RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks (Full Version)

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Bullwinkle58 -> RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks (11/7/2012 3:12:59 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

No matter what you try with those geriatric DDs, they are likely to get knocked off their walker - so why not go really bold and unexpected. If he has taken Hong Kong, send them there at full speed. Or try Takao, mines and all - those skinny DDs will likely miss them. Or maybe Cam Rahn Bay - always likely to be a lot of fat ships there.
What about air attacks? Well DDs are hard to hit and much more so at full speed.
Sure it's a suicide mission, but so is sitting in Manila port waiting for them to come. The Japanese may call them kamikazes, but we call them noble heros, sacrificing themselves for their comrades, God and apple pie. [;)]


Well, HK, Takao, and Cam Rahn are all really mined when the game starts. And he's had surface patrols on the invasion routes every time I've gone across one. I tried not to leave the DDs at Manila--they were out looking all but two days I think--but they have about zero AA, and popguns for main armament. If I had to do it over I think I'd send them east for Midway in single-ship TFs. I'd wait until the MKB was clear of Bab-de-bob and then run for it. Not sure if they have the legs, but I might get close enough to risk a merchant to go out and give them a drink. It's moot now though.

I have to give Mike kudos for his surface coverage all around the PI and Borneo. This is a new one over the AI for me.



Bullwinkle58 -> RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks (11/7/2012 4:10:45 PM)

Woah. Post election night, operating on three hours sleep. What a rumble in the jungle yesterday. Epic.

So, I have the turn. I looked at it last night in between state result graphics. I need to do this, I need to do that. Pull my best ASW pilots into groups, blah, blah. But am I getting into a rut? Am I dancing to his tune? Johnson Island shows three groups of groups--should I raid it? Is it a trap? I feel like I'm shuffling the deck chairs around in China, in Malaysia. I know how the play ends in the PI. The butler did it, so can't we cut to the chase?

I'm going to nap, then finish moving the chairs. Maybe it will look different after some sleep and a PBJ. But I need to come up with a way to make him a little afraid.

Any ideas?



Encircled -> RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks (11/7/2012 4:40:53 PM)

I don't know about your force composition, but I'd be considering a small SCTF raid on Christmas Is?

Maybe based around an Omaha class and a couple of destroyers?



Alfred -> RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks (11/7/2012 7:34:19 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

Woah. Post election night, operating on three hours sleep. What a rumble in the jungle yesterday. Epic.

So, I have the turn. I looked at it last night in between state result graphics. I need to do this, I need to do that. Pull my best ASW pilots into groups, blah, blah. But am I getting into a rut? Am I dancing to his tune? Johnson Island shows three groups of groups--should I raid it? Is it a trap? I feel like I'm shuffling the deck chairs around in China, in Malaysia. I know how the play ends in the PI. The butler did it, so can't we cut to the chase?

I'm going to nap, then finish moving the chairs. Maybe it will look different after some sleep and a PBJ. But I need to come up with a way to make him a little afraid.

Any ideas?


You will need:


  • audacity
  • both tactical and strategic surprise
  • luck that you haven't removed the necessary prerequisites due to other, earlier decisions


to achieve what you want to do.

In that context, assuming you:


  • still retain the bases
  • have aviation support at these bases
  • prepared to do a little bit of supply stockpiling at these bases, and
  • don't mind damaging your medium defence of these bases by accelerating local supply consumption


you can use shift your B-17D offensive missions from their current targets which are only long term and probably not of great concern to your opponent as he can live off the large stockpiles, and instead him him deep behind the lines. To that end, I present...drum roll please...flying out of...


  • Changsha
  • Wenchow
  • Clark


to strategically bomb


  • the oil field of Taihoku from Changsha (11 hexes), Clark (15 hexes), and Wenchow which is only a few hexes distant
  • the Heavy Industry of Shanghai from Changsha (12 hexes), and Wenchow (5) hexes
  • the aircraft factories of Nagasaki and Fukuoka which are 13 and 15 hexes from Wenchow


Taking a slightly longer timeframe into account, if you build up the Yenan airfield to level 2, you can reach the tempting Heavy Industry and aircraft factories of Mukden (17 hexes away from Yenan).

Of course there is a cost to this exercise.

1. Only Clark airfield is large enough to allow flying the B-17D at extended range. That model requires a size 5 airfield for flying at extended range.

2. Because the other airfields are less than size 5,

(a) the number of planes flying will be reduced
(b) the planes are limited to only normal range
(c) they will fly with reduced bombloads

3. Each B-17D consumes 8 supply points per offensive mission flown. You will need to factor in that supply consumption into how much supply to stockpile at the bases plus maintain a supply stockpile of 2x the base supply needed in order to avoid other penalties.

There are, however, some significant benefits from this plan.

(A) Just like the Spanish Inquisition, your opponent will not be expecting this counterattack

(B) You actually could hurt him in the short term (particularly if you target the aircraft factories of Mukden) and thereby throw a spanner into his early timetable, whereas I strongly suspect damaging the Miri oil fields is not a short term concern for him

(C) By striking far from the frontlines the responding defensive assets will be out of the frontlines and give you some respite. In particular striking at the Japanese supply generating capacity in China (and you can consider using American 2E for this purpose) will potentially slow down the Japanese advance in China until supply is imported. Which of course might impact elsewhere

(D) It might also interrupt his pilot training program in the rear


You will need to move quickly because the repalcement model, the B-17E is considerably shorter in range and the B-17D is vulnerable to the "modern" Japanese fighters.

Alfred



Bullwinkle58 -> RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks (11/7/2012 8:07:28 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Encircled

I don't know about your force composition, but I'd be considering a small SCTF raid on Christmas Is?

Maybe based around an Omaha class and a couple of destroyers?


I have surface forces at Pearl. There are about 8 accessible DDs, Nevada is slightly damaged, and I have a CL about a week away from being fixed. The CAs are more like 40 days +/-. Arizona could go in a pinch, but I'd rather not. At Seattle Warspite is four days away and Colorado 11, but no escorts are present. There are 4 DDs about to exit the Canal Zone wormhole which will make for Seattle. In SD I have the bulk of the ready USN fleet. Three CVs and about ten CAs and DDs I can spare.

