The IJN Strikes! x3!!!

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All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War II] >> War In The Pacific - Struggle Against Japan 1941 - 1945 >> After Action Reports >> The IJN Strikes! x3!!!

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The IJN Strikes! x3!!! - 7/13/2006 7:51:47 PM

ADavidB

Posts: 2464
Joined: 9/17/2001
From: Toronto, Canada
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April 2, 1942 -

This turn started out with a "bang" as S-39 sank an AK to the north of Lautem, but then everything Allied started to follow that ship down to the bottom as Treespider launched simultaneous naval attacks on Darwin, Wyndham and Derby. A BB-lead TF bombarded Derby. Another BB-lead TF attacked and sank the three AKs in Wyndham Harbor and then bombarded the base. A CL-lead TF attacked and sank the three AKs in Darwin Harbor, then during the daylight a big air attack by Nells and Bettys hit the port at Darwin and another bombardment TF with two BBs followed with a daylight bombardment of the base.

As usually happens, all four Allied bases in Northern Australia were socked in by bad weather, so no planes flew against the attacking ships; not even against the daylight bombardment TF which stayed at Darwin. The TFs bombarding Derby and Wyndham consisted solely of BBs and CAs, with their escorts not bombarding, so the CD guns at those bases didn't fire back. There was a CL with the bombardment TF that attacked Darwin, but although the CD guns there did fire back, they didn't land any hits.

Things could have been worse. Those AKs were finishing up with unloading supplies, so little was lost. I also expected to lose those ships to LBA attacks when I originally sent them out, so this didn't make any difference. And my strategy of having the AKs in single-ship TFs meant that the Japanese combat TFs used more ammo than they would have otherwise, which means that they will have to go back to reload ammo. I also only had second line planes at the bases - leftover Dutch patrol planes, Wirraways and Hudsons - so my air losses were quite light; only 10 planes on the ground total from the entire attack.

There is no sign of invasion TFs to go along with the INTEL report from the previous turn, but I have no doubt that they will come. The only question will be - will Treespider also attempt three simultaneous invasions to match his simultaneous bombardment attacks, or stick to a landing at Derby?

For those of you who are wondering why I'm not defending the Northern Australian bases more aggressively, here is a look at my logic. First off, remember that this is early April 1942 and I still don't have much in the way of forces for defence. Also, those four bases aren't very close together and thus don't provide mutual support. So, for example, Beauforts, with their attack range of 5, won't cover from Darwin to Wyndham and so on. Hudsons are fine against soft targets such as transport ships, but they will waste their bombs against capital ships, so it's probably just as well that they didn't fly this time.

Why not set my two B-17 groups up in Darwin along with some P-40s so that I can attack the Japanese staging bases such as Lautem? Well, that BB-attack on Darwin should have answered that clearly. Also, Treespider has four Level 4 air bases within range of Darwin, and plenty of other players have demonstrated quite effectively how planes from four bases can close one base with ease. (Also, always remember Advanced Weather, and always assume the worst. You will be rarely disappointed.)

What about Allied BBs? Sure, the Brits have a handful of BBs and cruisers in India, and it is certainly possible to send them to Oz. But then, what is left to defend India? India is a lot more valuable to me than Northern Oz. And it's so easy for a Japanese player to base several hundred Nells and Bettys in those four nearby DEI bases that the thought of having the RN sitting in the Northern Oz ports, even with some P-40s for CAP, just leaves me cold. Why are those RN BBs any safer in India, you may ask? Well, the situation is reversed in India; there the Allied player has plenty of air bases, including ones that are inland and safe from naval bombardments, and an attacking Japanese player must try to find that first "foothold". It's almost a mirror of the Northern Australian situation.

Okay, what about US forces. Well, yes, it might have been nice to have a couple of US carriers in Broom that could chase out against those IJN surface ships, but do you really suppose that Treespider is operating this plan without at least a couple of CVs sitting around 10 hexes away? And anyway, once again remember those four Level 4 bases, the 70 or more Bettys and Nells that I know about in those bases, and the current ability in this game for 2E LBA on naval attack in this game to go past CAP like "grass through a goose".

And yes, if I didn�t about losses of ships and planes I could probably make some sort of "Valiant Stand" at one of those bases, particularly Darwin, but why would I? I don't want to lose forces at this stage; I want to cause my opponent to lose forces. Right now the Japanese forces are still too strong and mine still too weak to make a stand at Northern Oz that won't end up a very costly deal for me. Why is Treespider attacking Northern Oz? It's because his supply lines are short and he can easily control the air from multiple bases; while my supply lines are very long and I am stuck with trying to defend isolated bases. Why isn't he attacking India instead? Because in India my supply lines are short and I can easily control the air from multiple bases; while his supply lines will be long and he will be stuck with trying to defend an isolated attack.

