RE: A Road Less Travelled

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Capt. Harlock -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (9/27/2013 8:28:55 PM)
A Type 93 Long Lance used in an airstrike??

Mike Solli -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (9/28/2013 9:24:56 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: desicat I find this opening fascinating as your initial successes in the DEI has created a "bubble" where his starting naval forces have been decimated and you are picking off his bases piecemeal. At this point he would be foolish to try and penetrate the bubble so he actually has fairly robust naval forces (no PH attack) with really no where to go so long as the location of the KB is in doubt. His carrier forces can't stand up to yours and your LB air is setting up to cover the approaches to the bubble. In the IO the RN has been severely weakened with the loss of Force Z, the lack of submarines for "eyes" on what is going on, and the bubble isolating naval reinforcements from the Pacific. Seems to me that with a quick sacking of Singapore the released forces will make Burma and the coast of India easy targets, especially on this early timeline. Oh, and from looking at the picture above Darwin is a death trap. First of all, Quixote, I just started reading this AAR and find it fascinating. Desicat, you're right, he still has significant naval forces, but they are primarily at Pearl Harbor or on the US west coast. The problem is that they are far away from anything significant and would suck tremendous amounts of fuel to get anywhere. His replenishment assets are few and scattered all over the map. I think it'll be a while before he can move many of those naval assets anywhere. Quixote, granted I'm only on page 2 so far, but are you going to talk production? I'm always curious about that. Also, I don't really know much about scenario 2. Do you think this strategy would work in scenario 1?

Mike Solli -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (9/28/2013 9:28:34 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Quixote December 19 and 20, 1941 Sumatra/Java - Oosthaven fell on the 19th. The bombing of Java (at Batavia) began on the 19th, with the Dutch holding their own in the air against escorted (and unescorted) bombers. The fighter sweeps on the 20th were another story though, as the Allies lost 55 fighters on the day (most Dutch) at the expense of only 2 zeroes. Killing the Dutch Air Force is a wonderful way to get great experience for the IJNAF. If my opponent is obliging, I tend to rotate pilots to TRACOM who become elite pilots and rotate in pilots at ~78-80 experience.

Quixote -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (9/28/2013 6:01:26 PM)
quote: A Type 93 Long Lance used in an airstrike?? It takes a few months, but at the beginning of every game I train my subs to fly, Harlock. It's never really as useful as you'd think it would be however, since they can only operate off of the larger CVs. (You obviously guessed this already, but an RO boat picked off that oiler the next morning. It could only make 12kts, so knowing it was doomed on day 2 I assume Cannonfodder decided to get as much fuel ashore as possible before it sank. It got tacked on to the end of that screenshot for dramatic effect!!! or because I wasn't paying attention...) quote: Quixote, granted I'm only on page 2 so far, but are you going to talk production? I'm always curious about that. Glad to have you reading Mike. If you made it that far, I got into economics and production in a post on page 2 or 3. Mind you, that was all of one post. Having read your current AAR (and having read a lot of your stuff going back to original WitP), I know I don't go into nearly the detail that you do, so if you have any specific questions, by all means ask. In the game thus far, I've managed to stick to the outline I put forward for the most part. Highlights: Already have the Nak35 and Mit32 engine bonuses, with over 800 of both currently in the pools. Nak45 engines advanced five months already. (At current pace, the engine will come online in June of '42. As I plan to let many of those lines convert to production, I should have the bonus on this one by August or September of '42.) Given my relatively modest losses, and the ships already produced, I've cut back even further on shipbuilding than I originally planned to, and have shut down a small bit of Naval and a large bit of Merchant. 360K+ of HI in the pool currently, and with Indian production finally ramped up (the Calcutta area in particular needs a lot of fuel) and with shipping production cut back, the pool is growing at over 4K per day. (When Tojo arrives in two months, this will obviously take a small dip.) Not a highlight, but one big difference I've noticed between my use of shipping and yours is that I've been using xAKs in almost the exact opposite way you usually do this game. With the goal of rapid expansion, I've had lots of the more valuable (faster, larger) xAKs moving troops around, while the slow, expendable xAKs have been hauling resources around. While I've lost a few good ships to coastal guns this way, the overall result for me has been worth it. I've read your stuff, and can't argue with your logic for using shipping the way that you do, which is why I thought you might be interested in why I'm not doing it that way this time around. quote: Also, I don't really know much about scenario 2. Do you think this strategy would work in scenario 1? That's a very good question. In my opinion the answer is (mostly) yes - you'd be fine starting Scenario 1 with this strategy, too. You would have to be a bit more efficient(even in Scenario 1 you have adequate shipping), and the pace of ops couldn't be quite as fast in the second phase (no way to hit both Java and in the Phillipines in force the way I am now in Scenario 2 with the extra LCUs), but overall I think this opening would still be very, very workable in Scenario 1.

