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

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MateDow -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (12/6/2012 5:12:05 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Second question for the Peanut Gallery.  I've just about decided to not seek battle for the huge enemy force moving on Kuching and/or Singakwang.  It's clear now that the Japanese are bringing lots of powerful combat ships.  To oppose them, all I have are four combat TFs.  The one flagged by PoW is decent, but the other three are a weak conglomeration of old destroyers and light cruisers.  Furthermore, I don't have any decent bombers that hold out the prospect of hitting enemy cripples.  I think this is a situation of:  when the enemy comes early with a heckuva lot, better get out of the way.

Does anyone disagree?  Would you stay and fight?


The premise of any Allied defense in 1941-42 holds true; deny for as long as you can without paying too much.

It sounds like the price might be too high for the amount of damage that you will cause, and you have always been a good judge of that.



Bullwinkle58 -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (12/6/2012 5:15:38 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

The argument is that Wickard affirmed the power of the government to proscribe conduct - a farmer growing wheat for consumption on his own property - because growing that wheat had an affect on interstate commerce. OC, on the other hand, requires citizens to participate in certain activity (buying insurance).  Two completely different propositions (and hence the debate over whether the federal government could thereby order citiziens to, say, eat broccoli).


Well, some anti-mandate arguments pre-USSC argued that. Others, such as the Sixth Circuit decision (Seven Sky vs. Holder) argued that Wickard, supported further by Gonzales v. Raich (2005) (concurred in by Scalia), was core to supporting the mandate. From the decision, paraphrased by Forbes magazine:

"“The lingering intution—shared by most Americans, I suspect—[is] that Congress should not be able to compel citizens to buy products that they do not want.” However, “If, as Wickard shows, Congress could regulate the most self-sufficient of individuals—the American farmer—when he grew wheat destined for no location other than his family farm, the same is true for those who inevitably will seek health care and who must pay for it.”

In the end the USSC did reject the Wickard argument, or at least sidestep it. Roberts' decision argued that the Commerce Clause didn't apply because OC created commercial activity rather than regulated existing activity. Hard for me to square with what Wickard did since he grew grain which never entered the stream of commerce in any way yet was placed under the CC, but whatever. Scalia's brocolli argument notwithstanding, up until the final Roberts decision Wickard was core to the arguments, in some cases such as the Sixth Circuit ruling winning arguments, over OC. In the end, as I'm sure you know, it came down to taxation powers, a nice finesse by the Chief Justice.



Canoerebel -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (12/6/2012 5:28:16 PM)

Thanks for good comments and insights gents.  The forum is just a great community of good people.  Where else can we discuss things ranging from Con Law to my favorite commercial of all time:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CaMUfxVJVQ



bradfordkay -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (12/6/2012 5:35:34 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

quote:

ORIGINAL: bradfordkay

Even with realistic allied torpedo dud rates, in this area you'll have Dutch and British subs operating during this phase of the war. I can't picture any time that I would detach my ASW escorts from a CV TF facing those bad boys.


You're very cautious. ASW escorts it this era are all 2 and have very low reloads. There are virtually no British subs at all in this month (1 maybe?) Dutch yes.

It's all a risk-reward. Risk for sure, but POW might be worth it. If CR doesn't think he'll do it he's probably right. But part of the fun of the game, at least for me, is to sometimes do things my opponent is sure I would never do, or which are "crazy." OODA loop and all.



You are right. In this respect I am very cautious. Fleet carriers are such precious commodities that I don't think the reward of sinking one modern battleship is worth the risk of losing one. While the ASW capabilities of the early war DDs is minimal, just their existence helps keep the subs at bay. JMO...


Dan, I can understand your dilemna on the intel aspect. I have never opened AE as the Japanese side, as I do not want to know the exact capabilities of my opponent's equipment. I did the same with CHS until our PBEM was over. The difference is that I am fairly knowledgeable of the Pacific War already, so I look at it as that knowledge covers the allied pre-war intel. In your case, there is a large gap between what you do know and what exists in game. I am with the earlier votes for looking at it long enough to ascertain just how many capital ships he has. I wouldn't delve deeper into the capabilities of each of his units, just to get a general idea as to what you are facing.



