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RE: Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop (J) vs CF (A)

 
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RE: Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop ... - 1/20/2012 4:30:09 AM   
jrcar

 

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My thoughts,
quote:

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

Open Questions

A few open questions to the readership:

1) nygiants59 - you recently indicated that the CVEs would be useful in future operations. Granted I'd love not to have lost them, but didn't make them part of MKB due to low speed. In your opinion, how are they useful?

They can be useful for bait, for deception and for stoping the enemy raiding with SCTF.

quote:

2) To all - What, if anything, are the lessons of the failure of Operation Kraken (the CVE Raiders)? What have I missed? Should raiding be left to subs? To subs or LCTFs?


Raiding is really hit and miss. To optimise it you need:
Queing systems, long range patrol aircraft and Glen equiped subs are best, so you know where and generally what the targets are.
Flank protection, Subs, AMC and patrol aircraft.
A fuel reserve (this impacted on the raiders we lost, and on you).

Basically a raid shouldn't be a whim, it needs to be planned and co-ordinated. Only risk what you are prepared to loose.

quote:

3) To all - Is my optimism in China warranted or am I off base? It seems to me that Changsha, Kukong and eventually Nanning fall, opening the Singers to Port Arthur land route; and that the KMT starves. This allows me to shift divisions to the Pacific and DEI. What do you think?


Yup :) Despite the JFB "thrill" of boasting about what you captured, it is what you have at the end of the game that really counts, not where you were. Clearing central China does this the best. It is tough on both sides to do that, but the Japanese have a couple of advantages that they can exploit easier than the Allies. On the other hand it does bring a little of the political will of the Allies (US in particular) to support the Chinese... as the Allied player abandon the Chinese to their fate at your peril...

Apart from the DEI and Indo China the rest of the map is about taking good defensive terrain, or trying to "kill stuff" while you can to delay the Allies as long as you can.


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RE: Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop ... - 1/20/2012 4:31:32 AM   
jrcar

 

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Yes get them out when you can... we havn't got all out yet. Useless in China, essential in the places NY59 mentions :)


quote:

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

RF Guns - You have some of these units in China to do what?!? They are equipped with AT guns to fight what Chinese armor?? If you haven't moved them yet, they should go to Burma or Australia.



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RE: Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop ... - 1/20/2012 4:36:54 AM   
jrcar

 

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The problem with Oil is it takes longer to load, and there is not all that much. So while I agree get the oil back to the HI you also need to shift fuel.

We have repaired some oil. But not the refineries... except recently in one place we expanded production to support future ops and because the oil was there. The benefit of this is that there is the potential late war to have a second "Home Islands" area that can carry on the fight by itself. This requires light and heavy industry.

Cheers
Rob

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli


quote:

ORIGINAL: vicberg

Vietnam to Fusan LOC is IMO the MOST import japanese strategic objective of the game, often overlooked because it's not as exciting as India/OZ/SoPac/PH.  The savings in fuel alone is massive.  Pull from Fusan while increasing the port (and the port next to it, forget the name) and you can pull fuel/oil/resources a 3 hex distance instead of 60+ hexes from Cam -> Formosa -> HI.  There are plenty of players who have conquered China or at least opened the LOC.  Balikpan -> Soerabaja (8 hexes? maybe 9).  Merak -> Osthaven (2 hexes).  Palembang -> Singers (6 hexes).  Fusan -> HI (3 hexes).  Easy (as can be expected) to escort, protect from subs and save fuel. 

IMO, India/OZ/SoPac/PH are diversions.  They keep the enemy further away, but as Greyjoy just showed us, doesn't prevent an allied attack elsewhere. 



I agree with this but have one suggestion. I would pull only oil and resources, not fuel. The fuel suffers from loss during this. Not sure how much but I'd make some changes in the SRA. In the SRA, shut off all refineries except for producing fuel for fleet operations and fueling the HI there. Everything else remains oil so it can be shipped to Singapore then trucked to Fusan without loss. The Home Islands have plenty of refinery capability to handle the oil. If you really want to save the maximum amount of fuel, don't let it move by land.