Okay, that's enough blathering on my part. There was other big news this turn. First off, Manila finally fell. All things considered, the fact that it lasted until April 2 isn't bad in my books. Next, my "Wrong Way Corrigan" Chinese troops in Hengchow finally moved out of the base and are on their way up north. Treespider just needs to be patient in regards to a couple of stragglers that are slowly moving overland, and the DMZ will be nicely formed for the next couple of game-years. It will be good to ignore China. You realize, of course, that this relieves me of the need to use bombers and transports to carry supply to China, and any need to send valuable SEAC planes to fight in China. So I'm very, very happy with this deal!

Even if Treespider has no intentions of attacking India, this will aid me in setting up a stronger counterattack in the future.

And in minor news, my minesweepers continue to get practice around Ceylon, which is one of the things that convinces me that Treespider hasn't given up yet on any ideas of attempting "adventures" in India. And for the first time in a long, long while a Japanese Glen-equipped sub has appeared in the Eastern Pacific.

Dave Baranyi

(in reply to ADavidB)

Post #: 271

RE: The IJN Strikes! x3!!! - 7/13/2006 8:59:39 PM

ny59giants

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For the Japanese, the use of northern Oz is to act as a buffer from masses of heavy bombers taking out all the resource/oil centers within reach. For the Allies, it removes the eventual bases for use for those heavies and as a possible invasion step off point through the DEI. But nothing that cannot be retaken later in '43 or so.

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Post #: 272

RE: The IJN Strikes! x3!!! - 7/14/2006 12:00:48 AM

ADavidB

Posts: 2464
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From: Toronto, Canada
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quote:

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

For the Japanese, the use of northern Oz is to act as a buffer from masses of heavy bombers taking out all the resource/oil centers within reach. For the Allies, it removes the eventual bases for use for those heavies and as a possible invasion step off point�through the DEI. But nothing that cannot be retaken later in '43 or so.

True, but I'm not certain that the resource/oil bombing concept is still useful as a method for winning the game any longer. Certainly, in the earliest versions of WitP it was a good approach, but things have changed a lot in the last several revs. And planes used to bomb resources/oil in 1942 can be used for a lot more important things, such as stopping enemy advances where you want them to be stopped.

I'm planning to wait until late 1943 or early 1944 before I start to worry about a campaign against resources/oil - which is pretty much what happened historically. Trying to do it too early in the Game is a great way to lose too many planes for too little effect.

The important part of your statement is the one about taking back the bases. Points lost via base loss can be recovered. Points lost to lost troops, ships and planes can't be recovered, and those losses eventually make the recovery of the lost bases more difficult. My goal is to establish the conditions in which the Allied advance in 1943 is as overwhelming and unstoppable as all the Japanese Fanboys fear in their dreams.

Thanks -

Dave Baranyi

(in reply to ny59giants)

Post #: 273

RE: The IJN Strikes! x3!!! - 7/14/2006 1:46:29 AM

ny59giants

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In your research, what does "advanced weather" do besides ground your Air Force??
I know it seems to cover large areas of the map for prolonged time. Is it close to being realistic or does it give bad waether over too much area at once?

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Post #: 274

RE: The IJN Strikes! x3!!! - 7/14/2006 4:10:24 AM

ADavidB

Posts: 2464
Joined: 9/17/2001
From: Toronto, Canada
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

In your research, what does "advanced weather" do besides ground your Air Force??
I know it seems to cover large areas of the map for prolonged time. Is it close to being realistic or does it give bad waether over too much area at once?

"Advanced Weather" is the name of the S/W routine that attempts to generate more "realistic" weather in a somewhat random manner. The idea is that you will get storm systems in which to hide, weather that will disrupt some of your plans and so on. In general, its a good idea, but it doesn't work well.

For some reason, "Advanced Weather" seems to quickly slip into a pattern that gives mainly bad weather over large portions of the map for long periods of time. One would expect that if the routine were truly "random" that there would be times when you get mainly good weather everywhere, and that the weather would change around fairly regularly. But that doesn't happen after the first game-month or so.

"Bad weather", usually thunderstorms, causes planes to receive operational damage, causes air missions to be scrubbed, and can cause system damage to ships. One of the "design features" of the "bad" weather is that you can have your air base totally socked-in so that none of your planes can fly any missions, including CAP. But a nearby enemy base may not have the same weather and so it's planes will fly and for some reason can still attack your base, even though your planes can't fly to stop them. It doesn't make any sense, but it happens reasonably frequently.

The other bad thing about the "lock-in" of bad weather is that regions of the map that rarely or never have monsoon-type weather receive it quite frequently. So while continuous thunderstorms for months in a row can possibly be "rationalized away" for Southeast Asia, it is very hard to consider that "realistic" for Southern California or central Australia.

Unfortunately, improving "Advanced Weather" does not appear to be a priority.

Thanks -

Dave Baranyi

(in reply to ny59giants)

Post #: 275

Northern Oz Under Attack... - 7/14/2006 5:47:18 AM

ADavidB

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April 3, 1942 -

Well, last turn's attacks on Northern Australia weren't just a raid; the BBs have stuck around, paratroops were dropped on Derby, and an invasion TF, likely with the 5th Division on board, is on its way toward Derby. Imperial Japan is on the move again.