Canoerebel -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (12/6/2012 5:43:56 PM)

Bridge of HMS Prince of Wales
On patrol four miles SSW of Singakwang 
1030 hours 11 December 1941

Captain Collinson finished barking the long series of commands necessary to carry out the orders placed in his hands 10 minutes before.  The Allied combat vessels were pulling out of the Singkawang area.  One destroyer TF would report to Singapore.  The remaining TFs would make for Batavia.  PoW's TF would move at flank speed.

The day had been chaotic, with numerous real and false reports of raids inbound.  One sizeable strike by enemy carrier aircraft had failed to score a hit, but there was word that another raid had located CL Java, way over at Ketapang, and sank her along with DD Piet Hein.

The Allied airforce had sortied bravely but ineffectively.  The American Banshees, in particular, had thrown themselves with a will against strong CAP posted over several Japanese task forces.  Just three (out of nearly 30) pilots had made it back home.



Bullwinkle58 -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (12/6/2012 5:52:33 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Thanks for good comments and insights gents.  The forum is just a great community of good people.  Where else can we discuss things ranging from Con Law to my favorite commercial of all time:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CaMUfxVJVQ


A great ad which didn't get enough media weight behind it.

Story: When I was at Duke Dave Thomas gave the school a huge check, got a new building named for himself, and came and gave one of the best speeches I've ever heard. So we were sort of "Wendyized" that year. During recruiting season Proctor & Gamble knew that, so they showed a short video during their meat market recruiting soiree which they had made at their in-house production studio in Cinncy. It showed a devilishly handsome MBA new-hire (all of us I presume), walking the catwalk in a nice blue suit, white starched shirt, and red tie. The announcer proclaimed, with a Russian accent, "Day TIME zwhere!"

Then the scene cuts to the same guy, same suit, same tie, but a blue, button-down shirt.. "EVE-zing ZWHERE!!!" The P&G folks, they laughed and laughed. And laughed.

Some of us guys who used to wear uniforms for a living glanced at each other. Then a dude who worked at P&G post-undergrad leaned in and whispered "They aren't kidding."



crsutton -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (12/6/2012 6:08:12 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Wickard v. Fillburn provided a strong argument against OC.  Wickard stands for the proposition that federal law can proscribe (prevent) certain conduct.  In contrast, OC requires conduct.  Very, very different propositions.


The argument made was that Wickard expands the Commerce Clause to include commercial behavior, even on wholly private property, which does not on its own cross state lines, but rather, at several arm's length, influences interstate commerce and is thus under Congress' power to regulate. It went againt the proposition that Congress does not have the power to force private, non-consentual commercial behavior, such as purchasing health insurance.

As it turned out the USSC didn't decide the case on Commerce Clause grounds.



This lawyer talk just gets me in a sexy mood.......[;)]



Canoerebel -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (12/6/2012 6:10:22 PM)

Headquarters Building
Pearl Harbor Naval Station
11 December 1941
 
Captain John Harper had been tasked with preparing a daily situation report.  He was to work with his counterpart in the Royal Navy, a Captain Pyle in Trincomalee, to do so.  Through the nearly miraculous radio network established on the eve of war, these reports could be surprisingly up to date.  The first one - intended to cover events from 7 December through 11 December - looked like this:

NoPac:  Very quiet.  By report dated 12/11, SigInt estimates that a Japanese troop ship is bound for Umnak Island.  In keeping with the Fire Team Protocol, American troops are already landing at Coal Harbor on Victoria Island - naval support, engineers and a coastal artillery unit.  (An infantry battalion will follow as soon as the political hurdles to basing American infantry at a Canadian base are overcome.)

CenPac:  The strike force that hit Pearl Harbor on the 7th retired to the NW.  It is east of Midway on a southwesterly heading, perhaps making for Kwajalein or Truk.  The enemy has already taken Tarawa and Nauru Islands.  SBDs from Enterprise interdicted a small troop transport TF probably bound for Baker Island.

