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

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paullus99 -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (3/18/2013 3:30:36 PM)

Canoe - your "snooping" at Cocos probably has John convinced you're going to make a move there, especially now that he's shown his hand around New Caledonia.....if that means he's moving in that direction with assets, it means your move Tarawa might be completely unexpected......I'd recommend against backing off there unless something really happens (bad happens).



Canoerebel -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (3/18/2013 3:34:49 PM)

I don't mean to suggest I'm not committed to Tarawa.  Rather, I think Tarawa is a good move, but if I get indications that the region is protected by Yamato and friends, plus some carriers, I can back down.  Bottom line is that Tarawa is first and foremost a diversion from the Bay of Bengal.  But there's at least a 50/50 chance I go in.  I don't have carriers; he doesn't have airfields; so there's a decent chance it can work.



Bullwinkle58 -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (3/18/2013 4:15:58 PM)

In your games Tarawa is always the fat girl who really wants to go to the prom. Even is she has to go with a . . . lawyer. [8D]



Crackaces -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (3/18/2013 4:23:49 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

In your games Tarawa is always the fat girl who really wants to go to the prom. Even is she has to go with a . . . lawyer. [8D]


Right now he has John running platforms out to the Cocos Islands ... trying an invasion of New Caladonia, a threat in Burma, a threat in the Marshall's, Oz secured .. it more like "you thought you were going to the prom ... psyche!" I am not sure where the real moves will be made in late '42 [;)]



Canoerebel -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (3/18/2013 5:19:12 PM)

5/27/42
 
SoPac:  The Banshees at Noumea did pretty good work, doing serious damage to at least two xAP and two xAK and some paint-scratching to two or three Japanese BB.  They also missed an open shot at a naked AO.  The SBDs at Luganville didn't fly (that's probably good not to tip off John that my carriers might be somewhere around - keeps him more honest).  An IJN fast transport convoy visited Luganville - I can only surmise this was a Dunkirk-like evacuation.  The Allies garrison attacked again and wiped out about 30 AV...so perhaps the FT convoy was inbound, though...why would John do something that crazy?  The KB is stationed near Norfolk Island, right where she's least calculated to give me any worries. 

CenPac:  The Gilberts invasion TFs are 28 hexes due east (map-wise) of Tarawa.  They're 18 nexes NE of Baker Island, so I'm starting to worry about early detection, though no sign of anything yet.

China:  The Chines troops will consolidate at Kweilin before retiring to the interior.  Kweilin is great defensive terrain, but John has five divisions to the south and five to ten to the north and the Kweilin salient is so narrow that the risk of getting cut off is high.  So I'll retire the Chinese - hopefully in good order - to reinforce the new MLR in the wooded terrain.

Burma:  6th Aussie Div. is three days from reaching it's assigned key jungle hex.  The other Aussie division reaches Kalemyo in a day or two and will then make for the front.

Australia:  Everything looks good.



Cap Mandrake -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (3/18/2013 6:00:09 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: bradfordkay


quote:

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Q-Ball mentioned that enemy control of Noumea impedes Allied movement from West Coast to Oz...


I no longer believe it does. Both my Allied opponents simply skirt the map edge and bypass anything within range of New Caledonia. The only way to guarantee preventing Allied material reaching Australia from the West Coast is to invade New Caledonia and New Zealand. Then again, I'm finding I'm not a very good strategic player so my opinion carries only so much weight.


In 1942 in my game Chez took both New Caledonia and Norfolk Island. All I did was route my troop and supply convoys through Wellington. It was no big deal. I've since chased him out of New Caledonia and the New Hebrides but since recon tells me that he has over 25,000 troops on Norfolk Island I've left it as a defacto POW camp.


Exactly right. it just adds a couple of days to steam south of New Zealand. The capture of Noumea is not a big blow to the Allies. Ditto Norfolk.



ny59giants -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (3/18/2013 7:40:35 PM)

quote:

CenPac:  The Gilberts invasion TFs are 28 hexes due east (map-wise) of Tarawa.  They're 18 nexes NE of Baker Island, so I'm starting to worry about early detection, though no sign of anything yet.


