carrying part of the engineer battalion to Adak was sunk by a sub lurking off the Coast of Seattle. The engineers were untouched (they were in an xAP), but a lot of the battalion’s equipment was lost. In my haste to send the unit to the Aleutians, I decided to forgo any DD escort (a decision I regret). I thought an ASW TF patrolling off Seattle would discourage any IJN subs from getting agressive. I thought wrong.
Central Pacific: Lots of IJN TF sightings in the Baker/Canton/Ellice Island area. However, they don’t get close enough for my PBY’s to ID them…and they seem to disappear the turn after they are spotted. Not sure what to make of this, but something is definitely up. I dispatch the Enterprise (fresh off its repair in Sydney), to snoop around. This time I make sure she has a proper escort against sub threats.
Southern Pacific: Yorktown (+escorts) raids Tarawa, and runs into enemy CAP. Luckily I only sent a fighter sweep to test the defenses. The Zeroes still got 4 of my Wildcats, but it could have been worse. Recon reports 3K+ troops on Tarawa, but nothing else of interest.
New Guinea/Solomons: Horn Island, Port Moresby, and Milne Bay are on the business end of small Betty raids. Minor damage. Other than that, the region is surprisingly quiet. Base building at Noumea, PM, Milne Bay, Rossel, and Lunga continue.
DEI/Philippines: A reported 100K IJA troops, 900 Guns, and 800 AFV’s (approx. 700 AV) are continuing the attack on Clark Field. The defenders are fighting valiantly, but the supply situation is critical. AV for my forces defending Clark Field are at approximately 400, down from 500 AV the week prior.
The rest of the Philippines are being mopped up by Japanese forces.
In the DEI, the Japanese ground assault on Java continues, Semarang and Tjepoe are captured and Merak is under siege. I re-assign subs based @ Soerabaja/Batavia to Perth/Darwin. Sumatra may be next, at the end of the week a large IJN Amphib. TF is spotted off Palembang.
SE Asia/China: The inevitable “largest capitulation” in British military history has occurred. Singapore surrenders after 10 straight days of IJA shock attacks, and the allies lose approximately 12,000 military personnel. In the days that follow, intel reports identify three different construction regiments that are loaded on ships headed for Singapore. The Japanese look like they are wasting no time getting the base back up and running.
In Burma, Rangoon is now under siege. At the moment, the IJN seems content to bombard the Burmese capital, while it gathers its forces for an assault. IJA forces are also spotted 45 miles south of Magwe, approaching the right flank of my central Burma defensive line anchored @ Mandalay. My troops dig in and wait. In Akyab, Betty bombers sink 2 transports offloading supplies. The following turn I relocate a squadron of Hurricanes to Akyab. The next Betty raid of Akyab scatters and no further raids materialize the rest of the week…but I fear this is just the beginning. I take the hint and deploy some newly arrived Hurricanes to Chittagong and Cox’s Bazaar.
In China, I am focusing on conserving as much supply as possible. I’m consolidating my position around Chengchow, as the IJA looks like it is also moving troops in that direction. Continuing to stay on the defensive due to supply.
KB Watch:
-2 CV’s spotted operating all week in the Bismark Sea NE of Rabaul.
-3 CV’s and 3 CVL’s spotted circling Java like sharks with blood in the water [cue Jaws theme].
Notable Base Captures:
-Sidate [Celebes] and Semarang [Java] captured by Japan (3/2)
-Singapore [Maylaya] captured by Japan (3/3)
-Koepang [Timor] and Salajar [DEI] captured by Japan (3/4)
-Dili [DEI] captured by Japan (3/6)
-Wau [New Guinea] captured by Japan (3/7)
-Tjepoe [Java] captured by Japan (3-8)
Ship Losses to date [change]:
Allies: 170 [+15] Notables: CA Portland, CA Adelaide, CL Durban, CL Sumatra
Japanese: 115 [+18] Notables: CVL Zuiho, CVE Taiyo, CVE Hosho, CA Mogami, CA Mikuma, CA Suzya.
DH is a real prob, it took me 179 days to build its AF to lvl 1, while simultaneously building its forts from 0 to 4 - I had better than 200 engr points at work. Contrast that w/ Adak - only 13 days to build a lvl 1 AF, & 120 more days to raise the AF to lvl 7 (while also building the forts from 0 to 4).
I really like the NorPac war, you can get aggressive here. But beware IJ subs, cruiser groups, & attempts to invade Attu!
