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Canoerebel -> RE: Tokyo Rose was a Hussy! (3/1/2011 2:28:21 PM)
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12/12/42
The Allies pushed all the right buttons again today, though it wasn't without cost, and without causing (actually adding to) some concerns Steve has about my game play thus far.
Singkawang: Apparently, Steve had a big invasion TF coming to this base accompanied by a two-BB combat TF (that included Kongo). However, the invasion transports tangled with Force Z first (something many of us have dealt with so that we are careful to have amphibious TFs following the combat TF). Force Z savaged the transports and escorts, sinking a CL, DD, AMC, and perhaps five to seven transports and small escorts, this at the cost of CL Durban and serious damage to CL Mauritius. Both TFs retired (so the invasion was scrubbed, at least temporarily). Then came the Kongo group, which sank DD Thanet. Later in the day, a mass of Japanese LBA (from either Kuantan or Kota Bharu, I'm thinking) put single torps into BC Repulse and BB Prince of Wales. So, this was by and large a successful but relatively costly day for the Allies, especially when you consider that most of Force Z may have to retire now to repair yards, leaving the defense of the DEI to mainly CLs.
Babeldaoab: I had a small CL/DD force based at Sorong, partly because it was east of any carrier threats, and partly in hopes of striking some unprotected shipping. Two days ago, I ordered this TF to make for Babeldoab along a safe, v-shaped course to the east. It arrived today and just ate up a Japanese troop TF, sinking 5 xAK, 3 xAKL, two PB, and a CM. 22 combat squads were destroyed, 193 non-combat (ouch!), and 343 vehicles (ouch!). The Allied TF got away scot-free. But Kates from Babeldoab clobbered several "forlorn hope" ships fleeing east from Manila. (Steve might think I had orchestrated these ships to soak off enemy attacks, but that wasn't the case. These ships had departed Manila and other ports a week ago. I try to give them good routes,, but sometimes they stumble into LBA).
Rabaul: For the second time in the game, an underprotected IJ amphbious force at Rabaul is savaged by Allied ships. After the first beating a few days ago, CA Louisville and CL Adelaide retired to Oz to re-arm. Today, CA Canberra, CL Perth, and DD Voyager arrived to find more juicy targets, promptly dispatching six xAKL and three xAK (no troop casualties, so they were either supply ships or empty).
Not an Unbroken Record of Success: The Allies lost a bunch of ships today, including a DD to a sub, a big AS near Singkawang, an AO near Babeldoab, and the usual batch of "forlorn hope" xAKLs.
Allied Successes: The Allies have acheived a rather remarkable string of successes in the game to date, some by pure luck and others by taking calculated risks. These include (1) damaging some transports invading Luzon on day one or two (nothing but luck here); (2) RAF damaging unprotected ships near Kuantan (luck mixed with Steve's failure to have CAP set up); (3) Lexington strike vs. oilers (this was a good calculated risk); (4) first clash at Rabaul (pure luck; I had no idea the enemy was on the way, but Japan needs escorts that far forward); (5) clash at Tulagi (same thing); (6) Singkwang (calculated risk that is by no means a lopsided Allied victory); (7) Babeldaob (calculated risk and what's Japan doing leaving a big port undefended?); and (8) second clash at Rabaul (calculated risk, but what's Japan doing coming back without adequate escort a second time?).
Allied Failures/Japan Successes: (1) Pearl Harbor strike is fairly effective in hitting all Allied BBs pretty hard; (2) Allies (me) really screws up and gets moderately damaged West Virginia sunk; (3) Steve has done a fine job in hammering the "forlorn hopes" fleeing from Hong Kong, Luzon, etc.; and (4) opening turn port strikes at Rangoon and Hong Kong damage or sink alot more Allied ships.
Steve's Concerns: He voiced concern about two moves in particular: the Allied ships sunk fairly close to Japan and the CL/DD raid on Babeldaob. I wrote back that the former were cases of "forlorn hopes" fleeing to the east and that I've had good luck following this strategy in the past. In fact, it has traditionally been my optimum route of escape. Steve's done a more effective job at hitting ships fleeing this way, but even now CA Houston is well north of Marcus and almost a sure thing to make the Aleutians. As for Babeldaob and my CL/DD raid, I knew exactly where his carriers were, so I felt the risk was pretty small as indeed proved to be the casel.
Of course, it's easy for me to see things from my perspective. And even you guys, who are reading an account in an AAR written from my point of view, may be more likely to see things my way. But I want to try to see things from Steve's perspective in case I have strayed from the bounds of reason. Steve's a good guy and a long-timer, so I don't need to dismiss his concerns without giving them careful consideration.
P.S. He's out today, so we won't complete this turn until tomorrow (he only sent the combat report and combat turn, and so far I've only just scanned the report).
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