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Q-Ball -> RE: THE END (6/9/2010 12:36:42 PM)
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STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT:
Thanks everyone for your comments! I wanted to pen a few notes on how this game evolved, and what the key points were. Cuttlefish made some mistakes and also got no breaks at all, and in CV battles sometimes you just need a break.
Cuttlefish was a very good opponent, gracious and responsive. I got all the breaks in this game, so I think he'll do alot better next time; in fact, in his game with erstad, I know he is. Hope this one helped.
Pearl Harbor to mid-1942: The Japanese Expansion overall went OK. Pearl Harbor was an average result (3 BBs sunk, others damaged), not huge for the Empire, but OK. Malaya and Luzon were cleared in a reasonable timeframe, and though we got a few licks in the DEI, Cuttlefish didn't lose any capital ships, so the IJN stayed pretty much intact.
The invasion of Java went slower than it probably should have; I think Cuttlefish paid for this later in losing time to invade Northern Australia. The siege at Noumea did bag alot of Allied troops, but also cost a couple months of time.
Overall, I think Cuttlefish did fine in expansion, he pushed out past historical boundaries. I think he made a couple errors; one was not invading Northern Australia, which was very takeable, and the second was stopping offensive activity after Noumea fell in 8/42. With the IJN intact, he probably should have kept going rather than surrender strategic initiative.
Early 1942 USN: My strategy with the CVs was to make a couple raids, mostly to keep Cuttlefish guessing and off-balance, thinking CVs could lurk around any corner. This is why I brought CVs into the DEI, and the Sea of Okhostsk. I was very fortunate that 2nd one didn't end in disaster though. If it wasn't for KB sinking a small supply convoy on the way to Midway, I would have lost those 2 CVs. That was just bad luck on Cuttlefish's part. In hindsight, that was probably his best chance to gain an advantage. I probably would have delayed the DEI move until 1943 if I was down 2 CVs. That was probably TURNING POINT #1. He successfully got KB past airsearch, and nearly made me pay. The result should have been better for him. As it was, I didn't do a whole lot in mid-1942 with CVs, because ENTERPRISE was under repair for almost 7 months.
DEI: The second turning point was the move into the DEI. I have read through parts of Cuttlefish's AAR, and he did smell something was up over there. My diversion into the Marshalls successfully diverted attention, if it wasn't for that, I think the IJN would have contested the Timor landings in force. As it was, he was within just a handful of days of really hammering it. By the time he DID get over there, it was too late; I had my troops set-up.
I wasn't sure if Cuttlefish knew about the DEI move or not. He had some interested Sub attacks, which convinced him I was up to something.
No doubt gaining a lodgement in the DEI was TURNING POINT #2. It was critical, and probably the most important part in the game. I think Cuttlefish overestimated my airstrength at the time, and how vulnerable I would have been to counterattack. I am confident that he could not have retaken all the bases I took; too many, and my troops were too well prepped. He could have slowed me down more, though, by forcing me to keep troops defensively prepped.
Cuttlefish committed his air assets sparingly to conserve strength. Though I had to constantly assume they were strong and out there, I think Cuttlefish should have launched more air attacks. Even if they failed, it would have forced me to keep CAP up over everything and protect transports better. Toward the end of the game, I was sailing transports without aircover all over the place, because there weren't attempts to get them, except over by Lunga. In particular, the Torres Strait was critical; this was a vital supply line. Some Bettys at Hollandia or Lae would have kept me on my toes, particularly Hollandia, as I wasn't able to bomb that base from Port Moresby.
Banda Sea: This battle was the most important Naval battle of the game. This was lucky break #2 for the Allies; Cuttlefish had a retreat problem with a CV TF running into PTs, and as a result, 4 CVs were slaughtered. This loss tipped the CV balance in favor of the Allies, and allowed me greater freedome of action. Other battles had more actual IJN losses, but this one was the most critical, because it tipped the balance. It was the MIDWAY of this game.
1943 in DEI: I stuck carefully to my strategic objective of cutting fuel shipments to Japan. After looking at Cuttlefish's troops, I was surprised how effective this was; he is VERY low on fuel, much lower than I would have suspected.
The loss at Banda Sea allowed me to move quicker, and speed became our mantra.
Battle of Sulu Sea: This battle, resulting the loss of the entire IJN CV force, was also a turning point. This set-up the final battle, because I didn't have to worry at all about CV intervention.
Thanks everyone for reading!
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