RE: Being good, for a change – SqzMyLemon (J) vs fcharton (A)

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All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition >> After Action Reports >> RE: Being good, for a change – SqzMyLemon (J) vs fcharton (A)

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RE: Being good, for a change – SqzMyLemon (J) vs fchart... - 1/27/2016 6:32:16 PM

fcharton

Posts: 1112
Joined: 10/4/2010
From: France
Status: offline

January 28th 1942

Japanese forces CAPTURE Rockhampton !!!

And I am sure the Emperor, up there on his chrysanthemum throne, was delighted of such a restoration of His August Face after the humiliating failure of the first landing. As Rockhampton obviously was an important target, army and navy vied for reputation during this crucial battle.

And so, KB was commited to destroy the precious industrial installations, go navy beat army…

Afternoon Air attack on Rockhampton , at 95,152
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 106 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 39 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 35
D3A1 Val x 117
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 12 damaged

Even though a few squadrons obviously made a wrong turn somewhere, and ended attacking the essential factories in Maryborough.

Afternoon Air attack on Maryborough , at 96,157
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
B5N2 Kate x 119
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 2 damaged
Light Industry hits 3

And a few more decided to attack troops inland instead… The Kempetai will investigate this.

But the army had the last word, since they're those with the boots on the ground, and took the city later that day…

Ground combat at Rockhampton (95,152)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 11523 troops, 98 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 358
Defending force 2719 troops, 18 guns, 35 vehicles, Assault Value = 74
Japanese assault odds: 13 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Rockhampton !!!
Japanese ground losses:
81 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
1379 casualties reported
Squads: 47 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 88 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 13 (12 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 29 (29 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 3

As you might have noticed, I am happy with this. Anything that wastes Japanese time and supplies is good, right now.

Next in line

Kukong was attacked today, after days of reinforcement and procrastination. Raw AV ratio was 3:1, and forts were reduce, but it cost Japan another regiment in disablements. I am proud of my KMT troops, which seem to resist better than a month ago.

Ground combat at Kukong (79,57)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 51719 troops, 458 guns, 221 vehicles, Assault Value = 1562
Defending force 24469 troops, 114 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 553
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1
Japanese ground losses:
1694 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 152 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
1340 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 61 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 21 (2 destroyed, 19 disabled)

(in reply to fcharton)

Post #: 151

RE: Being good, for a change – SqzMyLemon (J) vs fchart... - 1/27/2016 7:46:28 PM

fcharton

Posts: 1112
Joined: 10/4/2010
From: France
Status: offline

January 29th 1942

And another Pingsiang

As the last attack, two days ago, had achieved 1:1 odds, Japanese forces were probably good enough to attack today. They did succeed in reducing the forts, but did not take the base, and it came at a cost.

Ground combat at Pingsiang (82,54)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 37530 troops, 460 guns, 44 vehicles, Assault Value = 1011
Defending force 23680 troops, 188 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 538
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese ground losses:
1849 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 166 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Allied ground losses:
452 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 63 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled

I count this as a Japanese defeat : forts are back at level one (they build in a day), and the raw odds should be slightly better now that they were yesterday. Which probably means I have a few days to get the forts back to level two.

The escape that wasn’t

Since KB was up north, supporting the troops in Rockhampton, I tried to evacuate a few ships from Brisbane (I have about thirty in port, waiting for an occasion). It didn’t quite work: there were cruisers, and submarines, and then, the KB arrived, and attacked the ships left in port. At the end of the day, I had lost eleven ships, and merely saved a pair of AKE. The rest will hide, and wait for another occasion.

And the ambushes that were

I had noticed yesterday that an unescorted squadron of Kates had attacked my troops, near Condamine. I had a few Warhawks in Brisbane, and sent them on long range CAP. The pilots were green as grass, but the Kates were unescorted, eleven of them are reported lost, with a number of pilots, probably.

The second ambush was a long planned one. Today, the enemy landed in Buna. I had Dauntless and Devastators on watch in Port Moresby, and the two APD that brought an air force company in were badly damaged. None of them is reported sunk, either they managed to escape or died on their way to Rabaul, but it is always a pleasure…

(in reply to fcharton)

Post #: 152

RE: Being good, for a change – SqzMyLemon (J) vs fchart... - 1/29/2016 5:54:14 PM

fcharton

Posts: 1112
Joined: 10/4/2010
From: France
Status: offline

January 30th 1942

Amphib galore

My opponent seems to like amphibious landings. Today, he landed a recon regiment in Bundaberg. With Rockhampton captured, Brisbane invaded and all base in the area under Japanese control, I don’t really see the point. But then, Bundaberg was captured.

In Brisbane, the buildup is going on. I have 500 AV behind level three forts, but the city is in clear terrain, I don’t know how long it can hold.

But this is saving time for the reinforcements to arrive, so…

Port Moresby

Betties and Zeroes raided the airfield, and destroyed a lone Hudson. They are flying from Rabaul, at very long range, and my Warhawks, despite being outnumbered, had a field day. The enemy lost 15 planes yesterday, and 15 more today. I will try to bring a few more fighters to PM, it is good Zero shooting country…

Chinese routine

The wood hex next to Changsha has been contested since the beginning of the game. The 99th Chinese corps is pretty strong (432 AV today), with a good leader and decent field fortifications. The division sent to attack a month ago failed to dislodge it. It was reinforced since by two mixed brigades. They tried again today, not very successfully.

Ground combat at 82,51 (near Changsha)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 25367 troops, 174 guns, 36 vehicles, Assault Value = 780
Defending force 12206 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 432
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2
Japanese ground losses:
2375 casualties reported
Squads: 23 destroyed, 234 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 30 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
674 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 102 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled

The Japanese had more success further south: Kukong fell today. Joseph is advancing on Changsha.

January 31st 1942

Still no cigar

Pingsiang was attacked again, today, forts had not reached level two, and were reduced to zero, but the base held, and the attackers lost more troops than we did.

Ground combat at Pingsiang (82,54)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 37164 troops, 463 guns, 47 vehicles, Assault Value = 917
Defending force 23261 troops, 188 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 485
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0
Japanese ground losses:
876 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 69 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 8 disabled
Allied ground losses:
561 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 54 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled

After three unsuccessful attacks this week, fatique is probably rising, and I suspect I might enjoy some pause, probably enough time to build the forts back to level two. I love Pingsiang!

Near Sinyang, the two corps that defended a wood hex were defeated today. They retreated into the plains, and will most probably be slaughtered there.

Overall, I am satisfied with the war in China. Joseph is progressing, but very slowly, and some of the battles cost him a lot of disabled squads.

Borneo at last

Tarakan was invaded today. I have very little troops there, so it should be an easy capture. On the other side of the island, a long protracted battle is being fought in Pontianak, where the 2/15 Punjab Battalion once again resisted an attack by two naval guard units. I can’t help noticing enemy advance is slow, and this must be a good thing.

