RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (Full Version)

All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition >> After Action Reports



Message


Flicker -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (1/21/2017 1:44:46 AM)

I'm another admirer of Thomas. The "Rock of Chickamauga" was a better nickname than the West Point "Old Tom", or "Old Slow Trot" from not letting troops gallop, or the affectionate "Old Pap", or the exalted "Old Hero" of Chickamauga. Thomas was an relatively early adapter of technology including operational use of the telegraph and organizing and outfitting his ambulance corps. IIRC Thomas was the only general to destroy an enemy army in the Civil War at the Battle of Nashville (US Army of the Cumberland vs CSA Army of Tennessee).

One of his commanders said of Thomas: "I never knew him to be late or in a hurry. All his movements were deliberate, his self-possession was supreme..."





BBfanboy -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (1/21/2017 2:02:22 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Termite2

Clark was at Anzio; sat when he should have moved.

Didn't he also disobey orders and went to Rome for the glory of being a liberator instead of cutting off the German's escape route?




crsutton -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (1/21/2017 2:13:50 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Chickenboy commented (in a lighthearted haiku in the War Room) about me having a "million and one" ships in a single hex. I know he's reading and posting in John's AAR.

His comment follows on one made by one of you guys in this thread, perhaps a page back, something to similar effect.

I take it that John or his readers must have an issue with keeping ships tightly together. I've never encountered this complaint before. I won't mention it to John unless he mentions it first.

I suppose I can understand where he's coming from - hey, taking on the Allies in '44 isn't easy. And it shouldn't be easy.

But I conserved my carriers carefully - oh, so carefully - throughout the game, banking against the day when I'd need to strike deep. Now I'm reaping that benefit while John is suffering the consequences of his reckless JEB Stuart ride in the Marshalls in September.

I wouldn't have to keep the Herd so tightly packed if not for a variety of things John takes advantage of: 24-hour carrier and combat ship movement without my ability to respond (that's just part of the game, but it makes it necessary for me to keep my ships protected); the ability to move Netties all across the map and then still strike together in a single day; a cohesive Japanese navy and army cooperating on strikes; etc.

Our beloved AE has many abstractions. As a result, I keep my fleet tightly together. So I ain't playing dumb and spreading them out to make it easier for him to attack.

John wouldn't be having this issue if he hadn't ridden around the Union army prior to Gettysburg.



What is a hex, 50 miles accross? That is 2,500 square miles. How much space did the Normandy invasion require to hold all of those ships?




Bearcat2 -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (1/21/2017 2:16:24 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy


quote:

ORIGINAL: Termite2

Clark was at Anzio; sat when he should have moved.

Didn't he also disobey orders and went to Rome for the glory of being a liberator instead of cutting off the German's escape route?



Yes; Clark was supposed to capture Valmontone which would have cut off the German army; but instead planned to drive on Rome. Alexander should have sacked him.






Capt. Harlock -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (1/21/2017 4:13:49 AM)

quote:

IIRC Thomas was the only general to destroy an enemy army in the Civil War at the Battle of Nashville (US Army of the Cumberland vs CSA Army of Tennessee).


The only general to destroy a major army. Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith wiped out the 5,000 man Union Army of Kentucky at the Battle of Richmond. (Richmond, Kentucky, that is.)




Lovejoy -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (1/21/2017 5:02:18 AM)

I admire Thomas as well, but I think that, in a sense, most of the credit for the Army of Tennesse's annihilation has to be given to John Bell Hood. The way he handled that army during the Nashville campaign was atrocious. He shattered his army at Franklin, lost most of his senior commanders killed or otherwise put out of action, and then continued on to try to take a city protected by an army almost twice the size of his own. That being said, Thomas did manage to array his command in a manner that enabled hood to impale himself on it.




Canoerebel -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (1/21/2017 12:52:14 PM)

4/9/44 SigInt

Some helpful intelligence today.

[image]local://upfiles/8143/B39E715C09654D11B65AB056F13548D0.jpg[/image]




Canoerebel -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (1/21/2017 1:04:21 PM)

4/9/44

Fun House: Another mostly quiet and busily productive day in the Philippines. No clashes with enemy forces and no sign of KB or major combat TFs. NavSearch does show cruisers and destroyers just south of Mindanao. Death Star spends a quiet day off the coast.

Legaspi airfield to 3.54 today; Naga to 3.11 (only a combat engineer + organic infantry division engineers to build here). Naga has 150 aviation support and three fighter squadrons from Burma. Legaspi has five fighter squadrons, most from the DEI.

John is pouring units into Luzon. 40,000 now at Manila. I think he has one division there and one a hex to the SE. A big land battle will rage for Luzon eventually. Allied army roughed up the tattered IJ army a hex north of Naga. 2nd Marine Div. will arrive there in three more days. I won't go any further...for now.

