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RE: Battle for Milne Bay! - 1/18/2013 3:51:14 PM   
JocMeister

 

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Joined: 7/29/2009
From: Sweden
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Saving a CV:
The larger the port, the better...duh!!
AR or two
Naval Support (use a PBY or Coronado to fly it in if necessary)
Leader on ship (I would say the priority would be Leadership, Inspiration, and a third quality may possibly be Admin)
Is there anything else that will influence damage control??


I will have to make do with a dot hex this time! I´ll switch the leader as soon as I can! I will try to get some naval support in place. Fingers crossed...

But I can´t really repair any major FLT damage short of a repair yard? Or can I? So even if she survives this she has a long way to go with 88 FLT damage!

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Post #: 511
RE: Battle for Milne Bay! - 1/18/2013 4:13:10 PM   
JocMeister

 

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Joined: 7/29/2009
From: Sweden
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quote:

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

Joc, even if Erik wasn't that upset about that CAP trap, you may want to discuss that matter a little bit deeper with him.
I do believe that the extensive use of CAP traps in enemy waters is somehow not 100% Kosher.
It's difficult to house rule it, i know, cause it may be limiting a lot, but maybe a little self constraint is desirable in these situations.

I remember me and Rader discussed this thing a lot and we reached a good conclusion, saying that CAP trap in enemy waters were allowed only if you could actually risk something valuable and "hittable"...so DDs, even if valuable, weren't allowed if alone. CAs or CLs (not crappy ones) were needed in the bait TFs.

Even if without any specific HR about it, playing with Brad we're not doing it in any extensive way. We both, sometimes, place some traps here and there, but never during an invasion (where it becomes clearly a game changer).

Also, given the air superiority you have now in NG, that kind of massive CaP Trap over a base which was clearly on the "invasion list" seems really like pushing a little bit too far.

Obviously others' opinions may differ... these were just my humble 0.0002 cents


Hey! Thanks for dropping by!

You are of course right. I did speak to Erik shortly right after and said he was okay with it. But it has been gnawing at me and I have been meaning to speak to him. Its a poor excuse of course but I have been so swamped with the baby, work and moving. But I actually manage to send him a long e-mail today and I don´t think there is any bad feelings.

I did send in a 2 CL TF (Clevelands) with 8 Fletchers. I don´t know if you have been following my AAR but Erik has sunk most of my navy so these ships are pretty much invaluable to me. For some reason however they withdrew during the night together with another 8 Fletcher TF despite being set to "remain on station". The only TF remaining was the 4 DD ASW TF set to protect the SCTFs from subs. It had a patrol setting though so that might be why it remained? I have no clue why the others withdrew.

I know it sound silly to make a CAP trap like that so close to PM. But I have never done this kind of thing before. All my two(!) previous amphibious landings have been hit and run affairs. One of them just over night. Just felt really stupid to send in the transports first when I had absolutely no clue what would happen. Eriks strikes has had a habit of just slithering through massive CAP before without even being engaged. Had I known or strongly believed what would happen I would of course have sent in the transports right away! After all only 5 planes got through and they would most likely have gone after the BBs.

Next time I will know a lot more what to expect from these kind of things. I certainly wont do it like this again. It just felt like it would have been really, really stupid to risk the transports. It felt more prudent to send in combat ships into danger first to see what would happen then unarmored transports with troops on board.

Right or wrong? As you say there many different opinions. I won´t do it like this again. And I would have felt a lot better about myself if the SCTFs has remained at Milne...

(in reply to GreyJoy)
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RE: Battle for Milne Bay! - 1/18/2013 4:15:22 PM   
jeffk3510


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quote:

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Saving a CV:
Is there anything else that will influence damage control??


Evading falling bombs and running torpedoes?

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Post #: 513
RE: Battle for Milne Bay! - 1/18/2013 4:46:19 PM   
ny59giants


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Status: offline 		I would start making preparations to get some construction engineers to the dot base 'if' she doesn't sink in a couple of days in addition to those steps I spoke of. When and where are your large ARDs that should be able to hold a CV?

Take off her air groups now, please.