PaxMondo -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (9/28/2013 7:17:04 PM)
I do the same. I use the 'junk' 8kn stuff for resource hauling. All the +14kn xAK's I use for troops. I use Adens for supply hauls.

Quixote -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (9/29/2013 1:17:37 AM)
March 17-24, 1942 China - On the Burma border, Paoshan was taken by the Japanese 5th division. This will mean even fewer supplies for Cannonfodder when Japan closes on the mountains and Central Plains. By Sian, the division holding the mountain pass finally broke after 3 more attacks, the last one a shock. 300 Japanese squads destroyed as the division retreated. Reinforcements were still two more turns out. Ouch. No sign that China is planning a counter-invasion of the north quite yet. (I joked with Roel about this via email, but he's smart enough not to do it.) Phillpines - Bataan down to fort level 1. It'll be over fairly soon. South Pacific - The amphibious bonus expires in a few more days. I wanted to get one more invasion in before it does, and decided on Suva. It's worth about 1400VPs to Japan right now, and probably has at least a few decent Allied units I'd love to eliminate. I'd been planning to wait another two days before starting this in motion, but subs spotted quite a few ships headed in to port, and I couldn't resist sending the KB in a couple of turns ahead of time to try and sink some loaded tranports. On the 23rd, despite a forecast for Clear weather, the tranports were clouded in and the KB instead sank a whole two AMs on ASW one hex from Suva. I'm assuming the transports dropped off at least some aircraft, since recon from the previous turn didn't detect nearly the levels I saw the next day. A two battleship bombardment went in on the 24th, sank a few ships, and luckily still had enough shells left to do serious damage to the airfield. Weather on the 24th again prevented any bombing of Suva (despite the Clear forecast again. Sigh...), but the KB did catch and sink a number of ships fleeing the area. [image]local://upfiles/29916/748C77673DC14245BE3B7FE947E38212.jpg[/image]

Quixote -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (9/29/2013 5:41:20 AM)
March 25, 1942 quote: It's worth about 1400VPs to Japan right now, and probably has at least a few decent Allied units I'd love to eliminate. In a classic case of "be careful what you wish for", I may be biting off just a bit more than I can chew here with those Allied units I'd love to eliminate.[:)] I have just over 500AV ready to land next turn, but nothing with a lot of firepower or staying power. Given the alternative (waiting for significant reinforcements with decent prep levels), I'm going to land the landing force anyway and hope for the best. If the Japanese successfully grab Nadi, they should be OK. If they are denied, I'll try to look on the bright side and remember that it's still only March '42... [image]local://upfiles/29916/57948D1532FE43A3A66DACCD3BC11035.jpg[/image]

zuluhour -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (9/29/2013 1:00:20 PM)
Hey! Like we need the captains of industry (JFB) in here to![:D]

Cap Mandrake -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (9/29/2013 4:11:01 PM)
Wait a minute. Engineering vehicles don't really show up as AFV's on mouseover intel do they? That was a joke, right? 300 Stuarts, Grants and M-10's is a lot of Stuarts, Grants and M-10's.

Cap Mandrake -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (9/29/2013 4:17:50 PM)
Fiji was the "Island Too Far" in our game. I think they got hung up at Nadi as I recall. Then the SBD's started to make trouble.