Pacific: Tabituea falls today. Tomorrow, a detachment of Merrill's Marauders will hit a stubborn dot hex west of Canton Island. It has refused to auto flip for a year, and I don't want John to use it for nav search. There's a lot going on in the Pacific right now, but it's behind the scenes stuff that I won't go into.

DEI: Ditto here. Lots of productive activity.

Burma: John finally brought in his Franks in numbers two or three turns back - at the same time I was transferring my long-legged, good fighters to Luzon. We've tangled pretty hard, with neither side getting a decided advantage. He has just three viable airfields now: Rangoon and Moulmein are trashed by bombing; Prome is open but to be targeted more over the coming days. I think John has a problem with his MLR. He's bringing in a new mixed brigade and a garrison unit. Even at the expense of a stalemate, I think it serves my purposes long term to have Burma serving as a minor vortex.

Some maps later.




Bif1961 -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (1/21/2017 2:53:15 PM)

General George Henry Thomas, as Commander of the Army of the Cumberland, got credit for defeating the Army of Tennessee at Missionary Ridge. His Army was suppose to be conducting a feint to tie down units to assist Sherman's failed attack. I guess the boys just didn't know when to quit when they went up and over the ridge chasing the Army of Tennessee into Northern Georgia. Also Thomas was suppose to have been relieved before the battle of Nashville. The General who was to relieve him showed up the day before the attack. He was briefed on the attack plan and decided not to relieve Thomas as his plan was about to be carried out.




BBfanboy -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (1/21/2017 3:00:36 PM)

Lucena is a sex north of Atimonan? Well that is one hex that has to be on your target list ASAP![:D]




ny59giants -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (1/21/2017 6:42:35 PM)

Since I'm a transplant to Tennessee for the last 14 years (now live in NE corner), I know very little about the Civil War battles that took place across the state. Since this thread is off on another mini-tangent, can anybody recommend any good book or two for me?




Canoerebel -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (1/21/2017 6:56:36 PM)

If you'd like to read about Tennessee battles (and campaigns), try No Better Place to Die (Stones River) and The Shipwreck of Their Hopes (Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge), both by Peter Cozzens.

I think Cozzens is the finest Civil War historian/writer in America. He goes into detail so a person with shallow interest and superficial knowledge of tactics and jargon wouldn't enjoy him, but I think any AE player interested in the Civil War will love his books.

His This Terrible Sound (Chickamauga) is the second finest work of history I've ever read (subjective analysis based upon quality of his writing and level of my interest).




ny59giants -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (1/21/2017 7:12:37 PM)

quote:

His This Terrible Sound (Chickamauga) is the second finest work of history I've ever read (subjective analysis based upon quality of his writing and level of my interest).


Have this one already. I think you were the one from long ago.

Thanks for the recommendations! [:)]




Canoerebel -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (1/21/2017 7:33:24 PM)

4/10/44

There is significance to this date. Originally, Fun House was scheduled to leave Hawaii on or about March 20, with an estimated D-Day of April 10. Shifting the point of origin of the operation from Hawaii to Oz was a good head start. Thus, instead of today being D-Day, the Allies already hold all objectives and have built the centerpiece, Legaspi, pretty large.

Fun House: Another good, quiet, productive day.

Burma: A more noisy, productive, good day.

Pacific: Mop-up operations continue with the taking of Gardner Island.

KB: Still no info re: its whereabouts. I do think John will pounce somewhere soon. There's no way he's going to let the Allies waltz around for weeks without interfering. He may strike in the Philippines or he may raid/invade somewhere far away, but he's going to do something soon.



[image]local://upfiles/8143/C2111610EB5F43BC92140010EA0A90E9.jpg[/image]




Canoerebel -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (1/21/2017 7:43:14 PM)

Two important questions:

1. The P-51A model doesn't seem to perform well in combat against Franks and Georges. How does the -B model perform, in your experience?

2. The rules tell us that fleet carriers in base hexes have their CAP halved. I don't recall ever having this tested - having enemy aircraft attack a bases with carriers at sea in the hex ('cause all of assiduously avoid putting our carriers in combat situations at half strength). Are you gents satisfied that the rule does work as it should - that Six 36-plane Hellcat squadrons would actually put up one-half the usual CAP?

(You may be thinking, "Why ask?" Well, I recall the original AE or WiTP rules specifying very clearly that there was a chance that fighters set to train only had a chance of contesting enemy aircraft in the hex; I've never, ever seen that happen. So I'm leery of counting on a rule in a critical situation unless I'm absolutely sure, and I'm not here.)





Canoerebel -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (1/21/2017 7:49:18 PM)

I see some of the -B model improvements, but I don't know how that translates into combat performance vs. good enemy fighters.