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RE: Battle for Milne Bay! - 1/18/2013 4:53:33 PM   
BBfanboy


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From: Winnipeg, MB
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quote:

ORIGINAL: JocMeister


quote:

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Saving a CV:
The larger the port, the better...duh!!
AR or two
Naval Support (use a PBY or Coronado to fly it in if necessary)
Leader on ship (I would say the priority would be Leadership, Inspiration, and a third quality may possibly be Admin)
Is there anything else that will influence damage control??


I will have to make do with a dot hex this time! I´ll switch the leader as soon as I can! I will try to get some naval support in place. Fingers crossed...

But I can´t really repair any major FLT damage short of a repair yard? Or can I? So even if she survives this she has a long way to go with 88 FLT damage!

What? No Naval skill in the leader qualities? I take Naval skill as meaning the skipper knows his ship very well and how to handle damage to it [repair priorities and methods, counterflooding, etc.].

Anyhow, I would not despair on the high flood level just yet. I have often seen allied ships experience an increase in flooding followed in later turns by reduction as DC pumps the water and fixes the leak. It may have been severe storms that caused the flooding to extend and once you get clear of them DC can manage it again. Any port, even a dot base, will enable you to fix minor damage when stood down. All the other assistance just speeds up the minor repair.

You do need a drydock for the major damage. One of the mods has a very large ARD that might be able to take a CV. Check your ship list to see if you have such a beast, or check the Intel Ship Reinforcement list to see if one is coming soon. I believe it arrived in mid 1943 in the AAR I was reading.

< Message edited by BBfanboy -- 1/18/2013 8:40:21 PM >

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RE: Battle for Milne Bay! - 1/18/2013 7:21:45 PM   
JocMeister

 

Posts: 8262
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From: Sweden
Status: offline 		Another turn done and she hasn´t sunk yet! Actually repaired 2 SYS damage and is down to 3. Flooding is unchanged this turn.

Michael,
Pilots are off but I havn´t been able to unload the air groups as I havn´t made a port with AF yet. I´m dot island hopping! One of the big ARDs is at Noumuea taking care of South Dakota. Second one is closing OZ and third one has left the WC some 10? turns ago. Might be an option moving one of them! Will check up on that and start loading engineers next turn!

BB,

I certainly hope you are right. Encouraging to see the SYS and FLT drop ever so slightly. Won´t start hoping yet though!


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Post #: 516
RE: Battle for Milne Bay! - 1/18/2013 8:44:28 PM   
BBfanboy


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quote:

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Another turn done and she hasn´t sunk yet! Actually repaired 2 SYS damage and is down to 3. Flooding is unchanged this turn.

Michael,
Pilots are off but I havn´t been able to unload the air groups as I havn´t made a port with AF yet. I´m dot island hopping! One of the big ARDs is at Noumuea taking care of South Dakota. Second one is closing OZ and third one has left the WC some 10? turns ago. Might be an option moving one of them! Will check up on that and start loading engineers next turn!

BB,

I certainly hope you are right. Encouraging to see the SYS and FLT drop ever so slightly. Won´t start hoping yet though!



Well good! You are on that fine line between hope and despair, called tension ... kinda like waiting for the evil monster to strike the pitiful human heros. Keeps the game interesting!

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RE: Battle for Milne Bay! - 1/18/2013 9:01:59 PM   
ny59giants


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RE: Battle for Milne Bay! - 1/18/2013 11:35:04 PM   
BBfanboy


Posts: 18046
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From: Winnipeg, MB
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quote:

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Where is she at?? Your staff needs to know!

CV Valhalla? Must be near Narvik somewhere!

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RE: Battle for Milne Bay! - 1/19/2013 7:52:54 AM   
JocMeister

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy
Well good! You are on that fine line between hope and despair, called tension ... kinda like waiting for the evil monster to strike the pitiful human heros. Keeps the game interesting!


That sums it up pretty well! Its the first thing I do when I open up the turn...I´m going to continue to think of her as a loss. That way the blow won´t be as big if she sinks! If she really does make it. What kind of yard time are we looking at? Anyone knows? 12-18 months? More?

Michael,
She is currently 9 hexes SW of Jarvis Island! If I disband her there I can have the ARD moving from WC there in about 1,5-2 months. Might be worth it instead of risking the voyage to PH?

