Fighting the Italian Samurai Cantona2(a) vs Gen.Hoepner(j)

[cantona2]

I've started to question my sanity after challenging Gen.Hoepner to a game but if you need to learn, you need to learn from the best.

CHS 160 on AB's extended map. The General has hinted at some sort of special opening gambit he has never used before so replay turn 1 will be very interestin once i get it. Nevertheless the AAR will be updated as often as i can.



Prolouge
7th December 1941, the Pacific Ocean lies queit and still. Its blue waters bask in sunshine or are buffeted by rains in squalls. On the beaches of Hawaii off duty sailors, soldiers and airmen frolic with the beauties on the beach, while others catch the surf, others attend to their duties envying their off duty comrades.

In Perth soldiers of the RAAF engage their counterparts in the Army in a game of cricket as the sun shines down on the Perth aerodromes. On the quays of Sydney harbour, the sailors watch local children fish as they laze about on the decks of thier ships. Meanwhile in Rabaul the soldiers of Lark Battalion swelter in the oppressive, damp heat.

Dutch colonists and plantation owners at Sorebaja are holding a party at the behest of the commander of ABDA in commemoration of some Dutch festivities, not that theres much festivity in the homeland currently under German occupation. Several Dutch ships are in the harbour their decks covered by sun shades and flags flying lazily in the calm wind.

In Calcutta British soldiers patrol their HQ wondering if they'll get posted to North Africa, at least theres some action there. More than can be said about India. Heat, mosquitoes and hostile stares accompany the British servicemen in the Raj. Obsolete Lysanders line the airfields, the most modern RAF equipment is currently engaging the Luftwaffe in the Mediterranean or over England.

In Manila General Douglas McArthur is haranging his subordinates for not following that order or not getting their troops into fighting shape. Many of the gathered officers are not really listening, thier minds on some filipina that will later on that day see to their needs.

Elsewhere in the vastness of the Pacific Ocean Japanese carrier pilots take their last drag of ceremonial sake and board their planes. The order is given and the first zero lifts off the aircraft carrier's flight deck. It rises above the gathered armada as its fellows soon join it. His fellow men at arms will soon deliver the first blows of a new conflict that will engulf the Pacific from one end to the other.

[Snip]

Hi Mate,

best of luck to you - no grudges from my end after our last "encounter".

Care for some consultancy ? And I may say only one Port Attack for IJ is a bit lame - with this mod.

Even if not:

As an allied player, support your TBs (Swordfish, TVa, Vildebeest) to the hilt. Assign your best fighters to them for escort.
Any dive bombers are welcome contributions.
Use the TBs where you want "choke points" - a single torp will take out a capital ship for months to come

Make sure you can move them around (top priority for PPs)

Next in line for PPS are Recce AC - so you know or learn about his intentions.

With this mod, bombers will get trough any sort of CAP. However, the allied 2e/4e are not likely to hit anything. For a while. If he does not know - you get a lot of training for them .... Keep him worried. Use your bombers to disperse his Zeroes.

The Zero is quite effective against early allied fighters - bombers of any sort are a different story.

Ever learned about the "center approach gambit" to hold the KB at bay ?

Cheers

[cantona2]

Hi Snip
 
No grudges at all. Many thanks for the advice, I've not played 160 before so i'll need all the help I can get. I'm about to run the turn now
 
Cheers

[cantona2]

Snip

Whats the centre approach gambit?

Cheers

OK turn 1 in. Johnston Island occupied (interesting). Manila hit hard but only 2 subs sank with maybe 3 more. Most of my sub fleet got off unscathed. Might have time to reinforce SRI but very few surface craft, if any will escape PI's

[trollelite]

Seems it's unfair to restrict Japs port attack in turn 1, but since u think yourself with less skill than GH.... so this could be tolerated. GH a formidable opponent, but not without his weakness.

As IJFB, I hate to give any advice to allies side, so just some vague suggestion.



Always let opponent do what you intend

Always let his eagerness turn against himself

Always hit his hearts and brains, instead of hands and legs

Time is your friend and GH's enemy

If he does something wrong, not try to remind him, but let him sink ever further, with a gentle push, perhaps

GH is no General Lee or Grant, no Jackson, not even Joseph Johnston or Sherman, but he is no Hood or Burnside either, he is something like Longstreet, or, more accurately, McClellan. If you are american you surely understand what I mean.