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RE: Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop ... - 1/20/2012 4:31:31 PM   
Crackaces


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quote:

2) This does not apply to raids against specific, high value targets. For example, the raids in jrcar's AAR by KB smashed lots of key enemy shipping, including tankers and AP/AK assault ships. In my own game, the losses inflicted at Darwin, Soerabaja, and, to an unluckily lesser degree, Colombo, were worth the lower amount of risk to KB.


One other thing maybe to consider is that while raiding -- the KB is detected. After, my opponent did exactly as you point out and in that order sinking all kinds of shipping, a BB, support ships etc .. each time I took an atoll on the Gilberts finally taking Tarawa while the KB was busy hitting Colombo. So for maybe a 100 ships sunk I have exchaged for Tabiteua and Tarawa ...The IJ have to sink a lot of xAK's to make a dent into the Allied potential.

Now TK's is another story IMHO. With only a hundred of so total operating unitl '43 -- a loss of only 10 really hurts the ability to move fuel.

I believe the KB has the ability to project power like no other platform in this game. But I also believe it has to be used in conjuction with a sound overall strategic plan to achieve the goal of lasting to '46 or maybe with the goal of inducing SCLS ..simply going out and sinking random things is not going to stop the Allied onslaught in '44. GreyJoy proved that one ...

< Message edited by Crackaces -- 1/20/2012 6:51:21 PM >

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RE: Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop ... - 1/20/2012 6:07:04 PM   
Cribtop


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Great comments, guys.

Concerning the RF guns in China. These are two units that start as part of the restricted China Expeditionary HQ. I plan to buy them out someday, but for now have prioritized buying out divisions from Manchuria (just bought one last turn), as well as air groups, LCU and ship leaders. The other ATGs are in Burma and NW Oz where they can do some good.

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RE: Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop ... - 1/21/2012 3:54:52 AM   
Cribtop


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July 24, 1942

Subs

ASW Ann reports a hit on a UK sub near Sabang.

4th Fleet

An interesting game in the Ellice Islands. Today CF recons Funafuti. We assume he'll recon Nukufetau tomorrow. Thus, tomorrow we'll pull our AV and our Mavii out for a day or two, then return. Whether this is just a probe or an invasion prelude remains to be seen, but we put South Seas Fleet on alert at Truk.

SE Fleet

Speaking of Truk, BB Yamato and numerous CLs and DDs recently arrived here to bolster the strength of South Seas Fleet.

14th Army

No change.

16th Army

6 B-17s hit our flanking tank regiment. We'll bring in the Nicks here. We continue to bomb the enemy armor stack with Helens. A test of strength is coming at Daly Waters.

Donggala invaded. We plan to ship the extra "g" back to Japan to aid the war effort.

Port Hedland makes level 3 forts. We have removed all resources from Darwin (125Kish) and will work at Hedland next.

25th Army

3rd Air Army is at Singapore. We feel like the southern approaches (true) to Sumatra are a weak spot, both in terms of air search and torp enabled air groups. Where should this Air HQ go in Sumatra to obtain the best coverage? We're considering Sabang, Medan, Sibolga and elsewhere. Keep in mind this is a 5 hex range air HQ that will torp enable numerous bases. Thoughts welcome.

Emilys arrive at Sabang tomorrow to begin watching the approaches to Sumatra from Ceylon.

15th Army

After scrapping the Akyab attack, we are positioning Imperial Guards to watch Akyab, 33rd Div to watch Kalemyo, and 55th Div in local reserve at Mandalay.

China

We catch the former Kweilin garrison. DA tomorrow.

The Kukong force of 16 LCUs has a move arrow north. The enemy appears to be awakening to the danger and presumably will abandon this base. 13th Army will follow up, maintaining contact. Because our troops are already in the hex, the rail line is useless to CF, as planned.

Nanning appears to be abandoned. We will shift paras to Canton and grab it.

Another division is bought out of Manchukuo today and boards trains for Shanghai. It will move to the Liuchow area to guard against counterattack for now.

5th Fleet

We are moving a recon unit and additional Jakes to this AO.