Christmas, from what I can recon, has no ships present. He dumped the Naval Guards and left, thinking they'd be enough. This turn they should take the base, but they'll need help soon. OTOH, at Johnson I can see multiple TFs, and the subs to the west have picked up sniffs of more. But I don't know ship types, and I don't know where the KB went. It could easily have been to Truk and back by now and be hovering somewhere north or NE of Wake, for example.

My objective isn't so much to hurt him. I can't really right now. It's just to complicate his life, to introduce another planning dimension. The subs are one, and they're doing what they can with duds, but I need more. In the DEI and Asia I'm down to scraps of force and I want to save what I have for when it matters more. Christmas and Johnson are two possibilities, but he's not dumb and he has to have thought through the implications of making such an early move on Johnson. I don't think he'd hang it out there without backup. And I already screwed up at Palembang and threw away precious ships.

Must ponder.



Bullwinkle58 -> RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks (11/7/2012 8:26:57 PM)

Alfred! Welcome!

Very interesting thoughts. I do think too much about the ships side of things.

A moose is nothing if not audacious, so trouble yourself not on that score. [;)]

Surprise? Have you not heard me sneaking across the kitchen toward the cookie jar? Cat feet ain't in it. So, no prob there.

Luck has been in short supply though.

Of the three you name, Wenchow he holds, and Clark is an open city essentially, with nothing but AA to defend it. He is bombing there daily. But Changsha is a bastion city. Supply is in the white at 16,200, but the AF is only a 3. There is also only 29 aviation support, but they could support a couple of days' flying. I have been building only forts, which are 4+. There is a five LCU stack one hex to the east; one of them is the LCU roughed up two turns ago. My intel is very weak, but the mouseover only shows about 4500 troops, which I don't believe.

Yenan is abandoned. There are only six LCUs still in the vicinity, and they're in move mode headed for Sian.

I have been mounting 16 B-17s from Batavia. They fly in two groups of 10/6. Morale is good and aircraft condition is fair. I gave them a 2-day stand-down one turn ago. I'd have to check on ranges and see if I would need to shuttle to Changsha. I could sneak through Clark I think, or maybe Singers if needed. Realistically I think this would be a hit & run set of raids due to av. support, maybe three days max, more likely two, but it could shake things up. I'd need to goose the AF size first.

I like this idea since it accomplishes the keep-him-off-balance objective. I figure sooner than later he's going to try to whack the Forts at Batavia. He's had many days of red vectors pointing at their origin now, and he is making a move on NW Borneo. I expect bombers there within a week.

I will seriously look at this. It is an excellent idea. I wish I could hit aircraft factories both psychologically as well as VP-wise, but that ship has sailed for now.



BBfanboy -> RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks (11/7/2012 8:47:08 PM)

I hope you don't have big plans for Colorado in 11 days - she comes out of repair on Jan. 1 and goes into January upgrade immediately [unless you turn it off]. I think the US old BBs are of limited value until they upgrade radars and AA, so I would let the upgrade go ahead.



Bullwinkle58 -> RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks (11/7/2012 10:06:26 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

I hope you don't have big plans for Colorado in 11 days - she comes out of repair on Jan. 1 and goes into January upgrade immediately [unless you turn it off]. I think the US old BBs are of limited value until they upgrade radars and AA, so I would let the upgrade go ahead.


Good info. I think it might be on. I agree with you on the old BBs, except I never cared for them much, no matter the upgrades. They're fuel pigs, they're fragile, and they're slow. I use them if I need to, but I'd rather have a modern CA frankly. I'm not running them to the WC right now because having the DDs at Pearl is worth more right now.



Bullwinkle58 -> RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks (11/8/2012 11:31:12 PM)

December 24, 1941

The Year Without A Christmas

The year draws close to an end. Children in some Allied nations prepare for Santa's visit. But alas, Christmas Island has fallen.

1) Better news in the sub wars. IJN I-boats penetrate Hilo and hit nothing. USN ASW platforms put at least one, and maybe two penetrating hits into I-175 off Kona. His subs are giving an inordinate amount of attention to the Big Island, and I have suspicions of why.

2) Why? Landings begin on Palmyra I.

Wiki sez: "Palmyra was sighted in 1798 by the American sea captain Edmund Fanning of Stonington, Connecticut while his ship, the Betsy, was sailing to Asia. According to the accounts, Fanning had awoken three times during the night before. On the third time, he took this as a premonition, and he ordered his first mate to heave to. On the next morning the ship resumed its travel, but she only went about a nautical mile before reaching the reef of Palmyra. Had the ship continued on her course at night, the ship might have been wrecked. On November 7, 1802, Captain Sawle and the U.S.S. Palmyra shipwrecked on the reef, which ultimately took the name of this vessel.

In 1859, Palmyra Atoll was claimed for the United States by Dr. Gerrit P. Judd of the brig Josephine, in accordance with the Guano Islands Act of 1856, but there was no guano there to be mined."

Well, I'm certainly in the guano there.

The Allied defenders put three 5 inchers into an xAK, but the 53rd Naval Guards begin to come ashore. The landing TF is two xAKs and two PBs. The shock attack does not go well for the Japanese:

Ground combat at Palmyra (170,133)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1424 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 59

Defending force 681 troops, 12 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 12

Japanese adjusted assault: 3

Allied adjusted defense: 10

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3 (fort level 2)

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

Japanese ground losses:
375 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 35 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
32 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled

Assaulting units:
53rd Naval Guard Unit

Defending units:
Palmyra USN CPNAB
Palmyra (Det.) Defense Battalion

So, more of the pattern emerges. He has systematically closed off the west and southern sides of Hawaii. Not with much, but I can't respond with much either. He will shortly have patrols operating from his possessions which can see to Oahu and beyond, and re-supply ports for his subs. He will probably bring the AS forward from Kwajalein, or detail another to the task.