Next turn, start to do some random clicking on hexes to the west and northwest of the Gilberts (look at the top of the AE map to see what the weather is next to the map coordinates). See if you can spot any changes in weather coming in shortly. I known it isn't 100% accurate, but it may show that there is a weather front coming in to give you bad weather.



Canoerebel -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (3/18/2013 7:58:48 PM)

Uh, is this a joke?  I aint fallin' fer no stinkin' joke!  Surely this monstrously complex game doesn't actually model weather fronts....or does it?



Canoerebel -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (3/19/2013 7:32:36 PM)

5/28/42
 
SoPac:  KB moves to within one hex of Noumea and flies massed and completely ineffecitve sorties against the airfield (the A-24s had relocated to Brisbane in anticipation of such a strike, but even so little damage was done to the airfield).  Strike packages are as follows:  165 Kates and 70 Zeros; 27 Vals and 8 Zeros; 27 Vals; 20 Vals; 24 Vals.  For any of you IJN players who aren't reading John's AAR, how many carriers does that represent (I could do the math, but some of you guys will know off the top of your heads).

CenPac:  Gilberts invasion TFs are 23 hexes from Tarawa (with Makin and Abemama also targeted).  No signs of detection...yet.  D-Day likely six days away.  I might drag just a bit to let the Burma invasion go first in hopes it might draw some Betties.

Burma:  The fast transport TF carrying the raiders will refuel at Trincomalee tomorrow.  D-Day might be four days away.  Behind the main invasion will come reinforcements - engineers, base force, and a UK brigade.  CAP will be provided by RN carriers plus Hornet with a big assist from P-40Es at Akyab.  John is reconning (and reconning by bombing) each of the hexes occupied by the Allied army.  I wonder if he's deduced that my objective is to seize and hold these hexes rather than to move forward?

Australia:  Quiet.  American CVs loitering south of Melbourne.

New Zealand:  For the past week or so, several IJN subs have been closely monitoring Wellington/Christchurch region in a particularly intensive way.  Either John suspected my carriers might be there or he has plans to invade New Zealand, which would be so ridiculously nuts that he might just be thinking about it.  Auckland has 650 AV with a Kiwi brigade due in about 25 days.  That's my strongest outpost and NZ won't draw any outside reinforcements now.  If John's coming, we'll welcome him and then use the Line of Death reinforcements in Burma.



Chickenboy -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (3/19/2013 7:39:59 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

For any of you IJN players who aren't reading John's AAR, how many carriers does that represent (I could do the math, but some of you guys will know off the top of your heads).


I'd say 5, which would allow for some of the D3A1s to perform typical ASW / search tasks too. I'm not broaching any sort of OPSEC here, as I've not read any details on John's AAR.



Chickenboy -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (3/19/2013 7:40:50 PM)

Deleted duplicative post. Sorry about that.



Canoerebel -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (3/19/2013 8:34:49 PM)

Thanks, Poultry Lad!  And thanks for the duplicate post - it helps me in my long-cherished objective of beating GreyJoy, that ostentatious and outrageous Italian guy that's living the veeda locuh.



Canoerebel -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (3/19/2013 8:36:58 PM)

I need to puzzle this out - John probably kept back some Zeros and strike aircraft on naval strike mission just in case my carriers pounced, and I also think he might've devoted some Zeros to LRCAP his shipping at Koumac since he was unsettled by the Banshee strikes the day before.  So...is this essentially all of the KB...or are there unaccounted parts lurking in the Gilberts, the Bay of Bengal, or anywhere else my active imagination can create worry out of thin air?



Chickenboy -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (3/19/2013 8:38:39 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Thanks, Poultry Lad!  And thanks for the duplicate post - it helps me in my long-cherished objective of beating GreyJoy, that ostentatious and outrageous Italian guy that's living the veeda locuh.


Velvetta locust? Crunchy, cheesy, high protein goodness! [sm=00000436.gif]

I've had roast crickets, grasshoppers and mealworms, but not locusts...I wonder if they taste the same.



Chickenboy -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (3/19/2013 8:41:53 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

I need to puzzle this out - John probably kept back some Zeros and strike aircraft on naval strike mission just in case my carriers pounced, and I also think he might've devoted some Zeros to LRCAP his shipping at Koumac since he was unsettled by the Banshee strikes the day before.  So...is this essentially all of the KB...or are there unaccounted parts lurking in the Gilberts, the Bay of Bengal, or anywhere else my active imagination can create worry out of thin air?


