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RE: I Have Returned - 4/16/2020 3:14:07 AM

Taxcutter

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Sitrep August 24, 1942

Wild and wooly couple of weeks.

AI made an opposed invasion of Horn Island and one at Luganville. He went too cheap-Charlie at Horn Island and my reinforced Aussies repelled them. At Luganville he got ashore with about a regiment but couldn't dislodge my dug-in US Army infantry regiment and USMC Defense battalion. I've run most of the 2nd Marine Division in and the rest should be shore in a couple days. My cruisers run off his transports.

We played a reluctant Midway battle. He came with half of Kido Butai (3xCV, 2xCVL) I had my entire carrier force (5xCV) He also brought some CAs and CLs trying to interdict my SF-to-Pearl supply routes. I had some CAs and CLs too. We tried to jockey each other into a mistake. I used my B-17Ds and Catalinas out of Pearl and Midway but never could close within Wildcat range. Neither of us brought enough AOs, so we broke off after swapping a coupla cruisers.

A few days later he brings in an (unsupported?) surface action group (Yamato, Kirishima, 2xCL and 5xDD.) It looked like he wanted to bombard Pearl but he knows how tough Fort Kamehameha is so he broke off. this looked too crazy to be true so I did not sortie all my carriers, just Yorktown and Saratoga. He sank a hapless PT boat but the carrier air groups and 3 squadrons of USMC dive bombers from Pearl mauled his ships. They got away obscured by smoke from the fires. I suspect they'll be in the yard for a while fixing SYS damage.

Despite his small attempts to grab poorly held islands, I have him stopped.

Air success in Burma. Eight squadrons of Blenheims and four squadrons of P-40E have really messes AI up in Burma. Magwe looks like Kuwait 1991. What is Japanese for "Red Adair?" The airfield and resource center at Mandalay are wrecked as well. Minimal losses.

I have Midway and Canton Island as fortified as possible. Hope the islands don't capsize.

I'm thinking I'll try to grab Guadalcanal and maybe Munda just to give his aircrews a place to bleed, but I'm thinking about doing Plan Orange. Initial recon shows damn near nothing in the Marshalls. Could be interesting until I can get some long range air search assets in place.

I've been teaming up B-17D search planes and S-boat subs as a defensive measure. Works surprisingly well. -17Ds at high altitude are tough for his CAP to shoot down and I move the subs onto the threat axis. He finds himself hip-deep in subs and the Mark 10s do explode. I think I can improve on this.

I have diverted six squadrons of B-24D to India. I'll team them up with some newly arrived P-38Fs and engage him at ETO altitudes (31,000 ft) The turbocharged P-38s don't drop off as much maneuverability as Oscars at that attitude. I'll try to wreck Rangoon out of my CAP-trap at Chittagong.

I've been managing my aircrew pretty well. Lots and lots of EXP=70+ and AIR=70+ fighter pilots in lousy planes. I'm still at least six months from good planes.

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Post #: 61

RE: I Have Returned - 4/28/2020 2:26:11 PM

Taxcutter

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The war against the improved AI rages on...

Sitrep Sept 16, 1942

Ol' Mo (momentum) has definitely changed jerseys. The more aggressive AI has not realized there is a different situation in Sept. 1942 than in January 1942.

AI still sends out small invasion forces (1 or 2 transports and some ASW escort) out to attack places as if there is the Jan. 1942 level of resistance. Five times AI has tried to nab Horn Island on the cheap. Really, I only have four Australian battalions there and only one is a regular infantry battalion. But this force routinely whips his invasion forces. AI does have a substantial air garrison at Port Moresby so I can't jam in enough supply to further develop Horn Island ... yet. But the tide is turning. It costs me about a small AKL per trip, but I can get supply into Cooktown and I have a fighter group there that has gotten damn good at killing Betties. AI rarely sends Zeros to escort. He has nothing else wit the range to make that flight. Could the script be hoarding Zeroes for a "decisive battle" in the Marianas?

AI did get a brigade sized invasion onto Espirtu Santo but I had the 2nd Marine division there with beaucoup supply. Took a couple weeks, but I eliminated them and now Luganville will become my springboard into the Solomons. Planning is complete. Only thing holding me back is not enough planes just yet. That problem is resolving itself - slowly. I have three squadron (1 x P400, 1 x F$F-3, and 1 x SBD-3 and all with 65+ EXP and the fighters are 70+ AIR all the way down the roster). I have kept most of my Marine fighter squadrons in the remains of the F4F-F3 pools. The stiff-will wildcats are flat-out my best fighters at this time. They will be committed to Guadalcanal to attrit the Zeroes until Hellcats start showing up in May.

Otherwise the over-aggressive AI keeps sending undersized surface action group to harrass me at Pearl but I have the carrier and surface punch of the Pacific fleet concentrated there. AI did catch me with the carriers and BB at sea but even the Yamato cannot stand up to Fort Kamehameha and land-based Dauntlesses. The Yamato limped off to the west and Ft. K is back to full capability.

I've re-evaluated my plans in Burma. AI did not press the Imphal line so I'm prepping an invasion down the coast road through Cox's Bazaar and Akyab. I'll start with a campaign against Rangoon. I have 80+ well-trained B-24s heading for Chittagong and by time they get here, I'll have two squadrons of P-38F and enough pool for operations. I intend to lay some ETO-style whoopass on Rangoon. Come in a 31,000 feet where my turbocharged engine negate much of the Oscar's maneuverability advantage. Yeah, hitting the airfield, port, and refinery from that altitude will be inefficient but the ma thing I want to do is grind down his high EXP and AIR Oscar drivers. Using just P-40Es and 90 Blenheim IVs I've flattened Magwe and Mandalay. I have plenty of well trained and experience Hurricanes to handle defensive duties. P-40K are beginning to arrive, but I intend to commit them in SWP and the Solomons escorting large numbers of medium bombers out n8 hexes. When I can take bougainville, Rabaul is toast.

Not sure where the rest of KB is. subs have spotted individual ships in home waters but nothing concentrated. So, for now I have to keep my carrier force concentrated in three TFs operating together.