< Message edited by fcharton -- 1/29/2016 7:10:05 PM >

(in reply to fcharton)

Post #: 153

RE: Being good, for a change – SqzMyLemon (J) vs fchart... - 1/30/2016 7:21:08 AM

fcharton

Posts: 1112
Joined: 10/4/2010
From: France
Status: offline

This AAR is catching up with the game. The fifth of February is in my mailbox, and I am reporting on the first.

February 1st 1942

More landings

A division from Singapore (the 38th, for those of my readers who like numbers) landed in Tandjoengbalai. This is the southernmost station of the north Sumatra coastal railroad, the one that goes to Medan and Sabang. As I mentioned a few days ago, I did use Medan to evacuate units from Singapore, and Joseph probably concluded that northern Sumatra is fortified. In fact, I have very little there, but having a division committed there is good news.

The rest of the DEI is very quiet. There was no move against Palembang or Southern Sumatra, and nothing in the Celebes except the landings in Tarakan this week. Slow and methodical, I am ok with this.

KB back at sea

I have two cruiser squadrons along the northeastern coast of Australia, the Australia and Perth, of Rockhampton fame, and an American squadron around the Indianapolis, New Orleans and Minneapolis. Two days ago after signal intelligence reported a convoy on its way to Shortlands, I sent the latter to the Solomons. I must have been detected, because KB sailed north, at flank speed judging by its position, and tried to intercept.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rennell Island at 109,140
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 35
B5N2 Kate x 32
D3A1 Val x 45
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 4 damaged
D3A1 Val: 8 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
CA Indianapolis, Bomb hits 1
CA New Orleans, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CA Minneapolis
DD Henley
DD Jarvis

If cost KB six planes, and a couple of pilots, probably.

The New Orleans has 30 system, 19 float and 9 engine damage. She’s down to 25 knots, but can make flank speed. We are four hexes west of Rennel Island (near Guadalcanal), and KB is four hexes west of us. I am running east, trying to intercept a detected task force on the way. Unless KB sails east, and makes a second day at flank speed, I think they should make it.

The absence of KB opens a unique window of opportunity for the ships in Brisbane and Maryborough (which was captured today). There are a dozen of them, small transports and large cargoes. A general escape is planned for tomorrow…

The plains around Changsha

In China, since the beginning of the game, I have been trying to avoid garrisoning clear terrain. Since th cities around Changsha have garrison requirements, I split a Chinese corps into three components to keep a minimal watch over them. Today, Joseph crossed the Blue River into Hengyang, with a division that had no difficulty ousting my garrison. It will make a good bomber target tomorrow.

Capturing the plains around Changsha will turn the city and the neighboring wood hexes into a salient. It also opens the roads to Chungking, and I am moving reinforcements towards Chihkiang and Kweiyang.

February 2nd 1942

Out of harm’s way

The US cruisers made it. KB sailed south east, I was due east. They did catch a lone cargo on their way.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Rennell Island at 110,141, Range 8,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
xAK Kimishima Maru, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
Allied Ships
CA Indianapolis
CA New Orleans
CA Minneapolis
DD Henley
DD Patterson
DD Jarvis

We are now retiring to Suva.

The escape from Brisbane went fine too. KB is too far north to catch them, and there were apparently no surface forces or submarines in the area. I am getting good at this little game.

In western Australia, reinforcements have now disembarked and are boarding trains for Melbourne and its area. About 1200 AV have landed now in Australia, with a few good outfits among them.

Losses, VP and other things one checks at the beginning of a month

VP total are now 11500:10200, a little better than 1.1:1. This month saw the capture of Sydney and Singapore, but I can’t help noticing that the Japanese advance is slow. Sumatra is still mine, as are Java, Mindanao, the Celebes. Brisbane will fall this month, but Melbourne seems out of his reach, now the reinforcements are here, and while KB was busy off the Australian coast, I could reinforce New Caledonia, Fiji and the Samoa, which will be difficult to capture unless he evacuates some of his troops in Australia. Even more interestingly, Burma has seen no action at all, and I have been able to send quite a bit of supplies to China.

I might be terribly wrong, and I know that planning offensives in February 1942 as the Allies is delusional, but I can’t help believing I am in a good posture.

In the air, losses are 550:640, with Joseph losing about 70 planes over the last five days, for very little effect. KB has been operating a lot, and I am pretty certain a number of its pilots and planes are gone. Most importantly, I know precisely where it is.

< Message edited by fcharton -- 1/30/2016 8:25:17 AM >

(in reply to fcharton)

Post #: 154

RE: Being good, for a change – SqzMyLemon (J) vs fchart... - 1/30/2016 3:23:32 PM

Rio Bravo

Posts: 1794
Joined: 7/13/2013
From: Grass Valley, California
Status: offline

Francois-

Whoa!

Those reinforcements are potent.

I do believe that you will secure Brisbane.

Can't say much as I am enjoying reading Squeeze's AAR too.

However, I am an Allied fan and hope you kick the Japanese out of Australia and all the way back to Tokyo!

Best Regards,

-Terry

_____________________________

"No one throws me my own guns and tells me to run. No one."

-Bret (James Coburn); The Magnificent Seven

(in reply to fcharton)

Post #: 155

RE: Being good, for a change – SqzMyLemon (J) vs fchart... - 1/30/2016 3:42:43 PM

BBfanboy

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

One thing about emergency reinforcements to keep in mind - a good part of them are units that were in the planned reinforcement queue and the emergency just caused their immediate move up the list. This is still golden, but they are not "extra units" per se.

_____________________________

No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

(in reply to Rio Bravo)

Post #: 156

RE: Being good, for a change – SqzMyLemon (J) vs fchart... - 1/30/2016 4:18:13 PM

fcharton

Posts: 1112
Joined: 10/4/2010
From: France
Status: offline

Hi Rio Bravo,

I believe it is too late for Brisbane, but I can recapture it later. Melbourne, on the other hand...

quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy
One thing about emergency reinforcements to keep in mind - a good part of them are units that were in the planned reinforcement queue and the emergency just caused their immediate move up the list. This is still golden, but they are not "extra units" per se.

This sent me wondering, so I took a look at the reinforcement queue at the beginning of the scenario. I could not find any of those units (44th British Div, 2nd Para Brigade, 7 SA Armoured tank brigade, 27th Rhodesian, and Natal Mtd Rifles.
Those units, about 950 AV, all seem to be added to the original reinforcement plan.

I suspect this varies from one reinforcement package to the other.

Francois

(in reply to BBfanboy)

Post #: 157

RE: Being good, for a change – SqzMyLemon (J) vs fchart... - 1/30/2016 4:23:30 PM

BillBrown

Posts: 2335
Joined: 6/15/2002
Status: offline

With the exception of the 9th Australian division, all of the Australian invasion reinforcements are units that are not normally received.
And do not forget the extra devices that come in with the invasion mobilization TF.

< Message edited by BillBrown -- 1/30/2016 5:25:32 PM >

(in reply to fcharton)

Post #: 158

RE: Being good, for a change – SqzMyLemon (J) vs fchart... - 1/30/2016 10:31:32 PM

BBfanboy

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

quote:

ORIGINAL: BillBrown

With the exception of the 9th Australian division, all of the Australian invasion reinforcements are units that are not normally received.
And do not forget the extra devices that come in with the invasion mobilization TF.