Today was different from the previous day because the weather cleared up over the Northern Australia bases and my Australian Hudsons made a number of attacks on the Japanese TFs. Unfortunately, most of their attacks were against the Japanese combat TFs and thus flak and armor thwarted the brave efforts of the Aussies. However, one Hudson flight did find a Japanese DD that had made the mistake of being on its own and hit the ship nicely. BTW - if you are wondering why I haven't brought any Beauforts in with their torpedoes, it's because the four northern bases are too far apart and the Beauforts would be attacking with bombs anyway.

Once again the CD guns at Darwin were silent. I'd like to figure out why so that I might correct things for the next time if I am doing something wrong. But whatever isn't working isn't obvious. My subs in the region have also lost their "touch". These are all veterans of the DEI campaign and they all made kills there. But for some unknown reason they aren't doing anything so far in this battle.

What is ironic is that Saury, which is in the Philippines hunting easy prey, found targets twice but drew blanks, likely due to the bad US torpedoes. The Dutch on the other hand, despite their good torpedoes, seem to have lost their ability to find ships even when they are in the same hex with multiple TFs.

Nells and Bettys came in from Kendari in large numbers to hit the port at Darwin again. I wonder if they are "suppressing" the CD guns in some manner. They certainly aren't doing much damage - 1 damage point this turn after 1 damage point last turn - mainly because they are flying at 25000 feet.

The Tabbys aren't fairing as well because they are flying in much lower to drop their paratroops over Derby. Eleven Tabbys were damaged by flak, and I don't even have a dedicated AA unit in Derby.

Elsewhere things were totally quiet. My troops continue to pull back unmolested in China. I've spread my Chinese planes around and have set most of the fighters back on CAP, despite the universal thunderstorms. Treespider did emphasize that this was a Ground Combat Cease Fire and I don't want to be caught on the ground in case he decides to stick to the "letter" of our agreement instead of the spirit.

I'm busy moving forces around in all of my main areas of operations. I'm sending a USN Base Force to French Frigate Shoals to start building a base there. I like to build up FFS - it gives me a stepping stone to send fighters to and from Midway, and gives another base for Patrol planes. And given the time and sufficient Seabees, it can be built up to a Level 4 airfield and then becomes useful for hosting a 2E squadron for patrol and naval attack.

I am starting to send SWPAC units towards the Southwest. I'm not yet sure if I'll send them all the way to Oz or let them off somewhere in between. That depends a lot on how quickly Treespider becomes more aggressive in the South Pacific. Regardless, I'm not yet willing to reduce my buildup in the Hawaiian Islands.

Dave Baranyi

(in reply to ADavidB)

Post #: 276

RE: Northern Oz Under Attack... - 7/14/2006 6:13:57 AM

jwilkerson

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quote:

mainly because they are flying at 25000 feet

What .. does TREE think he is playin' Nik Mod !?

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Post #: 277

RE: Northern Oz Under Attack... - 7/14/2006 12:47:32 PM

ADavidB

Posts: 2464
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From: Toronto, Canada
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quote:

ORIGINAL: jwilkerson

quote:

mainly because they are flying at 25000 feet

What .. does TREE think he is playin' Nik Mod !?

He knows that I've only got Wirraways there, so he's at their upper limit. But I'll take that all day...

In the meanwhile, far to the south, I've almost rebuilt the 24th FG "full-up" with P-40Es, and I've still got well over 100 "Throwaways" in reserve, so I'll go with the current situation.

Dave Baranyi

(in reply to jwilkerson)

Post #: 278

RE: The IJN Strikes! x3!!! - 7/14/2006 1:32:07 PM

ny59giants

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I wonder if the Advanced Weather has some of the modifiers that some of my land combat games had in Europe. Once it becomes "bad" it adds a number to the next die roll, so it has a higher chance of remaining bad once it gets there. More like loaded dice.

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Post #: 279

RE: The IJN Strikes! x3!!! - 7/14/2006 6:27:06 PM

ADavidB

Posts: 2464
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quote:

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

I wonder if the Advanced Weather has some of the modifiers that some of my land combat games had in Europe. Once it becomes "bad" it adds a number to the next die roll, so it has a higher chance of remaining bad once it gets there. More like loaded dice.�

That's what most folks are speculating.

Thanks -

Dave Baranyi

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Post #: 280

RE: The IJN Strikes! x3!!! - 7/14/2006 6:28:30 PM

anarchyintheuk

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From: Dallas
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Several games have had that. However, they also have a 'once its good it tends to stay good' modifier. This one seems to be the exception.

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Post #: 281

Hunting MSWs... - 7/14/2006 6:30:16 PM

ADavidB

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April 4, 1942 -

This was an odd turn in many ways. Strange things happened and there are still factors that I can't seem to get a handle on. For example, the line of subs that were waiting for the incoming Japanese Invasion TFs at Derby didn't detect most of the ships, and the one sub that did spot an AP missed it. But two of the subs in the "line", S-37 and KXIII, which were in adjacent hexes, both hit and sank a different MSW in an incoming TF that originally contained three MSWs. It's rather ironic that Treespider should be sending in MSWs because the original mines which were in the Northern Australian base hexes vanished long ago and I haven't had any capability to replace them since.