< Message edited by Taxcutter -- 4/28/2020 2:28:54 PM >

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Post #: 62

RE: I Have Returned - 5/6/2020 7:16:16 PM

Taxcutter

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The struggle against the improved AI continues. Sitrep Oct 1, 1942

The outlines of the AI�s defensive plan have become clear. AI strongly holds PM, Milne Bay, Guadalcanal and (to a lesser strength) Rossel Island and Tulagi. I hold Australia, New Caledonia and Espiritu Santo. So most of my air power is out of range of his strongholds for now. But production of P-38s and P-40Ks is beginning. I am building up my pools and the grind will start before long.

I have a prototype set up in India. I hold the Chittagong-Imphal-Ledo line in strength with big air bases at Chittagong, Silchar, and Ledo. Using P-40Es and Hurricanes as escort and Blenheim IV bombers I have reduced Magwe and Mandalay to a nuisance. All other central Burma bases are not defended. I have two squadrons of P-38Fs available and loaded with good pilots (EXP>75 AIR>70) and have 40 P38Fs in my replacement pool. I am unloading eighty B-24Ds in Indian and in a few days will begin grinding on Rangoon from Chittagong using high altitude tactics. While the P-38F are still clumsy the advantages of Oscars is nearly gone at high altitude. 4E bombers will not be overly accurate at 31,000 ft but they too will chew up Oscars. Once I get the quality of his fighter pilots reduced, I�ll bring the bombers lower and flatten Rangoon. Once the port is crushed AI will have supply problems and I can drive down the coast road and take Rangoon.

I plan a similar approach over the Coral Sea. I�ll use the deep pool of P-40K to grind him down at PM and I�ve got five divisions planned to storm that base. Same thing at Guadalcanal.

AI�s nuisance raids have diminished his naval power. One Kido Butai carrier is gone and another damaged. Several big surface units have been either sunk or were last seen on fire.

But once I take PM and Guadalcanal I probably won�t drive too much further. Maybe take Munda/Vella LaVella and maybe some other places in range of Rabaul and slowly neutralize it. But I have no use for New Guinea. I will redeploy and executed the Orange Plan. AI barely holds the Marshalls and Gilberts. I�ll simply hit them from Pearl with all carrier air cover. That will wait til I can start getting Essex class bird farms in mid-43. I intend to storm Kwaj/Roi-Namur, Eniwetok, and Ponape preparatory to attacking the Marianas.

My sub campaign is going well. I always put the boldest skippers in my long range fleet boats and keep them out of shallow water. I�m sinking two or three xAK every day. I�ll use all my S-boats and Asiatic fleet boats to flood the zone in the Solomon Sea to cut down on resupply. Those big bases will become (more or less) self-supporting POW camps.

In the short term, I�m re-arranging logistics lines. The long range of Liberty ships (19,000) allows me to load them in the Eastern US and sail directly (along safe routes) from Panama to my big long haul ports of Sydney, Brisbane, Noumea, Luganville and Pearl. The long haul ports have strong local ASW forces. Smaller ships operate out of the CONUS West Coast.

My Long Island ASW group is paying off on the east Coast of Australia. Two I-boats sunk and two more damaged in a week. My Long Island air wing is a cut-down Marine squadron of biplane dive-bombers with carrier trained pilots (EXP>60 ASW>70 flying at 1000 ft) So far I scrupulously keep that TF out of Betty range of his forward bases. I�ll bring a CVE or two loaded with Wildcats as they come available.

AI is mailing it in in China. Even my unsupplied Chinese are making modest progress. Obvious the AI is scared of people who eat bat soup.

War of attrition at its finest.

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Post #: 63

RE: I Have Returned - 5/15/2020 3:54:14 PM

Taxcutter

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Sitrep Mid-October 1942

The counter-attack is brewing, but I have to be patient. I haven't seen much of KB lately but last time I tangles with them just a few KB pilots in Zeros mauled my Wildcats. although my flak is much better now flak is still no substitute for good fighters. So I rely on the principal of concentration. One main carrier force (3 TFs). A big (if slow BB) force of seven Standards and six Brooklyns with eight DDs/ My more modern BBs are tied to the carriers for now due to their big flak value.

I'm prepping to hit Rossel Island and Milne Bay. AI has substantial ground forces there but no air assets. I figure with two divisions at each location and some artillery I can blast him out of there/ then PM is in range of my growing force of P-40Ks. I'll have to use my carrier TFs to provide air cover and even then I won't let my carrier TFs get out of land based fighter range.

AI continues to try to harrass me with small invasions that won't work at post March 1942 levels. He has hit three times at Dutch Harbor. I have a regiment of infatry and half a regiment of CD guns and a small attack (1 x xAK, 1 x PB, and some SNLF troops) won't cut it. I mostly ignore these. Maybe a little later I'll start stationing an Omaha and couple old DD and nothing will come home. I did station the Nevada and some four-pipers at Midway to discourage surface bombardments. I also have a whole regiment of CD (48 x six inch guns) and 400 mines with mine tenders, my own mine sweepers, even some PT boats. And 60 divebombers and plenty of fighters and Catalina and my last B-17D squadron. Midway is now a major sub base.

Speaking of subs, I think I have his shipping routes figured out. Despite the fact my Mk.14 are still dud-ridden, I'm sinking two ships a day. I have to keep four AKEs busy running ammo to Midway to keep that base in torpedoes. Lots of contacts and lots of torpedoes fired. Explosions? Not so much, but that will improve.

Upgrades coming fast. In fact I have to hit Milne Bay and Rossel Island quickly or I'll be held up by carrier air group reorganization.

AI did send a small carrier TF to the Indian Ocean and they sank a RN AO, but they were too late to get the big convoy. I had all my 10th AF and China B-25C going to perth to reinforce New-Guinea/Solomons operations.
My air campaign against Rangoon is about to start. I have 80 B-24D on the map and three squadrons of P-38F ready to go. I'm looking to start bombing the first of November or so.

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RE: I Have Returned - 5/15/2020 4:20:37 PM

Taxcutter

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To avoid hitting you with a wall of words I split up my observations into a second post.

I've noticed this game AIs land operations have been soft. He was aggressive as you'd expect in the PI, Maylaya and DEI, but he moved slowly in Burma (I got most of the Burma Army away and dug in on the Imphal line) and he has been not very impressive in China. After pummelling the Chinese to mid January 1942, he has gone torpid in china. A few bombardments and lots of his light bomber air attacks from over 10,000 feet.