[cantona2]

Trollelite
 
i didnt restrict him to one port attack in turn 1 that was his choice, as a matter of fact our HR's are less restrictive than yours in your game with his. We aim to have fun in this game but working within historical limitations. Thanks for your advice and you are driving your pbem with Gh at a relentless pace.
 
Though i'm not american i am very much aware who the generals of the ACW are and i do have a degree in history and working towards a Masters as well.
 
We shall see how this games pans out

[cantona2]

Daily Report 11th December 1941
Attn: General MacArthur
 
[font="courier new"]Clarke Field Air Base[/font]
[font="courier new"][/font] 
[font="courier new"]Inbound flight of 150+ Betty and Lily bombers strike airfield. Substantial damage to air strip but only 2 aircraft destroyed on ground. 9 P40's and 5 P35's engage fighter escort but no confirmed kills. 4 pilots are MIA, prseumed KIA.[/font]
[font="courier new"][/font] 
[font="courier new"]Manila Observation Station[/font]
[font="courier new"][/font] 
[font="courier new"]Smaller air raids over city than yesterday. CAP by P40's kept most of the bombers off their targets. Some light damage to port installations. 17th Fighter completes its transfer to Hengchow to support AVG squadron at Changsa.[/font]
[font="courier new"][/font] 
[font="courier new"]Manila Naval Base[/font]
[font="courier new"][/font] 
[font="courier new"]Dry docks still full of heavily damaged ships from yesterday's raids, SS Seawolf sunk depsite efforts to save her but her torpedo load was removed from ship before sinking. Remaining sub fleet put to sea overnight and reports coming in of heavy IJN units blockading exits to South China Sea. Several ships prepare an overnight sortie to try and break through the ring individually. Initial port call will be Tarakan then Australia. 5 PT boats fail to return to base.[/font]
[font="courier new"][/font] 
[font="courier new"]USAFFE[/font]
[font="courier new"][/font] 
[font="courier new"]Contact has been lost with Naga, Vigan, Jolo Island and Butuan. Baatan Islands confirmed in Jap hands by recon photo's taken by Catalina's of VP 102. All forces ordered to retire to Clarke-Bataan-Manila line and prepare fortifications.[/font]

[cantona2]

"You sure," asked a sceptical Corporal Jones.

"You bet I'm sure" retorted PFC Keplinksky, "saw the order myself signed by General Crawford himself."

"The Japs arent crazy enough to sail their ships anywhere near our guns, not even at night," answered the nonplussed NCO.

"Well, I'm telling you Jack the order will come through to open fire on Jap surface units on a South Western heading," came the reassured answer.

And indeed it was thus.

The order had come through at around midnight. The battery's 14 and 12 inch guns were to open fire on Japanese units heading towards Manila. The gun crews worked hard to load, elevate and range the guns and despite the low temperatures sweated through their exertions. The heavy brass sheel cases rested inside the breeches of the massive guns, their barrels pointing into the inky darkness.

The order was passed down from the fire control officer and suddenly night turned into day as four guns opened fire in unison. A bright flash illuminated the entire emplacement as if a giant flashbulb had gone off. The blinding light was almost immediately followed by a tremendously loud noise that seemed like a massive clap of thunder. It echoed off the walls of the battery and filled the entire basin with deafening sound. None of this bothered the gun crews as they busied themselves with the reloading of the guns for a second salvo.

Once again night was punctured by intense light and sound as the guns spat their deadly cargo at the distant Japanese ships lost in the darkness of the South China Sea.

In the observation posts high above the gun pits, observers trained their binoculars on the darkened horizon. It appeared that the first salvo had missed but the second was rewarded with a lightening on the horizon, as if the dawn was coming, that indicated a substantial hit on something. The glow was bright at first but gradually diminished in potency until it seemed to burn like the embers of a slow burning fire.

The next morning PBY Catalina's brought the happy news to the gunners that their efforts had not been in vain. A light cruiser of the Kuma class was roughly 80 nautical miles to the south west of Corregidor Fortress and was visibly gushing black oily smoke. This news was a great morale boost for the gunners, who has suffered numerous air raids during the past two days. At last they had managed to bite back and hurt the Japanese war machine that was pummeling them hard.