The oddity concerned shore guns again. Wyndham received a night time naval bombardment and Derby received a daytime naval bombardment. The shore guns didn't reply either time. The Wyndham Bombardment TF stayed in the Wyndham hex, and the Derby Bombardment TF stayed in the Derby hex, and was joined by more Japanese TFs. But no shore guns fired in either location. So I took a look at the Australian base forces in each of the three bases that have suffered naval bombardments and this is what I found.

1 - Derby - The Base Force 6 inch guns as fine, there is little overall base damage, and there are plenty of supplies. But the guns haven't fired. We'll see what they do during the actual landing of Japanese troops next turn.

2 - Wyndham - The Base Force 6 inch guns are out of action, there is moderate damage to the base in general, and there are plenty of supplies. So, with the CD guns out of commission it's obvious why they aren't firing.

3 - Darwin - The Darwin 9.2 inch CD guns are undamaged, but the Base Force 6 inch guns are damaged. There is moderate damage to the base in general, and there are plenty of supplies. So I don't understand why the 9.2 inch guns only fired once during the daylight last turn.

The air combat results for the region were odd too. A 24 Bettys and 44 Nells from Kendari flew over Broome at 25K feet and obtained only a single hit on the runway. But the Hudsons in Broome didn't fly this time, after flying the previous day.

It's all very odd, and I'm even gladder that I'm not throwing massive force in opposition to this invasion, because I have a feeling that little or nothing would work as I planned.

Speaking of not working as planned, only one of five aerial bombardment missions, taking off from five different airbases, and planned for five different targets in Burma flew this turn; but the one that did fly was a pretty good attack by the B-17E group on Mandalay:

Day Air attack on Mandalay, at 33, 30

Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 5
B-17E Fortress x 37

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 9 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
43 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 29

I'm relieved that Treespider didn't have any CAP over Mandalay because so few P-40Bs accompanied those bombers. And more than a third of the bombers were damaged in the mission (including operational damage), so I'll be sitting those boys out for some time again while they are repaired.

So I stood down those B-17Es but I left the British air units ready to try to fly again. This turn the prediction is for rain for a change instead of the thunderstorms that have hit all of the Indian and Chinese bases for the past two game-weeks, so some of the Brit planes may take off this time.

In other news, Galeia was occupied automatically. I've now got four subs nosing around the Philippines just in case they can find some lightly defended Japanese transport TFs. The Glen-equipped Japanese sub is still spying in the Eastern Pacific, but that doesn't matter because I don't have much sailing in that region right now anyway.

Dave Baranyi

(in reply to ADavidB)

Post #: 282

Air and Naval Losses as of April 42 - 7/14/2006 10:44:16 PM

ADavidB

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Here are some Naval and Air statistics for this match as of April 4, 1942. First, Naval losses:

Allied - Total ships lost: 94, Total points lost: 891

BB = 1
CA = 1
CL = 5
DD = 5
PG = 2
DMS = 1
MSW = 10
ML = 1
PT = 16
AS = 3
AV = 1
AVD = 2
AO = 2
TK = 2
AP = 5
AK = 30
SS = 3

The great majority of the Allied naval losses occurred during December 1941.

Japanese - Total ships lost: 54, Total points lost: 311

ML = 3
DD = 5
APD = 7
MSW = 10
PG = 4
PC = 2
TK = 1
AK = 3
AP = 16
SS = 3

Now, the top ten planes in terms of total losses:

Ki-21 Sally - 137
P-40B Tomahawk - 133
A6M2 Zero - 130
P-40E Warhawk - 123
G3M Nell - 87
Hudson I - 86
Ki-48 Lily = 84
Ki-27 Nate = 75
Ki-51 Sonia = 74
Buffalo I - 73

Half of the P-40 losses were on the ground. A third of the Zero losses were in Air-to-Air combat.

Dave Baranyi

(in reply to ADavidB)

Post #: 283

Invasion Australia! - 7/15/2006 2:35:26 AM

ADavidB

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April 5, 1942 -

Japanese troops started to land at Derby and the Aussie CD guns finally started to fire:

Coastal Guns at Derby, 24, 85, firing at TF 241
TF 241 troops unloading over beach at Derby, 24, 85

163 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AP Ozan Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Nissho Maru, Shell hits 5, on fire
AP Hinko Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
668 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported

The Japanese bombardment TF consisting of a BB and 2 CAs fired back, but the second wave of Japanese invaders in the daylight received another rude greeting:

Coastal Guns at Derby, 24, 85, firing at TF 241
TF 241 troops unloading over beach at Derby, 24, 85

105 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AP Reiyo Maru, Shell hits 2
AP Seizan Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
660 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

In the meanwhile Treespider send out a handful of small ASW TFs that disrupted the attempts by my subs to interfere further with the landings.