His "lines" seem thin. A few outposts often three or more hexes apart and not all that strong (with a couple exceptions). He made two brief tries at Imphal and Chittagong and got nowhere. I've played this game enough those are two places you flat HAVE TO fight over. Run from Ledo if you have to, but fight over Imphal and Chittagong - otherwise you find yourself fighting on the open country of Assam. In true AI fashion he didn't watch his flanks at Imphal and now I've got two strong infantry divisions isolated south of Imphal. Too tough to quickly eliminate but I've got him contained. A similar force hit Chittagong and retired back into Burma. So far my airedale recon hasn't found that force. He has another two division force at Mandalay and tha's pretty much it. I even managed to hold Lashio.

Further, I haven't seen much of either Zeroes or Oscars after the initial push through the PI, DEI and Maylaya. Lots of Betties and Sallies - about 50% in night raids. Very little escorts. In games against pre-2015 AI the AI has mauled my shallow Hurricane pools. Not so this time. Not only do I have fully equipped Hurri squadrons, but I have some depth in the pools. the pilots have gained much EXP and AIR killing Betties. I even have P-400 aces earned by killing Betties. It's a weird feeling send a P-400 driver to TRACOM.

Throw in the huge land garrisons at remote islands like Guadalcanal and Tulagi, I have to think this AI script is all about making a stand closer to japan. Maybe the Marianas. All those land troops and front-line fighters had to go somewhere, and I haven't killed all that many. With few long-ranged fighters (I've just started getting P-38Gs), I can't really get too aggressive.

Yeah, I know the IJNAF and IJAAF fighter have a rough time with 4E bombers, but I just don't like sending out unescorted bombers, even if P-38s aren't all that hot as escorts.

I'm still months away from Essexes and Hellcats, so I have to avoid irrational exuberence.

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RE: I Have Returned - 5/15/2020 5:09:49 PM

RangerJoe

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Put an AS at Midway to resupply the subs, then regular cargo vessels to haul in supplies. No need to use the AKEs. The AS will also help repair damage. An AR will fix some major damage if the total is about 5 points or less.

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�Illegitemus non carborundum est (�Don�t let the bastards grind you down�).�
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Post #: 66

RE: I Have Returned - 5/15/2020 11:41:16 PM

Taxcutter

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AS at Midway. Check.
AR at Midway. Check.
Beaucoup supply and fuel at Midway. Check.
I even have minesweepers and ASW vessels present to nullify nuisance attacks.
And the "Bobcats" SeaBees to fix damage.

The AKEs are for torpedo ammo. I've found the game treats torpedoes as being different from regular supply.
Without a loaded AKE I've seen torpedo supplies zero out. Never happens when there is aa AKE present with 'supply' aboard.

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RE: I Have Returned - 5/16/2020 1:52:33 AM

RangerJoe

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Just keep the AS with supplies, those represent the torpedoes. The crew really doesn't eat anything.

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Seek peace but keep your gun handy.

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�Illegitemus non carborundum est (�Don�t let the bastards grind you down�).�
― Julia Child

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RE: I Have Returned - 5/16/2020 1:56:41 AM

Jorge_Stanbury

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As RangerJoe mentioned; AS will resupply torpedoes (only to SS)

AD will resupply torpedoes for DDs and AGPs will resupply PTs/ MTBs

I won't put an AR on Midway, there are too few, at least early on, and on my games, those still afloat are always busy trying to save some crippled cruiser or battleship

AKEs: there are lots of big AGs that can convert, it really makes a lot of sense to convert them all; for AGs, it is better to use the smaller ones (that are also plentiful); put them on small ports in which small escorts operate so that depth charges are refilled

< Message edited by Jorge_Stanbury -- 5/16/2020 1:58:37 AM >

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RE: I Have Returned - 5/16/2020 2:10:00 AM

BBfanboy

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

As RangerJoe mentioned; AS will resupply torpedoes (only to SS)

AD will resupply torpedoes for DDs and AGPs will resupply PTs/ MTBs

I won't put an AR on Midway, there are too few, at least early on, and on my games, those still afloat are always busy trying to save some crippled cruiser or battleship

AKEs: there are lots of big AGs that can convert, it really makes a lot of sense to convert them all; for AGs, it is better to use the smaller ones (that are also plentiful); put them on small ports in which small escorts operate so that depth charges are refilled

I don't know of any AGs on the Allied side that can convert to AKE or AE, so I presume you meant xAKs there?

The C2 Lassen class xAKs convert to AEs of 5400 capacity - big enough to replenish the Iowa class BBs. The xAKs of about 5250 ton capacity can convert to AKEs of 4200 ton capacity - big enough to handle most other battleships.

The 4900 ton capacity xAKs can covert to AKE too, but I haven't found the need to do so because I have enough AEs and AKEs from the larger xAKs. What I have found is that I run a bit short of xAKs if I convert too many to Support Ships. There is just so much supply to haul over such a long distance in the early part of the Allies war that you need to pace the conversions somewhat.

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RE: I Have Returned - 5/16/2020 2:24:17 AM

RangerJoe

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You can use the AGs to run supply. One class actually increases its endurance. Not only that, they will load supplies when not even in a Task Force so that is even a little faster for turn around. If needed to haul resources, then a real AK or xAK needs to be in the convoy to start with but that ship can be removed after selecting the load resources.. That goes the same for APs.

_____________________________

Seek peace but keep your gun handy.

I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing!

�Illegitemus non carborundum est (�Don�t let the bastards grind you down�).�
― Julia Child

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Post #: 71

RE: I Have Returned - 5/16/2020 2:30:57 AM

Jorge_Stanbury

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quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

quote:

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

As RangerJoe mentioned; AS will resupply torpedoes (only to SS)

AD will resupply torpedoes for DDs and AGPs will resupply PTs/ MTBs

I won't put an AR on Midway, there are too few, at least early on, and on my games, those still afloat are always busy trying to save some crippled cruiser or battleship

AKEs: there are lots of big AGs that can convert, it really makes a lot of sense to convert them all; for AGs, it is better to use the smaller ones (that are also plentiful); put them on small ports in which small escorts operate so that depth charges are refilled

I don't know of any AGs on the Allied side that can convert to AKE or AE, so I presume you meant xAKs there?

