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Against the Wind: Cuttlefish (Japan) vs. Q-Ball (Allies)

 
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Against the Wind: Cuttlefish (Japan) vs. Q-Ball (Allies) - 9/29/2009 11:59:21 PM   
Cuttlefish

 

Posts: 2454
Joined: 1/24/2007
From: Oregon, USA
Status: offline 		Q-Ball has defected to the Dark Side to try AE from the Allied point of view and has agreed to take me on as an opponent. This will be my first AE PBEM from either side. Thus we are both experienced players but with a lot to learn; it should be a fun game.

It’s a Scenario 1 game. Settings are as follows:
Fog of War: On
Advanced Weather: On
Allied Damage Control: On
Player Def. Upgrades: On
Historical First Turn: Off
Dec. 7 Surprise: On
Reliable US Torps: Off
Realistic R&D: On
No Unit Withdrawals: Off
Reinforcements: Fixed

The only house rules in place at the start are the usual agreements not to move restricted units across national borders unless the PP cost can and has been paid.

Broadly speaking, we know how this game will go: it will start with Japan carving up the Allies like Lizzie Borden going after her parents and end with Japan in rubble. It’s what happens in between that makes the game fun.

This will not be a “Hibiki-style” AAR. I don’t know exactly format it will take but I will mostly be discussing strategy and outcomes and my attempts to come to grips with the complex new realities of AE. I may even (horrors) post snippets of combat reports from time to time.

So there we are. Q-Ball has denied me access to oil and scrap metal and he wants me out of China (I have some sympathy with the latter demand: after looking over the map I want me out of China too). I cannot accede to these demands without a crippling loss of face, so rather than give in I am going to launch a desperate attack. After receiving a few crushing blows my decadent enemy will no doubt sue for peace, leaving me as the dominant power in Asia and the Pacific.

Yeah, right.
Post #: 1
RE: Against the Wind: Cuttlefish (Japan) vs. Q-Ball (Al... - 9/30/2009 12:07:55 AM   
stuman


Posts: 3907
Joined: 9/14/2008
From: Elvis' Hometown
Status: offline 		Fortunately the realities of the Jap. economy in AE are a piece of cake. No worries, no problems, just ramp up production and away you go !

Well maybe it is a tad more complicated than that

_____________________________

" Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room. " President Muffley


(in reply to Cuttlefish)
Post #: 2
RE: Against the Wind: Cuttlefish (Japan) vs. Q-Ball (Al... - 9/30/2009 12:23:50 AM   
Canoerebel


Posts: 21100
Joined: 12/14/2002
From: Northwestern Georgia, USA
Status: offline 		Judging from my early experience in China as an Allied player, the Japs can make hay here.

< Message edited by Canoerebel -- 9/30/2009 12:25:21 AM >

(in reply to stuman)
Post #: 3
RE: Against the Wind: Cuttlefish (Japan) vs. Q-Ball (Al... - 9/30/2009 12:46:36 AM   
princep01

 

Posts: 943
Joined: 8/7/2006
From: Texas
Status: offline 		Given the disposition of the Chinese to attack with not one, but two, rocks and occasionally fire a 3" cannon left over from the American Civil War (one seen as unfit for service in the Mexican Army), it is not a surprise that the Japanese do seem to slash and burn all and sundry in China early on. Battles rated at odds of 3-1 result in 25 Japanese and 2790 Chinese casualities. Massacre does not adequately describe what happens in most cases where the Japanese hold the 3-1 advantage, plus leadership, morale and shock. However, while I have experienced a similar slaughter (as the Allies) in China, I suspect it will get a bit tougher on the Japanese as the garrison requirements, rail security and need for soldiers in other theaters slowly sap the number of formations they can hurl at the surviving Chinese. Battle shall temper their resolve.

(in reply to Canoerebel)
Post #: 4
RE: Against the Wind: Cuttlefish (Japan) vs. Q-Ball (Al... - 9/30/2009 4:51:29 AM   
Q-Ball


Posts: 7336
Joined: 6/25/2002
From: Chicago, Illinois
Status: offline 		This is my first, and last post in this AAR. I wish Cuttlefish luck!

Seriously, honored to play the author of the excellent HIBIKI AAR in the WITP forum. I will write "the other side" AAR, not sure what to call it yet.....Hunting the Hibiki, or Breaking Wind, not sure yet, suggestions taken. It's a bit late at the moment, so I sign off!

