Slitherine

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As a bright spot, I-157 torpedoed and sank CL Marblehead off Exmouth.

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The biggest event, however, was submarine I-155 putting a torpedo into Wasp southeast of Flores. I-155, it may be recalled, is the same sub that sank O16 at the start of the war, crippled Enterprise in the Java Sea, and sank a large AP and several smaller ships. Q-Ball does not seem to appreciate the brave little submarine’s accomplishments and is on record as saying it will be a glorious day when I-155 is finally sunk.

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ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

Hi Cuttlefish,

Really enjoying your AAR.

Do you mind if I ask you what your carrier aircraft production levels are set to at this stage of the war? With your heavy losses of late how many Zero's, Kate's and Val's do you have in your pools?

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ORIGINAL: rader

It looks to me like the D3A1 is actually better than the D3A2... the D3A2 losses a point of range. Maybe it auto-upgraded, but was that a conscious choice? If so, what makes you like the D3A2 better?

Actually, come to think of it, the B5N1 seems better to me than the B5N2.

Yamato, IMO the best looking Battleship.

"Hey, a packet of googly eyes! I'm so taking these." Hank Venture

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Tojos have more speed and firepower, which is what you want against bombers. I have yet to see how they do against enemy fighters.

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ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

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Tojos have more speed and firepower, which is what you want against bombers. I have yet to see how they do against enemy fighters.

In my experience, speed is not as important as durability, because there is no way to approach an American 4E without getting into someone's gunsights. (Approaching the bomber's tail was actually bad because the Japanese fighters were firing into a headwind, while the American tail gunners had a tail wind, and thus longer range.) The Nick should make a reasonable anti-4E fighter until the Irving comes along -- provided it doesn't meet with Allied fighter escort.

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ORIGINAL: Cuttlefish

The true speed of war is not headlong precipitancy, but the unremitting energy which wastes no time.
- Mahan: Lessons of the War with Spain, 1899

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12/01/1942 – 12/08/1942

This game has really moved along. We have completed the first year of the war in just four months. I can’t say enough good things about my opponent, who has been unfailing in his energy, enthusiasm, and good sportsmanship.

Of course, he is also a very good player. I am playing two games right now, one against Q-Ball and one against Erstad. There are times when I find myself thinking, after facing yet another inspired move by one opponent or the other, that I really need to start a game against someone less skilled. Someone more like me!

Quail Hunting with Cannon: I sent KB through the Sunda Strait and down into the Indian Ocean. Q-Ball had pickets out, a pair of xAKs that were quickly sunk, but they did not provide enough warning to allow one convoy to get completely clear. It was caught about four hexes out of Port Hedland. Land-based Wildcats flew out to cover it and these took a toll, mostly on the smaller, uncoordinated raids that followed the main attack. I shot down around 17 Wildcats but lost 15 Zeros and 30 Kates and Vals. Three xAPs and a DD were sunk, though two of the APs were small ones. I fear the planes lost were not worth the six ships I sank.

There hasn’t been any sign of the Allied carriers since Wasp took a torpedo in the same area about ten days ago (except for Wasp agian, see below). They may be up to mischief. One thing about his attack in the DEI is that it pretty much tethers my carriers to the area. I worry that he will take advantage of this by moving his own CVs back to the Pacific. It would mean stalling his drive in the DEI but could have advantages for him. KB cannot be everywhere at once, alas, and in my judgment there is nowhere he could attack in the Pacific (except maybe the Kuriles, which are by now strongly defended) that would be worse for me than further gains in the DEI.

Allied heavy bombers staged a big port raid on Soerabaja a few turns back. They were met by a lot of CAP, including the only unit of Tojos I have converted so far – sort of a test unit. Unfortunately Japan does not yet possess a fighter capable of dealing with Allied heavies. Three bombers were shot down and three Japanese fighters lost, though a good many of his bombers made it home riddled with holes. This isn’t completely trivial because those big bombers don’t repair overnight in AE. At least shooting them up limits their attacks, though I long for something with enough firepower to actually kill them.

The Tojos did much better against them than the Oscars did, which makes sense. Tojos have more speed and firepower, which is what you want against bombers. I have yet to see how they do against enemy fighters. One concern, their high maintenance rating, hasn’t been a factor so far. Kept at 40% CAP and 10% rest the unit is managing to keep all of its planes ready for action.

I have grown used to Q-Ball's love of staging port attacks, fortunately, and he didn’t find much there to sink. A pair of xAKs went down and a couple more were damaged but all high-value targets had been moved to Singapore some time before.

Under the Sea: Japanese submarines have had a good week. A few turns ago an I-boat found the limping Wasp on the other side of Australia, near Albany, and put a second torpedo into her. In addition IJN subs sank a good-sized tanker near Carnaveron, an APD near Pago Pago, and a pair of xAKLs near Timor.

Allied subs have been busy but there have not been many sinkings lately. I lost an xAK up around Hokkaido and a pair of small ASW ships in the Luzon Strait, though. On the plus side I got confirmation of another Allied sub lost, bringing the total sunk on the first year to eight.