The C2 Lassen class xAKs convert to AEs of 5400 capacity - big enough to replenish the Iowa class BBs. The xAKs of about 5250 ton capacity can convert to AKEs of 4200 ton capacity - big enough to handle most other battleships.

The 4900 ton capacity xAKs can covert to AKE too, but I haven't found the need to do so because I have enough AEs and AKEs from the larger xAKs. What I have found is that I run a bit short of xAKs if I convert too many to Support Ships. There is just so much supply to haul over such a long distance in the early part of the Allies war that you need to pace the conversions somewhat.

I am certain they can in Dababes... that said, I haven't played vanilla in many years
classes are AGs Regulus and Capella

EDIT: I opened scen1 and they can convert to AKE; and by converting the AGs, I have less need to convert xAKs; as you mention they are needed to haul supply

EDIT2: you will need a few (count with one hand few) big AEs to take care of your battleships, C2s obviously preferably as then you don't need to worry about which battleship they can or cannot rearm).
Otherwise, the smaller, former AGs Regulus and Capella are "good enough" for riskier places. They can rearm DD torpedoes, cruiser caliber guns (both 8in and 6in) and carrier sorties/torpedoes. Capellas can also rearm the oldest BB (12in) guns in case you want to put Arkansas at risk

< Message edited by Jorge_Stanbury -- 5/16/2020 3:39:27 AM >

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RE: I Have Returned - 5/16/2020 2:38:56 AM

Jorge_Stanbury

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quote:

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

You can use the AGs to run supply. One class actually increases its endurance. Not only that, they will load supplies when not even in a Task Force so that is even a little faster for turn around. If needed to haul resources, then a real AK or xAK needs to be in the convoy to start with but that ship can be removed after selecting the load resources.. That goes the same for APs.

yes, early on I would use them to haul supply, but they are less flexible as they won't get into Amphibious TFs, can't carry airgroup or troops, and I would swear (but can;t prove)that they take longer to unload

by the time I need more AKEs, I convert the AGs to AKE as there are enough replacement xAKs from ship arrivals

< Message edited by Jorge_Stanbury -- 5/16/2020 2:39:41 AM >

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RE: I Have Returned - 6/17/2020 7:56:46 PM

Taxcutter

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OK. A year of war. Sitrep Dec. 7, 1942 Plain vanilla game, BTW.

First I'll do current situation then another post on generalities.

I currently have my big carriers (organized into 3 TF, with cruiser and modern BB flak escort. Biggest flak DDs. Following with the Standards (7x BB, 6x Brooklyns, plenty of DDs) moving from PH to Brisbane/Noumea to cover invasions at Rossel Is. and Milne Bay. I have the Long Island and six DEs (converted four-pipers) as the centerpiece of ASW ops on the Australian East Coast plus SCs and Kingfisher and Catalinas as ASW assets. I just haven't been able to drive him out but the ASW effort keeps him at bay most of the time. I simply have top take these bases as we are stood off from each other limited by range. His Zeroes and my P-38F and G can escort from bases to each others bases but not in adequate numbers. Airedale recon shows 5,000 men at Rossel and 11,000 at Milne bay but no planes at either. I have the 2nd Marine Div planned for Rossel and I US Corps (32nd and 41st ID) planned for Milne Bay. Could be interesting. I still have to use AP and xAP transports. Sure wish I had some LSTs but the first one just showed up on the West Coast.

I built up logistics hubs at PH, Sydney, Brisbane, and Noumea and am working on a reserve supply base at Auckland. Supply/fuel to NE Australia still tight as his Betties can hit them as they run along the coast from Sydney & Brisbane. Darwin is essentially out of supplies. I'm building bases at Coen, Portland Roads and Horn Island but construction is never fast enough. I do have fighters to make these bases something a Betty doesn't want to get too near, and I have marched SeaBees and BF to the bases but progress is slow.

Perth is mostly there to support Dutch subs in DEI. I moved all the Asiatic fleet subs to Brisbane. I have flooded the Solomon sea with two shifts of fleet boats.

Action is picking up in Burma. In Dec. 1941 I just flat RAN the Burma Army to the Chittagong/Imphal/Dimapur ridge, and prepared for a defensive struggle. But I did save enough of the Burma army to hold it solidly. This scrip did not followup aggressively in Burma and it careless about its flanks. I'm impregnable on the ridge and ma probing around Akyab. Not enough punch to boot him out but I can keep him busy.

This script did not aggressively attack either Burma or China. In both I just ran for high value defensible terrain and dug in. Actually my hungry bat-eaters have surrounded and eliminate five strongpoints in China, but after that offensive the Chinese are a bit worn down.

My sub campaign is the usual. Strong group off the soth coat of Japan, Asiatic fleet boats are working around Guadalcanal and the Solomons, but there isn't much shipping there - for now.

Things should go quicker now that my CVE TF has arrived. rather than scattering them out, I concentrated 4 CVE and stripped off the TB and put the four fighter replenishment squadrons on them. So I can put up a local CAP of 108 Wildcats (so-so pilots) to escort supply ships in NE Australia. In a few weeks I'll get four more (bigger CVE) for such duty.

Essexes are seven moths away and I have zero urge to tangle with Kido butai until I have the Essexes and have a chance to train up their fighter pilots. So far, I haven't seen KB for three months. My guess is they're either in Truk or the Inland Sea. I do have subs at both sally ports. If he's in truk and comes out after my invasion forces I'll run to the cover of my big logistics ports where I also have lots of fighters.

As recommended by the board in Dec. 1941 I had all my AKLs run for CT and SF. They run routine long-range supply to PH and CT.

More later.

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RE: I Have Returned - 6/17/2020 9:30:40 PM

Jorge_Stanbury

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don't use CVEs for supply convoy escort, it is too risky; you might end losing a ship to torpedoes

better to keep them safe for the time you will need them to escort invasion fleets

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RE: I Have Returned - 6/18/2020 1:06:18 AM

BBfanboy

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Taxcutter

OK. A year of war. Sitrep Dec. 7, 1942 Plain vanilla game, BTW.

First I'll do current situation then another post on generalities.