Well, if you believe that to be the case, then clearly he's got more than 5 CVs in the neighborhood. What does your special super-duper mouseover Allied SigInt tell you about local TF constructions?



Canoerebel -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (3/19/2013 9:04:01 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy
Velvetta locust? Crunchy, cheesy, high protein goodness! [sm=00000436.gif]

I've had roast crickets, grasshoppers and mealworms, but not locusts...I wonder if they taste the same.


:)

I haven't had them insectivorous beasties, but I have eaten buzzard, black bear, fox, beaver and other assorted critters. The Wildlife Biology department at the University of Georgia has a wild game supper every year - or did "back in the day." Black bear was the best of that particular group. Most of these were road kill. I don't want you guys to think the good wildlife folks were roaming about shooting the objects of their ardor.



Canoerebel -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (3/19/2013 9:09:55 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy
Well, if you believe that to be the case, then clearly he's got more than 5 CVs in the neighborhood. What does your special super-duper mouseover Allied SigInt tell you about local TF constructions?


I've been getting good sightings of the KB from patrol planes operating from nearby Noumea. Mouseover for this turn shows two big TFs:

1. 3 CV, 5 CVL with 111 F, 212 B, 36 A.
2. 4 CV, 2 CVL with 120 F, 89 B, 15 A.

Total report 7 CV, 7 CVL, 331 F, 301 B, 51 P.

Nearly 700 aircraft would be roughly equivalent to 10 fleet carriers. I know John doesn't have that many yet - probably the six big carriers plus Hiyo plus Junyo plus miscellaneous CVL? Or do you think I'm off? (Please don't chime in if you're reading John's AAR, or reading it recently enough to be up to date on what he might have.)



Chickenboy -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (3/19/2013 9:23:23 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

quote:

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy
Well, if you believe that to be the case, then clearly he's got more than 5 CVs in the neighborhood. What does your special super-duper mouseover Allied SigInt tell you about local TF constructions?


I've been getting good sightings of the KB from patrol planes operating from nearby Noumea. Mouseover for this turn shows two big TFs:

1. 3 CV, 5 CVL with 111 F, 212 B, 36 A.
2. 4 CV, 2 CVL with 120 F, 89 B, 15 A.

Total report 7 CV, 7 CVL, 331 F, 301 B, 51 P.

Nearly 700 aircraft would be roughly equivalent to 10 fleet carriers. I know John doesn't have that many yet - probably the six big carriers plus Hiyo plus Junyo plus miscellaneous CVL? Or do you think I'm off? (Please don't chime in if you're reading John's AAR, or reading it recently enough to be up to date on what he might have.)


I haven't opened up RA to look at the IJN OOB, but from those that have done so, I'm lead to believe that 1942 does not hold that many new CV/CVLs beyond vanilla. Question:

Do some of the CVEs come back as CVLs in RA? Because that's (7) too many CVLs for 'vanilla' 1942 OOB.



Houtje -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (3/19/2013 9:25:11 PM)

Given that he probably believes you to have an interest in Cocos I., woudn't he keep some strike force in its vicinity? Otherwise I have no idea on numbers of CV's, but I do not mind adding to your post count in order to defeat Greyjoy. [:)]



Chickenboy -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (3/19/2013 9:30:10 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel
Black bear was the best of that particular group.


Food safety tip of the day-don't eat smoked bear meat. Largest growth of Trichinosis in eaters of this meat.

http://www.epi.alaska.gov/bulletins/docs/b2000_18.htm

I'd steer clear of anything racoon-related too (Baylisascaris spp.). Different mechanism of infection, but I'd have to be dern certain that there was no inadvertent leakage of intestinal contents during carcass preparation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baylisascaris_procyonis




Canoerebel -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (3/19/2013 9:37:46 PM)

Mouseover of CV class is pretty unreliable.  The seven CVL could be other stuff, including CVE, CS or CV.

I haven't looked at RA in months, but the early-war carrier OOB isn't much different.  Some CVE/CS can convert to CVL.  I don't think he has any additional fleet carriers this early - IE, he should have eight of them.  Mouseover shows only seven, but I can't believe he'd detach one of them for duty on the front lines.