Eeek! I'm 3 months in and am only @ 4% of AF expansion at Dutch Harbor. Maybe by 1943 I'll manage to get that airfield up. The 1 VP will make it totally worth it [say in sarcastic tone].
I enjoy the Northern war as well, I played the 1,000 mile war scenario and really liked it. Fewer units available definitely makes each much more valuable.
You say we're surrounded?
Excellent!
That means we can attack in any direction.
Cool - I always wanted to be the "Voice of Doom"! [:D]
May I earn your favor by bowing to your infinite power & wisdom?
If so, Please spare me, oh mighty BBFanboy god. [&o] [&o][&o]
No need to bow and scrape - you have pleased me with your enjoyable AAR so henceforth I will try to restrain my predictions that bring the vulture flocks.
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
Cool - I always wanted to be the "Voice of Doom"! [:D]
May I earn your favor by bowing to your infinite power & wisdom?
If so, Please spare me, oh mighty BBFanboy god. [&o] [&o][&o]
No need to bow and scrape - you have pleased me with your enjoyable AAR so henceforth I will try to restrain my predictions that bring the vulture flocks.
Thanks for the kind words. Oh and don't worry, say whatever you wish. The comments by you and the other fourumites on this AAR have helped me immensely so far, no sense ruining a good thing. Plus if I lose my carriers, it will undoubtedly be from my own goof up. [:D]
You say we're surrounded?
Excellent!
That means we can attack in any direction.
North Pacific: My supply TF has reached Adak and is unloading supplies in advance of the arrival of my engineer battalion. Base building will commence shortly.
Central Pacific: No IJN activity.
Southern Pacific: Early in the week Viatupu (Ellice Island Chain) is invaded and captured by Japan. My Enterprise TF was still in transit to the area and wasn’t able to stop the assault. On the bright side, this little surprise has allowed me to put together my first offensive amphibious operation of the war…Operation Shoestring. The goals of this op, are:
1.Trap the Japanese ground forces on Viatupu by eliminating the IJN amphib TF.
2. Achieve local air superiority over the island using available carrier forces and do some air reconnaissance over Viatupu to ascertain how many Japanese troops are present.
3. Assault Viatupu and recapture the base.
To accomplish objective #1, I changed the Enterprise TF’s course so it would arrive NW of Viatupu. This worked as I hoped and I was able to intercept the IJN transports and cut off their retreat. Scratch two more Japanese xAP’s and three xAK’s!
For objective #2, I have dispatched the CV Hermes to the area to reinforce the Enterprise, and have a few small DD TF’s on sentry duty NW of Viatupu, on the lookout for Japanese carriers. Recon from Dauntlesses aboard the Enterprise show only 250 enemy troops on Viatupu.
For objective #3, I have loaded the 8th Marine Regiment (AV=140) a small base force (112th USA), and necessary supplies at Pearl Harbor and they are in transit to Viatupu. I also have two battalions (29th & 30th NZ) on Noumea preparing, just in case resistance greater than expected. In addition, a bombardment group consisting of the Price of Wales and Repulse (+escorts) will help soften up the enemy positions.
The 8th Marines should reach Viatupu on the 20th. In the meantime, recon of the island continues. Still only about 250 troops spotted, no guns or AFV’s.
New Guinea/Solomons: Buna is assaulted and despite having a garrison behind level 3 forts, capture looks imminent. Intel reports 2 IJA infantry regiments are planning for Port Moresby. Base building at Noumea, PM, Milne Bay, Rossel, and Lunga continue.
DEI/Philippines: A reported 110K IJA troops, 850 Guns, and 900 AFV’s (approx. 700 AV) are continuing the attack on Clark Field. The defenders are still fighting valiantly, but the supply situation is critical (aka at zero). AV for my forces defending Clark Field are at approximately 300, down from 400 AV the week prior.
The rest of the Philippines are being mopped up by Japanese forces.
In the DEI, the Japanese ground assault on Java continues with landings at Jakarta and the capture of Merak, while the Japanese presence in Sumatra begins with an amphibious assault on Palembang.
SE Asia/China: With the fall of Singapore, the Malaya peninsula is quiet, except for Japanese air raids on Tandjoenpinang (say that 3 times fast!), the island off Singapore.
In Burma, my small garrison in Rangoon is on the receiving end of IJA shock attacks and large air raids. Forts drop from 3 to 1 quickly, two more attacks may be all it takes. At the end of the week, IJA forces arrive @ Magwe, no attacks yet. In the skies over Burma, Japanese air raids have stopped ever since I put CAP over my main bases on the coast.