I currently have my big carriers (organized into 3 TF, with cruiser and modern BB flak escort. Biggest flak DDs. Following with the Standards (7x BB, 6x Brooklyns, plenty of DDs) moving from PH to Brisbane/Noumea to cover invasions at Rossel Is. and Milne Bay. I have the Long Island and six DEs (converted four-pipers) as the centerpiece of ASW ops on the Australian East Coast plus SCs and Kingfisher and Catalinas as ASW assets. I just haven't been able to drive him out but the ASW effort keeps him at bay most of the time. I simply have top take these bases as we are stood off from each other limited by range. His Zeroes and my P-38F and G can escort from bases to each others bases but not in adequate numbers. Airedale recon shows 5,000 men at Rossel and 11,000 at Milne bay but no planes at either. I have the 2nd Marine Div planned for Rossel and I US Corps (32nd and 41st ID) planned for Milne Bay. Could be interesting. I still have to use AP and xAP transports. Sure wish I had some LSTs but the first one just showed up on the West Coast.

I built up logistics hubs at PH, Sydney, Brisbane, and Noumea and am working on a reserve supply base at Auckland. Supply/fuel to NE Australia still tight as his Betties can hit them as they run along the coast from Sydney & Brisbane. Darwin is essentially out of supplies. I'm building bases at Coen, Portland Roads and Horn Island but construction is never fast enough. I do have fighters to make these bases something a Betty doesn't want to get too near, and I have marched SeaBees and BF to the bases but progress is slow.

Perth is mostly there to support Dutch subs in DEI. I moved all the Asiatic fleet subs to Brisbane. I have flooded the Solomon sea with two shifts of fleet boats.

Action is picking up in Burma. In Dec. 1941 I just flat RAN the Burma Army to the Chittagong/Imphal/Dimapur ridge, and prepared for a defensive struggle. But I did save enough of the Burma army to hold it solidly. This scrip did not followup aggressively in Burma and it careless about its flanks. I'm impregnable on the ridge and ma probing around Akyab. Not enough punch to boot him out but I can keep him busy.

This script did not aggressively attack either Burma or China. In both I just ran for high value defensible terrain and dug in. Actually my hungry bat-eaters have surrounded and eliminate five strongpoints in China, but after that offensive the Chinese are a bit worn down.

My sub campaign is the usual. Strong group off the soth coat of Japan, Asiatic fleet boats are working around Guadalcanal and the Solomons, but there isn't much shipping there - for now.

Things should go quicker now that my CVE TF has arrived. rather than scattering them out, I concentrated 4 CVE and stripped off the TB and put the four fighter replenishment squadrons on them. So I can put up a local CAP of 108 Wildcats (so-so pilots) to escort supply ships in NE Australia. In a few weeks I'll get four more (bigger CVE) for such duty.

Essexes are seven moths away and I have zero urge to tangle with Kido butai until I have the Essexes and have a chance to train up their fighter pilots. So far, I haven't seen KB for three months. My guess is they're either in Truk or the Inland Sea. I do have subs at both sally ports. If he's in truk and comes out after my invasion forces I'll run to the cover of my big logistics ports where I also have lots of fighters.

As recommended by the board in Dec. 1941 I had all my AKLs run for CT and SF. They run routine long-range supply to PH and CT.

More later.

OK - here are your seven moths. You should get the Essex carriers next turn ...

Attachment (1)

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Post #: 76

RE: I Have Returned - 6/22/2020 10:06:00 PM

Taxcutter

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Insects notwithstanding...

My P-38s are not doing well.

I had 75 P-38F in Burma and tried to raid Rangoon.
First attack: High altitude escort with sweep. 25xP-38F sweeping at 35,000 ft. 50 P-38F escorting at 33,000 ft. 80xB24D airfield bombing at 31,000 feet. AI reacted with 20 Zeros, 25 Oscars, and some Nates and Claudes. My planes killed 2xZero, 4xOscar, 5 or 6 Nates + Claude. Not much P-38 losses but a lot of operational damage. All three P-38 squadrons were at half strength after the first strike. 1 or 2 shot down but 10or 12 down for maintenance. I lost a couple bombers but the bomber squadrons were only down 1 or 2 planes. From 31,000 ft my 80 bombers scored two runway hits. My pilot quality should have been quite good. Fighter squadrons were one-third TRACOM candidates with 73+ AIR rating. Bombers were not bad. All have at least 65 GrdB rating. But...from 31,000 ft one can't get too greedy.

So I changed tactics.

Next strike: 65 bombers at 22,000 ft. 40 P-38F at 25,000 ft. Again the mixed-bag CAP. Results: Less Japanese shot down and my P-38s were reduced by 60%. Lost ten bombers as well. Seven base hits. So I decided to pull my hand out of that meatgrinder. Backed the P-38s and B-24s out of his range and let AI fight it out with my Hurris and P-40E around Chittagong. My P-38F and B-24D pools are dry.

A week later I hit Port Moresby. Less planes available. 25xP-38G and 60xB-26 bombing from 10,000 ft escorts at 16,000 ft. I got mauled in one attack. AI put up hordes of Zeroes and Nicks. I lost all but 4 of my P-38s (including eight TRACOM candidate pilots) and half my B-26s. Both groups are out of the game for a while. I do have 25 P-38G in the replacement pool.

How many brothers does Saburo Sakai have? For the whole first year, AI has been very circumspect about putting Zeroes over my bases so his units are at nearly full strength and his pools look deep.

Next order of business is an amphibious invasion of Rossel Island. If I can take this base Guadalcanal and Tulagi are in P-40 range. I do not intend to invade Guadalcanal/Tulagi. Airedale recon shows 50,000 men on those two islands but only 8,000 on Rossel.

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RE: I Have Returned - 6/22/2020 10:13:38 PM

Bif1961

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Now you know why they invented Island hopping.

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RE: I Have Returned - 6/23/2020 3:54:05 PM

Taxcutter

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Yeah. The relative weakness of land forces in Burma and China and the outlandish garrisons at Guadalcanal, Tulagi, and Port Moresby tell me that the script is committed to heavy garrisons farther out than I'd expect.

My grand plan is to essentially stop him at Rabaul by nabbing some island bases in fighter ranges and wearing down his air assets. Mines and tactically deployed subs will keep an eye on him.