Quixote -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (9/29/2013 5:52:32 PM)
quote: Hey! Like we need the captains of industry (JFB) in here to! Zulu, don't go running off all my potential advisors!! I just exchanged a couple of emails with Cannonfodder, and I may end up needing some of that advice. He wants to know if I'd consider keeping the game going even if I hit auto-victory. (I told him that's still a while down the road, but that yes - I'll keep playing if he wants me to. He's certainly been a good enough sport so far that I think he's more or less earned it.) quote: Fiji was the "Island Too Far" in our game. I think they got hung up at Nadi as I recall. Then the SBD's started to make trouble. I'm feeling a little better about Fiji now than I was a two turns ago. 500AV now safely ashore with only a couple of xAKLs lost. It may take quite a while to conquer Suva, but I think ultimately I'll be OK. quote: 300 Stuarts, Grants and M-10's is a lot of Stuarts, Grants and M-10's. Unless those really are all tanks, in which case I am indeed back in trouble. [:)]

Quixote -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/1/2013 3:45:39 AM)
April 1, 1942 [image]local://upfiles/29916/8FF4D5FC37C649A585BFCDF2AB09FE64.jpg[/image] Allied bases left within the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere are noted in green.

Quixote -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/1/2013 3:51:26 AM)
April 1, 1942 An overview of victory points, ship losses, and various and sundry other items that just happened to fit into the picture below... [image]local://upfiles/29916/C63E575953124E3DA070CF598F6B1778.jpg[/image]

buutsy -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/1/2013 2:21:00 PM)
Still following your breathtaking advances [&o] Just in case u want to get your german right, it should read like: "Und hier ist der Schwerpunkt. Wir lassen die alliierten Hunde bezahlen ... entschuldigen sie" [:D]

Cap Mandrake -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/1/2013 3:48:08 PM)
Heap big concentration of pony soldiers at Suva. Amazing how you just crushed the airfield so easily. Reminder: It's April 1st. 2 weeks to filing your '41 return. Also, don't forget to make a 1st quarter '42 estimated tax payment so you don't get an underpayment penalty. You figure to have a very large "Capitol Gains" liability (Singapore, Manila, Soerabaja, Rangoon, Bangkok, etc)

Argos -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/1/2013 5:20:07 PM)
Shouldn't be a problem; there is a substantial portion of the goodwill you can write down based on the transactions necessary to acquire the itemized assets...

Cap Mandrake -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/1/2013 6:06:13 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Argos Shouldn't be a problem; there is a substantial portion of the goodwill you can write down based on the transactions necessary to acquire the itemized assets... Well, how much can you take off for a division of Ronsons? Is it 5 year ACRS convention for a tankette? Also, suppose I know a guy who "acquired" a big pile of Filipino gold. Could I..err..I mean he do some kind of 403-B like kind exchange deferred sale lease back to a passive, arms-length party and defer tax liability? Hypothetically, I mean?

Argos -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/1/2013 6:53:47 PM)
Maybe form an offshore corp in a tax friendly locale, contribute the gold, at cost, as start-up funds, then spend all available funds to get as many insurance policies for the Ronsons as possible for ...'fire and/or damage occurring in the course of normal operations'. Let nature take its course and... Its a new take on the COLI strategy (perhaps hire the Ronson personnel and then extend COLI coverage to them as well)- ironically it would be a CORI strategy which could cause pronunciation/interpretation issues. *Not available in all locales, not to be presented at tax seminars attended by members of any taxing authority and/or treasury departments.

Lecivius -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/1/2013 8:33:18 PM)
[sm=crazy.gif]

zuluhour -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/2/2013 12:35:45 AM)
This is now a road well travelled. I do not believe you will auto Cannonfodder. I see a 2.5 to 3.25 to one by November, but no better. He has the confidence and ability to counter this. I think this will be a real hotly contested game. I would like to offer him some advice in regards to victory points etc. as my match closely parallels this in terms of the allied perspective. I am going to show him my VP detail shortly and how I see lowering the ratios could work within his own framework. If ya don't mind. Nothing of strategy and tactics, he has his own ideas with which I silently agree. Oh yeah, your playing a mean hand mister. Well done!

