RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A)

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All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition >> After Action Reports >> RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A)

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RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 5/19/2016 2:19:25 PM

Lowpe

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Really well done!

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RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 5/19/2016 2:57:04 PM

PaxMondo

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Really well done!

+1

_____________________________

Pax

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RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 5/19/2016 3:38:08 PM

mind_messing

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Eh, I know how Pyrrhus of Epirus felt after that. I won, but the cost was high, and I've not actually done any serious harm to the Allied war machine. Still, a battle won is better than a battle lost. Need to capitalise on it to milk it for all its worth.

(in reply to PaxMondo)

Post #: 663

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 5/19/2016 6:28:15 PM

obvert

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Nice work!

All you have to do is keep hitting him as he comes forward. Take a tithe for all space lost!

_____________________________

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

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RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 5/19/2016 7:41:57 PM

Bif1961

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Looks like all his CVEs will be sunk or at least unable to provide air cover. I know Allies get 100+ CVEs but this will put a crimp in short time operations until these can be replaced. A good display of what a prepared japanese defender can do against an Allied player who thinks Japan is beat.

(in reply to obvert)

Post #: 665

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 5/19/2016 10:55:13 PM

mind_messing

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Here's the situation on the ground.

I'm going to keep the KB around for another day or two while I bring in two DD forces and another CL TF. The KB will sidestep to the south-west in case any Allied suicide DD task forces have a go at them. I'm quite content with just sending lighter IJN ships into action as the Allies don't seem to have anything larger than a CL, and they've spent their ammo bombarding Sorong this turn.

If the Allies run for the hills, as I think they might, these ships will bombard the living daylights out of the Allied troops on shore and withdraw.

(in reply to Bif1961)

Post #: 666

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 5/19/2016 11:09:16 PM

mind_messing

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Here's the air losses for today.

More than 400 aircraft is a steep price to pay for such a victory, it's not too bad considering. Zero's are abundant. The D4Y3 is now an outdated model with the D3Y4 in production, and I've a couple hundred for the 'D3 in the pools. About 40% of the Judy losses came from a land-based squadron, so the KB isn't hurt too badly in that regard.

The Grace's hurt the most, seeing as I'm trying to convert the CV torpedo squadrons to them. Jill's are in abundance, seeing as they'll be my main '45 kamikazie plane. The other losses should be absorbed by the ample pools.

In terms of pilots, I've more IJN dive and torpedo bomber pilots than I would know what to do with, though IJN fighter pilots are a bit scarce. IJA losses weren't too bad so shouldn't be a problem.

(in reply to mind_messing)

Post #: 667

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 5/24/2016 9:59:47 PM

mind_messing

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August 7th, 1944

SWPAC

I'm trying to capitalize on the success of the action of Sorong for all that it's worth. Quite a great deal happened, so I'll condense the turn and focus on the important engagements.

After their success the previous day, the light cruisers Nagara and Abukuma make their escape after an inconclusive engagement with some Fletchers. This is great, as it draws the Allied ships away from their destroyer escorts, which parted ways due to damage the previous day.

Some slow E-class escorts that I had sent to interfere with the landings find two task forces, some APA's and the CVE Shipley Bay, but get driven off by the escorting American destroyers without causing any real damage. Later in the day the E-class ships run into an American heavy cruiser force and get smashed. I'd rather lose expendable ASW ships that real combat ships.

The Matsu-class destroyers get their combat debut as they hunt down Allied ships operating around Biak while Allied attention is drawn to the north.

quote:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Biak at 88,109, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Matsu
DD Momo
DD Take

Allied Ships
AM Champion, Shell hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Competent, Shell hits 3, on fire
SC-640, Shell hits 4, on fire
AK Arided, Shell hits 6, on fire
AK Murzim, Shell hits 26, heavy fires, heavy damage
AK Sterope, Shell hits 17, heavy fires
AK Naos, Shell hits 43, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AK Venus, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Night Time Surface Combat, near Biak at 87,109, Range 14,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Matsu
DD Momo
DD Take

Allied Ships
AK Phobos, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AKA Artemis
AKA Andromeda, Shell hits 4, on fire
LCI(G)-220
LCI(G)-366
LCI(G)-465
LCI(G)-466
LCI-622, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
LCI-624
LCI-625
LCI-626
LCI-627
LCI-629, Shell hits 2, and is sunk

Some B-25's strafe the Japanese destroyers during the night phase; the Matsu takes a bomb and the other ships get some .50 sized ventilation ducts installed. The effectiveness of night-time strafing attacks from the B-25s was a concern - this might be a very effective use of B-25s for Loka, so I need to watch...

Later on in the day the Take wanders into an American cruiser force and gets sunk.

