RE: The Stone and the Waves

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All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition >> After Action Reports >> RE: The Stone and the Waves

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RE: The Stone and the Waves - 10/19/2011 1:35:09 PM

SoliInvictus202

Posts: 367
Joined: 8/27/2010
From: Austria
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

Thanks guys for the kind words!

But it ain't over.

Another operation is on the way.
With the conclusion of the "Hairy Hammer" operation, i present to you the "Hairy Anvil" operation.

oct 22, 23 1943...nothing to report. Rader has given a breath to his air forces today, sending only 10 Tojos to sweep Auki...they were clobbered by my newly Auki based P-47s squadrons.

Tomorrow we'll launch the new operation...it's been a secret i had for many many months now and finally we're able to start it...

On the 24 October my CVs, along with 80 bombers from Cooktown, will launch a serie of attack towards the ground troops at PM. 150 4Es will plaster Buna AF, while in the afternoon 2 Para BNs will land at PM. The following day the entire 1st AUS Corp (nearly 700 AVs) will land at PM with 5 amphibious TFs...

Let's see if i the "feint" made in the Solomons has distracted Rader enough...

I congratulate you that you learned to keep important missions secret - even with the most honorable opponent you never know - better make sure that OPSEC isn't breached than later regret it and pay for it with the loss of not only surprise but also a lot of ships, planes and troops!

(in reply to GreyJoy)

Post #: 2911

RE: The Stone and the Waves - 10/19/2011 1:35:28 PM

beppi

Posts: 382
Joined: 3/11/2004
From: Austria
Status: offline

Good luck for your move for PM. If you can capture it and hold it it is the key to completly shut down the entire SE Pacific. Lvl 9 Airfield works wonders in that case. In addition it is hard to attack PM by sea for the Japanese player as the approach lines are quite long. As you already experienced an overland assault can be nasty so dump a nice amount of stuff into the base, especially engeneers and supply to get the base to lvl 9 asap (if it is not already) and to bring up some solid forts. You can too drop some nice ground assault troops there as a overland assault can be nicely done from there.

It looks slow but you need around two month to mop up the reachable bases from there. And lvl 9 bases are the key to victory :)

as a side note, you should drop your paras during the assault stage of your ground troop as the boost your AV quite drastic. An independent drop a day early is not really effective as you paras could get destroyed in the automatic shock attack.

Ok saw in the reply that you want to cap the base with your paras, nice move and good look.

< Message edited by beppi -- 10/19/2011 1:39:55 PM >

(in reply to GreyJoy)

Post #: 2912

RE: The Stone and the Waves - 10/19/2011 1:37:16 PM

GreyJoy

Posts: 6750
Joined: 3/18/2011
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...ok, here's the story.

Since when in December 42 we have been defeate at PM by those 5,000 AVs that marched from Buna to PM, i've been thinking about a way to get back to PM...
The full commitment of Rader in the Solomons has given me the chance to seriously think about it...
We have tried to be as silent as possible in NE OZ in the last months...no ships...no planes...no LCU movements...nothing... this has led Rader to slow down his air and naval recon in the area...only a handfull recon planes from Buna fly every day to Cooktown...so Cooktown hasn't been used for a long time as a base...instead i started to use Cairns and made some tests during the last month about his naval search in the area...i brought in several TFs of different size and none of them has been spotted...never!
So i dediced it was time to try...with a PM lightly garrisoned and with all Rader's eyes fully pointed towards the lower Solomons...
But i needed to grab his full attention and, possibly, wore him down in terms of planes before launching this operation...
...So i started to plan the advance in the Solomons...Thousands...then transformed in Auki...but the pourpose was the ssame...i needed to force him to committ in a battle that could have sucked his air reserves... We achieved it only partially, cause the KB didn't attack and so his air potential is still mighty...
However i managed to grab his attention...my CVs showed themself at Ndeni and in the waters around Karaikira not more than 5 days ago...supporting the Auki invasion...then i ordered to move back in a long course, away from his Mavis...we refueled at Noumea and we are now at Townsville...while the invasion fleet is waiting at Cairns...10 APAs, 4 AKAs, 5 LSI and several LSTs, LCIs and AKs are loaded with the 3rd Aus Division, the 1st Aus Corp HQ, the Fifth Air Force HQ, base forces for 260 aviation support, 2 combat Engeneer Regiments and 2 AUS Bde, along with 2 AUS artillery units and 3 AA units...
The only combat unit at PM is a naval guard unit...if my calculations are correct the use of 300 bombers on ground attack should tear into pieces the unit, even if behind some forts and in a jungle terrain...my paras should land and conquer the base...so that the invasion force won't have to attack...it will simply land... and on d-day+2 we could be able to base at PM the 150 fighters that are waiting at Cooktown...