< Message edited by JocMeister -- 1/19/2013 10:02:13 AM >

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RE: Battle for Milne Bay! - 1/19/2013 10:03:50 AM   
JocMeister

 

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Joined: 7/29/2009
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Status: offline 		Yey!

Only 4 hexes to go. She is down to 1 SYS and 88 FLT 36 ENG. So unless something catastrophic happens she will make it to Jarvis. Question is wether I should try and get her to PH by own power or wait 1,5 months for the ARD?

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RE: Battle for Milne Bay! - 1/19/2013 2:24:53 PM   
BBfanboy


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Joined: 8/4/2010
From: Winnipeg, MB
Status: offline 		It Depends .... How many small islands are on the way to PH? If you can remove all minor damage and then island hop again, you will have a long slow crawl back, with lots of opportunities for bad dice rolls.

Have you considered kicking SD out of her ARD so you can come to Valhalla's aid? It only takes about 3 days to button up the holes on a ship and put her in the water again. ARDs should not be used for long-term repairs of heavily damaged ships anyway, just to get damage down to a safe level before sending the ship to the yards for much more efficient repair [and for short term repair of major but light flotation damage].

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RE: Battle for Milne Bay! - 1/19/2013 8:11:31 PM   
JocMeister

 

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Joined: 7/29/2009
From: Sweden
Status: offline 		BB, Next one is Christmas Island and then there is a very long trip to PH. She made Jarvis this turn with another pumps failing message. This time the FLT was still at 88 when I opened the turn though.

SD is still at 33 FLT damage. I want to wait until it drops below 30. Besides I think the ARD between WC and PH is about the same distance away!

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RE: Battle for Milne Bay! - 1/19/2013 8:23:36 PM   
witpqs


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From: Argleton
Status: offline 		That very low sys damage on the CV must be all that is saving her (so far).

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Milne Bay liberated! - 1/19/2013 8:40:30 PM   
JocMeister

 

Posts: 8262
Joined: 7/29/2009
From: Sweden
Status: offline 		28th-31st December 43

Port Moresby area

Milne bay is in allied hands! After resting for 3 days and allowing an additional bombardment from the sea Milne Bay is liberated after just a week of fighting. This is a huge relief as I feared another PM taking several months. BFs will land next turn under a massive CAP. Tanks will be dropped off at Buna by barge within the next month.

Erik now has 55.000 troops stuck on the peninsula including a division. I may have found Eriks weak spot. Recon show only very lightly held bases all the way up to Medang. I ordered a massive recon effort next turn. Looks like Erik is flying in everything from the outskirts in to Rabaul. Its now listing 44 units there. He might not have more then a few divisions in the area though as its still under 100.000 troops. I will go over SigInt tomorrow and see what I can find.

I have 8 divisions including two Marine IDs. Two more US ID will arrive in the area within the next two months.

Here is the second and final assault on Milne Bay!

quote:


Ground combat at Milne Bay (101,133)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 22287 troops, 427 guns, 596 vehicles, Assault Value = 888

Defending force 13253 troops, 170 guns, 14 vehicles, Assault Value = 282

Allied adjusted assault: 1871 <-- Looks like reprepping the Command HQ payed off! Good call Michael

Japanese adjusted defense: 107

Allied assault odds: 17 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied forces CAPTURE Milne Bay !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
4327 casualties reported
Squads: 104 destroyed, 74 disabled
Non Combat: 111 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 37 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 78 (65 destroyed, 13 disabled)
Vehicles lost 14 (14 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 11


Allied ground losses:
502 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 58 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 52 disabled


Perhaps this is where Erik left the door open? I will know more in the coming days as I shift recon north.

Burma

Very quiet. My troops crossed the river untouched. Armour decided to go another way though. Splendid Erik is showing signs of moving into the same hex. Thank you? No idea why he would do this. But I guess he wants to try and contain my forces. I will need to defeat his stack in order to move on.

In the meantime I have 2400 AV that will move on Rangoon shortly flanking Prome! In 10 days I can buy out another Indian division that will follow!

Erik refuses combat in the air over Burma. Some Oscars leak over into a sweep though indicating he has a LRCAP up. Possible over his big stack.