_____________________________


(in reply to princep01)
Post #: 5
A brave new world - 9/30/2009 6:58:58 AM   
Cuttlefish

 

Posts: 2454
Joined: 1/24/2007
From: Oregon, USA
Status: offline 		The cards in the game of life are the characters of men…But when we play the game of death, things are our counters – guns, rivers, shells, bread, roads, forests, ships.
- Sir Ian Hamilton, Gallipoli Diary

---

Okay, where did all my 240 aviation support regiments go? What happened to all my ships moving at warp speed on the first turn? And who misplaced my endless supplies of torpedoes and mines?

Just kidding. I’ve played a bit against the AI and I’ve been reading the forums. I have some idea what I supposed to be doing. I know I can maintain my existing minefields using AMCs. Or is that ACMs? Or AMcs?

Note to self: print out a quick reference list of the new ship types.

Actually, I kind of like not having all my ships dart around like psychotic hummingbirds the first turn. It means Japan’s attack will unfold at a more leisurely pace and that there will be time to contemplate and adjust my moves over the first couple of weeks. For my first turn I have spent hours just ordering ships of all kinds to move to new ports. I am by nature a careful, methodical player and so I am not adding a lot of ruffles and flourishes to Japan’s opening moves. My only significant changes to the standard first turn attack:

- An invasion force is heading to Brunei alongside the one destined for Miri. I have sent surface forces to Camranh Bay sufficient to cover both landings, since I know that uncovered Japanese landing forces can be dealt heavy damage by the Allies.

- I have dispatched an invasion force and an aviation company to Jolo from Babeldarb…Babeldaoab…Betelguese…from the base formerly known as Palau in hopes of setting up an airbase there in time to help deal with the stragglers attempting to flee the Philippines. This move is a bit of a risk but has a nice payoff if it succeeds.

- The Wake Island invasion is being delayed while a strong bombardment force comes down from Japan. These surface ships will then proceed to Truk to bolster the invasion of Rabaul. KB will also pay Wake a visit on their way back from Pearl.

My main focus early on is a swift capture of the DEI, which means that Singapore is my number one priority. On to the first turn…



(in reply to Cuttlefish)
Post #: 6
RE: A brave new world - 9/30/2009 7:24:31 AM   
Cuttlefish

 

Posts: 2454
Joined: 1/24/2007
From: Oregon, USA
Status: offline 		The Island of Oahu, with its military depots, both naval and land, its airdromes, water supplies, the city of Honolulu with its wharves and supply points, forms an easy, compact and convenient object for air attack…I believe therefore, that should Japan decide upon the reduction and seizure of the Hawaiian Islands…attack will be launched on Ford’s Island at 7:30 a.m.
- William Mitchell: Memorandum for the Chief of Staff, U.S. Army, 1924

---

I have launched a lot of Dec. 7 attacks on Pearl Harbor over the years, including half a dozen in AE in tests versus the AI. I have never had a better result than this one. Arizona, Oklahoma, and three small ships are sunk outright and I think many of the other battleships are doomed. Given this, I don’t see any need for KB to hang around for more attacks.

---

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 68
B5N2 Kate x 144
D3A1 Val x 126



Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 9 destroyed, 35 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 9 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-18A Bolo: 3 destroyed on ground
B-17D Fortress: 1 destroyed on ground
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed on ground
PBY-5 Catalina: 5 destroyed on ground
SBD-1 Dauntless: 3 destroyed on ground
P-40B Warhawk: 4 destroyed on ground
P-36A Mohawk: 2 destroyed on ground
A-20A Havoc: 2 destroyed on ground
R3D-2: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
DM Gamble
BB Oklahoma, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 6, and is sunk
BB Pennsylvania, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
BB Tennessee, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA San Francisco, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB Maryland, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
BB West Virginia, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
CA New Orleans, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AG Aries, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
SS Cachalot, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
BB Nevada, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage
DD Litchfield, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AV Tangier
DM Montgomery
CL Phoenix, Bomb hits 1
BB California, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
BB Arizona, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 5, and is sunk
PG Sacramento, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Dewey, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk


Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Repair Shipyard hits 9
Airbase hits 37
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 115
Port hits 19
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 1
---

The only other results of note were that a Kate put an 800 kg bomb into AVD William B. Preston at Davao and British bombers hit AK Hirokawa Maru twice off Patani.

For the second turn I am putting the Betties and Nells in Formosa on naval attack. One group of Betties transfers to Babelthingy (Palau) and I will sweep Clark Field at 21,000 with my fighters. Now the game begins in earnest.