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RE: Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop ... - 1/21/2012 10:37:36 PM   
Cribtop


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July 25, 1942

Subs

Our ASW TF working the Borneo coast has a golden opportunity to hammer Snapper in shallow waters near Miri but pushes the fail button as they can't locate the sub.

ASW Ann claims a hit on an S-boat near Formosa.

4th Fleet

The enemy continues to recon Funafuti. No sign of any imminent move, however.

Hilo makes level 5 airfield; Lahaina level 6.

SE Fleet

A Glen spots a 2 ship convoy just north of Koumac headed East. We'll try for an intercept.

Buna makes level 2 forts, Rabaul makes level 5 forts.

14th Army

All elements of the Luzon coup de grace force are loaded and will ship out today.

16th Army

We bomb the enemy armor, CF's B-17s bomb ours. 10 Nicks (we were hoping for more) give the 4Es a rude surprise by shooting one down outright. Banzai! That Nick group is going up fast in EXP and will be crack in another month or so of combat.

Donggala occupied.

25th Army

Emilys begin operating from Sabang, giving us a bit better coverage of the Bay of Bengal. Otherwise, this AO is settling down to defensive preparations and intense resource extraction.

15th Army

Today 48 Blenheims bomb the Imperial Guards division near Akyab. No damage is done, but more evidence CF is planning something in Burma. We will move a few Oscar Sentai to LRCAP tomorrow.

China

Today it becomes apparent that CF is responding to the crisis at Changsha.

We DA the Kweilin survivors and force the 6 LCUs to retreat a 3rd time with 7:1 odds; casualties 5131(492) vs 371(1). The road to Hengyang is clear and we will race down it.

Recon spots the 6 enemy LCUs that recently tried an attack near Wuchow retreating back down the road to Kukong. However, these forces are already in danger of isolation because today the entire Kukong stack abandoned the city by moving up the road toward Hengyang a hex. 13th Army will pursue.

Elsewhere, recon shows the small stack at Pingsiang moving west (map) as though it is moving toward Hengyang. We will peel off a unit or two from the Changsha stack to seize Pingsiang and try to pin this force (or at least add numbers to the IJA at Hengyang if the enemy wins the race).

All in all, great news. It is probable we will win the race to Hengyang. If not, our combat power will coalesce there on favorable terms in clear terrain.

Other

Tracker shows that the accelerated Ryuho will arrive on July 29. All other CVs and in the pipeline are also accelerated.

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RE: Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop ... - 1/21/2012 10:56:56 PM   
Cribtop


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Screenshot of the situation in South China.






Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Cribtop -- 1/21/2012 10:58:16 PM >


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RE: Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop ... - 1/22/2012 5:12:28 AM   
Cribtop


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One more quick comment. Recon has confirmed Nanning is abandoned. Paras will take the base very soon with infantry follow on forces for garrison duty.

Question: Once Nanning and Kukong fall, have we already established a "poor man's" land bridge from SE Asia to Korea? Obviously we hope to take the Changsha cluster of bases and secure the rail line, but that rail network is incomplete. Thus, will stuff already flow overland?

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RE: Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop ... - 1/22/2012 7:12:29 AM   
Saros

 

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It doesn't seem to flow for me, I have taken everything along the line apart from Changsha and I still have to ship in fuel to the Manchuoko/Korea HI otherwise it keeps running out. Also no oil appears to flow to the Port Arthur refinery other than the tiny amount produced in Manchuko.
Still its worth it to take the Industry just to deny the allies the supply generation.


< Message edited by Saros -- 1/22/2012 7:14:02 AM >

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RE: Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop ... - 1/23/2012 4:25:01 AM   
PaxMondo


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

Question: Once Nanning and Kukong fall, have we already established a "poor man's" land bridge from SE Asia to Korea? Obviously we hope to take the Changsha cluster of bases and secure the rail line, but that rail network is incomplete. Thus, will stuff already flow overland?

I don't know for sure. As I understand things, yes, but the fuel and supply hit might be pretty high. No losses for resources or oil though ...

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RE: Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop ... - 1/23/2012 5:36:43 PM   
Cribtop


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July 26, 1942

The race for Hengyang is on in China. The winner of the coming battle will dictate events in the Middle Kingdom for months if not years.