Tomorrow+1 the KB will come in...and the bases in NG, today empty, will be full of enemy planes...but those planes have suffered traemendous losses in the last week as won't be at their best...however we need to get the base tomorrow if we want not to rely only on the CAP provided by the CVs...

Lots of subs are moving towards Mylne Bay...

This is very risky...everything could go wrong...bad weather that prevent to fly...a poor coordination...a sudden presence of the KB...
Risky...i know...but it's late 43...and we need to advance!

(in reply to GreyJoy)

Post #: 2913

RE: The Stone and the Waves - 10/19/2011 1:42:14 PM

GreyJoy

Posts: 6750
Joined: 3/18/2011
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quote:

ORIGINAL: beppi

Good luck for your move for PM. If you can capture it and hold it it is the key to completly shut down the entire SE Pacific. Lvl 9 Airfield works wonders in that case. In addition it is hard to attack PM by sea for the Japanese player as the approach lines are quite long. As you already experienced an overland assault can be nasty so dump a nice amount of stuff into the base, especially engeneers and supply to get the base to lvl 9 asap (if it is not already) and to bring up some solid forts. You can too drop some nice ground assault troops there as a overland assault can be nicely done from there.

It looks slow but you need around two month to mop up the reachable bases from there. And lvl 9 bases are the key to victory :)

as a side note, you should drop your paras during the assault stage of your ground troop as the boost your AV quite drastic. An independent drop a day early is not really effective as you paras could get destroyed in the automatic shock attack.

quote:

the base, especially engeneers and supply to get the base to lvl 9 asap (if it is not already) and to bring up some solid forts. You can too drop some nice ground assault troops there as a overland assault can be nicely done from there.

It looks slow but you need around two month to mop up the reachable bases from there. And lvl 9 bases are the key to victory :)

as a side note, you should drop your paras during the assault stage of your ground troop as the boost your AV quite drastic. An independent drop a day early is not really effective as you paras could get destroyed in the automatic shock attack.

I know beppi, but in this case the surprise is everything...and i had to keep my invasion fleet at 2 days of distance (10 hexes) from PM in order not to be spotted...but i cannot simply land tomorrow and then take the base the following turn...cause i need to get the base before the enemy can move his KB and all his LBA in NG...if i take the base (and i wanna take it undamaged) with the paras we can put there 150 crack fighters on the following turn....

it's a matter of timings in this case...

(in reply to beppi)

Post #: 2914

RE: The Stone and the Waves - 10/19/2011 1:47:59 PM

GreyJoy

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Joined: 3/18/2011
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If i manage to get (and hold) PM then the whole Rader's commitment in SOPAC will become useless...the whole NG will be open and he will have to redeploy quickly...and almost all his divisions are stuck in India...facing my advancing Eastern Army at Multan (at Multan he now has 450,000 men....

).

It's a critical operation...strategically may change the war...

KB is positioned at Bouganville...so it's very close..

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by GreyJoy -- 10/19/2011 2:23:47 PM >

(in reply to GreyJoy)

Post #: 2915

RE: The Stone and the Waves - 10/19/2011 1:48:45 PM

soticrandy

Posts: 38
Joined: 7/19/2011
From: Denver, CO
Status: offline

your operation names remind me nick names for 70's porn stars.....

great work with operation "hairy hammer"

(in reply to GreyJoy)

Post #: 2916

RE: The Stone and the Waves - 10/19/2011 2:27:09 PM

beppi

Posts: 382
Joined: 3/11/2004
From: Austria
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Another neat trick i used to completely break a WW1 style statement in Burma with 7k Japanaese AV behind fort lvl 7-9 bases and a gazillion of AA. Rely on air transport. Same style like your paradrop/naval landings you can cap a base with paras and then shift huge amounts of troops just through air (You could consider it if KB blocks PM). You can shift with 300 - 400 transport planes half a division each turn. In addition you can pick up troops from any base in range and airlift it to your desired target, you can shift HQs, Base Forces, AA units and so on. You can shift almost everything except artillery, motorized support, radar and engineering verhicles (and not tanks and so on, but noone would airlift a tank bde).