Will he attempt Midway? Is it necessary? I think he will. Midway left open is for the Allies what Palmyra is here. Eyes and supplies. I got a very light whiff of a sighting of something near Lihue, but in the next turn, which I have in hand, there is no icon. I have not searched the Ops report yet. But Midway is probably on the list, if not next then soon.

I have gotten some good advice about the defense of Hawaii (how's that for the passive voice? [:)]), and it boils down to: don't panic, but don't under any circumstances let him isolate you down to one air base. This is excellent advice, but easier said than done three weeks in. 8th Marine Reg. has been added to Hilo, but there's little on the WC which can load, and I have 93 PPs in the bank. (Nimitz ain't cheap to buy.)

If he tried to land at an inner island such as Molokai or Lihue I can sortie a surface response on a 1-day transit. He would probably position carrier support to the west or north, as I have little naval attack air at all, but DDs can usually dodge unless he alfa strikes a TF. Even so, I have a fairly decent surface roster at Pearl, and it's not as damaged as he might think. One thing I am pretty good at (blush) is juggling repair resources and yard capacities. Nevada, California, and Arizona could fight if needed, and my cruisers are getting better every day.

One series of decisions I must make soon is whether to invest escorts in getting the medium damaged BBs out of Pearl. I have been stripping cargo TFs of their escorts and giving them only one for the trip back to the WC. I have five new DDs at Pearl this week from this. He has at least one I-boat on the northern WC off Puget Sound. I might take a couple of BBs out with esocrts, aim them at the Canal for transit to EC, and strip the DDs off three days out and return them to Pearl. And hope he isn't covering the Canal wormhole. It's odd knowing that in two years I'll have 150 ultra-modern DDs hanging around looking for work, but right now two are precious.

3) Ground combat at Christmas Island (174,141)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1322 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 55

Defending force 737 troops, 2 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 23

Allied adjusted defense: 8

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Christmas Island !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-), morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker: leaders(-)

Allied ground losses:
884 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 44 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 14 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 2

Assaulting units:
51st Naval Guard Unit

Defending units:
Christmas USN CPNAB
E Det USN Port Svc

'Nuff said.

4) Landings begin at Kudat. Looks like a single SNLF.

5) Air attacks are routine and workmanlike, designed to stop fort building. Changsha, Singers (lose several planes here), Clark, Rangoon (sweeps only.) After Alfred's B-17 deployment suggestion yesterday I looked at Clark as a possible shuttle base. Before this turn it was 100/97 AF/runway damaged. And he hit it again today. Still, the idea of shifting the B-17s to a different role is appealing. Miri is harrassment and supply-for-repair, but no VPs. I should be playing for VPs. I could try for different Oil centers, but no VPs accrue unless the target is in the HI. Destroying aircraft does bring VPs though, and I suspect he has some AFs pretty near overstacked. I have to do some map work.

Merry Christmas. Next year's will be better.



BBfanboy -> RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks (11/9/2012 1:31:00 AM)

[:D]
Experience juggling shipyard/alongside repairs suggests similar experience in getting ships damaged ... [;)]



Bullwinkle58 -> RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks (11/9/2012 2:16:00 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

I hope you don't have big plans for Colorado in 11 days - she comes out of repair on Jan. 1 and goes into January upgrade immediately [unless you turn it off]. I think the US old BBs are of limited value until they upgrade radars and AA, so I would let the upgrade go ahead.


She was upgrade=off.

An aside, I got confused by how the 1/42 upgrade for Colorado is handled in Tracker. I posted on it and Damien says there's a bug there. Look in the Tracker sticky if interested.



Bullwinkle58 -> RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks (11/9/2012 2:19:59 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

[:D]
Experience juggling shipyard/alongside repairs suggests similar experience in getting ships damaged ... [;)]


"It was the kamis, ossifer. I swear . . ."



Bullwinkle58 -> RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks (11/9/2012 2:24:34 AM)

Just sent the turn back. Had one fun moment. He has the TF sitting at Palmyra unloading. (FOW says there's a TK with it for five ships, but I think it lies.) Anyway, I had fogotten I had a 2-ship supply TF there, slowly unloading. I click, and lo! it has a DD with it. I strip the xAK, send it to Hilo alone, and tell the DD to ATTACK!!!!

We will see, but it might make him change his shorts. An Allied cloaking device. Imagine that . . .

I also pulled a sad Wirraway unit out of Johore B. and swapped in the B-17s. I think it's a Level 4 if memory serves. Unless he's reconing and really paying attention they got in undetected. He hasn't bombed the AF there at all, concentrating on Singers. I told them to bomb Saigon AF as soon as possible at 9000 ft. I think he has Bettys there, and, fingers-crossed, no or little CAP. We'll see if they fly.

KB was probably more prudent and overstacked, but I wanted to make him notice, so Saigon it was.



Bullwinkle58 -> RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks (11/9/2012 5:46:15 PM)

December 25, 1941

The Great Christmas Stand-Down

Well, I got socks and underwear, not a pony. Very low energy turn, but things perk along under the hood.

1) I put heavy ASW back on the water at Pearl. Sparring, but no real hits. My mines have evaporated in the deep water north of the base, so that ruse didn't pan out. But I know ASW is a game of numbers. Escorts dodge, and subs waste fish. Experience counts for a little, but nothing will really change until the first upgrade wave gives me some K-guns. A lot of ASW pilots have grown into the low-mid 40s in ASW skill, so they're seeing the subs, and dropping, but not getting a lot of hits. The same is true of his ASW; he makes several attacks in harbors in Asia and gets one light tap on USS Pike, but otherwise just kills fish.

West of Johnson I. there is some good news:

Submarine attack near Johnston Island at 162,113

Japanese Ships
xAK Kohoku Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS S-35

The maru was already on fire and unescorted; the sunk ship sound is heard.

2) My DD coup at Palmyra doesn't come off. During the night phase he unloads (two more penetrating CD hits on xAK) and my TF icon is still present. During the day land attack no ship icons show, and my DD does not attack. Probably a visibility/d/l issue. I will orbit the DD to the east on the next turn and see if it can pounce. One Naval Guard unit might not be enough to take Palmyra. He'll be back.