Subs

We are irritated. An enemy tanker convoy moves over an area covered by a RO boat wolf pack, but escorts DC the subs twice before they can attack. Neither RO is damaged. Tomorrow seven subs will swarm the convoy, and because it is caught in the narrow approaches to Noumea, we doubt it can get away without suffering numerous attacks. Note this is further evidence that CF is building for a SWPAC offensive.

Stingray duds on a TK near Donggala. Our ASW is very active here and we will try to chase out the intruder.

4th Fleet

No change.

SE Fleet

Shortlands makes level 4 airfield. We are really picking up the pace of base building and entrenching now.

14th Army

Awaiting the arrival of the Operation Killshot forces on Luzon.

16th Army

The B-17s stay home. Our bombers continue to hit the enemy armor.

25th Army

Re-shuffling Java garrisons has freed up a bunch of engineers to add to base building efforts.

15th Army

We will buy out a second air group from Japan, equip it with Nicks and ship it to Burma. Sooner or later the British are coming.

Taung Gyi makes level 2 airfield as we are building here too.

China

Kukong occupied by rowboat with level 3 forts, a nice bonus. In theory, the 6 KMT LCUs near Wuchow are isolated. In practice they'll probably move cross-country, but either way they won't impact the key battles to come near Changsha.

We have the IJAAF hammering the former Kukong stack and the Pinsiang stack to slow them up and ensure 17th Army wins the race to Hengyang. If we take Hengyang before the enemy stacks get over the river, they will be in trouble, forced to either SA over the river or move slowly cross-country, all while 13th Army marches up from Kukong on their heels.

Our present goals are seizure of the three bases behind Changsha and opening an LoC from 17th Army to Hankow. Next up will be isolation of Changsha and eventually capture of the base. We need to hurry, but it appears the advantage lies with Japan for now. Cribtop HQ has deemed the next few weeks critical in China and thus re-directs the newly bought out Manchurian division to the Changsha front. Currently entrained near Peking, it should arrive in about 48 hours.

< Message edited by Cribtop -- 2/4/2012 4:52:02 AM >


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RE: Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop ... - 1/23/2012 6:42:25 PM   
ny59giants


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NY GIANTS - resting & prepping for another Super Bowl

Dallas Cowgirls - FORE!!!! (down in Mexico practicing their golf swing)

< Message edited by ny59giants -- 1/23/2012 6:43:21 PM >


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RE: Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop ... - 1/23/2012 7:40:14 PM   
Cribtop


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Yeah, congrats Micheal and I think the Giants are a more complete team than the Pats. I watched the SF/NYG game out of the corner of my eye yesterday while entering orders. As a Cowboys fan, I was pretty much pulling for an asteroid strike.

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RE: Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop ... - 1/23/2012 8:32:06 PM   
ny59giants


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The Super Bowl will turn on a few things.
1) Turnovers - usually the best indicator of who wins or losses (Giants were +2 yesterday)
2) Big plays or lack or them - SF had a wide open WR that was over thrown and the Ravens had a WR get the ball knocked out of his hands in the end zone at the end of the game. Your Cowboys had Romo do the same thing with Austin, I think, when just a few feet less and it would have gone for a TD and ended the Giants season. The Giants are near the top in the league with plays over 20 yards.
3) Red Zone - TDs vs FGs
4) Drive ending penalties

If the Giants come ahead or even in these four areas they will win.

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RE: Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop ... - 1/23/2012 9:14:31 PM   
SqzMyLemon


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Sigh...Giants.

It is definitely going to be an interesting Super Bowl. I think the Patriots and Giants are a good match, although I hate to admit the Giants are the more complete team at the moment. I cringe at the thought of New England's secondary trying to contain Nicks and Cruz. However, if Brady gets back to form for the big day, then they have a real shot at this one. I don't think they will back off from taking it to the Giants offensively like they did 4 years ago either. The Patriots will not win a close game, they must get the lead early and add to it often to compensate for a weak secondary. Keep Manning off the field and run the score up, that's the only way they'll win.

GO PATS!