Speaking of subs - USS Seal, way over at Tulagi, got a shot at CVE Taiyo but missed. I may well be sending my fleet CVs back out to the New Caledonia area soon just in case Taiyo goes on a "fishing trip".

Back to Northern Oz, Darwin was bombarded in the daylight again by a TF consisting of 2BBs, a CA and a CL. The two 9.2 inch guns at Darwin returned fire but didn't get any hits. Next, a very odd troop landing started - part of a Japanese Field Artillery unit came ashore alone. The Australian defenders tried to do a bombardment attack on the Japanese Field Artillery unit, but the Japanese counter-battery fire caused some Australian casualties while the Aussies didn't cause any Japanese casualties. Finally, when it was my turn to plan my attacks, it turned out that the FA unit had already vanished.

The air war was also odd in the region. According to the combat replay map, the weather looked fairly clear in the region, but the Australian Hudsons in Broome again didn't take off. Some more Nells and Bettys came back to Broome from Kendari, but once more they only scored 1 runway hit. There was also another Zero sweep of Wyndham. Treespider must not realize the extent of the damage to the airfields there, and that I don't have any planes in Wyndham. Finally, there was also another Sally/Oscar attack on Darwin, this time on the airfields, but again it accomplished little.

In the meanwhile, my British bomber crews in India took advantage of the "improvement" in the weather from thunderstorms to rain and four out of five missions were flown, albeit with minor results since it was one bomber squadron per target. Never-the-less, all the missions contributed to improved experience for the air crews at no real risk, and these attacks do make Treespider keep an "eye over his shoulder" while he is focusing on Australia.

Elsewhere, it was "business as usual" - with the business being building bases and bringing forces to where I want them to be. My Chinese troops are slowly moving back in China. It will still take a couple of game-weeks for them to clear the DMZ. In the meanwhile I continue to enjoy the "breath of peace" in the region.

Dave Baranyi

(in reply to ADavidB)

Post #: 284

The Big Guns Strike! - 7/15/2006 4:21:43 AM

ADavidB

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April 6, 1942 -

The Big Guns at Darwin had lots of fun this turn as they finally fired on the incoming Invasion TF:

Coastal Guns at Darwin, 36, 84, firing at TF 217
TF 217 troops unloading over beach at Darwin, 36, 84

406 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Yugure, Shell hits 1, on fire
AP Shinano Maru
DD Shigure, Shell hits 2, on fire
AP Koyo Maru
DD Ariake, Shell hits 1
AP Zinzan Maru
PC Ch 11
AP Toyo Maru #2
AP Maya Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
PC Kyo Maru #12, Shell hits 1
AP Kimishima Maru
AP Yamafuku Maru
PG Kiso Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
AP Waura Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
AP Kaiko Maru
AP Kaihei Maru
AP Hakozake Maru
PG Shinko Maru #3

Japanese ground losses:
2486 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
36 casualties reported

Then the Guns at Derby got back into action once more:

Coastal Guns at Derby, 24, 85, firing at TF 241
TF 241 troops unloading over beach at Derby, 24, 85

142 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Kamo, Shell hits 1
DD Kari, Shell hits 1
AP Oyo Maru
AP Nissho Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
AP Satsuma Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Sagi, Shell hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
761 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
16 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Of course, afterwards the Japanese bombardment TFs hit both Darwin and Derby again, pretty much suppressing any more shore fire, but the damage had already been done. All-in-all, it wasn't too bad considering that both bases had been hammered a lot for the past few days. The Allied subs in the region also got back into the act, with O24 whacking an AP that eventually sank at Darwin, and S-39 hitting an AK just outside of Darwin.

There were more Japanese air attacks, including a relatively ineffectual attack on the airfields at Darwin and another useless Zero sweep over Wyndham. But the big news was that the Hudsons at Broome finally got into the act and started to attack ships at and near Derby. There were Zeros on LR CAP over the TFs at Derby, but the Hudsons managed to fight their way past the fighters and hit two DDs and an AP hard.

But there were other "players" in the air that were just out of sight. One of my subs that was racing towards the action was spotted by a Kate just before the sub was about to make the "turn" along the Northwest corner of Australia. Obviously, Treespider has a CV TF sitting out there in the "blind zone" beyond the reach of my patrol planes at Broome and Perth. (It's a good thing that I don't have any TFs traversing the route between India and Australia right now.) Just to be safe, I ordered my remaining ships out of Perth and headed them to the Southeast.

But Treespider wasn't satisfied with his Australian activities. He also started to land some troops at Medan again. The Japanese MSW escorts located the recently sub-laid mine field in the port and cleared a safe path for the incoming troop ships. Unfortunately, the Dutch don't have any shore defense guns in Medan.

Despite all the damage to the Japanese TFs, at the end of the day Treespider accomplished one of his objectives - the 30,000+ Japanese troops that landed at Derby easily kicked out the 3000 or so Australian defenders and took over the base. So Imperial Japan has a foothold in Northern Australia. There already are over 50,000 Japanese troops on the beaches at Darwin, so I expect that base to fall quickly too.