3) In the PI I send the MTB TF up the coast on a shopping tour again, and it once again finds the 2CL/2DD TF from before. Long range dueling, no hits, each retires. I'm not sure what he's up to in the PI except bouncing the rubble at Clark. He has not approached Lingayan yet on land or sea, and down south has not moved since taking Bojangles.

DD John Ford is scuttled at Manila. Sys damage at 93, fires jumped from 50 to 81 in one turn. Cavite is almost empty; no shore help with the hoses. The crew joins in the defense of Manila.

4) He comes back to Manado and begins landing more stuff. The previous LCUs left there have not attacked in days. This time he lands/adds Sasebo 2nd SNLF.

5) Continuing the theme of "here & there" I-162 finds and sinks a medium tanker--Strix--near Palembang. She was an attempt by me to set up a gas station for Force Z at Cocos I. so Z. doesn't have to keep venturing into Batavia. Good idea I think, bad execution. There have been no surface forces near Palembang since the CAs, so I thought I could sneak her out. Third TK loss I believe. I think I'll try it again, but from Perth.

6) Normal sweeps and bombing on the usual suspects. At Clark the bomber totals are over 70. At Singers the flak does take a toll on him:

Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 47

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed, 12 damaged
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 7
Runway hits 23

I have so many engineers at Singers that this level of AF damage is fixed daily and I'm still making some forts progress. Not at Clark though.

7) Chinese bombing is low, mostly on route marching troops, although Changsha gets a pretty heavy AF strike. I do bring out the ex-pat Chinese air force for a try and a message. One SB-III strike on Chiang Mai from Mandalay. Doesn't do any damage, but it's a message that the Chinese aren't out of the war. These bombers won't do much damage, but I can use all the recon I can get.

8) Landings begin at Kuantan with one tank unit (2nd Tank Reg.) One lost in surf. It will probably race to Temuloh to cut off my retreating units striving to get en-railed.

9) Kudat falls to SNLF unit.

10) Perth goes to Forts 3. Perth is now probably the most defended base outside CONUS. It still needs air power, but a land invasion is unlikely to work at this point. Kalgoorie is garrisoned.

So, Christmas Day is pretty low key. My bombers at JB did not fly against Saigon, but I didn't expect them to on the same day as the transfer. I reconed Saigon and that may help them go tomorrow.

Top-line, now three weeks in, I'm still trying to figure out his aims and his pacing. Say what you want about the AI and the late war, in the first six months it presses and hard. I'm used to half a dozen landings a day at this point, the Celebes to be mostly gone, Timor under stress, Rabaul to have fallen. Right now in Sumatra I have troops at only Sabang, Palembang, and Oosthaven. Every other base could be taken by row boat, and the AI usually does so. Java is similar, except Soerbaja and Batavia. He has landed on Luzon, but not pressed south, giving me digging time at Clark and Bataan that will cost him troops later. Ditto Singers. I have been able to stockpile supplies everywhere. I haven't done a full Sir Robin, but I have consolidated the Dutch by air transport, pulled lots of Aussies into PM, and such like that. When my opponent reads this someday I would just like to record that I could have been had by now, but I got let up off the mat.

That said, his attacks have been scalpel-like in their precision. He has not over-employed ships or troops. He thinks about stopping fortification building. His surface force interdiction lines have sunk a lot of ships and confused me quite a bit. I did some things in the first two days, such as mine Lingayan, which in retrospect were the wrong moves and too anticipatory. He has taken my fighters apart with ruthless precision, and forced the AVG to retreat without being very effective beforehand. And his moves near Hawaii are not what I expected him to do in a no-HR game. That may still go south for me.



Bullwinkle58 -> RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks (11/10/2012 11:27:08 PM)

December 26, 1941

Miss Saigon, Not Just Broadway Any More

The war picks back up, and not in good ways. Japan begins to squeeze a bit here and there, showing me just how powerless I am in cerain areas of the world.

In e-mail exchanges Mike tells me he has discovered he needed to reset his Lilys after the latest beta patch to make them fly with not 15 kg bombs, but 100s. He predicts carnage and dismay throughout China. [:D] I note that one of his attacks looks like it might have been fragmented, and I alert him to keep an eye open to this, since it is an on-going discussion in the Tech forum re the current beta series.

He also, after watching the replay, offers congrats on the sneaky "Singapore" basing of my B-17s and how lucky I was they were airborne while he was hitting Singers with massed Sallys. So, all righty then! [:'(]

1) The deception did work. Thirteen Forts get airborne from JB and head NE in moderate rain. I have only a 1/3 d/l on Saigon after one day's recon. There is an anchor symbol and no aircraft seen present. If he has Bettys I figure they'll be out when I get there, hitting Singers, so I order a Port attack and hope for some tender merchants. What I find as the B-17s bore in at 7000 feet are 21 Nates, on what looks like 30% CAP (7 up at 10,000, 14 down.) The Forts fight off the Nates with 5 Forts damaged, one critically, and bomb the port for zero results. Miss Saigon indeed.

But the raid did its job. The e-mail shows that he was surprised, and I hope this will lead to a reassessment of the need to CAP more bases, and not to have Japan lean so far forward on offense. I still have a halo of bases around the region, and in China, where I can operate B-17s even if at reduced loads, and their range complicates his planning. I don't have hordes of air frames, but fifteen are still something to worry about.

For the next turn I have decisions to make. I can take the Forts away and re-base for the next tickle. This would be prudent. Or, I can do another day raid, probably at KB, and try to damage the airfield enough to give Singers a break. It's very possible that a second day would give him enough info to guess their real base, which would probably be smeared the next turn after. A third possibility is to order a night mission on KB's AF, where I might catch his substantial Sally inventory on the ground. There has been little to no night bombing in the game yet. I have no qualms about it, except it's very possible the Forts won't go. In that case they're sitting there in the day phase hoping he doesn't have good recon on JB. Plus, I waste a day's use of them.

Never had to make these decisions playing the AI.