< Message edited by SqzMyLemon -- 1/23/2012 9:15:52 PM >


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RE: Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop ... - 1/23/2012 9:27:22 PM   
Cribtop


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Basically, IMHO Brady has to have the game of his life for the Pats to win. There are many scenarios in which the Giants can win. However, except for the Baltimore game, Brady has been a man on a mission over the last month, so it could be interesting.

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RE: Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop ... - 1/23/2012 11:32:48 PM   
Mike Solli


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I rooting for the Browns. Oh, wait........

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RE: Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop ... - 1/24/2012 5:31:54 AM   
Cribtop


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Sorry, Mike, we'll get back to the war soon. Since religion and football are one and the same in Texas, you'll get these little flare ups from time to time.

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RE: Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop ... - 1/26/2012 6:24:29 PM   
Cribtop


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July 27, 1942

Real life concerns have gotten me behind again. Today we catch up.

Subs

We are frustrated that the enemy TKs near Noumea somehow slip past our subs. In analyzing why, we realize that out of fear we didn't put any subs in the Pine Island hex (base SE of Noumea) and CF probably got through there. Dumb error.

4th Fleet

The almost obsessive recon patrols over Funafuti continue. Hmm.

SE Fleet

Hiryu and Soryu finish their upgrades. Once their accompanying DDs upgrade in a few days, they'll move back to [location censored].

Charter Towers makes airfield level 5. Will CF post the 4Es here and come after PM?

14th Army

Waiting for the troops to land in Luzon.

16th Army

DA Watampone retreats the former Makassar garrison with 56:1 odds. Irritating that the unit doesn't surrender because the Dutch still have the former Kendari garrison at the base NW of Kendari. We'll trudge around to finish them all off in time. Casualties 263(28) to nil as the Dutch stragglers had no bullets due to long isolation.

The enemy continues to loiter under air attack 1 hex SW of Daly Waters.

25th Army

No change.

15th Army

Truly awful weather scrubs almost all air ops in Burma and even China today.

Toungoo makes level 3 airfield, Diamond Harbor level 6.

China

We are racing for Hengyang against the former Pingsiang and Kukong stacks. We must win the race and have 1 day to spare to seize it from the small (1 LCU) garrison to trap the enemy on the wrong side of the river. All IJAAF forces are dedicated to the mission of delay bombing, but any scrubs for bad weather could be costly.

5th Fleet

Toyohara hits level 4 airfield.



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RE: Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop ... - 1/26/2012 6:33:11 PM   
Cribtop


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July 28, 1942

Subs

To add to our frustration at Noumea, an enemy TF with xAPs present appears nearby but flees today. Strong evidence of a build up in SWPAC, though.

British KVs DC I-156 near Colombo and, over two combats, obtain 2 penetrating hits. One must've been FoW though, as damage isn't very high. The sub will retire.

4th Fleet

Our observers on Funafuti (two tourists with cameras and binoculars) report no Allied flights today.

SE Fleet

This is apparently because the enemy recon group moved West as today Tulagi is reconned. Cribtop Intel warns that the enemy may be preparing for an offensive in these parts.

14th Army, 16th Army, 25th Army, 15th Army

Quiet except that recon overflies Ramree Island and Imperial Guards Division, posted near Akyab.

China

Recognizing that the race is on, CF very cleverly orders his crate air force to bomb the 17th Army stack to slow it up. We will LRCAP tomorrow.

Other

CVL Ryuho arrives early. She won't have organic air groups for a while, but we will put a big Zero group on her for now. We basically have all CVs and CVLs (not counting Shinano, which is halted) on accelerated build.



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RE: Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop ... - 1/26/2012 6:36:16 PM   
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Are you playing scen 1 ?

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RE: Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop ... - 1/26/2012 6:53:25 PM   
Cribtop


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July 29, 1942

Yes, GZ, Scenario 1 with PDU On. The lack of extra ground troops makes life very... interesting. Hence the gamble to try to neuter China and get more troops to the Pacific. A gamble because for now there are even less troops available. We estimate that CF will begin an offensive somewhere in August or September 1942. More on that in the next post.

Subs

Tarpon duds on a PB near Truk. A Lily reports a hit on a sub near Rangoon.