I intend to mount a three-pronged offensive:
1. Extreme island-hopping. Generally take Baker, Tarawa, Kwaj/Roi-Namur, Eniwetok, Ponape and a few smaller islands to get full control of the "center of the chessboard" so I can use more direc5 logistical route. Use Ponape to grind down Truk. The Marianas are a logiscial place to go but I fear AI has put enormous garrisons in place there. Where exactly I go will depend on recon.

2. Base on Darwin (gotta build it back up) and drive up the middle DEI (mostly Celebes and oil ports on Borneo and open a straight run through the Malay Barrier.

3. Keep working on Rangoon and the Burma road. AI has the IJA wek in china and my bat-eaters might get me a lot of VP if I can get supply in. Part 2 may offer me scope to invade Hong Kong and daredevil in some xAKs to pump up China well.

KB will have to come out and play sometime, but I'm in no hurry to press him til I have Essexes and Hellcats in numbers.

< Message edited by Taxcutter -- 6/23/2020 3:56:22 PM >

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RE: I Have Returned - 6/30/2020 2:17:31 PM

Taxcutter

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Christmas 1942. The Allies get a present. AI must have sent a lot of IJA infantry off to isolated islands I can't get a look at. With typical AI insousiance about his flanks AI let my starving bat-eaters surround and destroy a division and a half just east of Canton. I oozed 92,000 of Chiang's boys into Canton and found only four small rear-area units. I told the bat-eaters there were pork chops in Canton and they destroyed the REMFs and took Canton in a two-day battle. How nice! 60 VP and the promise of some supply. I have a few small infantry units to mop up and Hong Kong looks well defended, but I think I can clean up most of south China by April.

AI retreated sloppily and now I have Akyab surrounded but the garrison is strong and on good defensive terrain.

Still, good times on land for Dec. 1942.

I am manuevering to invade Rossel Island within the week. I also have troops prepped and transport accumulated to hit Milne Bay maybe a week later. My worry is that KB shows up. I've gone all-in to re-take these bazses before 1943. Problem is that I have not attritted the IJNAF enough yet. His aircraft and pilot quality are still quite good. I've tried to adapt with quantity. I have all my big carriers there, three CVEs loded with 28 fighters each and a ASW CVE-based group to beat down his subs. The old dive-bombers on the Long Island have gotten enough EXP that they now routinely attack IJN subs off eastern Australia. But only a few of my fighter pilots are over 75 EXP and 80 AIR and Mildcats are no match for Zeros. Further north his Nicks fight my P-40Ks to a draw.

Logistical situation is good. I now have enough Liberty ships I can run them straight from Panama to Noumea, Brisbane, Sydney, and my growing auxiliary supply terminus at Auckland direct by safe routes. I size the Liberty convoys by what the target port can unload in a day. 19,000 endurance is nice. I've sent a couple of convoys to Brisbane/Noumea made up of smaller long-haul xAKs. this should make supplying smaller ports easier.

< Message edited by Taxcutter -- 6/30/2020 2:18:27 PM >

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RE: I Have Returned - 7/1/2020 3:01:56 PM

Taxcutter

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Reflecting on the balance of the game after twelve and a half "months" of warfare...

The Allied forces are a work in progress. No longer are they ****cats that can easily be defeated. The hard-to defend places like Malaya, the PI, and the DEI are gone. the Allies held Midway and Canton Islands - locations at the "center of the chessboard." Fortunately islands cannot capsize because I had to commit a lot of inefficient forces to hold them. My poorly trained pilots are now all in training units safe from the Japanese. The AI did not aggressive press the air war in Burma, so my Hurricane pools have some depth (although I still cannot be prolifigate) so I didn't have to transfer ten USMC fighter squadrons of so-so quality to the the Tenth Air Force. Two Army fighter groups suffice to stiffen the British. The Hurris and the British pilots are (for now somewhat better) but the P-40E pool is bottomless.

The USN is big but not easy to move around. I moved all my striking power (other than a couple cruiser squadrons) fro Pearl to Noumea and I had to use twelve AOs - to moved them there without long layovers in small ports. I still sucked six AOs completely dry going one way. AI has only lost one CV (to a S-class sub) and I haven't seen it for months so I have to assume KB has plenty of very good pilots. I don't know if the IJN has switched from ultra-long range A6M2 Zeros to tougher but shorter range A6M5s yet. Land based, AI can escort Betties in Port Moresby as far as Townsville. My long-range P-38s are not numerous enough to offset the Zeros' agility. Looking ahead I don't think I'll ever have enough P-38s to overwhelm Zeros at long range. I'm qualitatively ata disadvantage during offensive operations til Hellcats and Corsairs show up.

Land forces have much the same to say. Once they hold a position, US, British, and Australians are very difficult to dislodge. AI did take Port Moresby in February but he had to throw the whole dam Japanese Navy out there to isolate them. But the big Allied land units are hard to move and unload and plan invasions. The Japnese plan almost instantly and are easy to move/unload but fritter away like bacon if they aren't holding good terrain. Especially when supported by armor and artillery the Allied units gobble supply, so attacks can be intermittent. The IJA doesn't fight as much with firepower, so although they take a lot of human casualties it takes a while to run an isolated unit out of supply.

AI has been a mixed bag of aggression. AI made a follow-up at PH but his strike squadrons were depleted. He sent KB out to support an invasion of Canton Island, but I had run two regimets of CD guns out to Canton. KB's strike planes didn't faze the CD guns and the guns ground his transports to hamburger. Earlier, KB had supported the invasion of PM for a few days but after those actions Kido Butai must have gone to the moon. I literally have not seen them since March. So I have to assume his air groups are at TO&E strength and excellent skill levels. For some reason AI make surface unit based nuisance raids. He's made several even at PH. My early war dive and torpedo bombers didn't impress him much although I always managed to get a hit or two. Mostly these raids beat down my local ASW patrols. But one raid on PH he brought the Yamato and tangled with Ft. Kamehameha. Bad idea. The Yamato limped out of air search ranges still smoking. He got a number of CAs and CLs shot up. He tried a couple of CLs at Dutch Harbor as late as October, but one Brooklyn and two Omahas handled that and the raids seem to have stopped. Beyond that the IJN has been passive.

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RE: I Have Returned - 7/26/2020 11:07:18 PM

Taxcutter

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Finally back. Game date Feb. 1, 1943.

I can't let Tom Hanks win the war all by himself, can I?