Hmmm. That seems to be a change from info I got several years ago, so either that info was also off, or changes have been made, or the Australian reinforcements have more new units than some of the other emergency reinforcements.
Anyway, I stand corrected - thanks to you and François.

_____________________________

No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

(in reply to BillBrown)

Post #: 159

RE: Being good, for a change – SqzMyLemon (J) vs fchart... - 1/31/2016 8:01:31 PM

fcharton

Posts: 1112
Joined: 10/4/2010
From: France
Status: offline

February 3rd 1942

A bad day in the air

Over the last ten days, the air war favored the Allies, with a hundred Japanese planes downed, for less than fifty on our side. This got reversed today, as a raid against a recon regiment, in the plains near Wagga Wagga, was intercepted by a squadron of zeroes. I lost 30 planes, half of them Hudsons.

Fortunately, Joseph partially compensated for those losses by sending zeroes to sweep Port Moresby. They fly from Rabaul, and after such a long trip, they become easy targets for my Warhawks. 15 japanese planes were lost today. I am sure Joseph will be back over Port Moresby, and I am planning to reinforce my fighters there. At present, such long range sweeps are my best chance at downing Zeroes or Oscars.

In China, my 4Es attacked Hengyang, and had a field day: clear terrain, units detected because they just fought, those seem to be the best possible conditions. With Chungking at level 6, my bombers fly daily. I don’t think they do a lot of damage, but I’m sure it pesters my opponent.

Looming defeats

Tarakan was bombarded and more landings took place. The base will fall on first try. I have two small cargoes in port, which I will try to save, by sending them to a neighboring base first, and then to Mindanao.

In Brisbane, the Japanese bombarded the city, and revealed our relative strength. Joseph has 1200 AV, against my 500 behind level three forts. I used to think this is enough, but I am beginning to doubt.

February 4th 1942

Brisbane

Following the bombardment yesterday, a first deliberate attack took place today, and the results are worrying. The Japanese achieved 2:1 odds, after reducing the forts one level (to level two). If the same odds can be had again, the city will fall on the next attack, and 500 AV of Australians will be lost.

Somehow, it is logical. We are in February 1942, when Japan is at its peak. On the other hand, I have to try and defend Australia, and I would have liked a little more time. But then, all the reinforcements have arrived, and the capture of Brisbane means a larger perimeter, and 120 more AV needed to garrison the area (for a current total of 500 AV, or about a quarter of the troops present in Australia).

Tarakan

Was captured today. Two infantry regiments and three SNLF units were more than enough against the token force that was left there. My troops retreated in the marsh hex next to the base, and methodical as Joseph is, I am sure he will march there to defeat them. I am fine with this…

Pingsiang

Was the good piece of news in this bleak day. Another deliberate attack found level two forts again, and reduced them one level again, and losses were once again heavier for the Japanese. I am now trying to reinforce the base with the troops retreated from Kukong. There are 250 AV on the road, which might be a nasty surprise.

Ground combat at Pingsiang (82,54)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 37267 troops, 464 guns, 49 vehicles, Assault Value = 917
Defending force 23394 troops, 190 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 462
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese ground losses:
1528 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 98 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 12 disabled
Allied ground losses:
885 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 68 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled

February 5th, 1942

A fairly eventless day.

In China, Hurricanes swept Wuchang, for little effect ( I was hoping to catch some Nates), but the infantry units that defeated two Chinese corps near Sinyang, and in open terrain, had a bad day at the hands of my bombers. A tank regiment is one hex away, I will try it tomorrow…

In Australia, the units retreating from Rockhampton were defeated near Bundaberg, and a recon regiment pursued them into a hex where I have two relatively fresh Australian units. If Joseph doesn’t notice it, he is in for a surprise tomorrow.

Nothing happened in Brisbane, the Japanese are getting ready for the final onslaught, and I’m fearing the worst.

(in reply to BBfanboy)

Post #: 160

RE: Being good, for a change – SqzMyLemon (J) vs fchart... - 2/6/2016 5:00:01 AM

Rio Bravo

Posts: 1794
Joined: 7/13/2013
From: Grass Valley, California
Status: offline

Francois-

Damn.

Brisbane is such a nice cow town too.

I suspect if he tries for Melbourne, a different result will surface.

Best Regards,

-Terry

_____________________________

"No one throws me my own guns and tells me to run. No one."

-Bret (James Coburn); The Magnificent Seven

(in reply to fcharton)

Post #: 161

RE: Being good, for a change – SqzMyLemon (J) vs fchart... - 2/7/2016 7:35:37 AM

fcharton

Posts: 1112
Joined: 10/4/2010
From: France
Status: offline

February 6th 1942

The fall of Brisbane

I had hoped my 500 AV would last longer, but clear terrain is very hard to defend, and Brisbane fell today, with the ten units there surrendering. A small counterattack was planned in the south, but I am countermanding it, since it will now be very easy for Japan to reinforce the south.

The fall of Brisbane changes my plans. I have enough troops in the south to put up a strong defense of Melbourne, and force him to reinforce if he really wants the city, but a counterattack will be difficult to launch once he regroups his units. On the other hand, Japan is now holding a very large perimeter, which invites spoiling attacks that force him to reinforce it.

Near Bundaberg, the recon regiment that pursued yesterday attacked, and achieved 1:2 odds. I am trying to counterattack tomorrow.

February 7th 1942

Brisbane and Bundaberg

Most of the ships in Brisbane harbor had been evacuated last week, while KB was away. As the base fell, a dozen were left, most of them released from the shipyard in damaged state. Joseph had a surface group hunting for them. This was no surprise, as he has been doing this consistently since the opening of the war. I managed to save four ships, now on their way to New Caledonia. Seven were sunk.

Near Bundaberg, my counterattack failed. We should be delaying him for a while.

Sumatra

The 38th Japanese division took Medan today. I have little troops in the area, but so long it takes time… No move towards Palembang or the south of the island has been detected. I am ahppy with this slow pace.

China

In the north, an IJA division attacked a Chinese corps near Paotow. The Chinese held their ground. Joseph will most certainly reinforce, and eventually take the hex, but it is nice to see my KMT boys improving.

Ground combat at 91,33 (near Paotow)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 13192 troops, 104 guns, 24 vehicles, Assault Value = 424
Defending force 5036 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 132
Japanese adjusted assault: 189
Allied adjusted defense: 257
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker: leaders(-)
Japanese ground losses:
85 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
173 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 38 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Assaulting units:
27th Division
Defending units:
11th Chinese Corps

Once the area around Paotow falls, I am seriously considering evacuating Yenan, which is getting difficult to supply and sending the red troops there to Sian, and Lanchow.

In the central plains, I am trying my big bombers against a lone tank unit in open terrain. This is beginning to pay off.