So Treespider did a good job of making certain that there was no way that I could resist his invasions. He hit several places simultaneously with overwhelming force and back-up in depth. Sure, if I had rushed some Australian divisions to the region early on and had some surface combat ships available to slug it out with the Japanese battlewagons I could have messed up the timetable a bit. But the reality is that this early in the War, with the limited resources that I have available to me; the end result would have most likely been exactly the same, except that I would have lost significant forces and severely weakened myself for the next Japanese attack.

As I wrote to Treespider after he commented upon how heavy his losses were; "Imagine what it will be like when you try to invade someplace that I want to defend."

Dave Baranyi

(in reply to ADavidB)

Post #: 285

The Battle of Darwin... - 7/15/2006 12:25:47 PM

ADavidB

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April 7, 1942 -

The Guns of Darwin continued to fire with some effect this turn as more Japanese forces landed:

Coastal Guns at Darwin, 36, 84, firing at TF 217
TF 217 troops unloading over beach at Darwin, 36, 84

157 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AP Toyo Maru #2, Shell hits 4
DD Yugure, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Koyo Maru, Shell hits 1
AP Mikage Maru #2, Shell hits 1, on fire
PC Kyo Maru #13

Japanese ground losses:
529 casualties reported

A Japanese PC sank from the previous day's battle, so maybe some of these will falter on the way back to port too. But the Japanese battleships came back to hit the defenders during the night, and the sky was darkened with Japanese bombers during the day, so the outcome at the end of the turn was without any doubt as the overwhelming Japanese forces easily captured Darwin in one massive attack.

Treespider also sent a small cruiser TF to bombard Broome in an attempt to ground the Hudsons. The attack did minor damage and the Hudsons flew again, but without any success this time as they only found combat ships and were stopped by the flak. It looks as if Broome will be hit hard again next turn by one of the Japanese battleship TFs, so I've started the removal of the Australian air units from the base. My air losses have been quite acceptable during this campaign and I want to keep them that way.

In other news, more troops landed at Medan and attempted a deliberate attack that was repulsed, but the fortifications were reduced. Also, Banks Island was occupied automatically.

In China, Treespider seems to be getting a little bit impatient with the slow progress of withdrawal of those Chinese units that are in the Field near Homan. I gave him an update on their "mileage" and suggested that he might want to drop some "broad hints" to the Devs.

So things are now fairly quiet for me and will remain so for at least another week. It will take that long for the upgrade damage on my US DDs to be reduced enough to send TFs back out again, and I also get some very nice and much needed reinforcements at the same time. The other "Big News" that will occur within the next couple of game-days will be the long-awaited complete fill-out of the Australian 24th FG with P-40Es. Once that is done, I'll bank another 24 P-40Es and then change over the remaining P-40B squadron in Oz. I'll then use the 12 P-40Bs from that understrength squadron to help to fill in the understrength P-40B group that is in Hawaii. Only when that is done will I finally upgrade my P-35s to P-40Es. (Ah, the joys of upgrade paths.)

Dave Baranyi

(in reply to ADavidB)

Post #: 286

Aftermath... - 7/15/2006 6:13:55 PM

ADavidB

Posts: 2464
Joined: 9/17/2001
From: Toronto, Canada
Status: offline

April 8, 1942 -

Compared to all the excitement of the past handful of turns this turn was so quiet it was almost as if it didn't happen. And other than Broome receiving another naval bombardment, nothing much did happen. The only land action was another deliberate attack at Medan that reduced the forts once more but didn't capture the base.

There was some land "non-action" as Japanese troops finally captured the now-empty Wuchow, Kweilin and Hengchow. Treespider is waiting for my final stragglers to leave the region around Homan before taking it too.

Speaking of "stragglers", a Dutch straggler unit made it to Pinrang finally, raising Treespider's curiosity. As I wrote back to him, I am sending the stragglers back to occupied bases in order to keep him "honest" and make sure that he has an incentive to keep garrisons in some of the DEI islands for a while.

Otherwise, there were the usual thunderstorms covering most of the map, and maneuvering on both of our parts. It appears that Treespider will send a Japanese division by land from Derby to Broome, rather than to try another amphibious invasion. There has been no Japanese movement out of Darwin yet, but since Treespider has a Japanese armored unit there, I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't send it somewhere.

Dave Baranyi

(in reply to ADavidB)

Post #: 287

Movement Rules Strike the IJA! - 7/16/2006 5:20:30 AM

ADavidB

Posts: 2464
Joined: 9/17/2001
From: Toronto, Canada
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April 9, 1942 -

This was yet another quiet turn with the only change of possession being the automatic occupation of Aoba by the Japanese. Treespider did try another deliberate attack at Medan, but if failed and this time the fortification level wasn't reduced. I suspect that malarial and a lack of supplies is weakening his troops.

However, Japanese troops were more than strong enough at Pinrang to defeat and capture the Dutch stragglers that showed up. I've got more Dutch units heading towards Japanese-occupied bases in the Celebes, on Sumatra and even on PNG. They ought to keep Treespider busy doing clean-up for a while.