Daybreak sees a Fletcher death-squad roam against a convoy heading for Japan with resources. These ships had been dropping troops off on Java, and just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Carelessness on my part:

quote:

Day Time Surface Combat, near Talaud-eilanden at 78,99, Range 18,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Konsan Maru
PB Mikage Maru, Shell hits 21, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Hokko Maru, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
xAK Miyadono Maru, Shell hits 2
xAK Sekiho Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire
xAK Sinkyo Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Taian Maru, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Yamahagi Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire
xAK Ryusei Maru, Shell hits 3
xAK Tosei Maru
xAK Nitiho Maru, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Hokkai Maru
xAK Cheribon Maru

Allied Ships
DD Bennett
DD Bradford
DD Erben
DD Haggard
DD Hale
DD Sigourney

In the air, we get a good start to the day with sweeps in Burma, but a small flight of Jills puts down a wounded Allied CVE from the previous day:

quote:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Sansapor at 83,107

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B6N2 Jill x 4
Ki-84a Frank x 9

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IV x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N2 Jill: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk IV: 6 destroyed

Allied Ships
CVE Petrof Bay, Kamikaze hits 1, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B6N2 Jill bombing from 3000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

I had these aircraft on low-nav attack with bombs seeing as we were saving torpedos for the IJA/IJN 2E torpedo bombers, so a kami hit was great, and confirmation of another sunk CVE is great!

Not to be outdone by the IJN, some IJA dive-bombers fly and sink some more shipping, including another CVE:

quote:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Sansapor at 84,107

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-IIc Lily x 24
Ki-100-I Tony x 12

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-IIc Lily: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
FM-2 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
TBM-1C Avenger: 4 destroyed

Allied Ships
DE Mitchell, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVE Thetis Bay, Bomb hits 9, and is sunk
DE Reynolds, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DE Bangust, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Scratch two-flat tops. Unless it's FOW, I'm amazed at the resilience of the Allied CVE's. Both the Thetis Bay and Petrof Bay tooks serious damage on the 6th, so it's a testament to Allied damage control. Or Loka got lucky. In my experience with Allied CVE's they've not been the most resilient of ships to battle damage.

On the ground, the fighting intenifes as I try to throw the Allies out of Sorong and rush reinforcements to Sansapor.

quote:

Ground combat at Sorong (82,107)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 15924 troops, 172 guns, 136 vehicles, Assault Value = 252

Defending force 1863 troops, 39 guns, 58 vehicles, Assault Value = 51

Japanese adjusted assault: 140

Allied adjusted defense: 43

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
388 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 27 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
106 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 20 disabled

Assaulting units:
2nd Amphibious Brigade
4th Raiding Rgt /1
19th JAAF Base Force
18th JAAF AF Bn
27th Special Base Force
26th JAAF Base Force
77th Field AA Battalion
46th JNAF AF Unit
209th JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
34th Combat Engineer Regiment
223rd Field Artillery Battalion
131st Field Artillery Battalion

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Sansapor (83,107)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13070 troops, 244 guns, 246 vehicles, Assault Value = 528

Defending force 9427 troops, 106 guns, 47 vehicles, Assault Value = 175

Allied adjusted assault: 164

Japanese adjusted defense: 124

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker: fatigue(-)

Japanese ground losses:
403 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 38 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled

Allied ground losses:
211 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
24th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
27th Infantry Division
112th Cavalry Regiment

Defending units:
51st Ind.Mixed Brigade
17th Ind.Mixed Regiment
13th Field AF Construction Battalion
29th Fld AA Gun Co
16th Field AF Construction Battalion
56th Construction Battalion
37th JNAF AF Unit

I'm sending a great many IJN warships, including the 4 Kongo's, to smash the Allied troops at Sansapor and hopefully buy some time. Supply is low, however, and I'm not sure if I can stop Allied air power from interfering.

Thailand

Big Japanese raid on Chang Mai closes the airbase and catches a lot of transport planes on the ground. Costly for me, but I do kill off a lot of planes.

A big stack of mixed Chinese and Indian troops trashes two divisions outside Raheng because I got careless and left them unsupported. Back to being on the defensive for the meantime here then...

B-29s continue to hammer one of my divisions in the open.

Still trying to scrape troops together to stabilize this front. Not really sure what my long term plan is here now: this theatre is a mess and it will bleed me dry given the time. I don't want to withdraw any further south if I can help it, as the B-29s are already intimidatingly close to Singapore and Sumatra. Advice is welcome...

(in reply to mind_messing)

Post #: 668

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 6/1/2016 2:25:01 AM

mind_messing

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"It's better to be lucky than good"

That applies to my situation more than I'm comfortable with.

As an aside, nice article on the origins of the phrase - http://philippine-defenders.lib.wv.us/pdf/bios/gillett_bio.pdf

I'll give details once I decide how I'm going to write it up.

(in reply to Lowpe)

Post #: 669

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 6/1/2016 2:58:13 AM

mind_messing

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August 8th to August 12, 1944

Where we left off, the IJN had just scored a nice victory over the USN, with the sinking of several escort carriers and some amphibious ships attempting to land US troops at Sorong and Sansapor, on the north-western extremity of New Guinea.

We will chart events day-by-day, to provide a nice summary of the present situation.

August 8th

Both sides draw back from the carnage of August 7th. The USN appear to have suffered badly and pull back their warships to the Biak area. Japanese aircraft pick off a few straggling warships.

Kongo's bombard Sorong and retire to Manila to rearm.

The KB, with some air-groups badly mauled, beats a retreat to Soerabaja for replenishment.

August 9th

A Japanese counterattack wipes out the last Allied unit at Sorong. Sansapor still holds out.

Scattered battles in the air, with the Japanese coming off second-best.