If you airlift a division the part will automatically been converted to the main unit (so the /1 leaves and the remaining artillery, motorized squads and so on get the /1) and you can draw replacements with it. The artillery and motorized stuff can then later join, with much lower risks. If you lose 200 squads in a reinforcement convoy it hurts, if you lose 200 motorized support it is not a big deal. Could be interesting to support PM with additional units if KB blocks it and a 3-4k blob uses the overland route again and you do not have the time to ship the reinforcements by sea.

< Message edited by beppi -- 10/19/2011 2:30:30 PM >

(in reply to soticrandy)

Post #: 2917

RE: The Stone and the Waves - 10/19/2011 2:52:30 PM

witpqs

Posts: 26087
Joined: 10/4/2004
From: Argleton
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

I think all those engeneers were sent there in order to build a chain of AF to strangle Tulagi and Lunga back in Jan 43...then they got stuck there when our naval and air blockade of the last months made any attempt of evacuating the front-line units too expensive in terms of naval losses for Japan...

Good show!

(in reply to GreyJoy)

Post #: 2918

RE: The Stone and the Waves - 10/19/2011 2:56:37 PM

GreyJoy

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Well, in this scenario we already have PM...afaik, now with this kind of pressure on his flank in the Solomons and with his commitments in India, he won't be able to do much about PM once (IF) we get it...it's not anymore 1942...now my CVs are as strong as his own and my fighters stand a chance against everything he sends against me. The siege of Tulagi was a great lesson for me. I learnt how to resupply a base under the nose of the enemy's Air Power...and i think i can replicate the blockade runners system i used in the Solomons...

(in reply to beppi)

Post #: 2919

RE: The Stone and the Waves - 10/19/2011 3:13:24 PM

Canoerebel

Posts: 21100
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From: Northwestern Georgia, USA
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Port Moresby will apply pressure to the Japanese flank in the Solomons, but it isn't a knife at the throat by any means. Really, Port Moresby is important in '42 or '43 because it gives the Allies an airfield that you can build up to help advance further into New Guinea - Buna, Lae, etc. But it doesn't really pose an immediate threat to the Solomons, due primarily to the fact that the New Guinea cape extends well to the east, meaning naval operations take awhile to get to and from PM.

PM is good. Go get it. But Milne Bay and Merauke would apply more pressure on rader. Point being, I don't think PM is as important at this point in the game as you think.

(in reply to GreyJoy)

Post #: 2920

RE: The Stone and the Waves - 10/19/2011 3:31:32 PM

GreyJoy

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You have to consider CR that in this game the allies are somewhat 1 year and a half later than RL situation...so PM for me will be the key to open the whole NG front.

I already have 2 NZ Bdes 100 prepped for Mylne Bay, along with CD guns and base forces.
Same for Merauke and the other base on the coast north of PM...but first i need PM...

(in reply to Canoerebel)

Post #: 2921

RE: The Stone and the Waves - 10/19/2011 3:32:23 PM

House Stark

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Greyjoy, how many uncommitted combat troops do you have in the region? Cause remember, once you take Port Moresby you can potentially do a massive overland march to Buna if you can get more troops and supplies to Moresby. Turn Rader's ridiculous tactics back on him.

(in reply to Canoerebel)

Post #: 2922

RE: The Stone and the Waves - 10/19/2011 3:42:31 PM

soticrandy

Posts: 38
Joined: 7/19/2011
From: Denver, CO
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: House Stark

Greyjoy, how many uncommitted combat troops do you have in the region? Cause remember, once you take Port Moresby you can potentially do a massive overland march to Buna if you can get more troops and supplies to Moresby. Turn Rader's ridiculous tactics back on him.

Once PM falls ultra quick reinforcement and an overland attack could really throw Rader for a loop.

(in reply to House Stark)

Post #: 2923

RE: The Stone and the Waves - 10/19/2011 3:55:13 PM

GreyJoy

Posts: 6750
Joined: 3/18/2011
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quote:

ORIGINAL: House Stark

Greyjoy, how many uncommitted combat troops do you have in the region? Cause remember, once you take Port Moresby you can potentially do a massive overland march to Buna if you can get more troops and supplies to Moresby. Turn Rader's ridiculous tactics back on him.

Rader's tactic wasn't ridiculous. Sorry to underline it mate, but even if it took me completeley by surprise, i want to stress that RAder did what the system allowed him to do, respecting the HRs we have agreed.