There are still a couple of island bases free in the Central Philippines. So, for example, Japanese planes have started to bomb the troops at Iloilo. I've already let Treespider know that I feel that leaving Allied bases behind in the Philippines is "chicken" and that he ought to be "A Man" and train his pilots at the Fronts and not against trapped units. We'll see how he responds to this challenge.

Soap Box Time -

For those folks who comment that during the later stages of the war the US and British Carrier TFs deliberately attacked long-isolated bases such as Truk in order to give their pilots a relatively safe "taste of blood", I would like to point out that the Allied did not park their pilots next door to isolated Japanese bases and send those pilots out day-after-day, month-after-month in order to train them. They trained their pilots at home. (Or in the case of the Brits, in Canada.) And if the Training Mechanics of the Game don't work - don't complain to me - there are plenty of Devs out there who would like to hear your opinions.

Soap Box Time Over -

Treespider has sent a couple of Divisions out of Darwin along the road to the South. I suspect that they are being sent to take Wyndham by land, and that they are going along "the longer route which is shorter, rather than the shorter route which is longer" thanks to the Movement Mechanics. I don't know if Treespider will become tempted to try to advance by land against any other parts of Australia, but my bomber pilots are hoping so with great anticipation.

Oh, BTW - here is an update. Now Treespider's units are stuck on the road out of Darwin by the same Movement Rule mess that caused me all the grief in China. I've offered another cease fire to him, this time in Northern Oz. If he agrees to let me move all of my units out unharmed, I'll let him take the four bases without a fight against me, or against the Movement Rules. Treespider has asked the Devs for help, but I think that my offer will turn out to be the best he can get at this time.

Dave Baranyi

(in reply to ADavidB)

Post #: 288

More Game Goofiness... - 7/16/2006 7:03:08 AM

ADavidB

Posts: 2464
Joined: 9/17/2001
From: Toronto, Canada
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April 10, 1942 -

Things were quiet again this turn, other than Treespider's "howls of anguish" over the entrapment of his two Divisions just outside of Darwin. My retreating troops were able to put another hex between themselves and the Japanese as Treespider's troops were stuck and unable to move because the Game won't let them move "from one enemy ZOC to another". (That's the same message that I was getting in China until the Japanese troops were pulled back.) Treespider is getting desperate and is going to try an attack on the "phantom zone" to see if that frees up his troops. Considering how fritzy this Game can be, I wouldn't be surprised if his troops took casualties against the "thin air".

Things may even get worse. Treespider sent some bombers against a Dutch straggler unit in Sumatra, the unit took 60 casualties and it then disappeared! I've never seen that happen before and I've got to wonder if this unit will also turn up as a ghost somewhere. Things are getting goofy enough that I've even suggested that if Treespider wants to "call" the game on "technical issues" I'm willing to do so. I certainly won't start another game until another major revisions comes out, maybe v1.90, maybe even v2.0.

Otherwise, the only other action was at Medan which was bombed by some Japanese planes this turn while Treespider rested his troops. It appears that he is sending his TF back for more troops, so I'm trying to position some subs in the way.

Dave Baranyi

(in reply to ADavidB)

Post #: 289

Into the "Phantom Zone"... - 7/16/2006 5:57:57 PM

ADavidB

Posts: 2464
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From: Toronto, Canada
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April 11, 1942 -

Sure enough, the Japanese attack on "The Phantom Zone" paid off. It turns out that an empty "ghost" of the USAAF 110th Base Force was on the road. Treespider's Division shock attacked the "ghost" and knocked it out of the hex. But of course, the "ghost" went to the very next road hex. Since Treespider had "Follow" on with the shock attack, his unit followed and is once again stuck in the hex with the "ghost". So unless Treespider can convince one of the Devs to dig into the Game Save and tweak the ghost unit out of there, the only thing that he can do is slowly push that ghost "down the road".

I'm not feeling terribly concerned about this. For one, this sort of thing happens all the time - the ghost RN Base Force in Borneo was a good example of it. And anyway, this removes one of my big complaints about the Game Movement Design that would otherwise allow Treespider's unit the Rail Bonus in Australia. His troops shouldn't have a Rail Bonus in a recently conquered region by any stretch of the imagination. Also, as I mentioned to Treespider, his unit is getting "free" experience...

Treespider did express his dissatisfaction with the ability of Allied Forces to evacuate fragments via submarine, because of the problems that fragments can give. (It was late when he wrote that, and I'm certain that he would make that statement apply to both sides if he had a second shot at it.) However, submarine transport isn't the only thing that can create fragments; it is usually impossible to fit most land units on a single ship, therefore every time that you send out a TF with an LCU sitting on several ships you stand the chance of having fragments formed. That's what happened to Asiatic Fleet when its TF was ambushed and a half dozen badly damaged transports "ran aground" in different bases and unloaded fragments at each. I wasn't able to rejoin those fragments and eventually all but one were destroyed. I have no idea of any of them generated "ghosts".