To answer Houtje's question, it appears likely that he threw essentially everything into this operation, either because he feared my carriers might be present or hoped to draw them into battle.  I suspect he left Cocos defended only by LBA, figuring if I took it he could isolate it and probably retake it...or something like that.

He might have some CVE and CS covering other peripheral areas - I wouldn't be shocked to encounter a few in the Gilberts in the next ten days.  But I consider it fairly unlikely that I'll bump up against two fleet carriers.  I hope.



paullus99 -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (3/19/2013 9:48:17 PM)

Getting a read on John from his other AARs - he doesn't do operations like this 1/2 way. Given those numbers, I would expect you're seeing the "A" team - i.e. most, if not all, of the heavy carriers. He could have a couple of second stringers with him, but I would expect that he might have a few smaller carriers in other areas, but given his commitment....well, I think you're seeing the whole "dog and pony show," off New Caledonia.



Canoerebel -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (3/19/2013 9:48:45 PM)

Andre, I haven't eaten at the wildlife supper in something like 30 years.  Your comments make me glad.  But surely wild game is better than McDonalds, Cheetos, or Little Debbie snack cakes?

At the last wildlife supper I attended, I enjoyed a cup of sassafras tea.  This is reportedly mildly carcinogenic in large enough amounts.  But, dang, I think I'd drink gallons of sassafras tea before I'd drink stuff sweatened with aspartane or other chemicals. 



Chickenboy -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (3/19/2013 10:13:53 PM)

Yeah, I wouldn't drink tea 'sweatened' with anything either. Ick.

[:'(]

ETA: Hey, you said you wanted fluff for post counts right? That's my specialty (well, that and poultry) and I'm glad to help. [8D]



Saros -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (3/19/2013 10:15:47 PM)

Judging from the plane numbers and what the IJN has at the moment that looks like all the 'fast' carriers, i.e. the six big ones plus the fast CVL (3?). Maybe a CS in there too. The fleet CV's start with their aircraft fully expanded in RA so there will be more planes than in a normal game at this time. I'd expect about 500 planes total.

So yeah don't try anything too crazy with this lot but is you see carriers anywhere else you can bet its probably his B-listers.



witpqs -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (3/19/2013 10:26:20 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Yeah, I wouldn't drink tea 'sweatened' with anything either. Ick.

[:'(]

ETA: Hey, you said you wanted fluff for post counts right? That's my specialty (well, that and poultry) and I'm glad to help. [8D]

And tropical diseases - that's three. And the Spanish Inquisition. Oh, wait, that's four!



Chickenboy -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (3/19/2013 10:52:43 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: witpqs


quote:

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Yeah, I wouldn't drink tea 'sweatened' with anything either. Ick.

[:'(]

ETA: Hey, you said you wanted fluff for post counts right? That's my specialty (well, that and poultry) and I'm glad to help. [8D]

And tropical diseases - that's three. And the Spanish Inquisition. Oh, wait, that's four!


No, no no....the fourth is "An almost fanatical devotion to the pope". [:-] Nobody EXPECTS The Spanish Inquisition.



Canoerebel -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (3/19/2013 11:12:33 PM)

5/29/42
 
I'll take my seat in a comfy chair with the soft pillow to give you four...no five!...updates.

SoPac:  KB moves NW off the Koumak tip and re-bombs the stew out of Noumea, like I care.  In "retaliation," I move two USN PBY squadrons to Luganville.  They have orders to pick up N Force Detachment at Noumea and deposit them at Luganville, thus strengthening my little garrison.  I hope John has "ashes in his mouth" when his two or three divisions arrive at Noumea and found it vacant.  More sub activity around Wellington and vicinity.  SigInt of a big IJA HQ unit prepping for Port Kembla, which I personally don't believe but sock away just in case something else triggers a thought.

CenPac:  The Gilberts invasion TFs are 18 hexes from Tarawa.  No sign of detection. That should change soon, right?  SigInt yesterday of lots or radio activity at Jaluit.  I am expecting Japanese BBs, including Yamato.  I only have Warspite and Nevada, so I'm not prepared to hunt bear.  I'm thinking D-Day in five days unless I get cold feet, which is certainly possible.