SoPac:  An Allied CA force is near Admiralty Island looking for a chance to hit one of the many little amphibious TFs in the area.  Lexington is closing on Tulagi.  The Allies intend to establish a credible defense (one of the so called "breakwaters") at Luganville, though this may be a little ambitious.  An Aussie brigade and a Marine CD unit will arrive in less than a week.

DEI:  The Japanese are concentrating on southeastern Borneo.  The Allies will pull back and perhaps look for opportunities to strike and stymie in the eastern DEI.  The Allies have lost many small ships fleeing Manila into the South China Sea.  The most serious damage has been the damage, probably mortal, to BC Renown.  A stout "Mini KB" is in the southeastern South China Sea supporting what appears to be an imminent invasion of Kuching.  The Allies have reinforced Palembang (160 AV) and have 10k supplies coming into Singapore on a variety of small cargo vessels.  Two squadrons of the AVG have reported to Singapore, adding strength to the Allied fighter concentration that has proved relatively effective.  Troops are inbound to Cocos Island, a key breakwater that is vital to Plan Portal.

India:  A troop convoy is a week away from Port Blair and another is just a few days from Diego Garcia.  Things are thus far quiet in Burma.

China:  The Japanese are on the move in several areas.  The Chinese are consolidating to form a better MLR.  One squadron of the AVG ambushed an enemy raid at Changsha three days ago.



Chickenboy -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (12/6/2012 7:17:21 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58


quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Bullwinkle was right about me seeking absolution.  :)

Second question for the Peanut Gallery.  I've just about decided to not seek battle for the huge enemy force moving on Kuching and/or Singakwang.  It's clear now that the Japanese are bringing lots of powerful combat ships.  To oppose them, all I have are four combat TFs.  The one flagged by PoW is decent, but the other three are a weak conglomeration of old destroyers and light cruisers.  Furthermore, I don't have any decent bombers that hold out the prospect of hitting enemy cripples.  I think this is a situation of:  when the enemy comes early with a heckuva lot, better get out of the way.

Does anyone disagree?  Would you stay and fight?

Edited to Add: Orders entered to withdraw.


I would agree. Pick your own time and place.

In the discussion of OOBs and such I think it's important to not lose sight of what others who have studied the mod have said: It gives Japan a lot of toys, but in exchange it does not give Japan economic super-powers. It is far behind Scen. 2 in this regard. Japan must do an historical or nearly historical seizure of raw materials and do it quickly, or the situation becomes dire. I would focus your efforts on that rather than a pure destruction of enemy hardware.


To piggy-back onto this line of thinking then...

Wouldn't this argue for a delaying action with PoW, et. al. now?

If John can be delayed in setting up the "Borneo shoulder" for Nettie interdiction of Palembang, that can further deny him access to these critical resources whilest Fortress Palembang is being set up. That will put him all that much further behind in resources grabbing.

In other words, let the onerous production weight of RA aid you in bringing about the collapse of the Japanese economy. Delaying his access is even MORE important than in scenario 1 or 2 in this case. Enough so that it may be worth taking some 'forward' risks.



Canoerebel -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (12/6/2012 7:26:16 PM)

I agree, but in this instance the employment of PoW would be counterproductive.  John is bringing so much to bear that it would be a fruitless sacrifice.  Better to pull back and fight elsewhere.  I'm trying to get the American carriers into the eastern DEI (they have a long way to go).  They should be able to beat the KB to the scene, which may give the Allies some temporary parity to fight effectively there.  The Allies may also have enough fighters that they might be able to defend Palembang for a time....or at least force John to commit so much there that he isn't able to do some mischief elsewhere.



Canoerebel -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (12/7/2012 3:09:43 PM)

[&:]

I've opened the game from the Japanese side and - get this - don't see any additional IJ carriers under Scenario 70, the Reluctant Admiral mod.  This cannot be.  I know from what John has said, and from what's been said here, that Japan's OOB is enhanced by additional carriers.  But I can't find 'em.  The usual six fleet carriers are on the map at the start of the game. Hiyo and Junyo come next.  Then the Katsuragi, Amagi, etc. stuff late in the war.  What am I missing?