August 10th

A second Allied amphibious force makes an appearance off Sorong, landing the 1st Cav Division. Japanese air-power is on stand-down to recover after the previous weeks battles, and does a poor job of interdicting the landings. Those aircraft that do fly do so unescorted and are slaughtered by Allied LRCAP as a result.

The Allies land more troops at Latuem on Timor. Japanese air does a better job here, with two torpedoes in a light cruiser, but the Allied ships had no air cover.

KB reaches Soerabaja and draws replacements.

August 11th

Renewed landings at Sorong continue.

Allied deliberate attack occurs at Sansapor. The base holds, but forts are down to 1 and the Japanese defenders have little supply.

Allied deliberate attack occurs at Sorong. The Japanese hold out with an 11:1 roll, but the Allies inflict far greater losses.

B-29's hit Balikipapan and knock 44 points off the oil.

There is one curious line in the SigInt report.

quote:

SIG INT REPORT FOR Aug 11, 44

Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at Sydney (90,167).
Radio transmissions detected at Anchorage (181,36).
Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at Hollandia (93,116).
Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at Colombo (29,48).
Radio transmissions detected at 32,70. - Some way west of Sabang, off Northern Sumatra.
Radio transmissions detected at Hilo (183,111).

I rarely check Japanese SigInt, normally glancing over it to see if I get any DL raises in big bases to perhaps get a peek at what is inside. My initial reaction was to dismiss it as a sub - a RN sub had been picketed off Sabang for a long time, and it might have been that transiting. I was tired, and went to bed.

Then the cogs really started turning.

- No USN fleet carriers seen since when?
- Allied 4E's seem to have enjoyed hitting Sabang. This wrecked my long-range search squadrons ability to operate. Why Sabang and not the oil at Medan?
- Chinese troops in India/Burma means no British/Indian troops for garrisons. Where are they?
- CVE only landing at Sorong/Sansapor. Why?
- Email/chat comments suggest something is up. Steam chat with Loka gets a comment along the lines of him having "loaded Japans entire GDP up".

So, I was convinced this was something worth following up. The KB was sent from Soerabaja to Singapore, and a few nearby air squadrons were shifted around to give me eyes on the region.

(in reply to mind_messing)

Post #: 670

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 6/1/2016 3:05:09 AM

mind_messing

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...and so, on Aug 12th, this is what I see.

The question I ask now is what the hell do I do?

I'll get an annotated picture up at some point tomorrow.

My initial thoughts run along the lines of:

- Get KB in theatre.
- Strip every non-critical theatre and ram stuff into Medan.
- Ball of yarn CAP over Palembang.
- The IJN's new home is Singapore.

(in reply to mind_messing)

Post #: 671

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 6/1/2016 2:17:07 PM

mind_messing

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So here's my thinking.

Bases marked in brown are those bases I can mount offensive air strikes from. Aviation support is a little weak on the ground, so I need to transfer some in ASAP. The need is particularly pressing in Malaya.

Option A involves the KB moving to the western side of Sumatra and directly engaging the Allied CV force.
Advantages: lots of sea room to move around it
Disadvantages: really far away from my airbases if the Allies want a carrier clash

Option B involves the KB moving to the eastern side of Sumatra and sitting off the likely invasion beaches.
Advantages: right in the middle of my airbases in the region
Disadvantages: the narrow confines of the Malacca straits screams "surface engagements to me"

On the ground, things are pretty poor. The division in Sabang won't hold. Level 3 forts and a crap TOE in clear terrain will get smashed by the pre-landing bombardment.

Sibolga isn't much better: a 160 AV brigade behind level 5 forts. At least it is Jungle Rough terrain.

Medan has another 160 AV brigade, and forts should make level 6 next turn.

What troops I have loaded and at sea are being diverted to the region. Empty troop ships are heading to the nearest port and grabbing whatever isn't tied down to respond. I'm robbing the Luzon garrison yet again, and might buy a division from Formosa for use in Malaya. Aviation support from Thailand will rail down once I clear the rail line.

I think the outcome of events here will be decided a carrier engagement. If Loka wins outright, I'll lose my oil production. A draw, and I'll still lose my oil production. If I get an outright win, there's a chance I can isolate and contain the landings.

I'll be going all in on this one.

(in reply to mind_messing)

Post #: 672

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 6/1/2016 4:16:14 PM

Lowpe

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It is August of 44, so you have done well with oil as long as you have kept up with the shipping -- which I am sure you have done.

Your first picture had few details other than the para landing and sightings.

Whatever you decide to do, just remember this is still a long war and this, whatever it is, is just a battle.

I think the Japanese mindset come 1944 needs to switch to thinking about victory points and their trade offs. If you attack will you get more victory points than you will lose? Will you have ships and planes left for force in being concept to slow Allied advances?

Personally, I think your perimeter is huge and you need to shrink it back. Fighting on the perimeter is extremely costly for Japan in everything.

Let me posit a quick scenario...you retreat, salvaging your troops and ships to interior/shorter lines. Conserving fuel and supply. Ever shrinking your perimeter to a hold fast line 25 hexes or so from the HI plus China. Hit the Allies where they are weak, and avoid the clash of the titans...but you do nibble at him.

Another scenario is you hit hard with everything. Strength versus strength.