(in reply to Cuttlefish)
Post #: 7
RE: A brave new world - 9/30/2009 9:51:12 AM   
bklooste

 

Posts: 1104
Joined: 4/10/2006
Status: offline 		Remember fog of war

(in reply to Cuttlefish)
Post #: 8
RE: A brave new world - 9/30/2009 11:22:50 AM   
ny59giants


Posts: 9869
Joined: 1/10/2005
Status: offline 		According to another thread, the Naval Support assigned to a Naval HQ does NOT count. Thus, you don't have a large enough Port and Naval Support to reload KB at Truk. I think about 6 conversions to AKE are in order along with many xAK to have more troop space.

Q-Ball (Brad) just found this out in his game and I do wish you luck against him. I took over briefly from John 3rd in the 2x2 PBEM and he was my co-Admiral/General.

(in reply to bklooste)
Post #: 9
RE: A brave new world - 9/30/2009 1:55:55 PM   
cantona2


Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline 		Bear in mind Cuttlefish that the FOW in AE is much more misleading then in WitP.

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born


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Post #: 10
RE: A brave new world - 9/30/2009 3:46:44 PM   
Mike Solli


Posts: 15792
Joined: 10/18/2000
From: the flight deck of the Zuikaku
Status: offline

Go Cuttlefish!

_____________________________


Created by the amazing Dixie

(in reply to cantona2)
Post #: 11
RE: A brave new world - 9/30/2009 8:19:10 PM   
Capt. Harlock


Posts: 5358
Joined: 9/15/2001
From: Los Angeles
Status: offline
quote:

My main focus early on is a swift capture of the DEI, which means that Singapore is my number one priority.


Singapore rather than Manila? I suppose Singers makes a better sub base, but Manila and Clark AFB can interfere with more shipping by air.

_____________________________

Civil war? What does that mean? Is there any foreign war? Isn't every war fought between men, between brothers?

--Victor Hugo

(in reply to Cuttlefish)
Post #: 12
RE: A brave new world - 9/30/2009 9:37:43 PM   
Cuttlefish

 

Posts: 2454
Joined: 1/24/2007
From: Oregon, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

quote:

My main focus early on is a swift capture of the DEI, which means that Singapore is my number one priority.


Singapore rather than Manila? I suppose Singers makes a better sub base, but Manila and Clark AFB can interfere with more shipping by air.


I never like to leave Allied forces in the PI to wither on the vine, so I will be pushing hard to take Manila. Nonetheless I view Singapore as the gateway to the DEI and so it has to be target number one.

_____________________________


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Post #: 13
Fog of War - 9/30/2009 9:40:45 PM   
Cuttlefish

 

Posts: 2454
Joined: 1/24/2007
From: Oregon, USA
Status: offline 		He who wars walks in a mist through which the keenest eye cannot always discern the right path.
- Sir William Napier: History of the War in the Peninsula, 1840

---

Ah yes, I will have to remember that this is a much foggier war than WitP. Still, Q-Ball seems to think that he got hit pretty hard at Pearl, though he is (understandably) not being specific. The sunk ships list now shows a CA and a submarine sunk at Pearl as well, though I haven’t had any confirmation. How reliable is that, I wonder?

Important developments this turn:

- My sweep at Clark engaged in bits and pieces, with a final tally (as near as I can tell) of 7 Zeros and 11 Warhawks lost. We will try it again today; once the Allied air defense there is in tatters bombing will resume.

- Khota Bharu fell easily to the first Japanese attack; Makin was also captured.

- Submarine I-155 caught O19 on the surface during a rainy night and put three torpedoes into her. O19 is listed as sunk.

- Bombers out of Formosa attacked and torpedoed two freighters fleeing Hong Kong; AK Hanyang is believed to have sunk.

- The 16th Infantry Brigade began embarking at Sendai. They have tickets to Malaya and the big party at Singapore. By next turn the 21st Division (at Shanghai) will start loading, also heading for Malaya. The 33rd Division, at Nagasaki/Sasebo, will embark for Bangkok with orders to proceed towards Rangoon. The 4th Division, at Osaka/Kyoto, will embark for the Philippines.

Landing forces now approach Tarawa, several sites on Luzon, Mili, Brunei, and Jolo. There was no damage to Japanese ships this turn; AK Hirokawa Maru, hit by air attack on the first day, continues to unload at Patini though sys damage is 32 and there are still fires aboard. Allied sub sightings are reported all over the Gulf of Siam, the South China Sea, and the Luzon Strait. I have four ASW task forces patrolling Luzon Strait and a couple more off Saigon and Cam Ranh Bay.