2) RO-61 comes sniffing around Midway, giving me more intel that it's on the list for invasion. I have a surface TF of five DDs just arrived there even though Midway is low on supplies and has no fuel. Some is inbound, but it's a shoestring operation right now. I sent some of what it had to Wake as an investment, and Wake goes to Forts 3 with a bit left to fight on.

RO-61 is attacked by the five DDs operating as a surface TF rather than ASW, and they miss. Later the Japanese sub attacks xAK Ohioan on the surface, starts heavy fires, and gets away clean.

3) Hilo is really starting to grate. Despite ASW out the whazoo, I-17 sneaks in again and sinks xAK Agwimonte. I scraped up PPs to buy two LCUs on the WC and they're coming to Hilo. I must figure out a way to sanitize the Big Island.

Inside Johnson I's harbor USS Plunger is worked over hard, with penetrating hits, and seven in total. I don't know how bad it is, but she's close to Pearl. Fingers crossed.

The only good sub news is this:

TF 73 encounters mine field at Lahaina (182,108)

Japanese Ships
SS I-8, Mine hits 1, heavy damage

"ASW is a game of numbers." I need to keep repeating this.

4) Oscar sweeps at Rangoon take out the last Buffalo there which can fly. I debate pulling all the CAP back that can be pulled, but I don't, figuring that even one fighter can destroy cohesion and aiming of bombers if it's there. I'd rather lose a Buffalo than an AK and its cargo. But it's hard sending these guys up in drips and drabs every day.

5) Heavy Sally strike at Singers AF. More building denial. 47 escorted bombers. I get 14 Buffalo up, lose 2. 11 damaged Sallys. Fairly light runway and supply damage.

6) New targets in China. Does this mean he's figured Changsha is too tough to crack yet? He hits Chengchow, plus several route marching, and one very small attack on Changsha in the PM phase. The Lilys don't look too fearsome even after the reset.

Morning Air attack on 100th Chinese Corps, at 84,55 , near Nanchang

Japanese aircraft

Ki-48-Ib Lily x 9

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

Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb

7) He hits Singers hard later on, with Betty torps finding two CLs in the harbor for a hit each. I have been standing my surface assets out in the harbor for flak support, and I got caught. I don't know the best trade-off here. I need time to fortify and build supply piles at Singers; everything I do is subject to those two goals. I'll put the cruisers in the yards, which might attract attacks on that, which would be better than the AF actually, but it's all a series of trade-offs.

Later, a carrier TF of some sort--I don't have a good read from search--pulls up east of Singers and hits CM Kung Wo at Singers in two small 3ea Val strikes which look like they might be one strike, fragmented by the code. As above, I alert Mike to check his side of things. Kung Wo sinks.

8) Landings at Manado continue with light CD hits. A 2:1 deliberate attack takes forts to zero, but the base holds. I'm happy this is the sort of leisurly DEI campaign I'm seeing. The amphib bonus is precious in the DEI and it's leaking away day by day.

Japanese ground losses:
40 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
125 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
II/66th Naval Guard Unit
I/66th Naval Guard Unit
Sasebo 2nd SNLF

Defending units:
Manado Garrison Battalion
Manado Base Force

9) Odd little battle at Kanhsien. I had abandoned it several days ago, with its garrison going west to board the trains at Kukong. One last Corps, the very last in SE China, was ambling by also headed for Kukong. It entered Kanhsien and its Forts 2, one turn ahead of the Japanese, who assaulted it before the Chinese could eat a rice ball. If the Japanese had just waited one day they could have had the dang place for free, but noooooooo . . .

Ground combat at Kanhsien (81,57)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3486 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 127

Defending force 6669 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 176

Japanese adjusted assault: 94

Allied adjusted defense: 43

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
315 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
214 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 27 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
102nd Infantry Regiment

Defending units:
28th Chinese Corps

10) Japan takes vacant Nanning. We have had very few stand-up fights in China. I wonder if he's seeing a pattern yet?

11) At Kuantan the 2nd Tank Reg. takes this vacant base. The race will be on now to get my last stragglers out of central Malaysia and south. These tanks might also be a valid B-17 target.

12) Palmyra sees only an Allied bombardment. I will send my snooping DD in to see if he's still unloading.

13) In addition to Wake, Rangoon goes to Forts 3, and Balikpapan 2.



Bullwinkle58 -> RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks (11/10/2012 11:43:02 PM)

Aircraft Losses, Top Screen:



[image]local://upfiles/31387/E3D8CB2A9C764B8E81AB0BA82B27165B.jpg[/image]



Bullwinkle58 -> RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks (11/10/2012 11:46:08 PM)

Japanese Ship Loses, By VPs (FOW included):



[image]local://upfiles/31387/04B3B4BF1C924D5B90B9F8B4EB7BDC7C.jpg[/image]



Bullwinkle58 -> RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks (11/10/2012 11:49:28 PM)

China Bug Out


[image]local://upfiles/31387/80EAA9F480E54C7EB05D8A51779C41EB.jpg[/image]



Bullwinkle58 -> RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks (11/11/2012 9:36:40 PM)

December 27, 1941

Dark Is The Night

Slow day. Really slow. As the Vikes on the magic moving pictures box, I'm going to keep this short.

1) Dark is the night, and the Forts fly but get lost. At least three of six. The other group stayed in the rack. I went with the night bombing of KB's AF off the a la carte menu. It was a nice try, but nothing got damaged. I need to move them away to a new base this turn and let the planes and pilots regenerate a bit.

2) Manado falls.

3) USN ASW hits two subs in two attacks, for no losses.

4) My lurking DD near Palmyra pays a visit and gets jumped by an I-boat also lurking. Nobody hit, but he might have been expecting me to surge a response from Pearl.

5) Significant air action happens as he shifts denial bombing to Bataan from a destroyed Clark. I don't know his ops losses from this sort of damage, but I hope it's stiff.

Morning Air attack on Bataan , at 78,77

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 103 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 36 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 21
G3M2 Nell x 3
G4M1 Betty x 46

Allied aircraft
P-40B Warhawk x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 2
-----------------
Morning Air attack on Bataan , at 78,77

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 61 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2
G3M2 Nell x 4
G4M1 Betty x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
4 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb

6) Ditto at Singers. Damage pretty stiff for the IJA air crews. Allies lose two precious Stringbags, there to guard another CA incursion. The Beests are at Batavia. Palembang, where I really want both, has no torps.

Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 22

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed
Swordfish I: 2 destroyed on ground

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 17

---------

Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 25

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 22 damaged
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 10

7) I ordered a DD sortie from Singers to harrass the landings at Kuching. It didn't go, and I'm glad. This assortment of carrier air shows up to battle a small bomber raid from Palembang. Where there are carriers there are things the DDs don't want to meet right now.

Morning Air attack on Kuching , at 58,88

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 10
A6M2 Zero x 6

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Blenheim IV bombing from 7000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Ryujo-1 with A5M4 Claude (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead
Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead
Hosho-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead
Taiyo-1 with A5M4 Claude (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead

We should flip a turn later today.



DOCUP -> RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks (11/12/2012 8:38:59 PM)

Enjoy the slow days when you get them.  There better than all the bad days you will have.



Bullwinkle58 -> RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks (11/12/2012 11:55:17 PM)

If only . . .



[image]local://upfiles/31387/C929C94C7C754273AD171E14CB5831B8.jpg[/image]



Bullwinkle58 -> RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks (11/12/2012 11:57:05 PM)

What the real USS Gudgeon did . . .



[image]local://upfiles/31387/18CAC3DDB6FE496FA1FBB81C630CD9DA.jpg[/image]



Bullwinkle58 -> RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks (11/13/2012 4:00:12 PM)

Back in Black, not just for AC/DC any more.




[image]local://upfiles/31387/312F2E6B6B534836B1B1E1A9B8ECF323.jpg[/image]



Bullwinkle58 -> RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks (11/13/2012 4:23:04 PM)

December 28, 1941

Missing You

Slow turn, getting to be the norm. Can't last.

1) In contrast to the pretty neat real life patrol report printed above (from microfilm; whole archives of patrol reports available on-line), the in-game USS Gudgeon is not successful in its sub-on-sub attack. I-8, victim of a mine strike at Lahaina, proceeds west on the surface. Damage reads "heavy" which I think means the ARD at Truk at minimum. Does Scen 2 have an ARD at Truk? Better luck, Silent Service.

Sub vs Sub: SS Gudgeon attacking SS I-8 at 175,111 - near Lihue

Japanese Ships
SS I-8, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Gudgeon

SS Gudgeon launches 2 torpedoes at 2,000 yards

2) Who says the Chinese air force doesn't try? In truth, I had set this unit so many turns ago I didn't recall it. I was surprised when they chose to fly at night in a storm. Even so, good on 'em.

Night Air attack on Wuchow , at 76,57

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 47 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Allied aircraft
DB-3M x 3

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x DB-3M bombing from 6000 feet *
City Attack: 5 x 50 kg GP Bomb

3) DD Crosby, my Palmyra look-out, steps in to bombard--no effect--then departs to refuel at Hilo. For the moment Palmyra is a stalemate.

4) The MTB TF in the PI once again goes north in search of targets and intel. It finds a good-sized TF of mixed fighters and minesweepers. This could be routine, or it could be a pre-cursor TF to sweep Lingayan in prep for a landing. So far Japan has made no move to come down Luzon toward either Clark or Manila. It's a longish march; a lot closer from Lingayan. I have to assume at this point he has seen the mines. Right now there are 83 there. Sometimes a minesweeper eats one, but 83 is not a lot. If he comes I will harrass with the PTs, but he can get LCUs into Lingayan in a couple of days if he presses. I lost the surprise gamble on this one.

Day Time Surface Combat, near San Fernando at 80,74, Range 17,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Shinonome
DD Shirakumo
DD Isonami
DD Murakumo
DD Uranami
DMS W-1
DMS W-2
DMS W-6

Allied Ships
MTB 7
MTB 8
MTB 9
MTB 10
MTB 11, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
MTB 12
MTB 26
MTB 27, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

5) Denial bombing at Bataan. He has three Bettys damaged, no lost. 1 Sally lost, 1 damaged.

6) Troop bombing at Chengchow and Kanhsien. I haven't seen any diffference in casualties with the 100kgs.

7) Singapore airfield bombing continues. I am fixing every turn, and making progress on forts. He takes significant damage every day.

Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 33 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 24
Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 24

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 13 damaged
Ki-43-Ia Oscar: 1 destroyed
No Allied losses

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 15
-------------------

Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 30 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 15

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 5 destroyed, 8 damaged
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied aircraft losses

Buffalo I: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 48

Buffalos destroyed the 5 on egress. This raid flew without escort.

8) More evidence he is coming for Lingayan

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lingayen at 79,75

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 5 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 37

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
MTB 10
MTB 9, Shell hits 4
MTB 26
MTB 12
MTB 8

Aircraft Attacking:
37 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar bombing from 100 feet

9) Japan takes vacant Chuhsien. Allies bombard on land at Palmyra. Land war continues slow.

10) AF at Calcutta goes to 5. I am pushing several AFs in Asia hard to get at least one level 7 where I can upgrade. Not beginning this on Day 1 was a SNAFU on my part.

11) Addendum Edit: USS Canopus, sent highly damaged from Manila, alone with little chance of survival, makes Soerbaja and goes into the yards. I sent one 40ish system damaged xAP east this turn from Manila, leaving one profoundly damaged xAK in the Manila shipyard, the last orphan I still must deal with in the PI.

Experimental Ops: This turn I began trying out two techniques I will continue if they work.

1) Got USS Arizona underway from Pearl with three precious DDs in escort. Routed south to pass through between Big Island and Maui. Routed to map edge with one dogleg to eventually reach Canal Zone for transit to EC and repair. I will try to strip the DDs and return them to bring out the next BB after 3-4 turns.

2) I have 20+ xAKLs sitting at Palmebang. Refugees I had intended to use to pull a few infantry units from Singers for Fort. P., as well as carry supplies up to Singers, but the air enviro is too hot to do this. I send one experimental 1-ship TF south on Coastal for Oosthaven, and one north for Sabang. Will see if either makes it.