Will you be better off with option A or B in six months time? I will never forget Mr. Kane vs. Spidery which featured an early attack at Tjilatajp and huge carrier/surface fights which saw Japan savaged. And Mr. Kane remarked after the fact he never would have invaded if not for the carrier clash victory. If I recall, Spidery had bad luck with the weather, but Mr. Kane made his own luck with great TF composition and outstanding search.

Your call.

< Message edited by Lowpe -- 6/1/2016 4:21:54 PM >

(in reply to mind_messing)

Post #: 673

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 6/1/2016 11:00:51 PM

mind_messing

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Your call.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ63VnQei-k

I'll get some posts up on the industrial situation of the Empire.

(in reply to Lowpe)

Post #: 674

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 6/1/2016 11:32:30 PM

mind_messing

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Industry as of August 12, 1944

Japan Stockpiles

Oil: 880,526 (113 days of production)
Fuel: 1,032,080 (85 days of production: 350k on Hokkaido as a last reserve is about 30 days of production)
Supply: 2,826,046

Stockpiles of fuel and oil elsewhere are pretty low. Java, Sumatra and Malaya don't have anything higher than 100k of fuel or oil stored, a testament to the efficiency with which I've been drawing it back to Japan. Credit to Nygiants, who provided the tanker system to draw from Palembang.

Resources are likely sorted until the end of the war. Just not been shipping them out yet.

Resources in Japan proper: 14,382,620 (170 days production)
Resources in China: 2,159,024
Resources on Sakhalin: 1,986,243 (need to get this down over the next few months)
Resources in Manchuria: 1,500,351

So, that's about 5 million within easy sail of the Home Islands. Makes me wish I'd taken the gamble this game and went big on LI expansion. It would have been paying dividends off by this point and that's with a great many of my resource centres unexploited. Not sure how it would have impacted fuel consumption when you factor in the additional convoys running. Perhaps something for me next game.

Strategic Implications

With just 3 months of fuel in the tank, I feel compelled to fight for Sumatra. Without the easy access to Palembang, it just as too many bad consequences for my future operations elsewhere.

As a precautionary measure, the empire is going into hibernation in terms of naval operations. The gaggles of SC and E class ships I have carting around on ASW will stop, except in combat areas or where air search has spotted known subs. Non-essential convoys will stop, and every effort will be made to get fuel and oil back to Japan over the next few months.

Still plotting the turn. The KB will fight, just not sure how yet.

(in reply to mind_messing)

Post #: 675

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 6/2/2016 12:07:11 AM

mind_messing

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I've went for a completely different option: Option C

Deploy the KB off the east coast of Malaya. All possible invasion sites on mainland Sumatra are within 8 hexes of the invasion beach, and perfectly safe from Allied surface assets.

Finishing up the turn now. Banzai!

(in reply to mind_messing)

Post #: 676

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 6/2/2016 1:41:37 AM

savelius2

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Good luck! At this point in the war getting a good result from a carrier clash is really hard. I hope you have enough LBA to whittle away his cap, there have been a lot of extremely one sided '44 and '45 results recently. Banzai!

(in reply to mind_messing)

Post #: 677

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 6/2/2016 2:18:11 AM

PaxMondo

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quote:

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

Industry as of August 12, 1944

Japan Stockpiles

Oil: 880,526 (113 days of production)
Fuel: 1,032,080 (85 days of production: 350k on Hokkaido as a last reserve is about 30 days of production)
Supply: 2,826,046

Stockpiles of fuel and oil elsewhere are pretty low. Java, Sumatra and Malaya don't have anything higher than 100k of fuel or oil stored, a testament to the efficiency with which I've been drawing it back to Japan. Credit to Nygiants, who provided the tanker system to draw from Palembang.

Resources are likely sorted until the end of the war. Just not been shipping them out yet.

Resources in Japan proper: 14,382,620 (170 days production)
Resources in China: 2,159,024
Resources on Sakhalin: 1,986,243 (need to get this down over the next few months)
Resources in Manchuria: 1,500,351

So, that's about 5 million within easy sail of the Home Islands. Makes me wish I'd taken the gamble this game and went big on LI expansion. It would have been paying dividends off by this point and that's with a great many of my resource centres unexploited. Not sure how it would have impacted fuel consumption when you factor in the additional convoys running. Perhaps something for me next game.

Strategic Implications

With just 3 months of fuel in the tank, I feel compelled to fight for Sumatra. Without the easy access to Palembang, it just as too many bad consequences for my future operations elsewhere.

As a precautionary measure, the empire is going into hibernation in terms of naval operations. The gaggles of SC and E class ships I have carting around on ASW will stop, except in combat areas or where air search has spotted known subs. Non-essential convoys will stop, and every effort will be made to get fuel and oil back to Japan over the next few months.

Still plotting the turn. The KB will fight, just not sure how yet.

Just a couple of thoughts ... counter-current.

You are low on supply at this point, just below 3M in the HI. To have gone "BIG" on LI would mean what? 3000/day? 3M supply investment? Your economy would have crashed some time ago.

Expanding LI needs a longer time horizon than the game allows. If the game started in '39, yeah, LI expansion would definitely be a thought. But '42? no payment until late '44, it isn't in the cards.

< Message edited by PaxMondo -- 6/2/2016 2:40:11 AM >

_____________________________

Pax

(in reply to mind_messing)

Post #: 678

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 6/2/2016 2:59:11 AM

Lowpe

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I have to say, I was hoping to see much healthier supply stockpiles. Are they growing?

