RE: Bid Thee Return (Full Version)

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crsutton -> RE: Bid Thee Return (3/8/2011 3:34:53 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

These are true "carriers" in the sense that they come equipped with squadrons meant to fly. I will use these to help cover the Sumatra invasion force.

As for the CVE's meant for replenishment, I generally offload the strike aircraft and use the carriers solely for CAP/escort purposes.

Under limited conditions I will use CVEs for replenishment, but most of the time I've found that replenishment isn't an issue in carrier battles. Before you could hope to replenish, the damage has been done, sorites are very limited, one side or the other has been viciously smacked down, and the battle is over. Thus, replenishment is a virtue in theory more than in fact. I'd rather have the 25 or so fighters assisting with CAP.

P.S. My opponent has once again disappeared into WitE land as he has begun his second match there. This is very frustrating, because he was available and online throughout the weekend, but was clearly uninterested in this game. So while he plays games to his heart's content, I'm at his mercy as he sends turns occasionally but only when it suits him.


Sounds like Brad is too guilty to break up with you and is waiting for you to break up with him....[:D]



pmattiasn -> RE: Bid Thee Return (3/8/2011 5:18:44 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

12/15/42

Exmouth: The Allied invasion is going well to this point. Two CA-led bombardment TFs hit the base, followed by 230 SBDs during the afternoon (TBFs also flew raids though every single one of them was set to "naval strike" only). The troops began landing during the PM. Only about 60 AV came ashore, but most should land tomorrow. The defense is a Naval Guard unit that should be pretty roughed up by bombardment and bombings. The Allied troops will deliberate attack tomorrow. About four SBD squadrons are set to strike again, with B-24s to hit the airfield. It appears that Brad has filled Exmouth's airfield with strike aircraft, and probably has done the same at Corunna Downs and Port Headland. I just hope the KB does'nt show up (no sign of it).



Hi,

have been following the titanic struggle for India with interest, and sorry to see this game slowing down. Just a short note on the issue you've had with TBs that I recently got help resolving over at techsupport - one that has really bugged me for a long time.

The solution I have used is the following: Whenever you have a CV carrying both DBs and TBs, and you set the DBs on a secondary mission (port, AF, ground strike) but do not want the TBs to get involved but keep on standby for naval strike also in the pm phase, you need to MANUALLY set them for "rest" as secondary mission. Now that I come to think of it (haven't done much invading where opposing navy has been present since I learnt this) I'm not sure if this means that they literaly "rest" and NOT conduct navstrikes in the pm phase... Maybe someone else can chip in on that? Surely there is some way to get the TBs to be set on "keep a lookout for enemy ships and hit them with torps whenever spotted and do nothing else regardless of what the chaps in the Dauntlesses may be doing over the jungle including after the lunch break"?

Cheers and best of luck with the game - I keep it bookmarked and hope to see you try out your counterstrike.

/Mattias



Chickenboy -> RE: Bid Thee Return (3/8/2011 5:24:21 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: crsutton


quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

These are true "carriers" in the sense that they come equipped with squadrons meant to fly. I will use these to help cover the Sumatra invasion force.

As for the CVE's meant for replenishment, I generally offload the strike aircraft and use the carriers solely for CAP/escort purposes.

Under limited conditions I will use CVEs for replenishment, but most of the time I've found that replenishment isn't an issue in carrier battles. Before you could hope to replenish, the damage has been done, sorites are very limited, one side or the other has been viciously smacked down, and the battle is over. Thus, replenishment is a virtue in theory more than in fact. I'd rather have the 25 or so fighters assisting with CAP.

P.S. My opponent has once again disappeared into WitE land as he has begun his second match there. This is very frustrating, because he was available and online throughout the weekend, but was clearly uninterested in this game. So while he plays games to his heart's content, I'm at his mercy as he sends turns occasionally but only when it suits him.


Sounds like Brad is too guilty to break up with you and is waiting for you to break up with him....[:D]

Fortunately for us all, Canoerebel has taken on a 'ricochet romance'. Of sorts. [:D]



Lomri -> RE: Bid Thee Return (3/8/2011 6:36:13 PM)


Yeah, right, just wait until he hits the winter season and he'll be back to WitP! ;)



Canoerebel -> RE: Bid Thee Return (3/10/2011 2:49:34 PM)

12/16/42

Exmouth: Two Aussie brigades easily take this base, so the pre-invasion bombardments and strikes by SBDs turn a questionable operation into a quick and effective strike. Some poorly coordinated strikes by alot of Zeros and a handful of Vals don't accomplish anything other than getting alot of Japanese aircraft shot down. With one exception, all ships will retire, including the carriers and combat TFs. The exception is one badly damaged xAK that will continue to unload. One more turn to clear the vicinity and then the Allies can declare this a rousing success.