On the map right now there seem to be at least three IJ carrier groups -the one that hit Pearl, the one near Singkawang, and another operating south of the Aleutians. 

[&:]




Bullwinkle58 -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (12/7/2012 4:01:20 PM)

Take a look at the front page of the RA team site.


https://sites.google.com/site/reluctantadmiral/home

This gives guidance on where to dig in the game's OOB.



Canoerebel -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (12/7/2012 4:12:32 PM)

I read that.  It's very vague.  It suggests additional ships are on the way (or can be converted), but apparently there's nothing different on the board at the start of the game. 

I'm trying to pin this down, because if there aren't any additional carriers, then Enterprise and Lexington are going for a little cruise to the DEI across the northern coast of New Guinea.  :)



obvert -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (12/7/2012 4:20:41 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

I read that.  It's very vague.  It suggests additional ships are on the way (or can be converted), but apparently there's nothing different on the board at the start of the game. 

I'm trying to pin this down, because if there aren't any additional carriers, then Enterprise and Lexington are going for a little cruise to the DEI across the northern coast of New Guinea.  :)


Wow. That's a move the AI tried on me when I first started AE and it didn't turn out well for the Allies. I hope you get the Buffs off before attempting that.



Bullwinkle58 -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (12/7/2012 4:41:47 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

I read that.  It's very vague.  It suggests additional ships are on the way (or can be converted), but apparently there's nothing different on the board at the start of the game. 



It is vague. I spent about fifteen minutes in the forum here trying to decipher just what's in the mod, but there are multiple threads, multiple versions, lots of disjointed posts by John and FatR, and no place I could quickly find that says "This is what's in the mod, change by change."

I did gather that you shouldn't focus too much on the carriers, because they did a boatload of pumping up capital ships too. And it seems that SNLFs are now much hairier and able to tackle real garrisons by themselves.

I didn't want to make a career of studying the development history of this thing, so I went to the Web site. It's heavy on historical philosophy and light on hardware details.



Canoerebel -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (12/7/2012 4:42:43 PM)

This is my path of least resistance.  The enemy carriers are far away (Cam Ranh Bay, betwixt Midway and Wake, and in the Gulf of Alaska).  There's no enemy bases of any size nearby (Truk is the only exception).  And I have combat ships trying it first.  CL Adelaide has almost completed the route with no signs of enemy detection.  I like this idea better than forcing a passage through the sub-infested Torres Straight.  At least I think I do.  :)



Canoerebel -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (12/7/2012 6:14:46 PM)

The situation in the South China Sea.

[image]local://upfiles/8143/F45AFF308C1749D5A5518969D5DF0EE8.jpg[/image]



Canoerebel -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (12/7/2012 6:15:13 PM)

The Situation in the Java Sea.

[image]local://upfiles/8143/A5A3F5153AA9405BB50AFBACD6BA795E.jpg[/image]



Canoerebel -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (12/7/2012 6:15:48 PM)

The Situation in the Bismark Sea.

[image]local://upfiles/8143/4A8E26F7FA344DD38FA2745583F204E5.jpg[/image]



Canoerebel -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (12/7/2012 6:16:30 PM)

The situation in the Solomon Islands.

[image]local://upfiles/8143/0E2FB5A9B2834431B98B93B9A381571F.jpg[/image]



ny59giants -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (12/7/2012 10:53:02 PM)

I read what John posted in his AAR and made a list of the CV/CVL differences between Scenario 2 and RA. There are a few differences and they are subject to Japan being able to accelerate many of these ships. Also, the CV/CVLs start the game with a full air capacity on each carrier. Hope this is helpful.