Scenario one though, and you still have oil and will have it most likely for another 30-90 days if this is the big invasion. Plus your stockpiles are fairly decent.

Longer if this is merely a feint/raid.

You have done really, very well.

I don't see the payback for LI industry expansion. Maybe a tad bit, but man it does really put a strain on shipping and accumulating resources. Scenario 1 -- I just don't think you have the economy to justify it.

Just really worried about your supply stockpile, but really I am more worried about your perimeter given that this is a scenario 1 game.

Good luck on whatever happens next!

< Message edited by Lowpe -- 6/2/2016 3:03:47 AM >

(in reply to PaxMondo)

Post #: 679

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 6/2/2016 6:54:04 AM

njp72

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Yep and I reckon that is the best option too.

I would try to target shipping other than his CVs by setting the ranges of your strike aircraft on KB.

The best way to neutralise his CVs is by destroying his navy aircraft, especially via sweeps by your LBA. His carriers will have to be wedded to stationary positions protecting his transports which will make them susceptible to sweeps. If the CV airwings commence a battle of attrition with your LBA, this will be a big win for the Empire.

A straight up carrier clash would be suicide at this juncture.

Good luck

quote:

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

I've went for a completely different option: Option C

Deploy the KB off the east coast of Malaya. All possible invasion sites on mainland Sumatra are within 8 hexes of the invasion beach, and perfectly safe from Allied surface assets.

Finishing up the turn now. Banzai!

(in reply to mind_messing)

Post #: 680

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 6/22/2016 5:39:03 PM

mind_messing

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Joined: 10/28/2013
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We're finally back on track after I took a fairly long break from the game for holidays, but we've resumed now.

As of the present game date, the Allies have put about 1500 AV ashore at Medan and unknown troops at one of the islands off-shore of Sumatra.

Day one strikes from the IJN are a complete disappointment, most don't fly. Some kamis do fly, and a single plane gets past the CAP, but misses a Brit CVE. C'est la guerre.

It's a blessing in disguise, as the KB will be on station as per plan C for day two. Convoys are set up to funnel combat troops into Sumatra and aviation support to Malaya.

In Thailand, after looking long and hard at the map, I'm pulling back from the Burma pan-handle. I feel the need to refocus my line around Bangkok and scrape up enough troops to clear out the abundant numbers of raiders wandering around Thailand and Vietnam. This theatre is a mess, but it's '44 and I'm Japan.

The general plan is to gather the best units to punch through from Bangkok to northern Vietnam, as I'd like to get those units into China for '45. The trash will fight and die holding Malaya, but the unrestricted stuff might get shipped out elsewhere, perhaps Sumatra, perhaps Luzon. We'll see.

I'm looking forward to getting back into this, seeing as the wheels are really starting to come off.

(in reply to njp72)

Post #: 681

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 7/17/2016 2:18:12 AM

mind_messing

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Joined: 10/28/2013
Status: offline

Turns have been slow on my end due to real life constraints, and I think we've only advanced as far as August 17th. Loka is away till Monday, so I will try to take the time to update the AAR. I couldn't update prior in good conscience with a turn sitting unfinished, so I haven't had time prior to now.

The last five turns represent, I think, the definitive turning point for this game. While my position has been slowly deteriorating for the past few months, now we'll start to see it approach terminal velocity. So, it should be fun.

Anyways, likely updates to come tomorrow. I'll need to go over the past few turns again to provide a coherent picture of developments.

(in reply to mind_messing)

Post #: 682

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 7/18/2016 7:20:22 PM

mind_messing

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Joined: 10/28/2013
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August 13th, 1944

A fairly quiet turn, all things considered.

Japanese land-based air has a go at the shipping off Sabang, but the strike isn't a large one, and only a few planes get through CAP. Those that make it miss an Allied CVE.

quote:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Sabang at 44,70

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 115 NM, estimated altitude 35,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 36 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5b Zero x 20
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 9

Allied aircraft
Hellcat I x 15
FM-2 Wildcat x 18
F4U-1A Corsair x 17
F6F-3 Hellcat x 87

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5b Zero: 7 destroyed
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 6 destroyed

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CVE Begum

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Ki-49-IIb Helen flying as kamikaze
Kamikaze: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Landings at Sabang continue.

A Japanese surface force consisting of the CL Oi and some destroyers squares off with an Allied Fletcher squadron of Sansapor in New Guinea, but both withdraw in an inconclusive engagement.

quote:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Sorong at 83,105, Range 4,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Oi
DD Isonami
DD Sagiri
DD Amagiri
DD Ushio

Allied Ships
DD Bullard
DD Capps
DD Erben
DD Guest
DD Haggard
DD Hazelwood
DD Johnston
DD Miller
DD Sigourney

Some better news here later, when two Allied CL's wander into some torps:

quote:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Sansapor at 84,106

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 52 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 6 damaged
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
CL Mobile
CA Salt Lake City, Torpedo hits 1
CA Pensacola, Torpedo hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

On the ground, the Allies attack again at Sansapor, dropping forts to 0, while Allied paratroopers try and fail to take Cam Rahn Bay by paratrooper assault. Evidently the French garrison manning the guns drives them off.