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 17 (1 destroyed, 16 disabled))

February 8th 1942

Endless Bundaberg

And so…

…on the 5th of February, a recon regiment pursued defeated Australian units near Bundaberg, into a hex occupied by two more Australian regiments.
… on the 6th of February, the recon regiment attacked, and the Australians held their ground
… on the 7th of February, the Australian attacked, and the Japanese held their ground
… on the 8th of February…

Ground combat at 94,155 (near Bundaberg)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 799 troops, 4 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 27
Defending force 2296 troops, 25 guns, 50 vehicles, Assault Value = 46
Japanese adjusted assault: 16
Allied adjusted defense: 19
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2
Japanese ground losses:
105 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
89 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Along the coast, Mackay was captured today. I need to prepare the evacuation of Townsville and Charters Towers.

(in reply to Rio Bravo)

Post #: 162

RE: Being good, for a change – SqzMyLemon (J) vs fchart... - 2/8/2016 4:04:50 PM

fcharton

Posts: 1112
Joined: 10/4/2010
From: France
Status: offline

The pace was slower last week as I had issues at work. I am now on leave, and I found a turn in my mailbox this morning. So, here is the last catch-up post.

February 9th 1942

Bad tank country

Near Sinyang, my four engine bombers attacked a Japanese tank regiment. This was the fourth time, and detection is very high, and the terrain is clear, and the die rolls were probably on our side today.

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 28 (18 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 5 (4 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled)

There is no telling whether the losses were tanks or motorized support, but since a typical Tank regiment is 39 tanks and 32 support devices, I believe we destroyed half of its nominal strength today (and a few more during previous raids).

This is important, because tanks are the only units the Chinese cannot fight, and Japan has few of them. Heavy bombers might provide a remedy.

Standing my ground in the air

After Brisbane had fallen, Wagga Wagga was the obvious next target for enemy fighters and bombers. Being in clear terrain, it is not really defensible, but right now, I have troops there, armor, and infantry, and a British AA brigade, all behind level two forts (three in a few days). And I had three squadrons of fighters on patrol. Warhawks, the 1st All Volunteer Group, and a squadron of Wildcats from an American carrier.

The enemy came in force today, first sweeping,

Afternoon Air attack on Wagga Wagga , at 85,167
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 42 NM, estimated altitude 27,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 45
Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 16
P-40E Warhawk x 14
F4F-3A Wildcat x 22
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
H81-A3: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed

Then escorting Sallies

Afternoon Air attack on Wagga Wagga , at 85,167
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 26
Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 8
P-40E Warhawk x 5
F4F-3A Wildcat x 14
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed, 8 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Afternoon Air attack on Wagga Wagga , at 85,167
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 22
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 23
Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 6
P-40E Warhawk x 1
F4F-3A Wildcat x 13
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 7 destroyed, 6 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
F4F-3A Wildcat: 1 destroyed

The butcher’s bill was heavy. We lost seven Warhawks, as many H81-A3, and one Wildcat. My opponent lost ten Zeroes and one Oscar, and twelve Sallies. I will now rest my flyboy, replace the Warhawks, and get ready for the next round. This is costly, but such battles over my bases mean a lot of lost pilots, and I believe I have to dent his navy pilot pools if I want to break his advance.

(in reply to fcharton)

Post #: 163

RE: Being good, for a change – SqzMyLemon (J) vs fchart... - 2/9/2016 7:05:09 PM

fcharton

Posts: 1112
Joined: 10/4/2010
From: France
Status: offline

February 10th and 11th, 1942

After the fall of Brisbane and the air battle over Wagga Wagga, the game is in a pause of sorts. KB is lurking north of Brisbane. If Joseph hopes to catch fleeing, ships, he won’t find many. Japanese paras captured Charters Towers, the base was almost empty. All the eastern coast of Australia is now Japanese, and this will complicate my situation in Port Moresby.

In China, the enemy seems to be on the move. Siangtan, the base just east (mapwise) of Changsha, was captured yesterday, and Joseph is moving more troops into Changsha. He also seems to be reinforcing Pingsiang, which gives me a few more days to build my forts. They should reach level three in three days.

On the eleventh, a couple of raids had been planned, apart from two small bombing runs near Paotow, nothing flew, anywhere on the map. We must have had a general case of bad weather.

So far, February 1942 is not a very interesting month for the allies. I am following the Japanese advance and have little opportunities in term of counterattack.

Life of the good boys
This is the blog part of the AAR, where I discuss anything not game related.

I am on leave for two weeks, to rest and think, but chances are that I will be changing jobs soon. I have been working as a statistician and a programmer for the last 25 years, and have started my company 13 years ago, that develops and sells software used by large media and advertising agencies. We are successful, and profitable, but the more the company grows, the more the market gets crazy about “big data” and the kindergarten vision of statistics and technology that goes with it, the less interesting my job becomes. So, after months trying to find something fun to do in my current position, and failing, I am considering moving on. If someone reads this who might be interested in an old wargamer with a background in mathematics and statistics and experience in programming (C++ mostly), I’m all ears.

The good thing with being on leave, apart from having more time for the game and AAR, is that it allows for reading all those books I bought and postponed until “I have more time”. Over the recent past, we had to develop dashboard, and various screens displaying figures, so I bought books on typography, semiology, design, and even cartography. And since one of the new lives I am considering involves teaching maths and physics, and possibly passing exams to do so, I have been digging my old textbooks, and intend to get back. I will probably comment here on all those readings, which have very little to do with history, or wargaming.

You have been warned, so be ready to skip those “life of the good boys” bits…

(in reply to fcharton)

Post #: 164

RE: Being good, for a change – SqzMyLemon (J) vs fchart... - 2/9/2016 9:42:28 PM

GetAssista

Posts: 2732
Joined: 9/19/2009
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: fcharton
Life of the good boys
...

Oh, that was very interesting, thanks for sharing! Being an economist/analyst with math background myself I keep hearing many of those same words in recent years =) rather excited about some potential usages for the field. Also teaching for fun setting aside one day a week from my full-time job.
Kudos for pursuing fun over profits!

(in reply to fcharton)

Post #: 165

RE: Being good, for a change – SqzMyLemon (J) vs fchart... - 2/13/2016 8:06:15 AM

fcharton

Posts: 1112
Joined: 10/4/2010
From: France
Status: offline

February 12th, 1942

The last of the merchants

AG Goldstar was sunk near Manado. She had spent thebeginning of the war hiding in Zamboanga, and was trying to reach Darwin. Over the last few month, I have been extricating most of the small merchant ships that begin the game in the Philippines or in northern Borneo. Most of them managed to sail from Mindanao to Ambon and then to Darwin unscathed. My opponent is not keeping very strict patrols, this is a good thing to know. Right now, I have two light cruisers left near Manila, and a few submarines still operating from Luzon, but the retreat will soon be complete.

This done, I probably have to evacuate some of the ships that are now in Northern Australia, and those in Java. I don’t need them any time soon, and there is no reason of providing the Empire with a few more victory points.

While I am at it, I might as well try to take advantage of the weak patrols to resupply some of my troops. Luzon and Mindanao are both very low on supply, maybe I can sneak some in…

Movement in the North

Since the beginning of the war, the Japanese did not seem to care about northern China. There were a few early probes towards Yenan, and then Sian, but all of them retreated once Joseph saw I had garrisoned some of the hexes.