Essentially, the problem lies within the Game Engine and more particularly the Data Base. At some point the Devs will need to consider if they will address this weakness in the programming; if not for this Game then for any follow-on Game.

Otherwise, things were relatively quiet this turn. Treespider sent a Zero sweep over Yunan and wiped out my Chinese biplanes. While this is certainly within the "letter" of our ceasefire, I feel that it is certainly outside the "spirit", and I will remember this for later situations.

Japanese air attacks also hit the remaining Allied Philippine bases and Medan. My Brit bombers took off from India to hit targets in Burma again, but with little success thanks to inclement weather.

Dave Baranyi

(in reply to ADavidB)

Post #: 290

Shock - Follow... - 7/16/2006 11:14:59 PM

ADavidB

Posts: 2464
Joined: 9/17/2001
From: Toronto, Canada
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April 12, 1942 -

This was yet another relatively quiet turn. O23 did catch an AG off of Medan and blasted it on the surface with gunfire, sinking it. Meanwhile, KXVI was damaged and chased out of Derby by ASW. Iloilo was bombed again, and the "Shock - Follow" approach continued to work nicely for the Japanese troops leaving Darwin. They ought to be at the crossroads to Wyndham in a couple of game days.

Treespider has sent a large number of subs to the South Pacific, so I've started to send some ASW ships into the region to see if I can catch any of the subs. I am also trying my first Carrier raid. If the Weather Gods smile upon me it could happen as soon as the next turn. (Yeah, sure, and I'll get "Clear" weather in India too�

Dave Baranyi

(in reply to ADavidB)

Post #: 291

Luganville Receives a Surprise... - 7/17/2006 3:43:19 AM

ADavidB

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April 13, 1942 -

Treespider is wondering what I am doing for a change after last turn's Naval Air raid on Luganville:

Day Air attack on Luganville, at 72,107

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 14
SBD Dauntless x 34

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 9

Sure, that's not much by KB standards, but it was a good first practice for those boys, and every bit of experience counts! I've got more raids planned; my naval flyboys will get some practice and Treespider can consider what it means to have "listening posts" out beyond the main part of the frontier.

Otherwise, things were much the same. The Japanese troops on the Darwin road did another shock attack and forced the "phantom" further on again. I'm not actually sure if the Japanese troops followed this time, and the results are getting lower with each attack. I wonder if the Japanese troops are getting tired from fighting "air"?

I set my bombers on the Indian Burmese border to attack again next turn. The weather is calling for rain, but then it always calls for rain, so my Brit flyboys will have to learn to fly with their windshield wipers going. There were Japanese air attacks on Medan and some of the straggler troops in the DEI. More stragglers moved back into old lost bases. Treespider will need to get rid of them or he will end up with worse than "ghosts" on his hands.

My Chinese troops are still crawling along near Wuchow and Homan. Treespider is still waiting for my troops to clear the Homan area before he captures it. It's a shame to make him wait, but there is nothing that I can do about it.

I received some highly welcome reinforcements this turn, including lots of engineers in India. They will be a great help in building up the base facilities and fortifications. Things are progressing and will do even better now. For example, the fortifications at Dacca are now up to 9, and the airfield just reached 8, so as soon as the airfield reaches 9 I'll move the engineers to Chandpur to speed up the building there.

Dave Baranyi

(in reply to ADavidB)

Post #: 292

RE: Luganville Receives a Surprise... - 7/17/2006 1:25:12 PM

aztez

Posts: 4031
Joined: 2/26/2005
From: Finland
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Just be careful that KB does not catch up to those US CV's you have positioned in South Pacific.

Do you have adequate troops and aircraft in Noumea and Oz?

(in reply to ADavidB)

Post #: 293

RE: Luganville Receives a Surprise... - 7/18/2006 2:49:32 AM

Grotius

Posts: 5798
Joined: 10/18/2002
From: The Imperial Palace.
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Exciting developments. Sounds like you're hanging tough.

Incidentally, I'm glad to hear of your truce in China. If I ever get the time to start a new PBEM, I'll negotiate a stalemate in China regardless of which side I'm playing. In PBEM I find I spend a disproportionate amount of my time worrying about China, when really I enjoy WITP most for its treatment of air/naval warfare in the Pacific.

(in reply to aztez)

Post #: 294

RE: Luganville Receives a Surprise... - 11/12/2006 7:32:09 PM

Oldsweat

Posts: 79
Joined: 4/23/2005
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I look forward to further installments, your posts are one of several that both lend pleasure to my day and keep me interested in the game.

(in reply to Grotius)

Post #: 295

RE: Luganville Receives a Surprise... - 11/13/2006 1:55:48 AM

ctangus

Posts: 2153
Joined: 10/13/2005
From: Boston, Mass.
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Oldsweat

I look forward to further installments, your posts are one of several that both lend pleasure to my day and keep me interested in the game.

I think that this game died 3-4 months ago shortly after ADavidB lost a CV or 2 in South Pac.

(in reply to Oldsweat)

Post #: 296

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