Strategic Implications: As regular readers knows, this operation is primarily intended to suggest that the Allies are focusing on NW Oz: the fall of Exmouth combined with the Allied moves at Daly Waters and Katherine. An Allied LST (the second to arrive in the game) moving from Portland to San Diego was sunk by a sub. This would be a strong clue that the Allies were concentrating invasion ships somewhere other than NoPac. That would bother me (considering the role I want NoPac to play as a deception), but the fact that the Allies have just taken Exmouth might persuade Brad that the LST might have been slated for upcoming work in SWPac.

China: Still no luck taking the forested hex NE of Sian. My troops will rest a few days.

India: It will take troops about a week to get in position before the next operations get underway (assault on the Kohima to Ledo bases and invasion of North Male Island).



Capt. Harlock -> RE: Bid Thee Return (3/10/2011 8:36:18 PM)

quote:

That would bother me (considering the role I want NoPac to play as a deception), but the fact that the Allies have just taken Exmouth might persuade Brad that the LST might have been slated for upcoming work in SWPac.


Well, the LST was moving in a southerly direction, which might help Brad to reach that conclusion. On the other hand, he probably didn't get a report on the ship's course.

It sound like ASW operations off the west coast might use a boost . . .

Congratulations on a successful op at Exmouth! Any report of whether the Japanese airstrikes were land-based or sea-based?



Oliver Heindorf -> RE: Bid Thee Return (3/14/2011 5:33:52 PM)

wat is hier los ? [&:]



Canoerebel -> RE: Bid Thee Return (3/18/2011 7:26:02 PM)

I "stated my case" to Q-Ball two weeks ago rather firmly. I requested either regular turns (whether that's once a day or once a week or once a month) or emails letting me know when a turn would or wouldn't be coming. I then promised I wouldn't say anyything more to him about it.

In replying, he agreed that he did need to do better in communicating his availability. He sent the next turn promptly. Then we were interrupted while I was out of town. Then he sent a turn that arrived this past Monday. I sent the turn back on Tuesday, after returning to town. I haven't heard from him since, but he's been in the WitE forum regularly. Communication is not Q-Ball's strong suit.




crsutton -> RE: Bid Thee Return (3/18/2011 10:13:16 PM)

Yep, sorry to see it but this one is withering on the vine. May be best to pull the plug-for your own sanity.



Miller -> RE: Bid Thee Return (3/19/2011 1:22:26 PM)

I'm sure someone would be more than willing to pick up the baton from Q-Ball if his heart is no longer in the game.



princep01 -> RE: Bid Thee Return (3/19/2011 2:20:37 PM)

Why torture yourself over Q-balls disrespectful actions. Just pull the plug and walk away or see if someone else can stand in. He obviously doesn't care and his disregard for your time is telling. Just declare victory (well deserved) and motor on in your other games.

I know that if I played a game and had a forum like this going and my opponent did this, he would be on my lifetime "no play" list for any game.

Really immature of Q-ball. I would have thought better of him.



crsutton -> RE: Bid Thee Return (3/19/2011 5:08:05 PM)

Well, the game is far from over. Qball has lost some infantry but with scen # 2 it can be rebuilt and Canoe has taken his losses in India as well. (slow to rebuild) He has all of his ships intact. Why not ask him to let you advertise for another player to take over his role? No sense flaming him-this sort of thing happens. Some just deal with it better than he has. A new Japanese player would not be inheriting a hopeless position at all.



Canoerebel -> RE: Bid Thee Return (3/28/2011 2:55:55 PM)

Several have asked in my other AAR whether this game is off. I declared a sabbatical last week, but Brad (Q-Ball) hasn't replied. Here's the email that I sent:

Brad,

You sent a turn on the 14th; I sent one on the 15th. I haven't heard from you since then, which means one of three things:

1) You didn't receive the turn I sent on the 15th.
2) You did receive it, but I didn't receive a turn you sent thereafter.
3) You haven't had a chance to do another turn.

Whatever might be the case, I think the fact that you haven't gotten in touch to see where we are is a strong indication that you have little interest in the game at the moment.