4th Fleet

Quiet, but we are loading a re-built SNLF for TB at Tokyo. Preparing for the storm.

SE Fleet

Tulagi reconned again. Fortunately, CF will see 7 LCUs present as we still have 3 engineer units finishing up forts. Maybe that will dissuade him for now. Combined Fleet is put on alert.

14th Army

Troops are about 3 days out in two convoys.

16th Army

Today CF mounts an air offensive assuming our previous dispositions held. Fortunately, we are "shell gaming." He sends 24 B-17s, the largest grouping yet observed, to hit the Katherine airfield, looking for our Nicks. They are not there and surprisingly only 16 runway hits are achieved. Kittyhawks sweep the skies over our flanking tank regiment looking for LRCAP, but we stood down given the lack of bombing in recent days and predicted thunderstorms. The enemy stack remains SW of Daly and interestingly does not show a move arrow into the base despite two days of recon by Dinahs at Daly. Again, more on our interpretation of this in the next post.

25th Army

No change.

15th Army

Recon of Ramree Island and Imperial Guards again.

China

Weather stops our bombers from hitting the former Kukong stack. Not good. No sign of the KMT air force - we were waiting with LRCAP aplenty.

We now have the advance guard of two tank units in the Hengyang stack, with 17th Army one hex out. "Carry over" movement marched them 9 hexes toward Hengyang. The two enemy stacks are both two hexes away but probably soon to move into the hex SW of the city. If our bombers keep flying, it should take just enough days (with maybe one day grace) for us to get into and take Hengyang. It will be a damn near run thing, as one of my English ancestors once commented.


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RE: Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop ... - 1/26/2012 6:57:23 PM   
obvert


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Any screenies of the South/Central Pacific areas to show how far you've reached before digging in?

After a while using the wolf-packs, what is your assessment of their efficacy? Any difference in the number of attacks on transports, not escorts?

(in reply to Cribtop)
Post #: 1164
RE: Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop ... - 1/26/2012 6:59:45 PM   
Cribtop


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Analysis

As we have seen, since the 25th of July CF has been undertaking some new actions. To wit:

NW Oz

The enemy armor stack is advancing, with support from lots of 4Es and a group of Aussie fighters. CF has been willing to endure pretty effective air strikes for weeks on these troops and has marched up to the threshhold of Daly Waters. Recon does not show a move arrow into the base yet, but he may yet do so. We have a good array of forces (350 AS, including lots of tanks and ATGs, with another 125 AS approaching) behind level 3+ forts.

Burma

Enemy planes have begun recon flights over Imperial Guards Division near Akyab and Ramree Island. Add to that the raid by enemy Blenheims on the 25th that has not been repeated (was this a "recon by bombing effort?"). Bases in NE India are building.

SWPAC

Recon flights over Funafuti for a week and now a few days over Tulagi. Signs of build up of Luganville and Noumea, with tankers and troop ships spotted near the latter base.

Enemy Intentions

It's always dangerous to guess at enemy intentions. However, the picture above is generally interpreted by Cribtop Intel as follows:

CF has divined that our commitment to China may let him launch an offensive. By August '42 he has the capability to begin some limited offensive Ops. He is considering a multi-pronged attack in SWPAC and Burma so that MKB can't be both places at once. The new interest in Ramree Island indicates that could be the target. In SWPAC he is probably weighing various options somewhere in the Solomons or Milne Bay.

We read the moves in NW Oz as a feint. He has not brought anything more to the party from the last effort at Daly other than planes, which are easily moved.

Thus, we will reinforce Ramree Island, re-position 55th Division (theater reserve) so that it can be flown or railed into any threatened base, and move some LBA from Timor to Batavia, allowing them to react in either direction quickly. In the Pacific, we are building defenses up about as best we can. Combined Fleet (consisting of MKB, Tanaka Force, an ASW TF and the Fleet Oilers) will probably shift to Truk. In addition, we will hasten the end in Luzon (which is quite late, really), freeing up a lot of troops to man the fences. This will get interesting, folks! Given the need to use MKB defensively for the most part and in multiple AOs for the remainder of the war, we will henceforth (that word was for Canoerebel) have a new entry in our AAR reporting on the actions of Combined Fleet. We'll call it, let's see... "Combined Fleet."