CENTPAC

The assault on Baker begins! I´m very happy with the results from my experimental CVE strike TF! They did the same amount of damage my BB TF did. But they can keep up for a long time while the BB has to withdraw and rearm.

quote:

Afternoon Air attack on 61st Naval Guard Unit, at 149,136 (Baker Island)

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 50 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes


Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 120
SBD-5 Dauntless x 27
TBF-1 Avenger x 71


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
145 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Pretty good results from just 4 CVEs huh? The Hellcats came from the other CVEs. No sign of Erik trying to intervene. In two turns Intrepid and Langley will join the force bringing the total AC up very close to 1000!

OZ
Walking...



< Message edited by JocMeister -- 1/19/2013 8:54:24 PM >

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RE: Milne Bay liberated! - 1/20/2013 4:01:38 AM   
BBfanboy


Posts: 18046
Joined: 8/4/2010
From: Winnipeg, MB
Status: offline 		As I recall, you set out to entice Eric into sending more and more troops into PM so you could grind them. It seems to have worked, and he may have stripped a lot out of the Solomons when he reinforced his failure at PM.
Right now I would be concerned he is evac-ing the troops from Buna to Rabaul, Woodlark Is., Shortlands - wherever his next line in the sand is. Can you interdict by air or sea? Can you ensure those 15 K troops on the peninsula are not rescued?

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RE: Milne Bay liberated! - 1/20/2013 8:06:18 AM   
JocMeister

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

As I recall, you set out to entice Eric into sending more and more troops into PM so you could grind them. It seems to have worked, and he may have stripped a lot out of the Solomons when he reinforced his failure at PM.
Right now I would be concerned he is evac-ing the troops from Buna to Rabaul, Woodlark Is., Shortlands - wherever his next line in the sand is. Can you interdict by air or sea? Can you ensure those 15 K troops on the peninsula are not rescued?


I´m trying to stop him from doing this. I´m reconning Buna and the stack retreating from Milne every turn. LRCAP is up over both. He could try a night extraction from Buna by ship. But if the troop numbers were going down I would know what was up. Buna is only 4 hexes from Milne and as soon as the AF is fixed and CAP is up I will move a Fletcher TF there.

There have been some drop in numbers though. Not sure how. Only thing I can think of is if he is using float patrols on night missions. I will send in some NFs to check. If so I don´t know how to prevent it.

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RE: Milne Bay liberated! - 1/20/2013 8:44:59 AM   
BBfanboy


Posts: 18046
Joined: 8/4/2010
From: Winnipeg, MB
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: JocMeister


quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

As I recall, you set out to entice Eric into sending more and more troops into PM so you could grind them. It seems to have worked, and he may have stripped a lot out of the Solomons when he reinforced his failure at PM.
Right now I would be concerned he is evac-ing the troops from Buna to Rabaul, Woodlark Is., Shortlands - wherever his next line in the sand is. Can you interdict by air or sea? Can you ensure those 15 K troops on the peninsula are not rescued?


I´m trying to stop him from doing this. I´m reconning Buna and the stack retreating from Milne every turn. LRCAP is up over both. He could try a night extraction from Buna by ship. But if the troop numbers were going down I would know what was up. Buna is only 4 hexes from Milne and as soon as the AF is fixed and CAP is up I will move a Fletcher TF there.

There have been some drop in numbers though. Not sure how. Only thing I can think of is if he is using float patrols on night missions. I will send in some NFs to check. If so I don´t know how to prevent it.

Hmmm - I didn't think you could order an air transport mission at night, but I'll have to check it out when I open the game again.
Numbers will vary with FOW and jungle cover too.

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Post #: 528
1944! - 1/20/2013 9:50:29 AM   
JocMeister

 

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Status: offline 		1st January 1944

When I started to play this game some seven or eight years ago I never thought I would see this date. I have had a AI game run into 4/43 when I was forced to drop that because the AI was out of ships. This is certainly a mile stone for me and I´m very pleased to have made it this far.