(in reply to Lowpe)

Post #: 683

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 7/18/2016 7:34:48 PM

mind_messing

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Joined: 10/28/2013
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August 14th, 1944

The Black Day of the IJNAF

The 14th opens with a surface engagement off New Guinea, with the Oi task force wrestling with a smaller Fletcher force that the IJN comes away much worse off from.

quote:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Galeia at 79,101, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Oi, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Isonami, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
DD Sagiri
DD Amagiri, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Ushio, Shell hits 22, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Chauncey
DD Halford, Shell hits 3
DD Jenkins, Shell hits 6
DD Uhlmann

Betty's flying from Manado find and sink of one these destroyers later in the day, so it's an even trade.

The AM air phase is comprised mostly of scattered air attacks from Japanese land bases on the Allied ships off Sabang. Not hits are scored. Most squadrons fly either without being escorted or with insufficient escort to crack through the CAP.

The real action materializes in the PM phase when the KB makes it's contribution:

quote:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Sabang at 44,70

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 156 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 51 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 13
A6M5b Zero x 59
B6N2 Jill x 55
B7A2 Grace x 60
D4Y3 Judy x 106

Allied aircraft
Hellcat I x 15
FM-2 Wildcat x 18
F4U-1A Corsair x 17
F6F-3 Hellcat x 80

Japanese aircraft losses Bye bye trained IJN pilot cadres
A6M5 Zero: 2 destroyed
A6M5b Zero: 7 destroyed
B6N2 Jill: 12 destroyed, 5 damaged
B6N2 Jill: 3 destroyed by flak
B7A2 Grace: 8 destroyed, 11 damaged
B7A2 Grace: 2 destroyed by flak
D4Y3 Judy: 24 destroyed, 17 damaged
D4Y3 Judy: 6 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
Hellcat I: 3 destroyed
FM-2 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CVE Rudyerd Bay, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
DE Cauvery
CVE Begum, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
APD Barr
APA Calvert, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
xAP Cabarita
DD McKee
CA Baltimore
DD Worden, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
DD Hickox
DD McNair
DD Mertz
DE Steele, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
LSI(L) Dunedin Star
xAP Koolinda
DD The Sullivans
xAK Fort Dearborn
xAK Fort St Croix, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
xAP Henry Dearborn
DD John Rodgers
DD Evans, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CLAA San Juan, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DE Thomason
xAK Fort Lajoie, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DD Stembel
xAP Glenbank
DD Saufley
xAK Nemiskan Park, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
xAP George Vancouver, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAP Baron Cawdor, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Careful placement of the KB ensures that there's no retaliation strike from the US carriers, but there's no hiding the fact that the rate of exchange for the Japanese was absolutely terrible. Still, considering it's late '44, I'm only mildly disappointed.

To top it all off, the Allies attack and take Sabang with heavy losses to the Japanese defenders:

quote:

Ground combat at Sabang (44,70)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 36535 troops, 524 guns, 275 vehicles, Assault Value = 1658

Defending force 12159 troops, 64 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 290

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Allied adjusted assault: 1229

Japanese adjusted defense: 35

Allied assault odds: 35 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Sabang !!!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 5 destroyed

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

Japanese ground losses:
7591 casualties reported
Squads: 114 destroyed, 124 disabled
Non Combat: 154 destroyed, 40 disabled
Engineers: 84 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 33 (20 destroyed, 13 disabled)
Vehicles lost 14 (14 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 4

Allied ground losses:
1593 casualties reported
Squads: 19 destroyed, 120 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 12 destroyed, 34 disabled
Guns lost 35 (4 destroyed, 31 disabled)
Units pursuing 2

To top things off, Cam Rahn Bay falls to the paratroopers.

The first of many hastily organised reinforcement convoys departs Tokyo for Malaya. The great exodus from Thailand is set in motion.

(in reply to mind_messing)

Post #: 684

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 7/18/2016 9:12:08 PM

obvert

Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011
From: PDX (and now) London, UK
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It only gets worse, sorry to say!

Now it's about how to trade VPs 1:1 while trying to have some fun! Not sure how many planes you lost but it looks like you picked up 220-50 ship VPs plus what ever planes the Allies lost in the air and on the CVEs. So for the day you're up a bit on the air strikes (shown), down a bit on the ground losses. Probably better than 1:1 though.

It does feel good to sink some stuff, and 50exp pilots will still get there when you have the number to push them through. If you can trap any of his forward units you could bag some permanent points there too. Can you?

_____________________________

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

(in reply to mind_messing)

Post #: 685

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 7/18/2016 10:17:13 PM

Sangeli

Posts: 1132
Joined: 3/29/2012
From: San Francisco
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: mind_messing
Careful placement of the KB ensures that there's no retaliation strike from the US carriers, but there's no hiding the fact that the rate of exchange for the Japanese was absolutely terrible. Still, considering it's late '44, I'm only mildly disappointed.

Why do you say that rate of exchange was absolutely terrible for the Japanese? Sinking two CVEs and a handful of other ships seems to be a pretty good result for the Japanese here.

< Message edited by Sangeli -- 7/18/2016 10:20:12 PM >

(in reply to mind_messing)

Post #: 686

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 7/19/2016 12:11:46 AM

Lowpe

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Joined: 2/25/2013
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Agree! I have certainly lost a lot more planes for no gain.