Scenario 2.....Air Cap.....CV/CVL.....Air Cap.....Reluctant Admiral
41-Dec...........81...........Akagi........75...........41-Dec
41-Dec...........72...........Kaga.........81...........41-Dec
41-Dec...........63...........Soryu........63...........41-Dec
41-Dec...........71...........Hiryu........69...........41-Dec
41-Dec...........72...........Shokaku......72...........41-Dec
41-Dec...........72...........Zuikaku......72...........41-Dec
41-Dec...........48...........Ryujo........48...........41-Dec
41-Dec...........30...........Zuiho........31...........41-Dec
42-Mar...........30...........Shoho........31...........41-Dec
N/A...............................Nisshin......31...........42-Mar
42-Apr...........53...........Junyo........58...........42-Mar
42-Jul............53...........Hiyo.........58...........42-May
42-Dec...........31...........Ryuho........31...........42-Jul
N/A..............................Ryukaku......81...........43-May
N/A..............................Taikaku......81...........43-Jun
N/A..............................Renkaku......81...........43-Oct
44-Mar...........72...........Taiho.....................N/A
44-Aug...........63...........Unryu........63...........44-Aug
44-Aug...........63...........Amagi........63...........44-Aug
44-Oct...........63...........Katsuragi....63...........44-Oct
44-Nov...........72...........Shinano...................N/A
45-Apr...........27...........Ibuki........48...........44-Oct
N/A..............................Kurama.......48...........44-Dec
45-May...........63...........Kasagi.......63...........45-May
45-Jun...........63...........Aso..........63...........45-Jun
45-Jul...........63...........Ikoma........63...........45-Jun



Bullwinkle58 -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (12/7/2012 11:25:17 PM)

Didn't he also dump all the naval R&D paths except the Zero and make it have better stats? I think an earlier mod version went too far and he dialed back speed maybe?

And does he have Yamato and Musashi on 12/7?



Canoerebel -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (12/8/2012 2:03:51 PM)

12/12/41 and 12/13/41

NoPac: An IJN carrier force is loitering south of Dutch Harbor. No enemy landings yet, but SigInt report an invasion force heading for Umnak. The Allies aren't thinking that far ahead. A Marine regiment at Seattle is loading for Coal Harbor. A second will be "bought" in about a week and then moved to Kodiak, if the path is still open. John nearly always goes heavy for the Aleutians, but so far it doesn't look like he was particularly emboldened by PzH's grabs in my previous game. Coal Harbor is just about secure now, and that means John will not be able to apply a lethal strike in that region.

CenPac: Wake fell immediately to some kind of beefed up amphibious brigade, but not before the Allies used it to help speed three PBY squadrons from Hawaii to the DEI. The KB loitered in plain view up until the 13th and then moved out of sight, heading south as if for Kwajalein or Truk. As reported previously, Enterprise strike aircraft finished off a small invasion fleet heading for Baker. A small USN CL TF met two armed merchant cruisers, doing enough damage to send that TF scurrying back to Kwaj. As noted previously, the enemy strike against Pearl was effective, but only if it had been followed up. The USN only lost Arizona. That's a poor tally if John is looking for auto vic points.

SoPac and SWPac: Ent and Lex have been steaming generally SW, engaging a variety of small enemy amphibious TFs in the vicinity of the Solomon Islands. French DD Triomphant finished off two xAKL just after they landed a force at Ocean Island. Overall, the Allies probably temporarily stopped the "rush" to seize forward bases in the Solomons. The Allies landed two Aussie battalions, a Marine CD, and two small base forces at Lunga. This is probably too ambitious a position, but it should pose a challenge for John at some point in the next few months.

DEI: BC Repulse, with 87 FLT damage, disbanded on the dot hex island between Billiton and Pontianak, somehow avoiding two powerful enemy combat TFs in the process. I don't see how Repulse can make it to Soerabaja and thence to Perth or Capetown or Colombo, but we'll try. Kuching fell on the 13th. Palembang has 170 AV. I should be able to get this up to about 200 or 250. Singapore has 65k supplies (merchant ships from Batavia and Soerabaja brought in 14k before enemy air power closed down that port). The retreat down the Malay peninsula is going well. No enemy incursions in the eastern DEI yet. Some support units are landing at Cocos. Two UK brigades are perhaps 12 days out (that's going to be a stout garrison of this island).