KB is refueling northwest of Pearl and will head west next turn, passing southeast of Midway en route to Wake.

---

Hot sub-on-sub action!







Attachment (1)

(in reply to Cuttlefish)
Post #: 14
RE: Fog of War - 9/30/2009 10:54:02 PM   
princep01

 

Posts: 943
Joined: 8/7/2006
From: Texas
Status: offline 		Apparently one of the changes in AE involves the number of torpedos an I-Boat typically launches. I-155 launched 8 (count'em) torpedos attempting to zap a submarine.....hummmmmm. Not the most economical choice one would think. If that number is correct, I -155 will be in port shortly to celebrate their kill with saki and rice balls. One does have to admire the graphics relating to the underwater menace.

(in reply to Cuttlefish)
Post #: 15
RE: Fog of War - 10/1/2009 2:42:07 AM   
SuluSea


Posts: 2358
Joined: 11/17/2006
Status: offline 		Obviously Cuttlefish's Hibiki AAR was brilliant, looking forward to this. Good luck guys.

_____________________________

"There’s no such thing as a bitter person who keeps the bitterness to himself.” ~ Erwin Lutzer

(in reply to princep01)
Post #: 16
Hibiki - 10/1/2009 3:14:25 AM   
Cuttlefish

 

Posts: 2454
Joined: 1/24/2007
From: Oregon, USA
Status: offline 		I wish to have no Connection with any ship that does not sail fast, for I intend to go in harm’s way.
- John Paul Jones, Letter to le Ray de Chaumont, November 1778

---

I can’t resist taking a look in on Hibiki, currently at Khota Bharu helping Kongo and Haruna guard the landings there.

The silhouette is familiar and there’s Captain Ishii, with the same ratings as in WitP. Starting day/night experience for the crew is a little different, 70/69 as opposed to 71/66. It’s interesting that she is listed as a Fubuki (III) class rather than an Akatsuki class destroyer. I’ve seen it both ways in various sources.

The most striking thing is that Hibiki starts the game with the extra armament (more depth charges and 25mm guns) that the ship acquires during the first refit (3/42) in WitP. Given the amount of research that went into AE I’m betting the AE version is historically accurate.

Other changes: the ship used to have a cargo capacity of 0. Now it has a cargo capacity of 50 and a troop capacity of 150. The maneuver rating is 67 now instead of 63. And like all ships in AE there is an “Assigned to” listing now, in this case Combined Fleet.

So there we are. I’d be lying if I said that I won’t be paying a little extra attention to this one ship during the game. Even if it is just one small ship.

---

Hibiki, AE-style:






Attachment (1)

(in reply to Cuttlefish)
Post #: 17
In the good old Samah time - 10/1/2009 7:31:56 AM   
Cuttlefish

 

Posts: 2454
Joined: 1/24/2007
From: Oregon, USA
Status: offline 		He is best secure from dangers who is on his guard even when he seems safe.
- Pubilius Syrus, Sententiae, c. 50 B.C.

---
12/9/41

DDs Scout, Thanet, and Thracian turned up at Samah. An intrepid Japanese MTB fired torpedoes at them but missed. The trio then proceeded to sink APD Hagi, TB Hayabusa, and 3 xAKs. Several other ships were damaged and scattered. In other bad news for the Empire of Japan, a Vildebeest hit Haruna with a torpedo at Khota Bharu. Fortunately it was the only hit for 23 attacking planes and 7 of the bombers were lost to Japanese AA fire. Haruna is at 15 sys/11 flood damage after the attack.

The attack at Samah was a nice stroke and puts me on notice that Q-Ball will not go quietly into that dark night. He also has enough experience playing Japan to know where the bodies are buried, so to speak, so I will have to be on my guard.

Malaya: the Imperial Guard Division, moving by rail, passed through Bangkok this turn and is heading down the Malay Peninsula. I could get used to this moving by rail stuff.

Philippines: my fighter sweep was a smashing success this time, downing 16 American fighters against no losses. American planes (SOC-1 Seagulls!) raided the Japanese landings at Vigan and scored a bomb hit on an xAK. Japanese forces also landed at Aparri. Both places will fall next turn. Follow-on units are en route to both locations.

Pacific: Tarawa was captured. I have the jitters about a visit from a U.S. carrier or two here so I cancelled the unloading of supplies there and at Makin and ordered the task forces to pull back to the west.