(in reply to Sangeli)

Post #: 687

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 7/19/2016 3:17:38 PM

mind_messing

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Well, it works out at 330 Japanese planes for two Allied CVE's (80ish VP each) and 60 Allied planes, so it's a bit less than 1:1. The main issue is that it's gutted the KB's striking capacity for the next couple of weeks...

(in reply to Lowpe)

Post #: 688

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 7/19/2016 3:34:59 PM

mind_messing

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Joined: 10/28/2013
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August 15th, 1944

This is a fairly routine turn. Japanese sweeps attack Sabang, and do slightly poorer than a 1:1 exchange. Allied Thunderbolt sweeps strike Bangkok and make the usual clean sweep of the CAP there.

Scattered Japanese strikes go for Allied shipping off Sumatra, but again, none of the strikes is large enough or heavily escorted enough to break past CAP, so Japanese air losses are again heavy.

Cleanup operations of the Allied paratroopers in Indochina begin, but Allied tanks on Sumatra push the battered survivors of Sabang back another hex.

August 16th, 1944

Allied forces start to offload at Sibolga, on the western coast of Sumatra while a American crusier force bombards the Japanese airbase at Georgetown. Luckily, the KB is in position for another 8 hex strike at shipping off Sibbolga, but the result is disapointing:

quote:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Sibolga at 44,79

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 10
A6M5b Zero x 55
B6N2 Jill x 30
B7A2 Grace x 16
D4Y3 Judy x 34

Allied aircraft
F4U-1A Corsair x 38
F6F-3 Hellcat x 57
F6F-5 Hellcat x 34

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 4 destroyed
A6M5b Zero: 19 destroyed
B6N2 Jill: 11 destroyed, 5 damaged
B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak
B7A2 Grace: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
D4Y3 Judy: 19 destroyed, 4 damaged
D4Y3 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed
F6F-5 Hellcat: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
xAP William P. McArthur
xAP John C. Calhoun
AKA Virgo
AKA Libra, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAP Rajula
APD Liddle
LSV Ozark
DMS Trevor
AKA Alhena
xAP Pundit
LCI-83, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
DD Quiberon

Allied ground losses:
393 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 23 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 1 disabled
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Sibolga at 44,79

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5b Zero x 9
B7A2 Grace x 20
D4Y3 Judy x 3

Allied aircraft
F4U-1A Corsair x 31
F6F-3 Hellcat x 37
F6F-5 Hellcat x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5b Zero: 3 destroyed
B7A2 Grace: 10 destroyed
D4Y3 Judy: 2 destroyed

No Allied losses

Thankfully, Japanese land based air, including kamikaze squadrons, at long last manage to pull off a reasonably organised strike. The result, while good, doesn't make up for the poor performance of the KB and the losses incurred.

quote:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Sibolga at 44,79

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 55 NM, estimated altitude 33,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B6N2 Jill x 27
J2M3 Jack x 7
N1K2-J George x 8
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 8
Ki-84a Frank x 16

Allied aircraft
F4U-1A Corsair x 34
F6F-3 Hellcat x 53
F6F-5 Hellcat x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N2 Jill: 13 destroyed
B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak
J2M3 Jack: 1 destroyed
N1K2-J George: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 2 destroyed
Ki-84a Frank: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
xAP Archbishop Lamy, Kamikaze hits 1, on fire
APD Liddle, Kamikaze hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AGC Appalachian, Kamikaze hits 4, and is sunk
xAP William S. Young, Kamikaze hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
xAP William P. McArthur
xAP William Kent, Kamikaze hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
108 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
27 x B6N2 Jill flying as kamikaze
Kamikaze: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

The troops the Allies manage to off-load will easily take Sibolga:

quote:

Ground combat at Sibolga (44,79)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4333 troops, 20 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 161

Defending force 15570 troops, 172 guns, 357 vehicles, Assault Value = 691

Assaulting units:
18th Garrison Unit
33rd Road Const Co

Defending units:
2nd NZ Bde /3
25th Australian Bde /1
268th Motorised Bde /5
14th NZ Bde /3
II Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
11th PAVO Regiment
23rd Chindit Bde /1
144th USA Base Force /2
III Indian Corps
16th Indian Heavy AA Rgt /1
164th USA Base Force /1
Tenth USAAF Eng EAB /1
20th Indian Heavy AA Rgt /1
163rd USA Base Force /2

Elsewhere, continued nuisance paratrooper attacks in Indochina are being cleared up while the entirety of Japanese forces in the Indochina theatre prepare to withdraw.

In China, another force of six Chinese units on a long march have wandered out of the wilderness in the plains near Chungking. A mixed bag of bombers pulled from ASW duty and fighter squadrons training up are diverted to Chungking to strafe and bomb the Chinese units to burn up supply. Both Chungking and Chengtu are well defended with high forts, and a strong IJA division is a few days march away. This is a concern, as I really don't want the hoards of unspawned Chinese reappearing, but I'm fairly confident I can beat back this insurrection.

In New Guinea, Sorong still holds out, while at Timor, the Allies have landed more supply and are regularly making bombardment attacks. I'm looking forward to the day they make the first deliberate attack: level 5 forts in x2 terrain should make a horrible mess of the Allied attack.