Philippines: John did a remarkable job of hunting down and destroying the ships fleeing from Manila. No matter which way they fled, he had ships positioned to squash them. Only a couple out of about 100 made it. PG Isbel made it to Palembang.

India: Troops have landed at Diego (100 AV) and are about five days away from Port Blair.

China: Nothing major yet. Two IJ divisions beat up on a CHinese corps northeast of Changsha, then four Chinese corps in a wooded hex stopped those divisions cold.



BBfanboy -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (12/9/2012 1:06:50 AM)

A late comment on the Allied efforts to keep tabs on Japanese naval construction IRL [I have been traveling and could not jump in before].
Did you know that Yamato and her sisters were responsible for construction of the Alaska class large cruisers (CBs)? The story sheds some light on how the US and others gathered Intel.

When the Japanese government tabled a budget in the Diet to construct the Yamato, Musashi and Shinano it wanted to keep the true size of these BBs secret. At the time the Naval treaties allowed construction of 35,000 ton BBs to replace exisiting old ships. The Japanese also could build small battleships to replace the Kongos, if they chose. So the budget showed three 35,000 ton BBs and three 27,000 ton BCs, similar to the German Scharnhorst, but armed with 12" guns. I think they were called the "Chibuchi" class in the estimates. Add 35K and 27K and you get 62K, the actual planned displacement of the Yamatos. Thus they Japanese could also account for all the steel they were shipping to the construction sites, knowing that Allied agents were watching this to get an estimate of construction progress.

When the US learned of the 27,000 ton BCs, they immediately authorized the Alaska class to match them. By the time the allies figured out that there really weren't any Chibuchi ships in the works, construction on the Alaskas had started. It was decided to give them a lower priority but to complete the first three because they would be excellent vessels for fighting the powerful Japanese CAs. When they finally did arrive, they served best as CV escorts with some bombardment duties on occasion.

So, not only did the US know of Japan's ship construction, it also knew about their imaginary ships! [8|]



MateDow -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (12/11/2012 10:50:55 PM)

I'm looking forward to seeing if the Repulse made it out of there.



Capt. Harlock -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (12/11/2012 11:11:01 PM)

quote:

The Japanese also could build small battleships to replace the Kongos, if they chose. So the budget showed three 35,000 ton BBs and three 27,000 ton BCs, similar to the German Scharnhorst, but armed with 12" guns. I think they were called the "Chibuchi" class in the estimates. Add 35K and 27K and you get 62K, the actual planned displacement of the Yamatos. Thus they Japanese could also account for all the steel they were shipping to the construction sites, knowing that Allied agents were watching this to get an estimate of construction progress.

When the US learned of the 27,000 ton BCs, they immediately authorized the Alaska class to match them. By the time the allies figured out that there really weren't any Chibuchi ships in the works, construction on the Alaskas had started. It was decided to give them a lower priority but to complete the first three because they would be excellent vessels for fighting the powerful Japanese CAs.


Personally, I've always been fond of the Alaska class; I'd rather have an extra unit than an extra Indiana-class BB. Does anyone know of an AAR with an Alaska vs. Kongo fight?



Canoerebel -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (12/12/2012 10:56:11 PM)

Bridge, HMS Repulse
Billiton Island
18 December 1941
 
Captain W.G. Tennant felt completely helpless.  With his badly damaged battlecruiser hove to and anchored near the small port on Billiton Island, smack in the middle of the Java Sea, there was absolutely nothing he could do to increase the chances of survival.  That the ship was still afloat was a miracle of the first order.  For days, powerful enemy combat task forces had passed nearby and lethal enemy carrier strike aircraft had crossed the skies.  None of them had molested his stricken ship.  He didn't even think the enemy had sighted the vessel, which could only be attributed to rain squalls and good fortune.  But their luck couldn't hold.  And even if it did, how could his vessel ever expect to limp across the sub-choked waters to Batavia or Oosthaven and then into the Indian Ocean.  The chances of surviving were nil.  He'd be doing his men a favor if he scuttled the ship and then evacuated the remaining crew to shore.  But he wouldn't do that.  He couldn't do that.  No.  They would instead try to finish up some temporary repairs and then strike out on a voyage that had to end in death.