Submarine warfare: I-155 continued its reign of terror, putting 11 shells into xAKL Shinai (princep01’s comment about overusing torpedoes being germane here, I think). I-162 struck near Pontiniak, hitting AVP Poolster with one torpedo (out of a spread of 4). And the Allied sub force struck for the first time, with KXIV torpedoing and sinking xAKL Anbo Maru off Miri. There were various ASW/sub skirmishes in the Luzon Strait but not much damage done on either side.

Hunting refugees: Kates from Ryujo sank four xAKLs in the Celebes Sea and Nells sank xAK Haraldsvang in the South China Sea. Most of Q-Ball’s ships fleeing the Philippines seem to be heading due east. If they get out of range of the Formosa-based Betties and Nells they might be able to lead me quite a merry chase; there aren’t any real Japanese air assets in the Central Pacific right now except for Kwajalein. I’m diverting some small surface forces into their anticipated path to try and intercept. CVL Zuiho was en route to Babelthingy and is almost right in the refugee’s path; I am going to halt it there and see what happens.

Concerning Nates: usually one of the first things I used to do when starting a game in WitP was to switch the factories producing Nates to something more useful. But in AE I’m wavering. Nates are kinda useful now and it will be a while before I can upgrade those units. I’m thinking of keeping them in production for a month or so. Any opinions about that?




_____________________________


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Post #: 18
RE: In the good old Samah time - 10/1/2009 4:11:18 PM   
Mike Solli


Posts: 15792
Joined: 10/18/2000
From: the flight deck of the Zuikaku
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Cuttlefish
Concerning Nates: usually one of the first things I used to do when starting a game in WitP was to switch the factories producing Nates to something more useful. But in AE I’m wavering. Nates are kinda useful now and it will be a while before I can upgrade those units. I’m thinking of keeping them in production for a month or so. Any opinions about that?


You have PDU on, correct? Eventually, you'll start to upgrade to Oscars, but you don't start with many in the pool. There were hundreds in WitP but only 39 (I think) in AE. I'd keep them on for a while. You'll need to replace losses, and if you want to bring some or all of the units up to full strength, you'll need quite a few.

The PBEM I'm starting is going to have PDU off. I expect to have Nate production on for quite a while.

_____________________________


Created by the amazing Dixie

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Post #: 19
RE: In the good old Samah time - 10/1/2009 8:27:40 PM   
Capt. Harlock


Posts: 5358
Joined: 9/15/2001
From: Los Angeles
Status: offline
quote:

In other bad news for the Empire of Japan, a Vildebeest hit Haruna with a torpedo at Khota Bharu. Fortunately it was the only hit for 23 attacking planes and 7 of the bombers were lost to Japanese AA fire. Haruna is at 15 sys/11 flood damage after the attack.


That's where Hibiki is, I believe. I don't suppose there's a way of finding out if any of the AA kills were hers?

_____________________________

Civil war? What does that mean? Is there any foreign war? Isn't every war fought between men, between brothers?

--Victor Hugo

(in reply to Cuttlefish)
Post #: 20
RE: In the good old Samah time - 10/1/2009 9:12:52 PM   
PresterJohn001


Posts: 382
Joined: 8/11/2009
Status: offline 		If you're going to keep producing Nates, you might want to think about stopping production of their engines (Kotobuki). You have a fair stock of them to start with.

My personal thoughts are to get producing decent fighters ASAP, i think theres just about enough of a Nate pool to keep you going esp when you upgrade so you get those back into your replacement pool, but you may not be able to fill out the Nate units fully. Then i'm pretty new here so caveat emptor

(in reply to Capt. Harlock)
Post #: 21
RE: In the good old Samah time - 10/2/2009 1:45:27 AM   
Cuttlefish

 

Posts: 2454
Joined: 1/24/2007
From: Oregon, USA
Status: offline 		Thanks for the reply, Mike. By the way, I've been reading some of your posts in threads regarding the Japanese economy and merchant marine. They've been an invaluable help, thank you.

Good thought about the engines, PresterJohn, I will take a look at that.

_____________________________


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Post #: 22
Beatdown off Brunei - 10/2/2009 1:50:06 AM   
Cuttlefish

 

Posts: 2454
Joined: 1/24/2007
From: Oregon, USA
Status: offline 		When invading an enemy’s territory, men should always be confident in spirit, but they should always fear, too, and take measures of precaution: and thus they will be at once most valorous in attack and impregnable in defense.
- Archidamus of Sparta: To the Spartan forces invading Athenian territory, 431 B.C.

---

12/10/41

I’m playing this game to learn the ins and outs of AE and it’s working. The only trouble is, some of the lessons are expensive ones.