Today, the Chinese Corps defending Paotow was defeated. This is my fault. I moved close to the base, to see if it was still occupied, Joseph detected the unit and attacked it. I am now retreating towards Ningsia and Lanchow.

But there is a lot of movement between Kaifeng and Taiyuan, and it seems an offensive is being prepared. I am wondering what to do. On the one hand, I have lots of troops there, in defensive terrain, sometimes behind forts, so there is a good defensive potential. On the other, northern China is very hard to keep supplied.

Cheap crossing

Since the fall of Siangtan, Japanese were seen trying to cross the river into Changsha, closing another hexside around the city. They did it today, and the shock attack went very bad. It was done on the cheap though, with just one armored car unit, that was destroyed in the process. Joseph now knows I have 3000 AV in Changsha, he doesn’t know about the forts, yet….

Ground combat at Changsha (82,52)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 750 troops, 46 guns, 31 vehicles, Assault Value = 1500
Defending force 118717 troops, 528 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3068
Assault collapses, survivors seek cover
Japanese ground losses:
101 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 16 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 9 (2 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 18 (18 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1
Allied ground losses:
41 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

The major risk, here, is getting Changsha surrounded. The city does produce some supply, but not enough to feed the troops there. So far, I could keep the northern road open, and I am reinforcing the hex north of it. I should be able to rotate troops there, and make its capture a long affair. If this can be achieved, I believe I will be in a good situation in China.

Life of the good boys – Typographers and esthètes

Over the last few of months, I have been working on dashboards, nice screenshots that are supposed to summarize a complex system in a few data-poor but color-savvy graphics, and let the user go “ahah”, and make the right decision at first glance (all this while multitasking, upholding company values, engaging in fruitful social activities, promoting diversity in the workplace, travelling the world, being a concerned, and efficient, parent and spouse, and keeping perfectly groomed all the time). This, of course is a modern fantasy, as any AE player or Tracker user will know. There is no way you can summarize a complex situation in a few figures, charts are nice, but most of them don’t really help, and there is no magic alternative for looking at things and thinking intently.

But dashboards do exist? Sure, there are dashboards in cars, and planes, and on my phone, but they seldom are as simple as business types think, and they tend to focus on a very specific job. Again, AE players know better: if the problem is simple, you don’t need three pie charts and a graph to solve it, if it is complicated, there is no way three pie charts and a graph will suffice. And so, most of the time, efficient dashboards are designed to pack a maximum of data and controls over a minimum of space.

This is where typography becomes important. Like many, I used to see it as a purely esthetic concern, something supposed to make books and printed materiel “look nice”. But thinking of it, books are extremely dense representations of data, just like printed charts (like the logarithm tables of yore), and typographers have been thinking for centuries about how to make such dense data readable, and even enjoyable, by everyone.

This is how I came to read Bringhurst’s Elements of typographic style, a book I really loved because it not only speaks of the technical details, but try to give an esthetic rationale for them. In other words, it doesn’t just teach you what to do, but why, in his opinion, you should do so. Bringhurst is interesting because he is not only a typographer, but a user of typography (he is a writer and poet), and his esthetic recommendation serve a definite purpose : by making things look nicer, you allow for easier reading of dense data displays. Esthetics is not an end but a means to an end: better grasp of complex data.

(in reply to GetAssista)

Post #: 166

RE: Being good, for a change – SqzMyLemon (J) vs fchart... - 2/13/2016 10:47:54 PM

Rio Bravo

Posts: 1794
Joined: 7/13/2013
From: Grass Valley, California
Status: offline

Hey Francois-

I am lost regarding "Typography?"

I am going to see if I can find Bringhurst's book and find out what the heck you are talking about.

Your pal,

-Terry

_____________________________

"No one throws me my own guns and tells me to run. No one."

-Bret (James Coburn); The Magnificent Seven

(in reply to fcharton)

Post #: 167

RE: Being good, for a change – SqzMyLemon (J) vs fchart... - 2/14/2016 1:34:42 AM

BBfanboy

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

Amen, François!
I don't know how many times I had to tell people writing reports to me to break up their megablock paragraphs and provide some white space to let the eye and brain have a break in concentration for a second. Then I went after their long, run-on sentences which frequently did not stay on-topic ...

Fonts are another issue since the electronic age, and my own advancing age. Making tall fonts (as on movie posters) and using serif'd fonts is guaranteed to boggle my eyes from any distance or small size picture. And fonts with variable spacing that tuck the letter "i" under an overhanging T or next to an "n" are other examples of unkind typography.

_____________________________

No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

(in reply to fcharton)

Post #: 168

RE: Being good, for a change – SqzMyLemon (J) vs fchart... - 2/14/2016 7:59:34 PM

fcharton

Posts: 1112
Joined: 10/4/2010
From: France
Status: offline

February 13th and 14th 1942

Not much to report today, gamewise. The air force company in Buna was bombed by Banshees based in Port Moresby. This unit is isolated, and too far from supporting base. The Lark Battalion is on its way to take the base back, over the Kokoda trail.

In China, I lost a handful of B-17 to a CAP trap. 4E losses are still fairly low, but I need to be prudent.
In Pingsiang, the forts are now level three, but the Japanese are maneuvering to surround the city. There is little I can do about it.

In Australia, Joseph is obviously relocating his troops towards Sydney. As his next move, he might march on Melbourne, or first focus on the isolated units north of Sydney. I’d prefer the latter, which would give me more time to reinforce.

On the 14th, Palembang was invaded. I have very little left there. Joseph comes in with a division, which means two divisions in Sumatra. This is a good thing. The more he has here, the less are sent against Burma.

Life of the good guys

Terry, typography is the art of typesetting books, or other printed documents, choosing, font, spacing, and taking care of the details which make some books very readable (and others very tiring).

< Message edited by fcharton -- 2/14/2016 9:03:46 PM >

(in reply to BBfanboy)

Post #: 169

RE: Being good, for a change – SqzMyLemon (J) vs fchart... - 2/15/2016 5:41:13 PM

fcharton

Posts: 1112
Joined: 10/4/2010
From: France
Status: offline

February 15th 1942

Bye bye Sumatra

Palembang fell today. Against a full division, the handful of battalions I had there stood no chance.

Now that Palembang is captured, nothing hold me in Sumatra, and I am evacuating the ships that remained in Oosthaven. I had been patrolling the Indian Ocean near the port, but apparently missed a submarine, and a Dutch transport was torpedoed. The rest of the ships are on their way to Ceylon.

Lucky Celebes

Yesterday, a lone transport was detected in Ternate, and a squadron of Dauntless was dispatched to Ambon, in the hope of catching Joseph off guard. However they found a juicier target, a small invasion force on its way south. We were close to Manado, and so there were Zeroes on long range patrol, that shot down four bombers. But the transports were hit, and I am pretty certain one of them sunk with a little more than what is reported here (ground loss VP went up 6 points, which means 36 squads or devices).