Quixote -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/3/2013 12:03:10 AM)
Jeez, one long day at work without checking in and now I'm getting email notices that my AAR is being audited by the IRS. (I'm with you Lecivius, loco...) Buutsy - Danke gut sir! Mandrake - Suva was the result of two separate bombardments by multiple BBs, a full strike from the KB, and two or three turns worth of Betties flying from Luganville. Took a few turns, but now that it's closed I should be able to keep it that way for a while. Argos - I've never seen that gold before in my life... (Call me later.) Zuluhour - Give all the advice to Cannonfodder that you want to - that's what makes AARs fun. I can't by any means guarantee auto-victory, but I unlike you I do still think it's possible. I won't absolutely wreck Japan to achieve it (those games are no fun for either side, and don't seem to last very long after Japan fails) but I will give it the old college try. Oh, and thanks! (Also, it's only April '42 - I may still have a few good cards left to play before we're done, sir!)

Quixote -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/4/2013 5:20:33 PM)
April 2-10, 1942 Burma/N. India - Chittagong falls. Down to Myitkina and the dot base next door. Java - The siege of Batavia starts on April 11th. Only 300 Dutch AV present versus 1100 Japanese AV, so hopefully this won't drag out too long despite the urban terrain. China - Japan suffered substantial losses and disruption crossing the river into Chihkiang. Another few days of rest and the fort reduction will begin here (fort level 3, 2000AV in Chinese defense.) Flanks are progressing nicely, though. Fiji/S.Pacific - Only minor skirmishing. Running a few disposable AMcs into Suva to lessen the chances of losing a destroyer to mines (I lost one this way on a bombardment several turns ago) and unsuccessfully suppressing the airfield (3 straight turns of Clear predicted, 3 straight turns of Severe Storms or Thunderstorms when my bombers arrive, so very little damage to the facilities.) Until reinforcements arrive (3 divisions plus HQ and artillery en route - 2 weeks out right now) there will just be more bombardments and bombings. [image]local://upfiles/29916/81D729C0FE474EE7B152534033EDA882.jpg[/image]

Mike Solli -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/4/2013 5:25:53 PM)
Quixote, what's your supply situation look like in Burma? Is supply moving inland? That's been a killer for me.

Quixote -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/5/2013 9:24:50 AM)
It hasn't been too bad, Mike. As I recall, it wasn't too bad in my last PBEM either. It helps to A)drop some extra supply into Rangoon, B)build up the infrastructure in upper Burma at least somewhat (I used Lashio in this game, since I took it so early), and C)periodically pull a bunch of supply north from Rangoon using the supply draw settings, while also turning stockpiling on at one of your upper bases (again, this was Lashio for me.) This combination has kept me adequately supplied for all the ops I've run, both this game and in my last PBEM. (Note: So that you don't get the wrong impression, my cup certainly doesn't runneth over with supply - once in a while I do have to wait one turn to attack - but that's been the worst of it for me.)