Take this turn, for instance. During the night four Allied DDs (John D. Ford, Peary, Pillsbury, and Pope) ran into the Brunei invasion force one hex off the coast and wiped it out. Ouch! The thing is, the invasion force was set to follow a Japanese surface force at 0 hexes. The Japanese warships never put in an appearance. Should the warships have been following the invasion force? Was this just random bad luck? Why, oh why did two thirds of the 81st Naval Guard Unit have to die?

At least Pope stopped a Nell-launched torpedo in the day phase and is listed as sunk.

Philippines: Aparri and Vigan are captured. The Legaspi invasion force draws nigh. My fighters were pushing 20 fatigue after three days over the PI so I gave them all the day off. They will return with another sweep tomorrow.

Malaya: Units are still unloading here and starting to move inland. Scattered air strikes record a couple of hits on transports. An xAK is sunk by Vildebeests.

Hong Kong: the invasion force finally arrives and will begin bombarding the defenders tomorrow.

Hunting refugees: the Legaspi escort force runs into AO Trinity and AM Finch and sinks them. Off Borneo the Japanese ships (one CA and three DDs) that were supposed to protect the Brunei invasion redeem themselves a little by sinking AO Pecos and AM Whipporwill. Kates from Zuiho torpedo an xAK in the Philippine Sea and Kates from Ryujo attack and heavily damage AV Langley and AM Bittern in the Celebes Sea. Kates then attack and sink an xAK.

Submarine warfare: I-164 sinks TK Iris in the Java Sea. S-37 is given a pretty good pounding by DD Inazuma off Batan Island.

Maybe they just wanted to ask directions: a group of British MTBs, probably from Hong Kong, paid a call at Pescadores but turned around and left when all they found there was a division of destroyers. An ASW force off Vigan ran into some PT boats as well but the two groups separated faster than a couple in a reality-show marraige.



(in reply to Cuttlefish)
Post #: 23
RE: Beatdown off Brunei - 10/2/2009 9:18:25 AM   
Cuttlefish

 

Posts: 2454
Joined: 1/24/2007
From: Oregon, USA
Status: offline 		Too much success is not wholly desirable; an occasional beating is good for men – and nations.
- Mahan: Life of Nelson, 1897

---

12/11/41

I’m not facing a Sir Robin defense, that much is certain. Q-Ball sent Houston, Boise, Marblehead, and five destroyers to Miri this turn. They went a couple rounds with four Hatsuharu-class DDs and sank all four, then they clobbered the Miri invasion force (mostly unloaded by then, fortunately), sinking three small escorts and all six xAKs and xAKLs. They then ran into Chokai and three more Japanese DDs. In a sharp little night action the Japanese finally came out on top, suffering little damage while sinking DD Paul Jones and damaging Marblehead a bit.

The Allied surface force was left fragmented and CA Houston was caught and sunk by Nells out of Saigon in the morning. Even with that, I think my opponent scored a big success here.

Philippines: my sweep this turn, 60 A6M2s over Clark, met no opposition at all. Recon shows a fair number of Allied planes there still, so I will send the bombers in next turn. Legaspi and Jolo were both invaded. A Seagull put a bomb into an xAK at Legaspi.

Malaya: nothing much to report here. Enemy air attacks were weaker this turn and achieved no success. I am going to stage some A6M2s into Khota Bharu to bolster the air defense, as my second wave of troop ships is approaching.

China: shells start to fall among the British defenders as the siege of Hong Kong begins in earnest. I am moving some units around in China but have yet to attack; the Chinese seem to be pulling back and consolidating. There is a part of me (and it whispers in a voice that sounds suspiciously like Bernard Montgomery) that wants to tidy up the lines there before attacking.

Pacific: Guam is invaded. Kido Butai, passing southeast of Midway, runs into PC Reliance and a pair of xAKLs near French Frigate Shoals and thumps them. No enemy carriers have been sighted near the Gilberts, so perhaps my jitters about an Allied carrier attack there were groundless.

Or maybe they showed up, found no targets, and left without my seeing them. It isn’t paranoia if they’re really out to get you.

Hunting refugees: Nells sink two Chinese xAKLs in the South China Sea. Ryujo-based planes sink PGs Tulsa and Asherville.

Miscellaneous mayhem: Miri was captured this turn and SS Sturgeon was reported heavily damaged by an ASW attack off Aparri.