Other: The first retrograde transports reach CT. Scores more ships heading in. Organize three supply/fuel convoys at CT, using the first CS convoy's drop-offs. Two for Perth, one for Colombo. A lot of the in-bound, especially the xAKLs, will continue on to UK/EC for a load. The xAKLs can run the of-map route without fuel-vampiring their convoy buddies.



BBfanboy -> RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks (11/14/2012 4:16:01 AM)

Moose, that's brilliant! Never thought of using the short range ships on the off-map route, partly because there are so many small ports that can only take a small ship. But there are lots more xAKLs than I need for small base supply and they are a pain to administer for the longer runs. Using them off-map on auto-convoy will ease the administrative burden some. Merçi beaucoup mon ami! [:)][:)]



BBfanboy -> RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks (11/14/2012 4:18:57 AM)

About the BBs limping to the canal zone - a good plan but there is a danger from Glen equipped subs along that route - has he posted any out there previously? At any rate, watch the Op report carefully for reports of Glen sightings.



Bullwinkle58 -> RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks (11/14/2012 1:41:48 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Moose, that's brilliant! Never thought of using the short range ships on the off-map route, partly because there are so many small ports that can only take a small ship. But there are lots more xAKLs than I need for small base supply and they are a pain to administer for the longer runs. Using them off-map on auto-convoy will ease the administrative burden some. Merçi beaucoup mon ami! [:)][:)]


If, when I die, I am known hereabouts as the King of Off-Map that will be reward enough. [:)]

I have a love-hate relationship with xAKLs. They're good for small ports, yes, but their fuel restrictions and the typical Allied distances make them time consuming to manage. Off-map they're slow but steady. They don't carry much fuel, but it's "free", so why not? If they take system damage there are yards at both ends and it's a day or three to get them 100%.



Bullwinkle58 -> RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks (11/14/2012 1:50:53 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

About the BBs limping to the canal zone - a good plan but there is a danger from Glen equipped subs along that route - has he posted any out there previously? At any rate, watch the Op report carefully for reports of Glen sightings.


The only ones I've seen have been camped around PH. It's a good point though. The TF made it past the Big Island and is heading due east. The dogleg is a couple of days from now. I'm planning to go off-map well south of the direct line from Pearl. It's a risk, but right now I almost need the DDs more than I need an old BB.



Bullwinkle58 -> RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks (11/14/2012 2:28:38 PM)

December 29, 1941

This Insult Shall Be Avenged!!!!

1) Let's get right to it. The perfidious sons of Nippon have struck at our very core! This will not be tolerated!

Submarine attack near Lahaina at 182,108

Japanese Ships
SS RO-63

Allied Ships
xAK Minnesotan, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage

xAK Minnesotan is sighted by SS RO-63
SS RO-63 attacking on the surface

This brave ship thereupon sank with all hands in full view of the baseball-playing, beer-soaked aviators on the beach. The Frostbite Falls Moose Lodge (No, not those idiots in the funny hats! Real moose!) will take up a collection for the widows and orphans of this tragedy, that they might have sufficient lutefisk and lefse for New Year's Eve.

2) Not leaving Johnson Island to grow unmolested, USS Cachalot takes its turn in the barrel, penetrates the harbor, and is rewarded with several penetrating hits and a free trip to Pearl. Elsewhere, USS Searaven sinks PB Fuji Maru #4 off Cam Rahn Bay. ASW patrols here have doubled in the past 48-hours, and TFs are seen inside the harbor. Is this the staging base for the final assault on Malaysia? Or perhaps Palembang?

3) Landings begin at Tarakan; CD respnse is intense but completely ineffective. The Kure 2nd SNLF and the 8th Tank Rgt. are present. It seems odd to use tanks for this purpose, given the small pre-war garrison at Tarakan and the possible difficulty re-loading them. The Allies have been pulling Tarakan's garrison out by air to Soerbaja since the first days of the war. I have left the AV-vessel there too long perhaps, and it may be lost next turn as it runs. But I am glad to see tanks used here instead of China where they could really mess up my schedules.

4) The Allies send all PT boats north again in the PI looking to beat the odds and actually get some ordnance in the water. In a series of running battles, however, the DD/DMS TF seen yesterday savages the MTBs, sinking four, and scare the PTs and Q-boats back to Manila. Another bet made with poor returns. Still no overt moves on Lingayan. The PTs need some work done, so I will hold them close to home for now and see what develops. Japan also continues extensive Oscar 100ft. strafing runs on the small boys. I think this shows an awareness that they are the last offensive craft left in the theater.

5) SS Gudgeon attacks a slow-moving, heavily damaged I-8 again, and is again rewarded with duds.

6) At Rangoon and Singers he again goes to sweeps. Perhaps the bomber losses yesterday show that the Buffalo is not useless.

7) North of Temuloh pursuing LCUs have caught up to my refugees. I order bombing to retard movement, but it does not fly. His does, so my forces must stay in Combat mode. I don't think there will be time to strat load them at the rail head. I have reduced Malacca's door-holders to one LCU. There is an Aussie infantry unit in JB, and an av. support too in case I send the B-17s back, but other than those Malaysia is stripped and bunkered at Singers.

8) Light city bombing continues in China. Not enough damage to worry about. The retreat continues.

9) He tries a deliberate attack at Palmyra, which comes off at 1:1, reducing forts to 1. He takes far more casualties, however. The Allies counter-bombard to increase disruption.

Ground combat at Palmyra (170,133)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1191 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 35

Defending force 666 troops, 12 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 12

Japanese adjusted assault: 19

Allied adjusted defense: 12

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: fatigue(-), morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
147 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 20 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
53rd Naval Guard Unit

Defending units:
Palmyra USN CPNAB
Palmyra (Det.) Defense Battalion

10) Allies bombard at Tarakan for the same reason.

11) No attacks on the two experimental refugees from Palembang, so I order three more single xAKLs to load fuel and proceed to Cocos I. by the southern route. I figure they can carry something for Force Z. as they flee.