I've asked you before if you'd like to take a sabbatical, but you declined. At this point, I'm taking one in the interests of the game. We can resume whenever you'd like and whenever you're really available, whether it be a month or six months from now.

Dan

As noted above, Brad didn't reply to this email, continuing a highly irritating and uncourteous habit of failing to communicate to the minium extent needed to keep a game going. Since he hasn't replied, I can only assume he is as irritated with me as I am with him. Whether the game will ever resume is uncertain.

crsutton is right about not piling on, so I'll close by saying this. In my opinion, Brad is an exceptionally gifted player. In real life, he's probably a great guy - very nice and undoubtedly thoughtful by nature. As far as this game goes, however, he has conducted himself poorly over the past five months.



Cribtop -> RE: Bid Thee Return (3/28/2011 4:50:38 PM)

CR,

Very sorry to see this is the state of affairs. As you know from my previous (aborted) AARs, I feel your pain. Fortunately it seems your game with Chez is moving along well.

PS The Devs confirmed to me that the upcoming patch is code only, so I'm working on Turn 1 for my new game with Cuttlefish. The fur will start flying sometime soon!



Oliver Heindorf -> RE: Bid Thee Return (3/28/2011 7:49:03 PM)

[sm=sad-1361.gif]



Altaris -> RE: Bid Thee Return (3/29/2011 1:33:45 AM)

I too am sorry to see things come to this state. Your AAR's are always a pleasure to read, and I think you've handled yourself in the current situation very well. While I can personally understand Q-Ball's dilemma of having fallen in love with WitE, it's not right of him to just up and leave you hanging like this. Gotta say, it's greatly lowered my opinion of the fellow, and I've generally been a fan of him throughout my WitP and WitE days.



desicat -> RE: Bid Thee Return (3/29/2011 2:46:26 AM)

Too bad, I wanted to see how the invasion of Sumatra worked out against a player of Q-Balls talent.



Canoerebel -> RE: Bid Thee Return (5/23/2011 3:43:57 PM)

Note to Chez Da Jez: Please don't read this AAR as I want to discuss certain themes that will overlap both this game and our game. Thanks!

After a 2.5-month hiatus and a week of exchanging emails, Q-Ball has decided to resume the game. I'm very glad, as we had invested so much time.

It will take some time to re-orient and reaquaint myself with the situation. The game is in December 1942 and the Allies have spent the entire war prepping for the invasion of Sumatra in the spring or summer of '43. I want to reevaluate my plan based upon what I've learned in my current game with Chez Da Jez. It is likely I will continue with the plan as is, but one option I want to look at is shifting the invasion west to take western Sumatra, or possibly to hit Port Blair and Malaya, though doing that will be tough as a move on Port Blair would alert the enemy immediately.



Bullwinkle58 -> RE: Bid Thee Return (5/23/2011 5:30:02 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

After a 2.5-month hiatus and a week of exchanging emails, Q-Ball has decided to resume the game. I'm very glad, as we had invested so much time.



Reading the WitE forums it looks like it was shipped unready to play after 1942, and the devs are trying to change the props while in flight.



Canoerebel -> RE: Bid Thee Return (5/23/2011 6:19:23 PM)

I don't know if Brad is playing WITE as much now - I check the AARs occasionally to read his, but he updates less frequently now.



Cribtop -> RE: Bid Thee Return (5/23/2011 6:46:26 PM)

Great news, Dan! Strike hard!



Canoerebel -> RE: Bid Thee Return (5/23/2011 6:48:34 PM)

It is taking me an awful lot of time to reorient myself to this match. I remember my general sitaution and my long-term plans, but I don't remember which units are where, and when I click on a base I don't know what the units were supposed to be doing and whether they should be sent somewhere else. So I'm taking things slowly one theater at a time. Here's where things are to this point:

India: The Allies have nearly reconquered India. Japan weakly holds the Imphal to Ledo line, but will soon lose these bases. A couple of IJA divisions are isolated "in the rough" - one north of Calcutta, the other south of Bombay. Brad will have to suicide attack. (He's asked me to do him a favor and just wipe the units out, but at least at first blush I don't see why I should fix a problem of his own making.) Japan still holds Colombo, Trincomalee, North Male Island, Attu Atoll and Diego Garcia. Transports are loading at Mangalore to carry two Aussie brigades to Ceylon. A Chindit unit will try a snap attack on lightly held North Male tomorrow. In general, the Allies wanted to retake these bases in the coming month in preparation for the move on Sumatra. I'm also "showing" alot of units - including 27th USA Divsiion - in northeast India to suggest that the Allies will threaten an land campaign against Burma. Most of these units will be withdraw a month before the Sumatra venture, however.