Obvert - I'll post a screenshot of the Solomons and NG later today. The wolf packs are more effective as the enemy sails over multiple subs and gets attacked multiple times. We haven't quite placed them right, yet, but are beginning to zero in. Cribtop Intel continues to interpret the relatively empty seas as a sign that CF is using large, infrequent convoys instead of smaller, more regular ones. This was a big part of the ultimately flawed decision to have the CVEs raid the convoy lanes.




< Message edited by Cribtop -- 1/26/2012 7:17:51 PM >


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(in reply to Cribtop)
Post #: 1165
RE: Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop ... - 1/26/2012 8:20:03 PM   
Grfin Zeppelin


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Ah ok well I was about to start ranting for halting the Shinano. Makes sense in Scen 1 however. Pffft then Ill rant elswhere

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(in reply to Cribtop)
Post #: 1166
RE: Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop ... - 1/26/2012 8:54:03 PM   
Cribtop


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Yeah, oddly if I could get her as a BB, I might think about it. In Sc 2, it's a real CV. In Sc 1, it's an expensive mess.

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Post #: 1167
RE: Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop ... - 1/26/2012 10:57:36 PM   
SqzMyLemon


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Cribtop,

Did you change the focus of Red Dragon? I thought you were going to drive straight on Tuyun and Kweiyang, then swing east to bag the lot in a Changsha/Changteh pocket? Did I misinterpret your plan, or did you tweak it?

I seriously recommend getting over the river in some kind of strength before CF can establish a solid MLR. Crossing that river against large numbers of Chinese defenders later can be a tall order.

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Luck is the residue of design - John Milton

Don't mistake lack of talent for genius - Peter Steele (Type O Negative)

(in reply to Cribtop)
Post #: 1168
RE: Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop ... - 1/26/2012 11:14:51 PM   
Cribtop


Posts: 3890
Joined: 8/10/2008
From: Lone Star Nation
Status: offline
Sqz,

Indeed I did. The northern pincer failed to convince CF to commit more than a token force in that direction. He has 43 LCUs in Chungking. Even assuming half of these are HQs, base forces and trashed units recovering, he has 20+ LCUs with pop there. I figured a drive on Kweiyang, as important as that hex is, would only invite commitment of the Chungking force and stalemate. Thus, I went for the less vital, but hopefully achievable, target of Changsha. My reasoning is that if I get the Changsha cluster plus the 6 or so bases I've conqured in South China, the objective of the operation - capturing enough industry to put China in a real supply pinch - will be achieved. I'm also under time pressure to get this done and get troops out to the perimeter. Depending on how things go, I may push deeper with China Expeditionary Army troops later. However, remember I've conqured or isolated all of northern and far western China, so even if just the four Changsha bases fall and I end up in a protracted siege of Changsha itself, CF will have all of 12 bases to draw on. Finally, I'll start bombing Chungking daily after Red Dragon to further kill supply.

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(in reply to SqzMyLemon)
Post #: 1169
RE: Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop ... - 1/26/2012 11:23:58 PM   
Cribtop


Posts: 3890
Joined: 8/10/2008
From: Lone Star Nation
Status: offline
And here's the requested screenie of the SE Fleet AO.




Truk has 20th Division and a small tank unit in reserve. South Seas Fleet (4 BBs, 4 CAs, 6 DDs) and an LCTF are also present.

Rabaul has a Netty Hikotai and Zeros.

Munda (level 4 airfield) has an Air HQ, a Nell Hikotai and Zeros.

Tulagi, Munda, PM and Milne Bay are the front line. Buna, the Lae cluster, and the three Bougainville bases (under construction) are the second line.

Final defense of Rabaul will be Rabaul, Gasmata, Namatanai, Kavieng and Manus.

Combined Fleet can be on station in about 10 days. We're considering re-basing Combined Fleet to Truk.

PS - Supply convoys are en route to deal with the pesky yellow arrows - they just popped up this turn.


Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Cribtop -- 1/26/2012 11:31:42 PM >


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