12) USS Arizona and escorts clear the Big Island channel and proceed east. USS Yorktown arrives at San Diego, a welcome addition.

13) Batavia goes to Forts 3.



Bullwinkle58 -> RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks (11/15/2012 4:14:44 PM)

December 30, 1941

“If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. There's no point in being a damn fool about it.” W.C. Fields

1) Playing the AI I rarely if ever tried to chase down wounded prey. I don't know if it's coded to steer crazy, random courses, but I almost never succeeded in finding and sinking a Japanese ship I knew was retiring from battle. But now, playing a human, I thought to try in the encounter between USS Gudgeon and the mine-damaged I-8, headed on a westerly course. The heavy damage suggested floatation damage, and that meant most likely Truk, or possibly Kwajalein's sub base to fix some system damge before trying for Truk. So I take Gudgeon off her patrol zone, which would have sent her east on this turn and let I-8 saunter away, and put her on a straight 2-point patrol zone splitting the difference between a true course for either Kwaj or Truk. And it works. Breaking up noises are heard.


[image]local://upfiles/31387/FF7EF0F1177A453ABA018073AF46A98D.jpg[/image]


Sub vs Sub: SS Gudgeon attacking SS I-8 at 172,112

Japanese Ships
SS I-8, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Gudgeon

SS Gudgeon launches 4 torpedoes at 4,000 yards

2) The landings at Tarakan continue, this time with substantial CD hits on the the two landing ships, an xAK and xAP. My choice would be to use more ships to unload in one turn, but Japan does not seem to support this so far. The Dutch have some pretty stiff CD installations which deserve respect.

The Japanese attack and take Tarkan later in the turn. Two defenders retreat, one surrenders. I had flown out a substantial part of the garrison unit, so I didn't expect any real defense. Looking at the bright side Allied Forts now have another Oil target in range of both Batavia and Soerbaja.

Ground combat at Tarakan (67,91)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2386 troops, 19 guns, 142 vehicles, Assault Value = 140

Defending force 1472 troops, 21 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 28

Japanese adjusted assault: 85

Allied adjusted defense: 19

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Tarakan !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
19 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
912 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 46 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 24 (23 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 6 (6 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 2
Units destroyed 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
8th Tank Regiment
Kure 2nd SNLF

Defending units:
VII KNIL Battalion
Tarakan Coastal Gun Battalion
Tarakan Base Force

3) Sub wars: SS KXVII, in shallow water near Singkawang, is attacked twice and suffers several penetrating hits. She may be mortally wounded. Will see next turn. RO-boats in some numbers are working around Pearl now, due I think to the need to retire the first 12/7 wave for reloads. ASW TFs attack several but succeed only in drawing ammo-wasting attacks on themselves.

East of Wotje though, USS Narwhal attacks and misses a PB/xAK TF on a SE course. I suspect this is a relief unit for Palmyra. I need to prepare a reception of some kind, since without this I thnk Palmyra may survive a while longer. It could also be headed to the occupied dot base at Fanning Island.

Air patrols from Soerbaja find a sub in mid-strait, on a SE course. I suspect it is looking to slip through the islands and operate on the IO side of Java. I send out a new ASW TF from Soerbaja, but they do not meet.

And finally, at Hilo, my bane, some good news. Last turn I took some time to intensively study Allied mining, which I had never done. Each platform, each mine, the upgrade paths, locations of the assets, etc. Against the AI my mining has always been an afterthought. Some sub-laid and not much else. Here I found USN minelayers doing ASW and escort work while I had good surface mines sitting in inventory. I formed a couple of TFs last turn and ordered one to sow at Hilo, where I have more LCUs and supply inbound and he has had happy hunting recently. One found a target on the first turn.

TF 32 encounters mine field at Hilo (183,111)

Japanese Ships
SS I-17, Mine hits 1, heavy damage

Later in the turn, right before the Air Phase, I heard the submarine breaking up noises sound effect. I don't know what it was, but perhaps this guy. My suspicions are bolstered by a previous ASW attack this turn on this I-boat which recorded 5 hits prior to the mine strike. I didn't get a notification on the Dutch sub, but I could have missed it or there might be FOW. But something sank.

Scraps of info in PBEM are far more important than they are when playing the AI.

4) My campaign to sneak xAKLs out of Palembang hits a snag when I-164 finds xAKL Sipirok near Oosthaven and sinks her with gunfire. I detailed three more xAKLs last turn to carry fuel to Cocos and then on to Perth. I don't think I have an ASW asset I can send to the channel, but I'll double-check.

5) Oscar and Zero sweeps at SIngers and Rangoon.

Bataan is hit by 80 bombers:

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 58

Supply is the coin of the realm in sieges, and these daily AF strikes are adding up a bit. Ditto at Singers. A later strike costs him 2 Sallys, and 4 Bettys are damaged in the initial. At Rangoon, he collects 7 damaged Sallys and 1 destoyed. Who can keep it up longer? I suspect he can.

6) At Temuloh my three refugee units are about two miles from the rail station with daily Lily harrassment and his LCUs only a few miles behind. I'm torn between continuing down the road in Combat, or trying to strat load two while a sacrificial third tries to hold in Combat. I've never tried such a finessse move, so I may do it just to see. Famous last words?

7) Landings begin at Madang, opening up a new sub-theater on New Guinea. Indications are it is the Maizuru 1st SNLF. Interesting Japan has not come for Rabaul first. Often the time to develop infrastructure there is of critical importance. It may be next up. My initial defenders in northern NG are either at PM or more than half way across the mountains. Collecting all of the bases from Hollandia to Buna would be a matter of sealift and LCU fragments. But Japan is being more methodical than that.

LCU queue arrivals give Oz some heavier arty and armor units and breathing room, as well as welcome new defenders on Ceylon, and a Hussars unit at Aden which is probably headed to Pt. Blair. I have always seen Pt. Blair as a very important hold-on-to for the Allies, and I've been lucky so far that it hasn't been molested while I had absolutely nothing to give it. What would normally have gone there in an AI game I"ve put into Rangoon. The Hussars aren't much, but they're more than nothing.



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