After stiff-arming me for game months, the roof crashed down on Port Moresby. I didn't even have to use my main CV TFs. (They were covering the invasion at Rossel Island.)

250 medium bombers came calling all at once. 200 B-25s at 10,000 ft and 50-odd B-26s at low altitude. B-25smwere escorted by a single squadron of P-38G. The B-26s were escorted by a single Australian Beaufight squadron.

I augmented it with a CVE TF loaded with 100+ Mildcats, and two bombardment TFs. One was 6xStandard BB and the other was 6xBrooklyn class CL.

Where a fat and sassy base once stood, constricting me in the Coral Sea, now its a lake of soupy mud mixed with aluminum shards. At least 250 planes (a mixed bag) were destroyed on the ground.

Now I can relieve the virtual isolation of Darwin and begin stockpiling for my SW Pac offensive in the DEI.

Losses were minor. Less than a dozen planes, a couple Standards will spend the summer in Bremerton, but they are not central to my plans now that the modern BBs are on-hand.

By early summer I should have Munda, all of Bougainville. That puts Rabaul in range of my P-40Ks (pool barely scratched). SoPac HQ will take over PM and Buna and everything in the Solomons Islands, and essentially go defensive.

My Marine divisions and most of my army divisions will go to CenPac and I'll start stripping off the Gilberts and Marshalls. I'll keep TF38/58 concentrated in case AI decided to bring Kido Butai out to play.

I'm using this game to learn to step up the pace of amphib operations. By early fall I should have all my APAs and AKAs converted and LSTs as far as the eye can see. Let's see if a rapid loss of the Gilberts/Marshalls brings KB out to fight.

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RE: I Have Returned - 7/27/2020 12:03:03 AM

RangerJoe

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You do not need to change the HQs of bases.

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RE: I Have Returned - 7/27/2020 8:30:21 PM

Taxcutter

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Thanks. I won't.

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Post #: 84

RE: I Have Returned - 7/31/2020 11:44:19 PM

Taxcutter

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Sitrep Game Date Feb. 8, 1943

The AI - after being asleep for game months seems to have woke up some.

I was merrily grinding along when the AI woke up somewhat.

AI rescued the bulk of the 25,000 troops at Port Moresby after I pounded it to mush. Airedale recon shows only 3,500 troops left in PM. PM is still out of range of my most effective anti-shipping planes in Australia and 200+ medium bomber only hit a couple of the rescue ships.

Most of the planes he had at Shortlands seem to have gone elsewhere. A sweep by my stiff-wing F4F-3s found only a few Nicks and Claudes. No match for -3s with good pilots.

Airedale recon shows 11,000 troops at Milne Bay. I have complete confidence my two-division invasion will crush there guys. Buna is relatively weak as are other nearby bases. Once the 9th Australian Div arrives I'll mash PM. The major holdback is the lack of efficient amphib resources but LSTs and LSIs are en route and more LSTs arrive everyday. All of my APA-eligible ships are on-hand in major ports and conversion will take about a month. Conversion will begin in March and my AKA conversions will begin in June.

AI has gotten stickier in China. I nearly had China south of the Yangtse cleared by suddenly the Japanese became more formidable and my pace has slowed down. AI ran a strong infantry brigade into Canton and it may take a couple weeks for six corps on unsupplied Chinese to wear them down. I'll slow down another amphib counter attack as I have nine US subs coming to mine the Pearl River and Hong Kong. The mines will dissipate fairly quickly but I'll have the initiative back by then.

AI has a 2 x CV force burning fuel north of Midway at the edge of B-17D range. Yes, I still have a dozen or so -Ds flying search missions. I don't know what 2 x CV is gonna do. All my bases in that area are well garrisoned with both air and land assets. Adak is veritable hedgehog. I have an Army Regiment a up-to-date Marine defense battalion, and a CD battalion (all in fort level 4) plus two P-40 squadrons and a SBD squadron. And 500 mines with tenders. I'm sending a PT tender and will see if I can figure a way to get some value from PT boats.

One of my aggressive sub skippers got too bold and I'm afraid the Trigger has had it.

On the larger scene, I've just about got the old pin pulled and hopefully I can get into fighting real people before long.

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RE: I Have Returned - 8/24/2020 12:04:17 AM

Taxcutter

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Sitrep March 15, 1943.

A transition time in the campaign. I'm getting some much-needed refits done. To paraphrase John Paul Jones: "Give me a ship with big flak because I intend to go in harm's way.

My carriers are at Pearl and I'm about ten days from completely refitted. AI is hiding out although my Midway long range search spots 2 or 3 CVs operating in the Adak area. My modern BBs are with the fleet and a lot of my cruisers are ready to rumble. I may go up that way and see if I can get a carrier battle in my favor. I'll stay under PBY & B-17D search range to avoid surprises. I should start seeing Hellcats next month but the Essex is still four months away.

I've grabbed Rossel Island and Milne Bay and I'm building up substantial air forces there. In another week or two I won't need to hide under my fighter-heavy CVEs. I have 75 fighters on both islands and no longer do unescorted Betties come calling. Like wise I have strong bases in NE Australia. I have 22 squadrons of fighters and bombers making their way toward Brisbane and Noumea.

I have the Milne Bay garrison nearly surrounded and now the 9th Australian is finally in-theater and riding the rails across Oz. The hammer will hit PM soon.

No Burma Road anytime soon. I took Akyab and destroyed 3 divisions and have 2 more divisions bottled up at Imphal but my British troops are fought out til serious replacements show up.

Chiang Kai-sheck is doing well. I nearly have SW China south of the Pearl River cleared except for a strong lodgment at Hong Kong. Like the British the Chinese are more than a little tired.

My big problem is the lack of good long-range fighter escort (right Gen. Eaker?) I have half a squadron of P-38Fs in India, but that ain't enough at Rangoon where AI has about a hundred Oscars. I Have two squadrons of early-model Corsairs but their range is barely better than a P-40. F4U-1As should begin showing up in six weeks or so. Hellcats will be sucked up by my big carriers for the near future.

Best news is the APAs, AKAs, and LSTs are showing up in numbers now. Hopefully I can get quick unloading. I'm so tired of those dinky little Dutch xAPs holding invasion TFs hostage for a single truck or 50 tons of supply. I did put together a test TF of LCI and LST. I use it for unloading a Seabee battalion. Works great, the Seabees (plus some supply) are unloaded in a day and next day the Seabees are doing their thing.