Canoerebel -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (12/12/2012 11:10:20 PM)

12/14/42 to 12/18/42
 
John has pushed hard and far, scoring a few stinging blows and "pushing the envelope" in the way that might sting the Allies badly or turn on him in the form of a lucky sub strike or a fortunate Allied bombing mission.  We'll see.

DEI:  The Mini KB pushed into the western Java Sea.  I decided to keep two powerful combat TFs at Batavia, under the best fighter cover I could muster, to try to bleed incoming strike packages.  The IJN carriers launched a raid of 60+ Kates (with escorts) that fortunately did not carry torps, because most of them got through the CAP.  Pensacola and a few other vessels took light damage while the enemy lost perhaps a score Zeroes and Kates.  Overall this favors the Allies, but my ships will high-tail it tomorrow into the Indian Ocean on the chance that the Kates will be back with torps.  To the east, the Japs have landed at Boela and Ambon.  A carrier force nearby launched a raid that mauled CL Marblehead, which could make it to Soerabaja.  I think another amphibious move on Palembang is underway.  That base has 250 AV.  Early in the war, John attempted two paratroop drops in western Sumatra, but both failed.

SWPac:  I elected not to send my carriers along the north coast of New Guinea.  It looked like they could get hung up between carrier forces, so I pulled them back into the Coral Sea.  Now they'll move east.  I may reposition them closer to the West Coast.  The Allies lost CA Louisville while trying to sprint across that north coast.  The remaining cruisers retired east, bumped into a large enemy amphibious force near Atape, and destroyed it - sinking three PB and at least a dozen small troop transports.

SoPac:  Quiet except for a few enemy subs loitering at key islands.  The enemy did take Baker Island.

CenPac:  An enemy combat TF is nearing Midway.  The KB was last seen a hex or two from Truk.  I think John will send it to the DEI or the Solomons, wherever he thinks my own carriers were heading.

NoPac:  That third IJN carrier TF remains in the Gulf of Alaska.  Thus far it hasn't accomplished anything.  A Marine regiment has landed at Coal Harbor.  This should be enough to provide security barring an all-out enemy invasion, which isn't likely.

Indian Ocean:  Cocos Island has an Aussie CD force and 25 AV.  The Brit brigades (I'll land at least one, maybe two) is perhaps eight days away.  Port Blair has 350 AV - a stout number but comprised of Indian brigades.  Diego has 100 AV.  A detachment of the AVG has been providing effective CAP, thwarting a number of enemy missions. 

China:  Three Japanese divisions have thrown themselves against five Chinese corps near Changsha three turns in a row, suffering stinging repulses each turn, especially the last one (200+ squads destroyed).  John is making some headway well to the north (true) of Sian, but overall the Chinese have gotten the better of the early combat.



Canoerebel -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (12/13/2012 6:39:50 PM)

Bridge, HMS Repulse
Billiton Island 
20 December 1941

It was now or never.  Repulse would limp away from her temporary anchorage at Billiton Island on a NE course, despite the proximity of so many enemy carriers, combat ships and subs.  The engineers had begged for another day to make repairs, but the the airfield at Palembang might fall to the enemy tomorrow.

Captain W.G. Tennant understood there was almost no chance of success, but the forecast called for rain, which offered the slightest possibilty of concealment.  The big Japanese carrier TF was still posted north of Palembang, less than 200 miles to the west of Repulse.  The Dutch were reporting another, smaller carrier TF near Kendari, moving west.

Hope had vanished.  Tennant was resigned to his fate, but would do everything in his power to somehow extract his ship and his men from the paws of the lion. 



MateDow -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (12/13/2012 7:30:01 PM)

The tension builds.

Love it.



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