(in reply to Cuttlefish)
Post #: 24
Nates - 10/2/2009 6:52:14 PM   
jwilkerson


Posts: 10525
Joined: 9/15/2002
From: Kansas
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli


quote:

ORIGINAL: Cuttlefish
Concerning Nates: usually one of the first things I used to do when starting a game in WitP was to switch the factories producing Nates to something more useful. But in AE I’m wavering. Nates are kinda useful now and it will be a while before I can upgrade those units. I’m thinking of keeping them in production for a month or so. Any opinions about that?


You have PDU on, correct? Eventually, you'll start to upgrade to Oscars, but you don't start with many in the pool. There were hundreds in WitP but only 39 (I think) in AE. I'd keep them on for a while. You'll need to replace losses, and if you want to bring some or all of the units up to full strength, you'll need quite a few.

The PBEM I'm starting is going to have PDU off. I expect to have Nate production on for quite a while.


In my 2x2 PBEM I produced Nates for the first month, counting ac transferred to the pools I got up to about 140 in the pool when I shut down production. I expect to use Nates for a long time for on map training. I have not converted the Nate factories over yet, so I might still build some more, but as always, I'm only building the planes I need.



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(in reply to Mike Solli)
Post #: 25
Boise - 10/3/2009 1:07:38 AM   
Cuttlefish

 

Posts: 2454
Joined: 1/24/2007
From: Oregon, USA
Status: offline 		Battles are won by superiority of fire.
- Frederick the Great: Military Testament, 1768

---

CL Boise and DD Bulmer, moving south along the western coast of Borneo following the Allied attack at Miri the day before, run into CA Chokai and three DDs. In the resulting battle Chokai is moderately damaged, and DD Hokaze is heavily damaged. The two Allied ships then encounter four more Japanese DDs, lead by Fubuki. These sink Bulmer but the wily Boise takes eight shell hits, none of which penetrate her armor, and escapes. The Japanese DDs take no damage.

Given that is was Boise, terror of the seas, I have to count myself lucky with the result. Chokai will need some yard time; Hokaze will be lucky to make it back to port.

Philippines: Japanese bombers raid Clark against heavy air opposition. The escorting fighters do their jobs well and seven aircraft are reported destroyed on the ground. Jolo and Legaspi are both captured. S-36 sinks xAK Okiyo Maru at Aparri and a Seagull hits another xAK with a bomb at Legaspi.

Malaya: Japanese forces are finally beginning to move inland here as fresh units land at Khota Bharu and Patani. British forces are observed withdrawing down the peninsula. The A6M2s that staged into Khota Bharu wreak havoc among attacking British planes, shooting down about ten of them. No hits are scored.

Burma: Japanese forces begin to push into Burma, though there is nothing of substance to report here yet.

Pacific: battleships Yamashiro and Mutsu show up at Wake and begin bombarding the island. Invasion forces are proceeding up from Kwajalein. Kido Butai is now 400 nautical miles due south of Midway, heading west. Guam falls.

Hong Kong: Japanese artillery bombardment continues and some bombers come to call. More bombers will join the party here tomorrow.

Hunting refugees: I-162 torpedoes and sinks AP Rochambeau at the north end of the Sunda Strait. AP President Madison and xAKL Dos Hermanos are sunk by planes from Zuiho southwest of Iwo Jima (!) and planes from Ryujo sink xAK Ethel Edwards off Manado.




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(in reply to Cuttlefish)
Post #: 26
RE: Boise - 10/3/2009 1:45:44 AM   
Cuttlefish

 

Posts: 2454
Joined: 1/24/2007
From: Oregon, USA
Status: offline 		Today air power is the dominant factor in war. It may not win war by itself alone, but without it no major war can be won.
- Arthur Radford: Speech, 1954

---

For a change there are no surface engagements to report aside from Japanese ships sinking ships fleeing the Philippines. This was in fact a good turn for Japan; no reverses are suffered and, one week into the war, plans are beginning to develop.

Philippines: S-36 sinks xAK Kamoi Maru off Aparri. San Fernando is invaded and Japanese units are driving up from Legaspi and down from Aparri. A big air raid does major damage at Clark Field; six fighters are lost on each side.

I’ve seen some comments to the effect that Zeros are now ineffective. That hasn’t been my experience. Over the PI I have lost 24 fighters while downing 69 in air-to-air combat. Even given some fog of war in those results that is still well over a 2:1 ratio in Japan’s favor.

Malaya: following yesterday’s losses there are no Allied air attacks here at all. Two daitai of Ki-21 bombers are moved onto the peninsula to begin harassing the retreating British. Southwest of Khota Bharu the Japanese 56th Infantry Regiment catches up with and mauls the FSV and 8th Indian brigades, forcing them to retreat with heavy losses.