Looking at the losses screen 43 has been the year where the war started to turn around for the allies. While 1942 was a decisive victory for Erik 1943 was more of a draw. Here is a quick comparison:

quote:

Allied looses:
CV: 0
CVL: 0
CVE: 5
BB: 0
CA: 5
CL: 1
DD: 18

Japanese losses:
CV: 0
CVL: 0
CVE: 0
BB: 0
CA: 4
CL: 4
DD 28


Given the utter disaster that was 1942 I´m pretty happy with this. I think there are 2 CAs missing from the list too.

1944

SOPAC/NEW GUINEA

I have a ready plan and clear idea on what I want to accomplish here in 1944. It looks like a lot of the focus will be on Northern New Guinea. This is where Erik might have a crack in the armor. Recon still show very lightly defended bases all along the coast. A swift attack here might dislodge him and opening a path to the Philippines.

When I went into Burma in early 43 Erik immediately sent two divisions from the area to Burma. I have been going through the sigint and I can find only brigade size units in the area. That is by no means any definitive proof. But while recon show 44 units at Rabaul the troop numbers are actually kind of low. Only 100.000 men are reported here. 55.000 troops are cut of at Buna.

The allies on the other hand have substantial forces here which will rise to 10 divisions in March. Another 2 divisions will be freed up when Merauke and Darwin has fallen. The invasion of both is imminent. That will give me an approximate strength in Mars/April counting Brigades and Seperate RGTs to 14-15 divisions.

Burma

This will be a serious grind. We both have around 300.000 troops in Burma. Erik has massed all his strength in one single stack. If I manage to defeat or outmaneuver that one he will be in serious problems. I have complete air superiority though. 50 more 4Es and 100 2Es are on its way from the states to Aden. RAF bombers are toast though.

I will very soon deal with the 600 Fighters over Rangoon. Once Rangoon is closed he is out of big airfields in Burma. That will give me much better opportunities for bombing his supply.

OZ

Before April I hope to liberate Darwin. That will put some pressure on the DEI. Will be interesting to see if Erik shifts any forces from the DEI to NG. I will await opportunities here with a reaction force ready to go if KB leaves the area or he shifts too much elsewhere. Judging by PM and Milne Erik relies heavily on forts for defense. But I think its a waste of time unless he has troops to back it up. Milne showed that despite level 5 it isn´t enought just to leave some garrison forces. He needs divisions to defend but I think most of them are in Burma!

CENTPAC

Baker is next. After that the Gilberts. I expect Gilberts to be secured fairly quickly. I have such overkill prepped for Tarawa, Abemama and Tabiteuea. I think about two divisions for each.

Marshalls I hope is on the schedule around June possible July.

NOPAC

I will have to cram Dutch/Cold Bay into this somewhere. Might do it after the Gilberts as I will need 3 months time to prep all the troops for the Marshalls. I do need CV support for this which is the problem.

The Fleet

Is starting to shape up again. The BB shortage is remedied soon. I again have a CV force. With the CVEs its closing on 1000 AC once Intrepid and Langley joins up. I have another 7 US CVs joining the fleet in 44 with 3 British ones. The USN is really short on CA/CLs though. But I guess with the abundance of Fletchers they arn´t needed?

The Army

I´m getting about 10 new divisions during 44. Most of the USMC/USA ones will probably go to SOPAC while the Brit/Indian ones will go to Burma.

The Air Force

Fighter Force

Is doing great. Erik has decline combat all over the map which has worked wonders for my pools:
P47: 106
Corsairs: 180
P38: 155

In March the P51B Mustang bumps into production and the P47D25 arrives. I also get a nice boost of P38s June. In September the Corsair get a bump to 178 planes per month. Its like Christmas all over!

Also the RAF start receiving some 40 P47 per month in May!

Bombers

In April the B29 starts rolling off the assembly lines. Only 18 per month but many new squadron arrives with planes!

Overall I´m optimistic I can make progress during 44. As someone said (I think it was GJ): Erik can´t be strong everywhere. I just need to find his weak spot. I´m pretty sure he has overdone things in Burma. So even if I can dislodge him in Burma it might have served is purpose in drawing too much of the Japanese strength there.


(in reply to JocMeister)
Post #: 529
RE: 1944! - 1/20/2013 6:40:22 PM   
JocMeister

 

Posts: 8262
Joined: 7/29/2009
From: Sweden
Status: offline 		ASW HELP!