Quixote -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/7/2013 5:33:29 PM)
April 11-21, 1942 Java - Batavia falls. The first Japanese attack at Bandoeng gets a 1-1 and reduces forts. A week from now this should be over. China - The Chinese are down to 9 total bases, but progress from this point on will be slow. Cannonfodder now has very defensible positions established along every route to the central plains save through the woods from Ankang. Burma - Chittagong falls. Myitkina falls, and the Allies retreat to the last base they have left - Warazup, the dot base one hex north of Myitkina. With any luck, when attacked at Warazup the remaining Allies will surrender. (There are no Allied bases left in the area except for the Chinese base at Tsuyung.) South Pacific - Another failed KB raid on Norfolk Island. Spotted several Allied TFs again (he is persistant with the Norfolk Island buildup), but no strikes flew. Alas. The KB is now almost finished babysitting the troops landing at Nadi for the assault on Suva. The KB hasn't been sighted for several turns despite being only a few hexes away, but since I'm using carrier planes to light up his subs turn after turn right now, it shouldn't be hard to guess they're here. Thre IJA divisons with support should arrive in Suva next turn, then we'll see what the Allied garrison looks like. India - Eastern India is completely Japanese. Playing tag with Cannonfodder's tanks around Benares in Central India, but no heavy commitment by either side here right now. He is committed to Madras right now, though. Heavily committed. All of the fighters he has in India, and most of the bombers as well, are based at Bangalore, from whence they've unfortunately been doing a very credible job of closing the airfield at Madras for the past week or so. Allied ground troops also joined the party (two Aussie divisions with lots of friends), and despite level 3 forts and light urban terrain, the Allies still got a 1-1 on the first attack and lowered the forts. Admittedly, I wasn't expecting that much that soon. ( I made a mistake here. Cannonfodder sent a very complimentary email about strategy and I replied in too much detail, essentially telling him why I didn't consider Bombay/Karachi to be a viable target combination. Several turns later, forces that were probably recently garrisoning Bombay marched on Madras. Damn - flattery got him everywhere!! Note to self: Limit the vino consumption when using email...) Reinforcements are now heading to Madras from both Ceylon and Calcutta, and if I can keep the airfield open (I'm gambling a bit on this next turn) I should be able to stabilize the situation. [image]local://upfiles/29916/20D1EAEE47C34FC28DB66C8D44DEAA6A.jpg[/image]

Lecivius -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/7/2013 7:32:23 PM)
"Note to self: Limit the vino consumption when using email" Loose Lips Sink Ships!!

Quixote -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/8/2013 10:15:59 PM)
quote: Loose Lips Sink Ships!! Busted! Quick update: Madras - The same day I moved 5 fighter groups back into Madras, Cannonfodder launched I shock attack. As the attack began I had visions of losing all 5 groups, along with the whole Imperial Guards division, but his attack went off at 1-3. I had expected him to rest one or two more turns before trying that next attack, but I sent in a couple of battleships to bombard the day he attacked anyway just to be on the safe side. That bombardment, and an additional 150AV that arrived via fast transports, probably saved the day. As of the 24th, it looks like he's pulling his troops out of Madras. A victory for Japan, at least the moment. Suva - The bombardment at Suva shows only 436AV - the rest of those 37,000 troops are support. Cannonfodder is obviously in trouble here. He has no way to reinforce, and no way to evacuate. That's going to be a lot of victory points in the troop loss column... [image]local://upfiles/29916/DB83458F93104C6BA65D21225EAA21D0.jpg[/image]

desicat -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/8/2013 10:28:58 PM)
quote: Cannonfodder is obviously in trouble here. He has no way to reinforce, and no way to evacuate. That's going to be a lot of victory points in the troop loss column... This situation reminds me of Nemo in his Downfall game. He had the Allies trapped in a failed island invasion and set traps for the relief forces. Are you going to destroy them now or use them as bait?

zuluhour -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/9/2013 1:05:26 AM)
You IJN fan boys are really cunning.[X(]

Quixote -> RE: A Road Less Travelled (10/9/2013 10:21:27 AM)
April 26, 1942 I'm starting to feel guilty... [image]local://upfiles/29916/40A468A187234AEF98EEFBA7931BD182.jpg[/image] Added to Suva, and Madras, and China, and...you get the idea. Can't be much fun to be Cannonfodder right now. Desicat and Zulu - There are times to be subtle, and there are times to swing the hammer. At Suva right now, I'm swinging. Given the long odds he's facing, and the fact that he has to know the KB is present, I don't think I could create a plausible enough trap to make him fall for it. He's been very careful with his American CVs this game - I have yet to spot a single one of them, even with a sub (even though he must have had at least one CV somewhere near Fiji when I invaded since SBDs and Wildcats flew from Suva.) If I thought I could entice him into sending his CVs in, I'd do it. Unfortunately, Cannonfodder is neither bad nor is he impatient. Desperate may be another matter right now, but desperate enough to send his CVs on a suicide mission...I just don't see that happening.

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