Hong Kong: Artillery and bombers inflict a fair number of casualties. Already the combat effectiveness of the defending units is noticeably degraded. I’ll keep this up for at least a couple more days before I attack.

Pacific: More bombardment at Wake. Kido Butai is now east of Wake and approaching fast.

Hunting refugees: I-162 hits AP Dominion Monarch with two torpedoes in the Sunda Strait and then sinks an xAKL. My submarines have done an outstanding job in the DEI since the start of the war.

Battleships Ise and Hyuga sink an xAK and an xAKL in the Central Pacific and planes from Zuiho damage a freighter near the Marianas. I have sightings on Allied ships moving west all the way from just south of Iwo Jima to Guam. Planes from Ryujo sink one xAKL in the Molucca Strait and damages another. Off Borneo a Japanese destroyer division sinks xAKs Bennevis and Fatshan.




< Message edited by Cuttlefish -- 10/3/2009 1:46:01 AM >

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Post #: 27
A Quail of a Tale - 10/4/2009 6:56:38 AM   
Cuttlefish

 

Posts: 2454
Joined: 1/24/2007
From: Oregon, USA
Status: offline 		In all the trade of war no feat
Is nobler than a brave retreat
- Samuel Butler: Hudibras, 1663

---

12/14/41 – 12/1641

Consider, if you will, the tragic story of AM Quail. This brave ship, along with many others, fled Luzon and headed east when the Japanese attacked the Philippines. Theirs was a long and desperate journey towards freedom. They were hunted by aircraft and surface ships and in the days that followed many were sunk. Every day there were fewer and fewer, until at last Quail was alone.

Yet Quail survived every danger. And then the ship and her gallant crew were past Marcus and out into the wide open reaches of the Pacific. Free, they were free at last!

And then they ran right into Kido Butai, which was heading back to Japan to rearm. End of story.

It’s really quite sad.

---

There hasn’t been a great deal to report these few turns. Japanese forces launched their first attack at Hong Kong. It was repulsed but inflicted heavy casualties; bombardment will resume for a couple of turns. CA Chokai made port safely, despite taking a torpedo from one submarine and being hunted by others, and is being pumped dry.

The most interesting thing for me lately has been Q-Ball’s PT boats. On the 15th two large groups of them intercepted merchant convoys by daylight in the South China Sea. In both cases combat opened at 30,000 yards and the convoys broke contact easily. Other PT attacks have run into warships and in these cases it was the PT boats that promptly fled. It seems that PT boats are best used against soft targets at night, where they can attack from close range. This makes sense.

If my opponent is having trouble getting them to make a successful attack I, for my part, am having trouble engaging them. They are running all over the place and making my merchant mariners nervous and I would like to make them go away.

The Philippines, 12/15/41:




Attachment (1)

(in reply to Cuttlefish)
Post #: 28
Q-Ball's Monstrous Deed - 10/6/2009 9:34:15 AM   
Cuttlefish

 

Posts: 2454
Joined: 1/24/2007
From: Oregon, USA
Status: offline 		The situation: on the night of 12/24 the Japanese are landing at Sandakan and elsewhere around the Celebes Sea. The Japanese suspect the Allies might attempt to interfere and so they station Kongo and Haruna off the tip of Borneo, near Tawi Tawi, to intercept any force coming up the Makassar Strait.

It works beautifully. Force Z is encountered and, if you will forgive the pun, repulsed. There was just one small problem...


Night Time Surface Combat, near Tawi Tawi at 71,89, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Shell hits 2
BB Haruna
CA Takao, Shell hits 7
CA Atago, Shell hits 1
CL Jintsu, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Asashio, Shell hits 1
DD Oshio
DD Michishio, Shell hits 1
DD Arashio, Shell hits 1
DD Akatsuki
DD Hibiki, Shell hits 5, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales, Shell hits 16, on fire
BC Repulse, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Vampire, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Tenedos, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Electra
DD Express

Yeah, that. Regular updates coming soon.


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(in reply to Cuttlefish)
Post #: 29
RE: Q-Ball's Monstrous Deed - 10/6/2009 10:07:55 AM   
krupp_88mm


Posts: 406
Joined: 10/13/2008
Status: offline
quote:

DD Hibiki, Shell hits 5, and is sunk


LOL what now? how about a sub now instead?

(in reply to Cuttlefish)
Post #: 30
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