I am impress at the improvement in the AI over earlier versions. It is fairly aggressive but still doesn't understand flanks and encirclement. All around, not bad for a script.

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RE: I Have Returned - 9/24/2020 2:57:57 AM

Taxcutter

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I'm still slugging it out with the AI.

Sitrep May 13, 1943.

Not a bad couple of game months since my last report.

In Burma I caught the AI under-garrisoning Prome and I just took it. About two weeks earlier, I took Magwe. So I have the AI in a bad way although my supply is thin. For the short term I'm re-directing all my "Hump" transports to Chittagong tp fly some supply to Prome and Magwe. At Meitila (adjacent to Magwe) AI has a couple RTA divisions and a bunch of Japanese REMF units. If I can take Meiktila I've truly isolated all the Japanese units in central Burma (about 30,000 troops). Sooner or later I've gotta kill all these guys as they are camped on the Burma Road.

AI can't run me out of Prome unless he strips Rangoon (airedales say 18,000 men). Since I slaughtered his Imphal assault force I have about two-thirds of the mobile Indian army crawling down the coast road. About a third of this force has crossed the river at Akyab. I'm trying to run supplies through Akyab but the port is only a 3 level and AI is throwing the entire IJAAF at the ships there. Good thing the Brits have lots of merchants. This campaign is now all about supply. I get supplied and I can clear the Burma Road in two months. I just have to manage my fighter aircraft.

I just raised the siege on Darwin. AI had used a couple dozen Betties to keep it beat down but I used eight CVE with all-Wildcat air wings to force in engineers, supply and four squadrons of Spitfires. Now AI pesters me with night bombing raids but I found his bomber base at Kendari. I've moved in planes and Kendari is gonna get about fifty doses of Vitamin B-24D1 My pool is deep and Oscars have a rough time with 4EB. I;ll pound the place to mush.

I'm set up to really clobber Rabaul. Milne Bay is in range and I'm moving 300 B-25s and fifty P-38G to make that place an unusable mudhole. I've already neutralized the air bases on Bougainville and have two divisions plus tanks, combat engineers, and artillery prepped to invade. I've got most of my APA, LCI, AKA, and LST assets available. I think I can dump my entire invasion force in a single day.

Things are quiet in the Central Pacific, but once Bougainville has fallen, I can shift to the Gilberts pretty quickly.

My sub campaign is picking up as the Mk. 14s seem to be going off more often.

I have no clue where Kido Butai is so I have to keep my carrier force together. A Japanese sub hit the Hornet twice and she'll be in Bremerton for five months. On the other hand Essex is due in a couple days.

I have gotten better about organizing into corps and letting my Corps HQ help expedite the prep process.

Chiang is playing whack-a-mole with the AI but I think I can clear most of southern China by the end of the year. If I can nab Hong Kong, I may be able to run kamikaze xAK in to supply the Chinese and run AI out of everything south of the Yangtze.

Not a bad training game.

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RE: I Have Returned - 9/30/2020 2:00:04 AM

Taxcutter

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Development May 16: I may have found Kido Butai.

Right where I'd suspect: Truk.

I found KB with high-altitude recon Liberators. I operate them at 28,000 ft. That puts a lot of potential cloud between plane and surface and thus de-rate spotting accuracy, but in an environment where hundreds of Zeroes could be encountered, I rely of the Liberators' turbochargers. Zeros performance at 28,000 feet suck.

My carrier fleet is not far away and Essex is on the map and joining the carrier fleet. I raided the carrier fighter reserve and put a damn fine fighter squadron on her - including Dave McCampbell. Could be interesting.

BTW Hornet got to Bremerton OK. 106 days repair and refit. Air wing is at Pearl.

< Message edited by Taxcutter -- 9/30/2020 2:02:30 AM >

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RE: I Have Returned - 10/8/2020 2:24:20 AM

Grotius

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I read this entire AAR. I hope you keep updating it! I like reading AI AARs, and your experience has been interesting.

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RE: I Have Returned - 10/19/2020 8:49:15 PM

Taxcutter

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I was due an update and this one should titillate the jaded.

BTW, props to the developers for a good AI script.

First four months of the war it followed the historical recipe - more or less.

After May 42 (game time) the AI stopped his offensive and crammed thousands of infantry into all sorts of places. He put 40,000 men into Guadalcanal and 25,000 into Tulagi. No way I was gonna drive that horde out with just 1st USMC Div, given the inefficient amphibious lift avaliable. AI put 35,000 men into PM and drove out my ferocious Aussies. So I postponed a counter offensive and began building up assets.

Now AI paid a price for putting half the population of Japan on coral dots. My unsupplied Chinese ran amok. I pretty much ran AI out of China south of the Pearl River and was looking good east of Ichang. Still I kept my Chinese in good defensive terrain to mitigate AI's advantages. That party kinda ground to a halt just as we went into 1943. AI started using a "whack-a-mole" tactic to keep a lot of my inefficient and unsupplied Chinese tied up. So China is back to a stalemate, only I have much of the terrain I want.

AI's strategy cheap-Charlied his Burma campaign. His offensive broke like a little wave on a mountain against my Imphal ridge line. The British pre=war strat of having primitive infrastructure in Burma kept AI out of India, but moving supply is difficult and even though his army in Burma is broken, I simply have to take Rangoon.

Unseen by my poor recon/search, AI moved a lot of those troops off the isolated islands. I had planned the entire Aus I Corp to re-take PM but airedale recon shows 1,800 men. Aus 6th Div should do OK, but I have the 7th Div in reserve.

US I Corps (41st and 32nd Divisions) took Milne Bay easily and I just let the 41st ooze west to surround PM, so now there will be no retreat into the Owen Stanleys. Recon shows Buna to be undefended. I'll try an airborne attack to verify. Never done a fallschirmjaeger attack in WitP.

Rabaul, Lae, and Umboi island bases are puddles of thin mud. Munda will provide lots of air support for killing the 14,000 IJN types at Shortland. I already occupy Torokina.

My Mk.14 torpedoes are finally going off and I've built a cordon through the Luzon and Formosa Straits and have resident subs all through that are. His fuel tanks gotta be getting dry.

I have built the base at Darwin into something to fear.

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