Do any of you use -B models to bomb, given they carry 1,000-pounders? Is this a good idea? A bad idea?

[image]local://upfiles/8143/A90DD34D567D4837931A0EB466334065.jpg[/image]




JohnDillworth -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (1/21/2017 8:09:21 PM)

Any thought to getting some DB and TB squadrons up and running to take some pot shots at the all those little TF's? you must have scads of these things lying around. Also, have you considered sending TF's with 2 or 3 Fletchers on raiding parties deep into the South China Sea? They are pretty tough to hit from the air and pretty tough to beat on the water now that torpedoes work. At this point of the war you could empty your pockets of change and 4 or 5 Fletchers would fall out




Anachro -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (1/21/2017 8:16:59 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Well, I recall the original AE or WiTP rules specifying very clearly that there was a chance that fighters set to train only had a chance of contesting enemy aircraft in the hex; I've never, ever seen that happen. So I'm leery of counting on a rule in a critical situation unless I'm absolutely sure, and I'm not here.)



I've seen that happen more than once in my games.




JeffroK -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (1/21/2017 8:18:23 PM)

Technically the P51B/C (depended where it was built) was the best Mustang model of WW2.
You get an extra 50mph, 2 hexes of range and a maneuver point, only problem is only 4 x 50cal.
However I have struggled to get much out of them ingame, could be a myriad of ratings but in theory, given equal pilots they should be excellent.

Well done with the invasion, JIII seems to be apprehensive to attack your forces, maybe he is only comfortable attacking in wildly advantageous situations, say 100-1 odds.

From your comments you seem to have, to me, very limited LBA, should ypur CV be drawn away can you still defend your holdings, plus Mines/CD/PT Boats, all set up to attrit any attempt to bombard?

Did you bring any Airborne to the fight? Might be an easy way to pick up some more bases or provide a rapid reinforcement group.

And...And...[8D]




Canoerebel -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (1/21/2017 8:18:24 PM)

For the moment, I'm using all available airfield space for fighters (partly because strike aircraft tend to run into enemy bleedover CAP and get chewed up).

I have thought about detaching Fletchers. Oddly enough, I have to be very conservative with my combat TFs. I have eleven of them, ranging from three-DD TFs to big two-BB (Iowa and New Jersey!) TFs.

At first it seems like 11 combat TFs is plenty, but they're charged with guarding scores of merchant and carrier TFs. Losses (or low ammo) will be keenly felt. So I don't feel "up to" raiding too far yet.

But I am leaning towards deploying several combat TFs at or near Legaspi tomorrow, hoping that damaging a few enemy DDs might then allow the subs to go to work.

I'm still thinking it over.

P.S. Your idea is a good one. I have lots of more expendable DDs serving escort duty with merchants and support ships. I ought to rearrange a few TFs in order to create a few raiders.




JeffroK -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (1/21/2017 8:20:44 PM)

I also like Thomas, as much for his determination and standing up for his beliefs.




Canoerebel -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (1/21/2017 8:21:45 PM)

I have two paratroop units present. One is prepped 100% for Manila. The other is available for "pick up" duty. There are still myriad vacant bases in the middle Philippines, but at the moment I don't have the wherewithal to use more or protect them.

I have decent LBA already - fighters - because of Naga and Legaspi. Soon they'll be much bigger. I already have plenty aviation support. Both fields are in range of LBA reinforcements from DEI and Burma. So the air situation is shaping up nicely.

John can bombard, but he has to risk good ships to do it. I have good countermeasures due to ships, carriers, subs, strike aircraft, etc. John can give me some fits, but I can do the same.




witpqs -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (1/21/2017 8:23:32 PM)

The P-51A has only 4x .50 cal, so it is better than a P-40K but not so much as it could be.

The P-51B still has only 4x .40 cal but is much faster. But still only the 32 Durability of the A and most of the P-40 line.

Some helpful comparisons even though you didn't ask:
The P-51D has 6x .40 cal but still only 32 Dur (as all P-51 have), and is vulnerable enough against crack IJ pilots, though clearly better than prior USA fighters.

The P-47 benefits a great deal from the 8x .50 cal and the higher Dur (35 IIRC??). Also the P-51 suffers more degradation at high altitudes.




Bullwinkle58 -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (1/21/2017 8:52:05 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: witpqs

The P-51A has only 4x .50 cal, so it is better than a P-40K but not so much as it could be.

The P-51B still has only 4x .40 cal but is much faster. But still only the 32 Durability of the A and most of the P-40 line.

Some helpful comparisons even though you didn't ask:
The P-51D has 6x .40 cal but still only 32 Dur (as all P-51 have), and is vulnerable enough against crack IJ pilots, though clearly better than prior USA fighters.

The P-47 benefits a great deal from the 8x .50 cal and the higher Dur (35 IIRC??). Also the P-51 suffers more degradation at high altitudes.