In China, I am focusing on conserving as much supply as possible. I’m consolidating my position around Chengchow, as the IJA looks like it is also moving troops in that direction. Continuing to stay on the defensive due to supply.
KB Watch:
IJN CV sightings:
-4 CV’s and 2 CVL’s spotted operating all week between Borneo and Java, launching air strikes on Batavia and neighboring cities in Java.
-Mid week, a CV and a CVL are spotted near Singapore moving North towards the Strait of Malacca, possibly supporting the IJA assault in Burma.
Notable Base Captures:
-Viatupu [Ellice Is.] and Bima [DEI] captured by Japan (3/9)
-Lautem [Timor] captured by Japan (3/11)
-Merak [Java] and Buitenzong [Java] captured by Japan (3/13)
Ship Losses to date [change]:
Allies: 177 [+7] Notables: CA Portland, CA Adelaide, CL Durban, CL Sumatra
Japanese: 120 [+5] Notables: CVL Zuiho, CVE Taiyo, CVE Hosho, CA Mogami, CA Mikuma, CA Suzya.
Other Notes:
-I’ve received some much needed CV reinforcement. CV Formidable arrives in Cape Town and heads to Colombo, while Hornet arrives @ the Panama Canal and steams toward Pearl Harbor.
-Cape town is running low on supplies (I’m shipping them to India and Australia faster than they are being replenished). I am forming up a convoy to head to England to CS supplies to Cape Town. Has anyone had success doing this? I have extra AK’s right now and I figure having them moving supplies is better than them sitting idle.
You say we're surrounded?
Excellent!
That means we can attack in any direction.
ORIGINAL: Schlussel
-Cape town is running low on supplies (I’m shipping them to India and Australia faster than they are being replenished). I am forming up a convoy to head to England to CS supplies to Cape Town. Has anyone had success doing this? I have extra AK’s right now and I figure having them moving supplies is better than them sitting idle.
IMO you're better off running convoys from USA EC to Cape Town, the UK > CT route is shorter (152 vs. 170), but there's no danger of running low on fuel/supplies at EC. I prefer to let these resources accumulate in UK, in prep for the Suez Canal route to Aden opening on 43-05-14.
I've usually had more trouble keeping CT supplied w/ fuel! Most of my EC > CT convoys in '42 are shipping fuel, using xAKs loading fuel at half-capacity. Look at your Ground Units Reinforcement Queue, you'll get a Convoy arriving at CT about once each month. These guys show as CD arty units, they generally bring in lots of supply but rarely bring fuel. They also bring lots of LCU 'devices' - tanks 'n guns 'n squads - which are transferred to your device pools when the CD-Convoy unit disbands after 3 days in CT. Spend some time examining these device additions, set your device pools to stockpile the arriving stuff as needed, then manipulate your LCU upgrades to give them to your feistiest non-withdrawing LCUs.
For your supply convoys, try to aggregate identical ships. I use TFs of 8 xAKs or 5 TKs.
Your marines landing on Viatupu presumably have no prep for that target. If so, expect 50-70% casualties during the landing and the unit will need months to recover. If there are really only 250 troops on the island, bomb and bombard them out of existence and save your Marines for worthwhile targets.
Part of the Allied survival guide is to avoid the pressure to "do something" just because you can. If it fits your long term plans, fine. Otherwise it is a distraction and a drain on your available resources.
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
Your marines landing on Viatupu presumably have no prep for that target. If so, expect 50-70% casualties during the landing and the unit will need months to recover. If there are really only 250 troops on the island, bomb and bombard them out of existence and save your Marines for worthwhile targets.
Part of the Allied survival guide is to avoid the pressure to "do something" just because you can. If it fits your long term plans, fine. Otherwise it is a distraction and a drain on your available resources.
Your marines landing on Viatupu presumably have no prep for that target. If so, expect 50-70% casualties during the landing and the unit will need months to recover. If there are really only 250 troops on the island, bomb and bombard them out of existence and save your Marines for worthwhile targets.
Part of the Allied survival guide is to avoid the pressure to "do something" just because you can. If it fits your long term plans, fine. Otherwise it is a distraction and a drain on your available resources.
"What he said."
Thanks guys, I realize I forgot one little piece of info in my last post, the 8th Marines have a Viatupu prep value in the 60-65 range.