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ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

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Tojos have more speed and firepower, which is what you want against bombers. I have yet to see how they do against enemy fighters.

In my experience, speed is not as important as durability, because there is no way to approach an American 4E without getting into someone's gunsights. (Approaching the bomber's tail was actually bad because the Japanese fighters were firing into a headwind, while the American tail gunners had a tail wind, and thus longer range.) The Nick should make a reasonable anti-4E fighter until the Irving comes along -- provided it doesn't meet with Allied fighter escort.

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ORIGINAL: Astarix

Cuttlefish,

It occurs to me that his staging of port attacks forces you to stage your ships from farther away, which helps lengthen your own supply lines for your Navy. It also occurs to me that this puts damaged ships at some risk, especially given how fragile Japanese ships tend to be.

With respect to the Subwars, I'm sure you have read other peoples AAR's, but be ready for January 1st. By now, any Allied subs that have been actively operating against you since at least September are going to be very well trained and ready to put the lower dud rate into painful effect. That 20% decrease is going to make if feel like he has magic torpedoes. I don't know how many duds you've experienced, but expect your rate of ships sunk by allied subs to pretty well triple. And be extraordinarily mindful of protecting the KB,as it will become vastly more likely for that one lucky sub attack to actually put an exploding fish into one of your carriers.

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ORIGINAL: Lord_Martin

I found this AAR yesterday, and even if I havn´t been able to read all of it, I find it enjoyable. It´s very intresting to read about your struggle and the potential of the game (I´m a new player).

It was sad that your opponent managed to get a foothold in the DEI so easily, even if it was masterly planned. Will this be the end to the japanese expansion, or are you planning to expand somewhere else?

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ORIGINAL: Cuttlefish
Burma: when last I updated I noted that I was under pressure from three sides in Burma and that my position was in danger of collapse. It was at this point that Q-Ball observed that there was no way, historically, that British and Indian forces could have done this well in late 1942, not against more than five Japanese divisions. He therefore suggested a house rule that restricted British and Indian units not be moved out of India unless PPs are paid.

I was not complaining about what was happening in game but nonetheless I jumped at this like a trout going after a fly. It was a classy move on Q-Ball’s part, I think, to voluntarily abandon a successful offensive in favor of a more balanced game. We agreed to a cease-fire in the region while most of his units pulled back over the frontier. We also agreed that he would keep Myitkyina, since I had defended it only lightly and he could have taken it with available forces.

This accord transforms the game to some extent. I was so worried about Burma I was actually stripping the DEI of reserves and sending them to Rangoon. Those transports have turned back and the DEI will remain stocked with troops. Most of the reserve, by the way, which at the moment consists of the 54th Division and a couple of regiments drawn from Manchukuo, is being held at Davao.

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ORIGINAL: jwilkerson

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ORIGINAL: Cuttlefish
Burma: when last I updated I noted that I was under pressure from three sides in Burma and that my position was in danger of collapse. It was at this point that Q-Ball observed that there was no way, historically, that British and Indian forces could have done this well in late 1942, not against more than five Japanese divisions. He therefore suggested a house rule that restricted British and Indian units not be moved out of India unless PPs are paid.

I was not complaining about what was happening in game but nonetheless I jumped at this like a trout going after a fly. It was a classy move on Q-Ball’s part, I think, to voluntarily abandon a successful offensive in favor of a more balanced game. We agreed to a cease-fire in the region while most of his units pulled back over the frontier. We also agreed that he would keep Myitkyina, since I had defended it only lightly and he could have taken it with available forces.

This accord transforms the game to some extent. I was so worried about Burma I was actually stripping the DEI of reserves and sending them to Rangoon. Those transports have turned back and the DEI will remain stocked with troops. Most of the reserve, by the way, which at the moment consists of the 54th Division and a couple of regiments drawn from Manchukuo, is being held at Davao.

Wow!

Currently (July '42) in our 2x2 game - I have pulled back to Rangoon and hexes within about 4 hexes of Rangoon. The Allies are slowing occupying the void between us but much of central Burma is still a no-mans land.

But interesting change in your game!

We have finally upgraded from 1080 to 1099c and are digesting the massive changes in the rules. I may consider trying to inch forward another hex or two in Burma but do not think I will risk going back into the cultivated areas in the center. Uber bombers will still rule in that area.

I need to start updating my AAR again. Have been busy with other areas, but should have some time this weekend.

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ORIGINAL: jrcar
The B-17 rule the skies when unopposed.

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To stop them you need to sacrifice fighters.

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I'm waiting to see how Joe and Nik solve this problem...
Rob

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ORIGINAL: Fishbed

My guess is that 4E serviceability, although very high by game terms, are still not hampering around the clock maneuvers enough. 4Es do repair, R&R very quickly indeed. I think the damages inflicted by the fighters are about right, but those damages should keep the 4Es on the ground much longer.