China:  The orderly movement of Chinese troops to and through Kweilin continues. John said he wouldn't come further, but I'm waiting to see.  He's certainly giving alot of attention to Chengte, which isn't strongly defended (550 AV in rough terrain).

Burma:  The fast transport TF refueled at Trincomalee.  This one is just 18 hexes from Ramree and moves at 7 hexes per day, but I'm going to swing towards Calcutta to try to avoid detection until I'm ready to leap to the beach. D-Day probably four days.  John's patrols are getting low detection of some Allied shipping at Calcutta.  His spidey senses might be tingling...or not.  But this invasion goes.

Oz:  Everything looks good as Melbourne prepares to welcome 32nd Div., which arrives in two or three days.



obvert -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (3/20/2013 12:42:20 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel


CenPac:  The Gilberts invasion TFs are 18 hexes from Tarawa.  No sign of detection. That should change soon, right?  SigInt yesterday of lots or radio activity at Jaluit.  I am expecting Japanese BBs, including Yamato.  I only have Warspite and Nevada, so I'm not prepared to hunt bear.  I'm thinking D-Day in five days unless I get cold feet, which is certainly possible.


Burma:  The fast transport TF refueled at Trincomalee.  This one is just 18 hexes from Ramree and moves at 7 hexes per day, but I'm going to swing towards Calcutta to try to avoid detection until I'm ready to leap to the beach. D-Day probably four days.  John's patrols are getting low detection of some Allied shipping at Calcutta.  His spidey senses might be tingling...or not.  But this invasion goes.



I haven't been reading his AAR, so these are complete guesses. My feeling is that there won't be much in the Gilberts/Marshalls area. Maybe some DDs and a Nettie group with one or two groups of zeros and some Mavis. The sigint from Jaliut is probably a naval guard landing. Its early and he's focusing on the Southern reaches right now. I'd say go forth.

As for Ramree, here you might run into more escorted Nettie strikes or even a group or two of Kates. I would be wary, and have lots of LR CAP if possible. I always keep a few groups searching the Bay of Bengal, and usually some Glen subs patrolling around looking for sneaky moves like the one you're making now.



Canoerebel -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (3/20/2013 2:55:33 PM)

5/30/42
 
Holy cow!  I did something today that nobody's ever done before.  I am embarrassed to have to admit it, but I shall in the name of forthrightness and thoroughness. 

Burma:  I somehow configured my fast transport to "unload," so when it stopped at Trincomalee to refuel it did just that.  (I ALWYAS check this, so I'm just flabbergasted I didn't this time.) So the marine raiders are at Trincomalee and the fast transport TF is nine hexes to the north!  That means I have to turn them around, reload, and sally forth.  D-Day likely four days away.  The one beneficial aspect is that it does allow my major second-phase TFs to be much closer to the beach, meaning follow up should be considerably more effecient.  John is also paying very much attention to the Allied shipping at Calcutta - a couple of small combat TFs and supply TFs.  So his spidey senses may be tingling.  I will have hundreds of decent fighters that I can cycle forward to Akyab to provide LRCAP, plus Hornet and three RN carriers.

CenPac:  The Gilberts invasion TFs are 12 hexes from Tarawa and 13 from both Abemama and Makin.  No sign of detection, which is amazing.  Two flanker/picket ASW TFs will spring forward tonight to take position much closer to Tarawa and Makin, meaning this should trigger detection if there's even one patrol in place.  I have an AVP sprinting to a green dot hex island south of Tabituea.  If it makes it in time - it might - I might be able to support some PBYs.  So, after all, this invasion will go first and act as the decoy to clear things out (hopefully) for Ramree Island.

SoPac:  KB position north of Koumac.  Three AV of N Force Detachment has transferred from Noumea to Luganville.  Not much, but every bit may count.  Question:  How in the heck did John screw up the Luganville invasion so badly?  This one, in addition to the botched Midway invasion at the start of the war, will make him that much more reluctant to invade atolls.  If the Allies get ashore in good shape in the Gilberts, that augers well for staying there.  I just don't think John is going to be nimble and decisive when facing the prospect of hard landings.

China:  The Chinese withdrawal towards the new MLR continues to proceed in order.



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