This is driving me crazy. Its just silly beyond all impossibilities!

quote:

Sub attack near Baker Island at 155,136

Japanese Ships
SS RO-104, hits 5

Allied Ships
CV Essex
CLAA Oakland
DD The Sullivans
DD Aylwin
DD Lang
DD Ellet
DD Benham



SS RO-104 launches 4 torpedoes at CV Essex
RO-104 diving deep ....
DD Aylwin fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Lang fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Ellet attacking submerged sub ....
DD Benham fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Aylwin attacking submerged sub ....
DD Lang fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Ellet fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Aylwin attacking submerged sub ....
DD Ellet attacking submerged sub ....
DD Ellet cannot reach attack position over SS RO-104
DD Aylwin attacking submerged sub ....
SS RO-104 eludes DD Aylwin by diving deep
DD Ellet fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Aylwin fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Ellet fails to find sub and abandons search
Escort abandons search for sub


quote:

Sub attack near Canton Island at 154,138

Japanese Ships
SS RO-40, hits 6, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CVL Cowpens, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
CLAA Oakland
DD Warrington
DD Stevens
DD Aylwin
DD Lang
DD Ellet
DD Benham



SS RO-40 launches 4 torpedoes at CVL Cowpens
DD Aylwin fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Lang attacking submerged sub ....
DD Ellet attacking submerged sub ....
DD Benham fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Lang fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Ellet fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Lang fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


Seriously?! I have 60 ASW vakue in the TF itself. 304!!! in the hex and yet his coastal subs manage to get through undetected 2 times! What the heck am I supposed to do here? If my own subs would be 10% as effective as his he wouldn´t have a single carrier afloat by now. What more can I do?!

I have 48 Subs/SC/PFs active in 8 different ASW TFs.
I have 2 ASW TFs in the same hex. One following and the other leading.
Total ASW value in the hex of the attacked CV/CVL is 304!!
ASW value of the attacked TF is 60.
I have Catalinas on both Naval search and ASW.





Attachment (1)

< Message edited by JocMeister -- 1/20/2013 6:41:04 PM >

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Post #: 530
RE: 1944! - 1/20/2013 9:10:59 PM   
ny59giants


Posts: 9869
Joined: 1/10/2005
Status: offline 		Detection Levels...Detection Levels

Looking at what you had in the CV TF, I see CV, CVLs, DDs, and no CA/CLs that carry Kingfisher FPs. I train up my American FPs in Naval Search first, then in ASW (some end up with Recon as second skill). They are set at 1000' and assigned 50% ASW, 20% Train, and 20% Rest. I assign arcs if I know I'm going in a straight path with range set at 2 (actual is one due it being ASW patrol). If you are short on CA/CLs for your CV TF, then one of your CVLs needs to become an ASW platform. Take off some Avengers and place SBDs on. I would take one of the Avenger or SBD groups off one of your CVE Replenishment and use them here and divide a fighter group to place 6 fighters on it.

I know you are familiar with the Allies ASW efforts in the Atlantic. The big help was having the CVEs within the transport TFs to increase detection levels.

< Message edited by ny59giants -- 1/20/2013 9:11:42 PM >

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RE: 1944! - 1/21/2013 4:50:48 PM   
JocMeister

 

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Status: offline 		Of course! Didn´t think of the fact that I don´t have any CAs in the TFs. Will do as you suggest after Baker is secured. I switched one of the Catalinas to night search for now to see if that helps a bit too. As soon as I can I will make a CVL and a CVE into ASW platforms.

What about using 2x18 USMC DB units for ASW on one of the CVLs? Overkill?

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RE: 1944! - 1/21/2013 5:36:40 PM   
House Stark

 

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Status: offline 		I think there was a thread on air ASW in which people seemed to think that Torpedo/Level bombers were better for ASW than dive bombers, so you might want to see if you can find it. I think that you definitely want to have either a small percentage of your CV bombers (probably TBs if you use DBs for search) set to ASW, or have a few dedicated CVEs. Or both, considering the problems that he his subs have given you.

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RE: 1944! - 1/21/2013 7:23:34 PM   
JocMeister

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: House Stark

I think there was a thread on air ASW in which people seemed to think that Torpedo/Level bombers were better for ASW than dive bombers, so you might want to see if you can find it. I think that you definitely want to have either a small percentage of your CV bombers (probably TBs if you use DBs for search) set to ASW, or have a few dedicated CVEs. Or both, considering the problems that he his subs have given you.