--------------------------
Naval Gun Fire at Bataan (42,51) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

9 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
CL Oi, Shell hits 1, on fire
CL Yura

[cantona2]

ABDA Headquarters was in a tumult of activity. Though the vast majority of the territory under its command had been spared the brunt of the fighting so far, Dutch shipping had already begun to feel the bite of Japanese aggression. A Carrier Task Force was making its down the Makassar Straits and had already sunk shipping at Tarakan and Balikpapan and Japanese carrier planes had unsuccessfully engaged the CL Boise at Makassar.

Sorebaja Harbour was in a frenzy of energy as various task forces were either unloading cargo or preparing to flee the incoming Jap force. The unfortunate thing was that the exits from Sorebaja had been expertly blocked by the submarines of the IJN. The underwater pirates had already reaped a bountiful harvest in allied transport shipping despite the best efforts of ASW shipping and aircraft. Indeed, the situation around the Merak Straits was pretty much the same. Thankfully none of the heavy units making their way to safer havens had not been struck but the merchant marine had lost several ships and numerous men to the deadly torpedoes of the Japanese submarines.

[cantona2]

Submarine menace around Batavia.

[cantona2]

Just a synopsis of the first few turns.

[cantona2]

"Sonar contact, 76 Degrees to port and closing sir," barked the sonar man.
 
Somewhere above propellers churned the water as some Japanese ship passed over the position of the SS Sargo.
 
"Sonar contact just above us sir...Depth charges..." the rest of the statement was lost in a massive roar of sound and noise as several depth charges exlploded around the submarine. Eerie emergency light floooded the con tower, small leaks had sprung in various places and the exec had opened an eyebrow after knocking his head against the side of the periscope.
 
"Coming for another pass sir, more charges in the wat..." again the world went dark and again the submarine shook as if in the hands of some gigantic marine creature. Noise and light flickered in and out of existence as the Japanese ship try to kill the prey in its clutches.
 
"Easy boys," came the voice of Catpain Jacobs through the flickering emergency lights, "take us down 50 ft," he ordered.
 
The planesman did as ordered and the sonar again confirmed the presence of surface contacts only this time they seemed to be receeding and moving away from the submarine. Three hours later Captain Jacobs resumed his course which would take him to the shipping lines bringing the Japanese war machine from Formosa to Vigan. His orders were to intercept and sink as many enemy ships as he could, and he was determined he would.
 
The sonarman again reported contacts on a SW bearing, Jacobs ordered periscope depth and prepared his sub for action.
 
The periscope pierced the surface of the water and guided by the sonar searched around the sub for any signs of enemy ships. To the left of his position he could glimpse shimmering lights. One at first then he counted up to seven different sets of lights. He passed the information to his exec, who by know had bandaged his wound. 6 transports escorted by several small partol craft and at least one destroyer lay off the left side of the submarine.
 
Jacobs quickly ordered battle stations and the sub erupted into a frenzy of activity. Word soon came through from the forward torpedo tubes that they were ready to engage the enemy. The Captain gave his instructions and his submarine began to stalk the last of the merchant ships in the convoy like a shark stalking its prey. Jacobs had his eye glued to the eyepiece of the periscope and occassionally would bark out figures to the torpedo officer who would then relay them to the torpedo room.
 
After what seemed an eternity Captain Jacobs said, "prepare to fire..Sonar?"
 
"Nothing sir," replied the sonar man turning the wheel that rotated the submarine's listening device.
 
"Fire tubes 2 and 4," ordered Jacobs. The exec repeated the order and a sudden swish was heard through the sub. As the seconds ticked the submariners looked up and waited for the point of impact. 8 seconds after leaving their tubes the warheads on the torpedos exploded upon impacting on the steel hull of the Japanese transport ship. The sailors in the SS Sargo heard a muffled explosion, shortly followed by another.
 
"Two hits, my comgratulations gentlemen," said the Captain. "Tubes 1 and 3 fire". Again the SS Sargo let its deadly fish fly through the dark water, the only sign of their presence was a ghostly wake illuminated by the already burning ship. Again the submariners were rewarded with two more muffeled explosions as the latest salvo hit another transport.
 
"Contact closing sir," suddenly shouted the sonar. "15 degrees port."
 