Morning Air attack on TF, near Loewoek at 73,102
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 9
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
xAK Meisho Maru, Bomb hits 1
xAK Midori Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
Japanese ground losses:
90 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Where was this task force headed? Kendari looks like a possible destination, and there will be more bombers waiting there. I am happy with those small victories that slow the Japanese advance.

An air victory at last

Attacks in Australia follow a pattern. First, Joseph sweeps the base, then sends the bombers, then the tanks move in and try to pin the defenders, and then the big infantry divisions come for the kill. With Brisbane captured, it seemed logical that Wagga Wagga, where I have substantial forces, would be attacked. In preparation, I moved a couple of AA units, and some of my best fighter squadrons. Today, I had what was left of the first AVG, and the two fighter squadrons from the Lexington and Enterprise. Everybody was rested, the CAP flew high but on different altitudes, we were ready for them.

There were two raids, Zeroes first and then Oscars. We had more planes, good experience, and so we prevailed.

Morning Air attack on Wagga Wagga , at 85,167
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 17 NM, estimated altitude 28,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 33
Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 6
F2A-3 Buffalo x 26
F4F-3A Wildcat x 21
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3A Wildcat: 1 destroyed
Aircraft Attacking:
12 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 25000 feet

Morning Air attack on Wagga Wagga , at 85,167
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 47 NM, estimated altitude 29,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 28
Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 5
F2A-3 Buffalo x 19
F4F-3A Wildcat x 15
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 6 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
H81-A3: 1 destroyed
F2A-3 Buffalo: 1 destroyed

12 Zeroes and 13 Oscars are reported lost, for lost four US fighters. The AVG is down to ten planes, and will be transferred to Melbourne to upgrade to Airacobras. The navy fighters will rest tomorrow, and be reinforced with a squadron of Warhawks.

(in reply to fcharton)

Post #: 170

RE: Being good, for a change – SqzMyLemon (J) vs fchart... - 2/16/2016 6:25:12 AM

Rio Bravo

Posts: 1794
Joined: 7/13/2013
From: Grass Valley, California
Status: offline

Francois-

Thank you for explaining about "typography."

I did some research, read a few essays on the subject. It was actually rather interesting.

Best Regards,

-Terry

P.S.-You have to love it and take those small victories when the early Allied Aircraft shoot down some Japanese planes.

_____________________________

"No one throws me my own guns and tells me to run. No one."

-Bret (James Coburn); The Magnificent Seven

(in reply to fcharton)

Post #: 171

RE: Being good, for a change – SqzMyLemon (J) vs fchart... - 2/17/2016 8:13:53 AM

fcharton

Posts: 1112
Joined: 10/4/2010
From: France
Status: offline

February 16th 1942

Those poor paras

In this game, Japanese parachutists never seemed to achieve anything. They were dropped a couple of times to speed the advance of Singapore, but failed to trap anything. Then, during the initial advance in Australia, the 1st Raiding was used inland, but barely succeeded once, and badly missed the second time, to be defeated by a counterattack. A third attempt happened today, and paras were dropped over the stack that retreated from Palembang. I suspect Joseph wants to reembark his division, and hoped he could speed his advance. It didn’t work, though… This won’t save Sumatra, but the fewer paras the merrier.

Ground combat at Praboemoelih (48,92)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 289 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 20
Defending force 2222 troops, 14 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 45
Japanese adjusted assault: 0
Allied adjusted defense: 10
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 99 (fort level 0)
Japanese ground losses:
225 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
16 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

And Loewoek it was

The task force attacked yesterday landed in Loewoek. The base was unoccupied, and will most certainly be captured tomorrow. The landing unit is the Kure 1st SNLF, I probably damaged it yesterday.

Loewoek being out of range of my Dauntless squadron in Ambon, they turned their attention to the task force near Ternate I had planned to surprise yesterday. There were zeroes capping but Joseph tends to fly them too high (over 20 000 feet, here), and my bombers probably arrived unseen, under the clouds, and got themselves a cargo.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ternate at 78,102
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14
Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 6
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
xAK Yosyu Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Bad idea

Burma is incredibly quiet, and since two brand new Blenheim IV squadrons had arrived in the theater, I based them in Moulmein, and thought I’d bombard Bangkok, to keep Joseph honest. It was a bad idea, there were Oscars 1b on CAP, and I lost seven Blenheim, to no damage to the installations. Interestingly, four Oscars were reported lost.

Today I detected a unit one hex away from Moulmein. I will try to bomb it tomorrow, but I don’t think it is his main force. In all likeliness, Burma will be invaded by sea, and it won’t be anytime soon.

I don’t understand my opponent’s design in Burma and India. The early and bloodless capture of Singapore should have helped are rapid advance, either on land, or over the sea to Tavoy, but he seems to be taking his time, and it seems very likely nothing will happen in this area before March. I can’t help finding this a little fishy, and wondering whether he is planning for something big and bold, but KB is in Australia, together with a significant portion of his forces, and nothing seems to be happening in the Dutch Indies or the Celebes. I just don’t get it…

(in reply to Rio Bravo)

Post #: 172

RE: Being good, for a change – SqzMyLemon (J) vs fchart... - 2/17/2016 1:43:32 PM

Kofiman

Posts: 40
Joined: 7/8/2014
Status: offline

There might be a seige situation in the works at Changsha.. and if so he'll want to close all the hexsides. Those open terrain cities might offer you an opportunity, as without terrain bonuses, you might be able to retreat an understrength attack. That could set the process back weeks, and give you a shot at beating up a division or so.

(in reply to fcharton)

Post #: 173

RE: Being good, for a change – SqzMyLemon (J) vs fchart... - 2/18/2016 3:03:12 PM

obvert

Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011
From: PDX (and now) London, UK
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: fcharton

Life of the good boys
This is the blog part of the AAR, where I discuss anything not game related.

I am on leave for two weeks, to rest and think, but chances are that I will be changing jobs soon. I have been working as a statistician and a programmer for the last 25 years, and have started my company 13 years ago, that develops and sells software used by large media and advertising agencies. We are successful, and profitable, but the more the company grows, the more the market gets crazy about “big data” and the kindergarten vision of statistics and technology that goes with it, the less interesting my job becomes. So, after months trying to find something fun to do in my current position, and failing, I am considering moving on. If someone reads this who might be interested in an old wargamer with a background in mathematics and statistics and experience in programming (C++ mostly), I’m all ears.

The good thing with being on leave, apart from having more time for the game and AAR, is that it allows for reading all those books I bought and postponed until “I have more time”. Over the recent past, we had to develop dashboard, and various screens displaying figures, so I bought books on typography, semiology, design, and even cartography. And since one of the new lives I am considering involves teaching maths and physics, and possibly passing exams to do so, I have been digging my old textbooks, and intend to get back. I will probably comment here on all those readings, which have very little to do with history, or wargaming.

You have been warned, so be ready to skip those “life of the good boys” bits…

quote:

a

Hi Francois. Good to see an AAR of yours going.

Interesting post and decision. I can advocate a bit for teaching. It does give something back, and it's never boring. Plus, in the right position, you can actually have some influence.

Look forward to being around a bit more and reading your game and book reviews/thoughts.