Thank you for the advice! I´ll try and do some forum digging!

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RE: 1944! - 1/21/2013 7:39:35 PM   
JocMeister

 

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Status: offline 		1st-6th of January -44

Port Moresby area

Not much to report actually. Allies are re positioning for the next assault. Invasion armada will hit the beaches of Woodlark Island tomorrow morning. Looks like Erik pulled out. In the same time I will try and sneak a tank battalion into Buna. They are set to withdraw in 25 days so no biggie if it doesn´t work. Some 200 AC are set to LRCAP each TF.

CENTPAC

Moving around like crazy trying to dodge his subs while I hit Baker. Each airstrike is causing between 150-200 losses. Another naval bombardment goes in tonight. I moved the amphibs forward. Baker should be ready for invasion soon.

Burma

A deciding day tomorrow. We will test the air space over Rangoon! Time to sacrifice any pets you have left! 200 P47s and Corsairs will sweep from Ramree Island. If it goes well I will let the Brits go in the day after. If it goes badly, well we withdraw and lick our wounds and tries another day.

I set two BGs of 4Es to hit the fields during the night. Perhaps it can cause some ruckus that will aid the sweeps. I decided not to set the entire bomb force on the job in case it goes too well. I havn´t had much luck using night bombings but if it does work now I can imagine Erik won´t be very happy...don´t want another discussion.

OZ

Still walking!

Here is the screen of the air units set to sweep tomorrow. Hopefully most of the pilots return... this will be a nail biter.





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RE: 1944! - 1/21/2013 9:24:22 PM   
BBfanboy


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Status: offline 		I hope those P40Ks with Exp level 54 have better Air and Def skills than that!

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RE: 1944! - 1/22/2013 3:24:29 AM   
DOCUP


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Status: offline 		Hows CV Valhalla?  The free world wants to know.

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RE: 1944! - 1/22/2013 5:28:10 AM   
JocMeister

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy
I hope those P40Ks with Exp level 54 have better Air and Def skills than that!


Hehe, that is just a cannonfodder group doing CAP duty over a barge TF unloading supplies. They have 70 air 60 DEF. I have given up using the P40 for anything meaningful. They are just free kills for Erik so I keep them back with raw recruits doing CAP and escorts.

quote:

ORIGINAL: DOCUP
Hows CV Valhalla?  The free world wants to know.


Had another "Temporary flotation repairs failing aboard CV Valhalla" last turn. Never seen this many on a damaged ship before! If she had a busload of SYS damage I could understand it. But with only 3 SYS?! FLT is up to 91 again. So she is disbanded at Christmas Island fixing that.

I will try the crossing to PH under own power. She will be gone so long for repairs that even if she does makes it it won´t make a difference. If the repairs take a year I will have 10 more CVs anyway. Having 11 more is a slim difference.

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RE: 1944! - 1/22/2013 5:44:36 AM   
JocMeister

 

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Status: offline 		New Guinea

I have done some recon in the area that I think confirmed what I suspected. Its very lightly held. If this is truly the only thing he has in the area this might be the break I´m looking for.

I have attached a screen of what recon came up with. Rabaul is listing 56.000 men but 63 units. I´m guessing that means he doesn´t even have a whole division there. Looks like Erik perhaps held on to Milne and PM too long. He lost roughly half his troop strength there as they are now stuck in the jungle. If that is true I´m no longer that upset about PM taking so long!

Even if he does manage to get all the troops in Rabaul into position at the various bases I have a hard time seeing how that would stop me very long at each base? Am I being over confident here? To my untrained eyes at least this looks less like a crack and more like a gaping hole?






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RE: 1944! - 1/22/2013 6:24:31 AM   
BBfanboy


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From: Winnipeg, MB
Status: offline 		SO many choices there! If your air and naval superiority is assured, capturing Finschafen would put him in a real pickle, cutting off all those troops on the NG turkey's tail. Otherwise, it's a steady punching at all those interlocking airfields to close them down so you can land on a few select bases.
Good luck!

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