Sumatra: With respect to the big Sumatra invasion, the Brits, Australians and Indians are set to handle the small islands off the coast plus the Nicobars and Andamans. 27th USA Div. is prepping for Padang. Most of the other units involved - mainly American divisions - are currently based in Australia. I've never "shown" any of my American divisions (other than 27th) to Brad, so he shouldn't be aware that they are in Oz. I need to reconsider some of my prepping. I think I over micromanaged. Rather than having a unit or two prepped for each of the small interior bases and the like, I'm probably better off focusing on the major bases or bases that require amphibious assault. The plan has been to land at Benkolen and Padang in force, but I think I need to expand that to Sabang. That's something under consideration.

China: The Chengte-Changsha-Hengyang-Kweilin front is fairly static now. The Chinese finally dislodged three IJA brigades astride a yellow road north of Sian. This part of the IJA MLR was three hexes wide, so the collapse of the hex on the IJ right flank will threaten the other two IJA stacks. The Allies may be able to make some noise in this region, even threatening Loyang and vicinity. The Chinese have about 7,000 AV in this area with which to work.

NoPac: The Allies have bult up a menacing line of bases in the Aleutians, but I don't intend to make any moves in NoPac until very late in the game - mainly because Brad would be able to make very effective use of the auto-reinforcements triggered by an Allied invasion of the Kuriles. I'll continue to use NoPac primarily as a deterrent, but at some point late in the game I'm pretty sure the Allies will invade somewhere up there in overhwhelming force.

CenPac: You'll recall that the perfectly orchestrated invasion of Wake Island fell apart due to lack of supply (I had way too many troops and my supply evaporated). I have troops well-prepped for Wake and Marcus and may try again at a later date when the KB isn't around. I also have troops prepping for Tarawa and vicinity. No big hurry to move in this region - I probably won't do so until the KB is occupied in Sumatra.

SoPac: The Allies nearly invaded lightly-defended Noumea previously, but I pulled back. The troops are 100% prepped and located at Auckland. I may proceed with this operation soon, or I may just wait until Brad is tied up elsehwere. The Allies hold Fiji in great strength.

SWPac: The Allies had just finished the successful invasion of Exmouth when we halted. My carriers have retired to nearly Perth. That was their first use in the game, so now Brad is aware of their position, which is what I wanted. The Exmouth invasion, combined with the overland offensive that has isolated the IJ garrison at Daly Waters, is intended to present the appearance of a conventional Allied advance into and thence from the Darwin area. I want Brad thinking Timor rather than Sumatra.

Ships: The Allies lost eight BBs at the start of the war (Force Z and Pearl Harbor), but none since then. Only one CA (Canberra) has been sunk and all carriers are available. The IJN is entirely intact.



Cribtop -> RE: Bid Thee Return (5/23/2011 6:59:41 PM)

If you haven't already, go back and re-read the last five or so pages of your AAR, especially the longer posts where you detailed your plans. Might help you remember what is where.



crsutton -> RE: Bid Thee Return (5/23/2011 7:55:09 PM)

I am glad to see this back up and running. Q Ball is a strong opponent and even though his invasion of India crashed and burned, scen #2 will allow him the resouces to recover. If his fleet is intact then he is in pretty good shape.





Chickenboy -> RE: Bid Thee Return (5/23/2011 10:23:53 PM)

[bows to Canoerebel] I'm glad I can come in from the peanut gallery cold again.

I'm just wondering how you're planning on juggling two very different PBEMs. Didn't you swear to yourself that you wouldn't get stuck in this position? [;)]



Canoerebel -> RE: Bid Thee Return (5/23/2011 10:59:23 PM)

12/19/42

Shattered Vow Part II?: Chickenboy, I can't handle two games with multiple turns in the same day. But Chez can only serve up a turn a day, and Q-Ball says his turns will be sporadic at best. So unless something changes, thet pace should be manageable.

India: The Allies tried a snap air assault on North Male Island. It didn't succeed on the first try, but it will on the next (in a few days). The Allies can then use that airfield to drop on what seems to be a vacated Addu Atoll. The troops bound for Ceylon should leave Mangalore tonight or tomorrow night.