A part from that (and i'm sorry for the tone, but it's important that is well clear that i don't blame RAder's actions), yes...that would be my idea...however it will depends on my PPs situation and on how much Rader committs at Buna...i don't wanna get involved in a trench war in NG in 1944...

I have some decent NZ units that can be used for that pourpose, along with an US Division (the rebuilt 27th...)

(in reply to House Stark)

Post #: 2924

RE: The Stone and the Waves - 10/19/2011 4:48:51 PM

USSAmerica

Posts: 18715
Joined: 10/28/2002
From: Graham, NC, USA
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quote:

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

quote:

ORIGINAL: jmalter

mang, this GJ guy don't halfway know how to ratchet up the tension 'mongst his fan-base! ntm i just loved his tactic to delay the assault for a turn, so as to attrit the enemy air again. P-47s rule!

this re-direct to Auki will be controversial - grabbing this low-hanging fruit improves Allied control of Solomon air-space, but delays the Allied thrust. otoh, all the assault forces will retain their prep for the 1000's target. heh, if GJ thought it was nasty to assemble his AmphTFs at Ndeni, imagine his grumbling as he repeats the exercise for an Auki-1000's assault while under direct air-threat.

i vote YES on all three of Canoerebel's possibilities, however i vote NO on GJ's proposal to send the GF home early.

the GF sent home early enables me to do 2 more turns tonight and to update the AAR...Life is made of priorities...

Fail.

_____________________________

Mike

"Good times will set you free" - Jimmy Buffett

"They need more rum punch" - Me

Artwork by The Amazing Dixie

(in reply to GreyJoy)

Post #: 2925

RE: The Stone and the Waves - 10/19/2011 4:58:31 PM

Miller

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From: Ashington, England.
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What is the AV of your Para units involved? If he has lvl 6 fort plus x2 (or x3 I'm not sure) terrain bonus they could get chewed up when they auto shock attack.........

(in reply to USSAmerica)

Post #: 2926

RE: The Stone and the Waves - 10/19/2011 5:03:52 PM

GreyJoy

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Miller

What is the AV of your Para units involved? If he has lvl 6 fort plus x2 (or x3 I'm not sure) terrain bonus they could get chewed up when they auto shock attack.........

I know...i know my chances are not that much...but the naval guard unit has been the only combat unit at PM since Jan 43 and only a base force is present there. So two units...with an AV esteemed of 100 maybe? Forts shouldn't be that high cause no eng units has been sitting there long enough...
I have 95 AVs with my Paras...doubled by the shock attack should be 180...with the carpet bombings i've ordered the enemy fighting unit strenght should really be low...lt's hope guys...let's hope...

(in reply to Miller)

Post #: 2927

RE: The Stone and the Waves - 10/19/2011 5:22:18 PM

GreyJoy

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Anyway, if the paras fail to capture PM (which is clearly possible), this is my "PLAN B".

Rader will react and will send HORDES of LBA fighters and bombers at Lae and in the nearby bases (Buna should be closed for good for a couple of turns i hope).
We will land our division and some support units (those that are on the APA/AKAs). Then we'll send the precious ships back, leaving the xAPs and xAKs at PM unloading supplies and supporting units.
The next day we will capture the base, while the APA/AKAs will be back at Cooktown under the CAP umbrella and our CVs will be moved to intercept the KB that could come to Mylne Bay..., while our 4Es will try to bomb Lae...

Rader will be risking a lot to send his KB against my CVs...it's true that he has the LBA that can help, but it's also true that i won't stay in the range of his LBA fighters...so he will have to rely only on his KB...and PM will already be in my hands...at the same time, from Lunga, our fast BBs will depart and bomb everything up to Shortland...HE CANNOT be everywhere...right?

(in reply to GreyJoy)

Post #: 2928

RE: The Stone and the Waves - 10/19/2011 5:33:04 PM

Canoerebel

Posts: 21100
Joined: 12/14/2002
From: Northwestern Georgia, USA
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quote:

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy
I know...i know my chances are not that much...but the naval guard unit has been the only combat unit at PM since Jan 43 and only a base force is present there. So two units...with an AV esteemed of 100 maybe? Forts shouldn't be that high cause no eng units has been sitting there long enough...
I have 95 AVs with my Paras...doubled by the shock attack should be 180...with the carpet bombings i've ordered the enemy fighting unit strenght should really be low...lt's hope guys...let's hope...

This sounds like you're trying to pull an inside straight. You might get the card you're looking for, but it is very unlikely. If your paras do take the base, though, I have to just tip my cap to you and say that you have the experience and instincts to out think at least one stodgy old timer.