(in reply to Lowpe)

Post #: 689

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 7/25/2016 4:43:40 PM

mind_messing

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Joined: 10/28/2013
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August 17th to August 28th, 1944

Well, the wheels are off now!

New Guinea

The Allies land and take Boela. The next step is right into the teeth of several formidable Japanese bases, backed up by a size 9 field at Manado.

Local withdrawals of troops and aviation support is taking place around the New Guinea/DEI theatre as I'm trying to reorient my defence to deal with events elsewhere.

China

The wandering band of Chinese exiles appears to have failed in their attempt to re-open the Chinese theatre by seizing Chungking. The units appear to have scattered into the countryside, hotly pursued by IJA units.

DEI

The main show here.

The Allies are well on the way to taking Medan, despite the efforts of the Hiei and Kongo on a bombardment mission. The mission went badly wrong, leaving the battleships exposed to Allied carriers (bombardment mission coding strikes again!). Fortunately both battleships escape with only moderate damage to the Hiei, though the light cruiser Nagara is sunk.

The Allies capitalise on their success at Sumatra by throwing troops on to Malaya as well. At least two USMC divisions, plus US Army units and an Indian Brigade storm ashore at Georgetown. Local opposition will be minimal, as the regiments on garrison duty are away chasing down wandering partisan fragments.

Red - Japanese defensive positions.
Green - Recent Allied moves.

This isn't a real surprise, as I've suspected and feared a landing in Malaya since the paratrooper fragments started closing down the Bangkok-Singapore railroad. There's a sizeable body of reinforcements en-route to Singapore to respond to this crisis, but they're not in any significant strength to oppose the landing.

I intend to try and ram Singapore full of combat troops to try and maximise the advantage the forced shock attack into x2 terrain. Singapore's forts are at level 5, but combat troops are very thin on the ground. I have about 500 AV in Malaya, but nearly all of it is badly out of position chasing down fragments of paratrooper units. About 600 AV is 3-5 days sail from Singapore, so there will be a respectable garrison for a siege by the weeks end.

My main concern is if the Allied carriers decide to interfere with reinforcement attempts. Thankfully, the geography of the Malacca Straits makes this a move exposing the Allied carriers to a surface engagement. The Musashi and the Kongo are both sitting at Singapore, so they might make a full speed run if the Allied carriers wander too close.

At any rate, I'll be making a serious effort to pull out support troops and replace them with combat troops.

On Sumatra, I have five divisions moving to form a defensive line at Padang to prevent any overland campaign to Palembang. Additional aviation support and AA has been moved on to southern Sumatra, and more will likely arrive from Singapore.

My plans are as follows:

Black - Intended routes to move oil/fuel from the DEI to the Home Islands.
Purple - Airbases intended to cover the tankers routes.

The purple bases are to be my main airbases in an effort to contain the Allies when they clear Singapore and keep the fuel flowing. The five divisions on Sumatra should be sufficient to at least slow an overland campaign, so the next concern is keeping the fuel flowing out of Palembang in the face of Allied naval and air efforts.

To that end, I'm going to try and stage fuel from Palembang through Java, and then on to Manilla and the Home Islands. I'm sceptical as to how much success I'll have in this venture, but I may as well get my tankers sunk bringing fuel home than sitting in a port somewhere.

What IJN assets are in theatre (Musashi, Kongo, 5 CA and a dozen or so destroyers) will stand and die keeping the Malacca Straits closed and Palembang open. Musashi is too much of a fuel hog anyways to use anywhere else.

I'm writing off those ground units already in the DEI that are south of Singapore. That includes five divisions on Sumatra, five brigades on Java and about 2500 AV on Timor. I'm flying troops by the hundreds off Timor to Makassar every day, and this evacuation will continue as long as possible.

In other news, the great Thai exodus continues:

Most of the IJA forces are railing to Udon Thani and marching to Vihn, where they'll set up a line of defence that hopefully might last the year. The abundant aviation support will mostly go to China in a bid to set China up for the late-war showdown.

Strategic Considerations

Well, the outer perimeter on the western half of the map is punctured and broken quite substantially. This means a fighting retreat to the inner perimeter is required. The Formosa-Philippines-Marianas axis is more or less ready. My priority now is to cost the Allies as much in time and materials as I can, while looking to limit my own losses.

The bulk of the combat ready ships of the IJN are deployed to the DEI. The remainder are split between Manilla and the Home Islands undergoing repairs and upgrades. The KB (sans 2 CV at Manilla) is at Hiroshima for upgrades, and will remain there until further notice.

VP's are a whisker off 1:1, so it will be anyone's game running in to 1945. The 1:1 ratio is, for me, the real indication that we've entered the late-game.

As far as I can tell, the Allies are not yet within effective strategic bombing range of the Home Islands, with the exception of Hokkaido, which I have strongly defended.

My hope is that it will take Loka what remains of 1944 to consolidate his recent gains before looking to bounce to the inner perimeter in 1945. Considering the vast quantity of men and materials the Allies have in the late-war, I don't have much hope that it will take that long. On the bright side, the wonderweapons are creeping closer with every passing day...

I will report on the industrial and resource situation later.

(in reply to mind_messing)

Post #: 690

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