Sumatra: I made some prep adjustments to get some strength focused on Sabang - An Aussie division and a UK brigade. When 9th Aussie Div. arrives at Aden in four weeks, it too will prep for Sabang. Two APs arrived at the Canal Zone and will move on to Capetown.

SigInt: Reports of 21 Division on a Maru bound for Soerabaja and 52 on a Maru bound for Lae. SigInt is susceptible to trickery by a clever opponent, but these reports and numerous other reports over the past months paint a picture of Japan focusing on New Guinea, Australia, Java, and the Pacific....with little attention given to Sumatra. I know there's at least one division on Sumatra (33rd at Palembang) and at least one mixed brigade (65th at Padang). There's also some base building going one. But overall Sumatra is enticingly quiet.



Canoerebel -> RE: Bid Thee Return (5/27/2011 5:47:28 PM)

12/20/42 and 12/21/42

Sumatra: Armed with additional knowledge about Sumatra from my game with Chez, I've been thinking through the Allied plan to invade Sumatra that's been in place since the start of this game. I am beginning to think that the Allies need to focus on western Sumatra rather than eastern Sumatra. The Allies already have troops prepping for Sabang, the islands to the south, the Nicobars, and the Andamans. But instead of sending the bulk of the force to Benkolen and Oosthaven, why not land the biggest part of the army at Sabang and let it steamroll down the road to the east, picking up the remaining three bases or as many as possible before the Japanese cobble together a force sufficient to stop them?

Advantages: The main weakness of the previous plan - focusing on Benkolen and Oosthaven - is that it creates an Allied island, difficult to support, close to major IJ bases. Thus the Allies will be susceptible to counterstrikes and could well be isolated for a long time. But a massive landing in western Sumatra plus adjacent islands can be supported much more readily from Ceylon and India. Also, this quickly becomes a land campaign on good roads in which the Allies are quite likely to steamroll far enough to pick up at least two more big airfields to the east. These airfields are close enough to Singapore and Palembang to create major problems for Japan, and close enough to Malaya to benefit future Allied operations there.

Disadvantages: Brad will be looking for a move in this area after the Allies reclaim Ceylon and Diego Garcia. Also, he has a big network of level five airfields in this region. I'll have to change prep for several divisions, but I have time to do it.

India: Massed Helens from Ceylon struck an RN combat TF, scoring three paint-scratching hits on Royal Sovereign. This TF turned the tables the next day by bombarding the airfield. The Ceylon amphibious TFs depart Mangalore tonight. The Allies have picked up one of the four bases on the Imphal to Ledo line; two more will fall in a couple of days.

China: This has been mostly quiet since the start of the war, but Brad is shifting units around. Pretty soon I'll figure out what he's up to.



Cribtop -> RE: Bid Thee Return (5/27/2011 6:55:54 PM)

Do you have enough force to land at Sabang first, even by a few weeks? IIRC, Q evac'd most troops from Ceylon.



Canoerebel -> RE: Bid Thee Return (5/27/2011 7:05:40 PM)

Brad lost seven divisions in India - some of them he's working on rebuilding, but at least three at still hung up in no-man's-land.

He still has a powerful army, but his losses mean that he he's much shorter of men to spread around than he might have been. I know he has 33rd Division and 1st Tank Division at Palembang, 38th Division at Singapore, and 65th Mixed Brigade at Padang. He's certainly going to have a decent garrison at Sabang and Port Blair. But nearly all of the SigInt I'm getting is showing troops heading to Soerabaja or other locations well to the east of Sumatra.

I would plan to land two divisions 100% prepped for Sabang with three or four more prepped for bases to the east along the coat road. I have lots of troops prepping for the various islands in the vicinity. I also have two divisions prepping for Padang, and I may keep that part of the plan in place. Padang is hard to besiege by land, due to poor roads, so the only way Brad could realistically try to reclaim it would be by counterinvasion, which is unlikely if the Allies have established strong bases in western Sumatra.

But when I come for Sabang, I have to come full bore - I have to get troops ashore and push down that coast road to take at least one more base, maybe two, to make it worthwhile.



Cribtop -> RE: Bid Thee Return (5/27/2011 7:10:58 PM)

Correct, but my point was if you hit Sabang (and Padang) first, leapfrogging Ceylon, your concerns about Q expecting such a move or building up forces for it may be alleviated, provided you don't need to use the Sumatra forces to clean up Ceylon first.



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