_____________________________

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill

(in reply to fcharton)

Post #: 174

RE: Being good, for a change – SqzMyLemon (J) vs fchart... - 2/19/2016 1:38:29 PM

fcharton

Posts: 1112
Joined: 10/4/2010
From: France
Status: offline

February 17th and 18th, 1942

Whither the paras

Palembang is occupied and Japanese paras are isolated in Praboemoelih, one hex away, after they failed to capture the hex. I was expecting Joseph to move across the river, and open a supply line for his troops. But this didn’t happen, neither on the 17th, nor on the 18th. Did he forget?

Elsewhere in Sumatra, after a reinforced division landed in Medan, only a regiment was sent to pursue the defeated defenders. And it seems to be proving inadequate. Today, an attack resulted in 1:2 odds.

Ground combat at Langsa (46,74)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 3807 troops, 20 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 127
Defending force 3695 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 42
Japanese adjusted assault: 26
Allied adjusted defense: 27
Japanese ground losses:
42 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
170 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
112th Infantry Regiment
Defending units:
Medan Cdo
Van Aarsen Cdo
Sabang Cdo
HQ TC Sumatra
223 Group RAF
1e-VLG-V Sup Afd
11 Battery/3 HAA

The Moulmein mystery

The units detected next to Moulmein yesterday were bombed today, and proved to be a lone RTA unit, now retreating towards Rahaeng. This is not the real thing yet, and Burma will probably be mine until March. I don’t complain. One British CV in is the bay of Bengal, the Hermes should join her soon. I have been sailing her close to the Japanese detection limit. I want Joseph to know she’s here, because I suspect this will slow his advance even more. And since KB seems to be staying around Australia, I am considering sending US carriers in the Indian Ocean.

Go figure!

Clark Field was swept today, for the first time this year. As I have very little to oppose, I had left a token CAP, a few P26A and Airacobras, outnumbered one to four. Predictable outcome, eh?

Morning Air attack on Clark Field , at 79,76
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 19
Ki-44 Tojo x 8
Allied aircraft
P-26A x 2
P-39D Airacobra x 5
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-44 Tojo: 1 destroyed
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Ki-44 Tojo sweeping at 15000 feet
CAP engaged:
34th PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 5 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes
6th PS PAAC with P-26A (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes

And Tracker announces four Oscars and two Tojos, for no allied losses. Take that, evil emperor!

Liberating Australia

Today, a first Australian base was liberated from the Japanese yoke. The Natal Mounted Rifles, a cool South African regiment sporting Marmon Herringtons, rolled inland, and liberated Tamworth. Now onward to Armidale. Both bases are unoccupied, and will certainly be recaptured, but I want to try and force Joseph to garrison his bases. I now have almost 2000 AV in Melbourne, Geelong, Wagga Wagga, and Benalla, and more are on their way. If I can force Japan to spread his units a bit, I should be able to speed recapture.

More figures

The VP totals were strange, today. On the 17th, Japan VP count went down 270 points, and on the 18th by 1200 more. The base point total is responsible for this, which means a huge base must be unsupplied, and Sydney is the most likely culprit. Of course, it might just be a wrong parameter: Brisbane drawing all supplies, while all the big units arrive in Sydney, but it might also mean that Japan is experiencing supply difficulties in Australia.

Life of the good boys

My two weeks off are ending, I will be back in Paris on Sunday and in the office on Monday. I am not happy about it, but it cannot be helped. On my reading list, last week, was a book by American designer Don Norman, titled the design of everyday things. This was my second reading of it, and as often with good books, it was even better than the first.

The book is mostly a discussion about what ‘user friendly’ means. How should an object, or a computer program, actually help the user, instead of forcing him to adapt to some engineer or artist centered interface. The general idea is that objects should advertise their features (ie let one know what they can do) and provide the user with some “conceptual model” as to the way it functions. The model does not need to be correct, so long it helps operate the object. In other words, it is ok if the steering wheel doesn’t really steer your boat, so long the simple model it provides (ie same as a car) helps you control it.

The most interesting part of the book is a long discussion on human error. Norman explains that we tend to use “human error” as a scapegoat for everything that goes wrong. When something goes wrong, we always look for human errors, and most of the time, stop there, he says. And as this is done in hindsight, it is usually all too easy to find a culprit. The fact that the system let the error happen is seldom questioned.

I suspect this tolerance for human error is a modern thing, and the product of our education systems. In the past, when most of the people were uneducated, the idea that “errors would happen” was deeply ingrained, hence the drills, and all the foolproof procedures (especially common in the military). Moderner tend to criticize this as “inefficiencies”, and state that one should “trust the people” (because people are bright, and educated, and…), and end up giving up redundancy, which causes errors, which get punished, which creates stress, and frustration, and more errors…

What I like in Norman is that he views design as a means, not as an end. Like typography, design is good when it is useful, and it sometimes happens that it is beautiful too, but beauty is not the goal.

And welcome back, Obvert, it is a nice surprise! I am very curious about teaching. The few experiences I had with it were a lot of fun. On the other hand, the pay is abominable, here, and I have a family to support… I am registering for replacement postings, to test the water, I will most certainly report on this.

(in reply to obvert)

Post #: 175

RE: Being good, for a change – SqzMyLemon (J) vs fchart... - 2/19/2016 2:14:53 PM

BBfanboy

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

I agree with your observations on human error. When I was preparing our office for ISO 9001 certification one of the key steps was to make it hard for ordinary workers to make mistakes, and to trap any mistakes they made before they caused problems throughout the system. We spent a lot of money getting technology that would help the guy/gal on the floor. Uncorrected error rates dropped to less than one in a million.

_____________________________

No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

(in reply to fcharton)

Post #: 176

RE: Being good, for a change – SqzMyLemon (J) vs fchart... - 2/19/2016 8:25:20 PM

fcharton

Posts: 1112
Joined: 10/4/2010
From: France
Status: offline

February 19th, 1942

Not with a bang but a whimper

A small line at the end of the combat report signals the end of the 3rd SNLF attempt at taking Praboemoelih from the air: “Japanese Unit(s) Wiped Out at Praboemoelih by attrition!!!” Our LCU VP count goes up four points.

Speaking of which, Sydney must have been resupplied, as the Japanese total VP was back up by 1300 points today.

Bad day over Moulmein

Zeroes and Oscars swept Moulmein. I had two squadrons of Hurricanes, but this obviously wasn’t enough. It seems you need to match the first sweep two to one to be able to break the attack. I had 30 Hurries against as many Zeroes, and then again as many Oscars, we lost 16 Hurricanes to five Zeroes and two Oscars.

It seems that sweeps never coordinate, and Joseph often uses two squadrons. I need 60 fighters in a base to defend successfully. We’ll be back in Moulmein…

News from down Under

Zeroes swept Tamworth, followed by Sallies, but my Natal riflemen had moved on, to Armidale, which they should capture tomorrow. KB is in Bundaberg, apparently very busy destroying the three hapless LH MG regiments fleeing inland. I am fine with this.