My experiences with the P-51B are it is no better than a P-40K, even with a great pilot.

To me, the most nerfed models on the Allied side are the whole P-38 line. I don't think the game code gives enough op loss prevention for the second engine, and they don't seem to turn very well for having all that torque. Even the late, late models get eaten alive by Georges and Franks. I've long assigned them to the "meh" bucket in my mind. OK, but nothing to rely on.




Bearcat2 -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (1/21/2017 11:07:01 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58


quote:

ORIGINAL: witpqs

The P-51A has only 4x .50 cal, so it is better than a P-40K but not so much as it could be.

The P-51B still has only 4x .40 cal but is much faster. But still only the 32 Durability of the A and most of the P-40 line.

Some helpful comparisons even though you didn't ask:
The P-51D has 6x .40 cal but still only 32 Dur (as all P-51 have), and is vulnerable enough against crack IJ pilots, though clearly better than prior USA fighters.

The P-47 benefits a great deal from the 8x .50 cal and the higher Dur (35 IIRC??). Also the P-51 suffers more degradation at high altitudes.


My experiences with the P-51B are it is no better than a P-40K, even with a great pilot.

To me, the most nerfed models on the Allied side are the whole P-38 line. I don't think the game code gives enough op loss prevention for the second engine, and they don't seem to turn very well for having all that torque. Even the late, late models get eaten alive by Georges and Franks. I've long assigned them to the "meh" bucket in my mind. OK, but nothing to rely on.



Torque? P-38 had counter-rotating propellers.




Bif1961 -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (1/22/2017 12:12:40 AM)

The P-51B/C had a better climb rate so it would be a better interceptor than the P-51A.




Bullwinkle58 -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (1/22/2017 12:31:20 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Termite2


quote:

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58


quote:

ORIGINAL: witpqs

The P-51A has only 4x .50 cal, so it is better than a P-40K but not so much as it could be.

The P-51B still has only 4x .40 cal but is much faster. But still only the 32 Durability of the A and most of the P-40 line.

Some helpful comparisons even though you didn't ask:
The P-51D has 6x .40 cal but still only 32 Dur (as all P-51 have), and is vulnerable enough against crack IJ pilots, though clearly better than prior USA fighters.

The P-47 benefits a great deal from the 8x .50 cal and the higher Dur (35 IIRC??). Also the P-51 suffers more degradation at high altitudes.


My experiences with the P-51B are it is no better than a P-40K, even with a great pilot.

To me, the most nerfed models on the Allied side are the whole P-38 line. I don't think the game code gives enough op loss prevention for the second engine, and they don't seem to turn very well for having all that torque. Even the late, late models get eaten alive by Georges and Franks. I've long assigned them to the "meh" bucket in my mind. OK, but nothing to rely on.



Torque? P-38 had counter-rotating propellers.


The wrong word then. But power, and widely separated rudders. The P-38 was the bedrock of 1943 in several campaigns. In the game they're VP bait.




paradigmblue -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (1/22/2017 12:51:11 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58
The wrong word then. But power, and widely separated rudders. The P-38 was the bedrock of 1943 in several campaigns. In the game they're VP bait.


You really think so? In 1942 I find that they're very effective when used in the high-altitude sweep role. I can see how they would fall off in effectiveness vs later game Japanese aircraft though.




crsutton -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (1/22/2017 3:47:15 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: paradigmblue


quote:

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58
The wrong word then. But power, and widely separated rudders. The P-38 was the bedrock of 1943 in several campaigns. In the game they're VP bait.


You really think so? In 1942 I find that they're very effective when used in the high-altitude sweep role. I can see how they would fall off in effectiveness vs later game Japanese aircraft though.


Yeah, mine are doing very well. My top ace is a P38 jockey. I use them for sweeps and LRCAP. They are also excellent low level port bombers if you catch some ships without CAP. Never use them for escort. The plane is fine. The service rating is it's only real defect.

P51 B is the fastest fighter you will have until well into 1945, and has great range. I would not use it for bombing though except to duplicate the p38 raids mentioned above. You can do some creative things with your long range fighters that the enemy won't expect. Good but still not close to the P47. In game terms I find that speed is still the best asset a fighter can have.




palioboy2 -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (1/22/2017 8:12:11 AM)

The 38's were never very maneuverable crates. Neither power nor dual rudders will help with roll or your ability in a slow turning fight. That plane was at its best when using slashing tactics. Converting an attitude advantage into speed, hitting it's enemy extremely hard with its all centerline gun package and the using to oodles of power to climb away.




Page: <<   < prev  290 291 [292] 293 294   next >   >>

Valid CSS!




Forum Software © ASPPlayground.NET Advanced Edition 2.4.5 ANSI
0.640625