I have been meaning to occupy and make Viatupu another air base that could defend my supply route, but my shortage of AP's has put this effort on the back burner (and I use a units objective to remind me where I want them to go). Since I already had an adequate unit ready, I thought this little operation was a good opportunity to occupy the island to build up the base (in the strategic plan) and attempt an amphibious invasion at Viatupu (not in in the strategic plan [:D]). It's small in scale, and the base is relatively far from Japanese air power (including the KB, which has been in the DEI for a few weeks now.), so I felt the risk was worth it. You guys bring up a good point (as usual)....how high do you guys prep a unit before you commit it to an amphibious assault?
You say we're surrounded?
Excellent!
That means we can attack in any direction.
I've usually had more trouble keeping CT supplied w/ fuel! Most of my EC > CT convoys in '42 are shipping fuel, using xAKs loading fuel at half-capacity.
For your supply convoys, try to aggregate identical ships. I use TFs of 8 xAKs or 5 TKs.
Ahhh, I have only been using TK's to transport fuel, that's my problem (among other things [:D]). I guess since I have those idle AK's, I might as well put them to work.
Thanks for the info on convoys in CT, I'll check out those devices. That reminds me of something I will learn for next time...When starting a game, turn automatic upgrades off! I know I've read it on the forums, but for some reason that little piece of advice slipped my mind when I started this game. I think I assumed there would be only a handful of units I would not want to have reinforcements/upgraded....WRONG! [:D]
You say we're surrounded?
Excellent!
That means we can attack in any direction.
But there is hope. As I recall Michael made a change (long ago) where you can access and change the upgrage and take replacement settings of reinforcements en masse. Play around with the screens that display all LCU and all air groups (not just the ones at a particular base) and you will find it.
There's another Preference you should review, in the Realism Options block. "Auto convert obsolete devices" should be ON. Inf & Eng squad-types in the pools that have passed their sell-by date will gradually auto-convert to the current device, IIRC this process begins 6 months after the expiration date.
Vaitupo or whatever it is called is worthless in my view. It takes forever to upgrade port and airfield there...hell it will take you forever to reload the Marines to move them somewhere useful. For me a full US base force barely built latrines in 4 months. One of the other trio of islands is better...Funafuti I believe.
And another thing, spend some time looking through all your merchies, there's hidden gold there! I'm talking about AP/AK types that can Convert to AKV, AE, APA, AKA & LSI. YMMV may vary b/c you're playing a scenario different to mine, but there's likely 12 xAP that can convert to APA on 3/43, & 6 AK that can convert to AKA on 6/43. 'S important to preserve these ships (either in port at Mare Island or only on the safest, best-protected Transport convoys), they'll be the nucleus of what will eventually become a massive amphibious capacity.
There are also no few at-start USN DD that can convert right away to APD, or later on to DE. I always go for the immediate APD Conversion, they get an ASW of 6, & most folks'll tell you that you can never have enough APD. If you ever see a ship that can convert to an AR, go for it. Add'l DD can convert to AVD/AVP - 2 of these will convert a dot-hex to a forward air-search point. Some xAK can convert to AG, to support forward light-ASW forces.
There's another Preference you should review, in the Realism Options block. "Auto convert obsolete devices" should be ON. Inf & Eng squad-types in the pools that have passed their sell-by date will gradually auto-convert to the current device, IIRC this process begins 6 months after the expiration date.
ORIGINAL: jmalter
And another thing, spend some time looking through all your merchies, there's hidden gold there! I'm talking about AP/AK types that can Convert to AKV, AE, APA, AKA & LSI. YMMV may vary b/c you're playing a scenario different to mine, but there's likely 12 xAP that can convert to APA on 3/43, & 6 AK that can convert to AKA on 6/43. 'S important to preserve these ships (either in port at Mare Island or only on the safest, best-protected Transport convoys), they'll be the nucleus of what will eventually become a massive amphibious capacity.
There are also no few at-start USN DD that can convert right away to APD, or later on to DE. I always go for the immediate APD Conversion, they get an ASW of 6, & most folks'll tell you that you can never have enough APD. If you ever see a ship that can convert to an AR, go for it. Add'l DD can convert to AVD/AVP - 2 of these will convert a dot-hex to a forward air-search point. Some xAK can convert to AG, to support forward light-ASW forces.
Also too,
Wow this is all good stuff. I double-checked, and auto convert was on.
I have taken a look at ship conversions before, but only to do some AK to AP conversions. I'll be on the lookout for those AKA and DD conversions you mentioned. This game really is like an onion, layers upon layers of strategic/logistical goodies.
You say we're surrounded?
Excellent!
That means we can attack in any direction.