< Message edited by Canoerebel -- 10/19/2011 5:34:32 PM >

(in reply to GreyJoy)

Post #: 2929

RE: The Stone and the Waves - 10/19/2011 5:37:01 PM

GreyJoy

Posts: 6750
Joined: 3/18/2011
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

quote:

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy
I know...i know my chances are not that much...but the naval guard unit has been the only combat unit at PM since Jan 43 and only a base force is present there. So two units...with an AV esteemed of 100 maybe? Forts shouldn't be that high cause no eng units has been sitting there long enough...
I have 95 AVs with my Paras...doubled by the shock attack should be 180...with the carpet bombings i've ordered the enemy fighting unit strenght should really be low...lt's hope guys...let's hope...

This sounds like you're trying to pull an inside straight. You might get the card you're looking for, but it is very unlikely. If your paras do take the base, though, I have to just tip my cap to you and say that you have the experience and instincts to out think at least one stodgy old timer.

I think i have 30% of chances to take the base with a para-drop. It will depend, imho, on how will the ground bombing go...if we get a clear weather morning (as forecasted) i think the enemy naval guard unit can be annihilated...more than 300 bombers hitting a single naval guard is a lot to handle...
If, for any reason, the bombings won't go well or they won't take place, the para-assault will fail 100%....but it was worth trying

(in reply to Canoerebel)

Post #: 2930

RE: The Stone and the Waves - 10/19/2011 6:11:18 PM

GreyJoy

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Joined: 3/18/2011
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My 4 CV/CVL TFs can put inline 442 Hellcats, 360 SDBs and Hellcats and 216 Avengers for a total of 1,018 planes.... not bad...but i saw so many AAR where even in late 43 the allied CVs get clobbered by the KB DEATH STAR, so i'm not making myself any illusion...

Can't wait for the turn....

tic, toc, tic, toc, tic, toc....

(in reply to GreyJoy)

Post #: 2931

RE: The Stone and the Waves - 10/19/2011 6:18:31 PM

House Stark

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Just keep moving your CVs around a little so Rader can't try to calculate an 8 hex strike.

(in reply to GreyJoy)

Post #: 2932

RE: The Stone and the Waves - 10/19/2011 6:22:09 PM

GreyJoy

Posts: 6750
Joined: 3/18/2011
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quote:

ORIGINAL: House Stark

Just keep moving your CVs around a little so Rader can't try to calculate an 8 hex strike.

i'll do it! Thanks!!

are my carrier guys still confined in the "7" hexes rule? I've always played under this "rule" but would like to know for sure if the Helldivers or the SDB-5s with droptanks are still affected by the 7 hexes restriction

Thx

(in reply to House Stark)

Post #: 2933

RE: The Stone and the Waves - 10/19/2011 6:22:43 PM

SoliInvictus202

Posts: 367
Joined: 8/27/2010
From: Austria
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

quote:

ORIGINAL: House Stark

Just keep moving your CVs around a little so Rader can't try to calculate an 8 hex strike.

i'll do it! Thanks!!

are my carrier guys still confined in the "7" hexes rule? I've always played under this "rule" but would like to know for sure if the Helldivers or the SDB-5s with droptanks are still affected by the 7 hexes restriction

Thx

yes they are - and always will be...

(in reply to GreyJoy)

Post #: 2934

RE: The Stone and the Waves - 10/19/2011 6:27:04 PM

crsutton

Posts: 9590
Joined: 12/6/2002
From: Maryland
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Port Moresby will apply pressure to the Japanese flank in the Solomons, but it isn't a knife at the throat by any means. Really, Port Moresby is important in '42 or '43 because it gives the Allies an airfield that you can build up to help advance further into New Guinea - Buna, Lae, etc. But it doesn't really pose an immediate threat to the Solomons, due primarily to the fact that the New Guinea cape extends well to the east, meaning naval operations take awhile to get to and from PM.

PM is good. Go get it. But Milne Bay and Merauke would apply more pressure on rader. Point being, I don't think PM is as important at this point in the game as you think.

Well it is a level 9 AF and that is important but your are right. Milne Bay is the key to unlocking both the Solomons and NG. I was able to do it without even taking PM.

_____________________________

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(in reply to Canoerebel)

Post #: 2935

RE: The Stone and the Waves - 10/19/2011 6:50:58 PM

GreyJoy

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when a picture explains more than 1,000 words....