Slitherine

quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

I think the 4EB have a tenuous ability to shut down Port Blair. They bomb every day. The score meager hits. John's pulled out most of his aircraft. But, just when I think the field is toast, here come his fighters again. So PB is an irritant of the first order. (Why is it that my bombers are ineffective at closing bases while his pathetic 2EB make one strike, score 22,612 hits, and shut down my fields permanently?)

I probably won't hit PB any time soon, but it's an option I always consider from a due diligence standpoint. John has gotten frisky with the amount of shipping he has in the Andaman Sea. It's only temporary, though, unless he can close down or recapture Sabang.

quote:

ORIGINAL: princep01

Who died?  Or maybe football is King afterall.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel


P.S. My dad is a World War II vet, having served in the OSS in the ETO. He landed at Normandy at D+5 and was present in a chalet near the Franco-Swiss border when Field Marshall Kesselrin came in to negotiate the surrnder of the German Army in Italy. He was just a corporal at the time, but he did get to see the bigwigs and had to contribute his dogtags to the effort to keep the German officers in disguise as a security measure. Adolph didn't want them surrendering, after all.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

I've been through this before, but let me tell you what I'd expect now.

The Allies have done very well in the air war - winning it thus far according to my estimation. The Japanese have lost 50% more aircraft than the Allies (7,500 to 5,000). Many of those losses were Tojos in the long and bitter airwar over Akyab and Ramree Island, during which the Allies developed topnotch pilots.

I'd thereofre expect - given what's happened thus far and the end-of-1942 date - that the Allies could afford to stand toe-to-toe with Japan in an air war. Not that the Allies would be guaranteed to win; not that Japan couldn't perform better; but not a onesided show in which the Allies have no chance. I think (but I'm not positive) that's what's about to happen. Perhaps through good pilots and the massive level of air support and the decent numbers of P-40K the Allies will be able to withstand the all-out air battle. I hope so.

You might not forgive me for being blunt, but the Allied invasion of Sumatra was titanically successful. John was negligent in the extreme in leaving such an important area unguarded and without patrols. The Allies have landed a massive army there, with massive support, fully supplied, huge infrastructure, well equipped and supported navy, nearly 900 mines, etc. By every measure the Allies should be able to hold and take advantage of a lodgement so vast. If, however, the air war is the limiting factor that prevents this because it's ridiculously lopsided, I just don't have the heart to continue the game.

I want a game in which the Allies in 1942 can take chances and turn the war against Japan. If the air war prevents that - or makes it all but impossible - so that the Allies have to be much more careful, an exciting element of the game is missing.

I agree that adjustments to the game are warranted to give Japan the ability to fight late - that's in the best interest of all players. I just don't think it's a good idea if the air war is so onesided in 1942 that it essentially prevents the Allies from doing things that otherwise make perfect sense.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

I've been through this before, but let me tell you what I'd expect now.

The Allies have done very well in the air war - winning it thus far according to my estimation. The Japanese have lost 50% more aircraft than the Allies (7,500 to 5,000). Many of those losses were Tojos in the long and bitter airwar over Akyab and Ramree Island, during which the Allies developed topnotch pilots.

I'd thereofre expect - given what's happened thus far and the end-of-1942 date - that the Allies could afford to stand toe-to-toe with Japan in an air war. Not that the Allies would be guaranteed to win; not that Japan couldn't perform better; but not a onesided show in which the Allies have no chance. I think (but I'm not positive) that's what's about to happen. Perhaps through good pilots and the massive level of air support and the decent numbers of P-40K the Allies will be able to withstand the all-out air battle. I hope so.

You might not forgive me for being blunt, but the Allied invasion of Sumatra was titanically successful. John was negligent in the extreme in leaving such an important area unguarded and without patrols. The Allies have landed a massive army there, with massive support, fully supplied, huge infrastructure, well equipped and supported navy, nearly 900 mines, etc. By every measure the Allies should be able to hold and take advantage of a lodgement so vast. If, however, the air war is the limiting factor that prevents this because it's ridiculously lopsided, I just don't have the heart to continue the game.

I want a game in which the Allies in 1942 can take chances and turn the war against Japan. If the air war prevents that - or makes it all but impossible - so that the Allies have to be much more careful, an exciting element of the game is missing.

I agree that adjustments to the game are warranted to give Japan the ability to fight late - that's in the best interest of all players. I just don't think it's a good idea if the air war is so onesided in 1942 that it essentially prevents the Allies from doing things that otherwise make perfect sense.

quote:

ORIGINAL: kjnoel

The landing itself was a wonderful and unexpected ruse, it's actual value is so far unrealised because of the HR induced inability to reduce Palembang to ashes and the lack of major losses to John. With PDU on you should lose the airwar at this stage due to the lack of depth in your pools coupled with the Tojo, although that window will change in the next couple of months.

What's interesting is whether the Japanese can kick out your LCUs, after your '43 TOE upgrades I bet it won't be possible but maybe before....

This move was never going to be a quick war-winner but it sets up a very very nasty position for mid-43 if it isn't contained, and that's where the real value lies now.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

kfnoel, I agree with you.

Bullwinkle, I don't agree with "the air war is what it is." RA doesn't have a material impact on the air war, to the best of my knowledge. More importantly, it's the fundamental aspect of the air war that I'm addressing. I contend that the Allied pools need to be deeper in '42 in order for the game to realize it's full potential (Heretical Statement!). It's good to make Japan stronger from '42 through '45, but don't leave the Allies crippled in the air war in '42. Unnecessary and counterproductive from a gaming standpoint, I contend.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Sabang is clear terrain. Unopposed Japanese bombardment runs will make short work of the base and all its supply. Hence it must be protected by combat ships that must, in turn, be covered by air.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Not sure why in the world John would have to post hundreds of fighters over Palembang. Allied 4EB are present in limited numbers and fighters don't have the range for escort. From what I've seen, John could easily defend P'Bang and have scads leftover.

There are many other places that it doesn't make sense to invade if the Allies can't fight a fair air war in late '42.

My point simply is that the Allied replacement pools are too low. This wouldn't be tough to address. Big deal, right?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Geez, Moose, it's not sudden and it's not sour grapes. I've made this same thing know before as have other players. I'm not trashing the game as a whole. I'm simply saying a modest boost in Allied aircraft pools would benefit the game as a whole. Sour grapes? Come on.