(in reply to BBfanboy)

Post #: 177

RE: Being good, for a change – SqzMyLemon (J) vs fchart... - 2/28/2016 8:36:26 PM

fcharton

Posts: 1112
Joined: 10/4/2010
From: France
Status: offline

The game has been moving on, but I lack the time for the AAR. Trying to catch up, here…
March 1st 1942

The war so far

The Japanese conquest went on throughout February but at a relatively slow pace. In Australia, all the eastern coast is now under Japanese control (Cairns was captured today), but the Allied buildup in the south went on. I now have about 2000 AV around Melbourne, the former defenders of Sydney are still around, and supplied, and two American and an Australian division are on their way. Meanwhile, one Japanese division (the 33rd) has left Australia for operations in the South Pacific. I am not yet ready for reconquest, but I am pretty sure Melbourne is safe, and things are moving in the right direction.

In China, very little is happening. Sieges are going on in Pingsiang and Chuhsien, and the area around Changsha seems stabilized. There is no attempt at a move on Chihkiang or Kweiyang. In the north, the troop movements I detected a while ago seem to have stopped. A column is progressing along the Yellow river, from Paotow to Lanchow, but with Yenan under Chinese control, I suspect they will be difficult to keep supplied…

Not much happened in the East Indies. Northern Sumatra is falling, slowly. In the south, the allied advance stopped south of Palembang. There was no move against Java, or the Southern Celebes. KB was detected near Port Moresby yesterday, though. Maybe Joseph is planning to move north, through the Torres Straits and support further action there.

Finally, there were no moves against Burma or the Andamans. Nicobar was heavily recced, lately, but the road to Moulmein is still empty, save a few Thai units next to Rahaeng. This means the Burma road is open, and China is well supplied (total supply has been stable, around 130k tons, since the beginning of January).

I am happy with this state of affairs. Apart from the bold move against Australia, Japan seems to be on a rather slow and methodical track, and there have been very few attempts at preventing me to move reinforcements around.

There is only a month to go for the Japanese invasion bonus, another month until my Australian buildup becomes very strong. At present, I am on the defensive, and have, unfortunately, little worth reporting, but the prospects seem good.

Port Moresby at last

KB was detected yesterday between Cairns and Port Moresby. Ships trying to flee Cairns were sunk, but a raid against Port Moresby was met by Spitfires and Warhawks, and resulted in nine Zeroes and twelve Kates shot down (and, probably, a good number of good pilots lost).

Today, Port Moresby was invaded by the 33rd infantry division, a tank regiment and an engineer regiment. I have 160 AV, behind level three forts, with supplies. I can only hope they last a while.

Liberating Australia

At present, I have about 1500 AV in or next to Melbourne, 500 in Wagga Wagga, and about 500 more scattered between Sale, Benalla and Adelaïde. 400 AV more, the former defenders of Sydney, are one hex north of the city, not surrounded, and probably hard to defeat now (the hex has a pretty low stacking limit).

The Japanese landed about 2 200 AV in Australia, but 500 have been sent to Port Moresby, garrison requirements represent 500 more, and several hundred more are probably scattered in the north (the Japanese perimeter is large). Right now, the Japanese masse de manoeuvre in Australia is probably below a thousand AV.

The forest hex west of Goulburn seems evacuated, and Goulburn and Canberra lightly held. I am sending armored units there. It is still too early for a real offensive, so this will be, at best, a reconnaissance in force. But it should force Joseph to react, and it might even reduce the pressure on the units north of Sydney (saving them would help a lot future attempts at reconquest).

(in reply to fcharton)

Post #: 178

RE: Being good, for a change – SqzMyLemon (J) vs fchart... - 2/29/2016 11:11:49 AM

fcharton

Posts: 1112
Joined: 10/4/2010
From: France
Status: offline

March 2nd 1942

The northern expedition

Since the beginning of 1942, most of the Japanese efforts in China focused on the south of the Blue River, over an area ranging from Canton, and Shanghai, to Changsha. This is fairly untypical, as most seasoned China players (and Joseph definitely is one) tend to march on Sian and Lanchow early on. In this game, Joseph probed the roads east of Taiyuan (to Yenan and Sian), but retreated once he met the first garrisons. After the fall of Nanyang, he did probe the road to Sian, but once again retreated from the first enemy-occupied hex. At present, Loyang is still ours, as are Tsiaotso and Kaoping, and the area had become very quiet.

In the beginning of February, the Chinese corps and the headquarter unit defending the northernmost road, along the loop of the Yellow River, west of Paotow, were attacked, and sent retreating along the River, towards Ningsia. To my surprise, the Japanese pursued, and a four unit column (one infantry division, a flak outfit, and two tank regiments) are now 200 miles west of Paotow. Getting them supplied seems complicated, as this combat report shows:

Ground combat at 88,31 (near Dalan Dzadagad)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 384 troops, 0 guns, 70 vehicles, Assault Value = 72
Defending force 3256 troops, 40 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 37
Japanese adjusted assault: 8
Allied adjusted defense: 25
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), leaders(-), disruption(-)
experience(-)
Attacker:
Allied ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
15th Tank Regiment
11th Tank Regiment
Defending units:
11th Chinese Corps

The tanks had everything for them, yet…
I am bombing his troops from Yenan, and with some of my 4E in Chungking (only the Liberators and B17-D can reach them)

Today, Joseph attacked Yenan by air. I had transferred Hurricanes, just in case, and in the initial sweep, six Oscars were shot down, for five Hurricanes. But Yenan is difficult to supply, and to keep as a forward air base. So I suppose I will retire my bombers to Sian and Lanchow, and wait for the column to advance (and maybe even try to cut their long supply line…)

Meanwhile, I am reinforcing Lanchow, but unless Joseph takes Yenan and uses it as a forward supply hub, which will take a while, I doubt this western expedition can succeed.

Wonders down under

The wooden rough hex west of Goulburn was probed today, and it was empty of the infantry regiment which used to garrison it. Canberra seems evacuated, and just an infantry battalion has apparently been left in Goulburn. A few hexes north, troops have been detected leaving Katoomba and Bathurst. Everything looks as the Japanese are evacuating the area south of Sydney.

What is Joseph trying? He has enough troops to defend, and there is no point abandoning good terrain. It might be a trap, letting me advance, to bomb my troops and counterattack later. After all, it sort of worked in Tamworth. But the balance of force is not as clearly in Joseph’s favor as it were a month ago, and this is a risky proposition, as the counterattack might prove costly. I am taking it as a trap, and moving prudently into it.

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by fcharton -- 2/29/2016 11:12:16 AM >

(in reply to fcharton)

Post #: 179

RE: Being good, for a change – SqzMyLemon (J) vs fchart... - 2/29/2016 11:32:20 AM

Rio Bravo

Posts: 1794
Joined: 7/13/2013
From: Grass Valley, California
Status: offline

Francois-

I'm just chuckling at your statement, "I am taking it as a trap, and moving prudently into it."

It does appear that things are getting much tougher now for the Japanese in Australia.

Best Regards,

-Terry

_____________________________

"No one throws me my own guns and tells me to run. No one."

-Bret (James Coburn); The Magnificent Seven

(in reply to fcharton)

Post #: 180

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