"Periscope down, planesman take us down, engineering half ahead," barked the captain, a satisfied smirk on his face.
 
As the game of cat and mouse between escorts and submarine begun it dawned on the submariners how quickly they had turned from hunters to hunted. As the sub was again rocked by exploding depth charges, the first Japanese ship struck was beginning to disappear below the waves, while the second target was bellowing bright yellow flames that illumniated the area in a macabre light as the surrounding ships helped resuce survivors.
 
Deep below them in the dark waters of the South China Sea, Captain Jacobs held on to the sides of the periscope as another slavo of depth charges exploded nearby. 4 hits was a good ratio, he would order a change of course and stalk this convoy some more before returning to Manila to refuel and rearm.

[cantona2]

The other side of the coin is the effectiveness of his submarines. 20+ ships have been sunk by the General's underwater pirates for only the loss of 2 subs. The submarine is the deadliest weapon in this game.

[cantona2]

Strategic Situation Christmas Day 1941

[cantona2]

Run the turn before work this morning and what a FUBAR. Recon spotted light naval units, well what i thought were light naval units at Johnston Island. Turned out to be a heavy SCTF with BB's and one CV. Thankfully a tf with Enterprise and Saratoga was not deteced, well a sub sank a DD escort but the CV's were unscathed. My intention was to launch a daring quick raid using a CA and several DD's and have the CV TF launch anti-shipping strikes. What happens, well my SCTF handled itslef well in protecting the CA and inflciting damage on the Jap DD's, but against the firepower arranged against it there was no real answer. My CV's didnt launch and this is beginning to bother me as its the second time this game that they havnt. Nimitz commands the TF and they had plenty of op points and where within range of the Dauntless (4 hexes).Vals from the jap CV in the area shredded my SCTF on the way back to Pearl but my CV's left wihtout a scratch.

This CV thing is beginning to get to me as its the weakest point of my game, and in the context of this game its a crucial weakness. I cant seem to coordinate strikes or work with replinshment TF's and so on. Some help would be greatly appreciated as an opportunity to raid his shipping lanes leading to and extended Pacific perimeter is open and available while he builds his bases up. If these raids are successful and enough shipping is sunk then these bases cannot be built up. But if i cant manage my CV's i cant do it...so please help [&:]


Sit rep later with screenies and deatiled write ups will come later when i get home.

[cantona2]

Scores as of 31/12/1941

Most of losses have been to his damn submarines, but to be fair most his losses have been to my subs as well. I suspect that a couple of DD's hit at Johnston will sink as they are far from home ports.

[cantona2]

Most important ship losses. You can add some subs and 4 ML's to this list. CA Mineapolis will probably go next turn. 96 floatation dmg, 5 hexes away from pearl and elements of KB hanging around.

[cantona2]

Top pilots so far, suffering a high rate of attrition and these are the surviving 'aces'. Dutch Hawks are mysteriously getting the upperhand over the Jap Zero over Palembang.

...and 3 bomber 'sharpshooters' [;)][8D]

[Jim D Burns]

ORIGINAL: cantona2
But if i cant manage my CV's i cant do it...so please help [&:]

Are you operating your CV’s as single CV task forces? The allies suffer a huge coordination penalty and cannot afford to put two CV’s in a task force until 43. In 42 you suffer a coordination penalty if the number of aircraft in the task force is greater than 100+ a random roll between 1-100.

So there are 156 planes in the early CV groups if you put 2 CV’s together, giving you a better than 50% chance of being uncoordinated. You then have to deal with all the other regular coordination rolls, so don’t combine your CV’s. Have one or more task forces patrol follow the lead task force and they should stay together. Always make your slowest task force the lead task force.

Also NEVER give your carrier air group’s primary targets. They tend to not launch when you do for some reason.

Can’t think of anything else that may be the culprit.

Jim

Edit: You do have at least 10-20% of your Dauntless squadrons on naval search right?

[cantona2]

Jim

Thanks for the respone.

1) Yes i do have more two carriers in one TF. In the example above i had Big E and Saratoga in one TF, so that might explain the non launch.
2) They had no Primary target, just Naval Attack Orders, though a few turns ago when i wanted to bomb Johnston Island AF they didnt launch with airfield attack and JI as target.
3) Yep Dauntless on Naval Search.

Thanks
Cantona