RE: Argentina vs. USA: Aurorus (J) vs. Apbarog (A) (Full Version)

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Aurorus -> RE: Argentina vs. USA: Aurorus (J) vs. Apbarog (A) (3/12/2018 10:27:00 PM)

June 14th 1942.

The 2nd and 3rd waves reached Nadi through a school of allied submarines. The PM portion of the Combat phase was 10 minutes of escorts and submarines battling. There were 11 different submarine engagements around Nadi in the PM phase. 1 allied submarine was able to fire on the CA Aoba; otherwise the escorts were able to spot the submarines or draw their attacks. I sent in an ASW TF with 4 Kamikaze class DDs ahead of the SCTF and the amphibious groups. The Kamikazes are not good ASW platforms at this stage of the war, with the old type 95 depth charges and only 4 ammo, but they are all that I had available. They did a remarkable job engaging 5 different allied subs until all 4 Kamikazes had depleted their entire stock of depth charges.

1 Allied sub was able to score a hit on an xAK near Tarawa returning to Nauri Island after supplying Tarawa.


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Sub attack near Ocean Island at 131,128

Japanese Ships
xAK Sinkyo Maru, Torpedo hits 1
PB Tsuneshima Maru

Allied Ships
SS S-42


There is a movement arrow on the allied stack at Nadi pointing towards Suva. Could the allies be retreating? This would make me very happy. Of course, Apbarog does not know that I mishandled this campaign and had prepped my units for Suva, thinking that there was only 1 allied regiment at Nadi instead of 2 regiments reinforced by New Zealand artillery and combat engineers. The number of disabled squads that I am suffering on landing is enormous, as I suspected. With most units switching their prep to Nadi en route, they fell to 25% prep or below; some as low as 10%, and a few at 0%. 60 vehicles were disabled in the tank regiments: 50% of their support and 25% of their tanks. Thankfully, half of the tanks are light tanks or the results would have been worse. Suprisingly, the 75mm gun artillery unit landed mostly intact with only 12% prep.

Despite the poor planning and bad landing, I will have about 500-550 AV in Nadi next turn, which is probably enough to take the base. It will be close and a hard-fought battle if Apbarog does not withdraw. If I am able to take Nadi in the next 3 or 4 days, I will feel much more confident about the entire Fiji campaign. It will still be a long campaign, however. If Nadi does fall, it will be 3 weeks to a month before these units have recovered enough devices to move on Suva: especially if there are 4 USMC regiments there as I suspect.




Aurorus -> RE: Argentina vs. USA: Aurorus (J) vs. Apbarog (A) (3/12/2018 10:50:57 PM)

In the AM phase, the only action in Sopac were allied 2-Es sortieing from Noumea against some shipping. They sunk a CM that was one of 3 laying mines at Belep Islands to guard the entrance to Koumac. They also found 63 Oscars flying CAP over APs from the first wave at Luganville.

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Luganville at 120,150

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 63

Allied aircraft
Hudson III (LR) x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson III (LR): 3 destroyed




Aurorus -> RE: Argentina vs. USA: Aurorus (J) vs. Apbarog (A) (3/12/2018 11:02:05 PM)

I have been bombing the airfield at Paoshan, on the Burma-China border regularly, whenever the weather forecast is anything but "thunderstorms." I want to prevent fort-building here, but I was also hoping to draw allied fighters out of India and into China (where there is no radar). The plan worked, too well.

First a fighter sweep of A6M2s came in and catch the allied fighter pilots napping. Approximately 30 P-40s and H-81s were downed to 12 A6M2s.

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Afternoon Air attack on Paoshan , at 65,45

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 45

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 16
P-40E Warhawk x 32

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
H81-A3: 3 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 9 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 18000 feet



What remained of the CAP, however, was able to attack the bomber raid that followed, and the escorts failed to participate in the battle, with the allied fighters going straight into the bombers as if no escorts were present. I checked alitude settings and every other variable to try to understand why my escorts failed to participate, but could find no plausible reason. I sacked the commanders of both squadrons.

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Afternoon Air attack on Paoshan , at 65,45

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 20
Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 30

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 5
P-40E Warhawk x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 10 destroyed, 1 damaged

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb


11 allied fighters were able to destroy 24 bombers in a group escorted by 30 fighters. Very bad. Total air losses for the day show 36 allied planes lost to 35 Japanese. I. Hurosawa had 3 kills on the day and surpassed S. Imamura, who had only 1 kill for the day, as the leading Japanese ace. Hurosawa now has 10 kills and Imamura has 9.




Aurorus -> RE: Argentina vs. USA: Aurorus (J) vs. Apbarog (A) (3/13/2018 9:42:34 AM)

The first Tojo IIa squadron will be ready to move to the front tomorrow. 36 of its 42 planes have been repaired. The Tojo IIa is the IJA plane until Frank arrives. The Oscar IIa and IIb are serviceable as 2nd tier fighters (unlike the Oscar Ic), but neither is as effective as the Tojo as an air superiority fighter. What makes the Tojo so effective is its combination of speed, manueverability, climb, and ceiling. Its very good climb rating makes it the best Japanese CAP fighter of the war (the IIc maintains these attributes as a later war fighter) because it can form in numbers at lower altitudes even with poor Japanese radar and detection times. It is 30 MPH faster than the 1st generation allied fighters: P-40s and P-39s. For those allied players who like to fly their P-40s and P-39s at maximum altitude, the Tojo can fly higher, always dive on sweeps, and catch allied fighters with effectively 1 manueverability (its speed advantage reduces the already-poor allied manueverability at high altitudes further), which means it always scores hits on its dives. The Tojo completely negates allied pilot quality and pilot defense ratings at higher altitudes. The only downside to the Tojo is its light armament, which makes it mostly ineffective against allied 4-Es. It is best used in combination with the Ki-45 at locations where 4-E strikes seem likely.

The Oscar IIa pool is up to 30 aircraft and the first Oscar IIa squadron will be available in a week or so. The first Ki-45 squadron is now on station at Koumac to guard against 4-Es from Australia. With the arrival of the Oscar IIa, the Tojo IIa, and the Ki-45, the IJA will now take over much of the air-war from the IJN. In July, Tainan and 3rd squadrons will donate most of their TRACOM eligible pilots to the CVs (assuming no disaster for 1st Air Fleet) as the A6M groups on the CVs expand from 18 to 27 and 36.

[image]local://upfiles/48678/CD668C7C37CE44B7B9E244FEE94BC6F5.jpg[/image]




Aurorus -> RE: Argentina vs. USA: Aurorus (J) vs. Apbarog (A) (3/13/2018 10:19:41 AM)

The push forward in southern China continues. A large Chinese stack had occupied the road hex just outside Tuyun in good terrain. To reduce that stack would have taken months of bombardments and high-casualty assaults. However, the fast pace of the Japanese advance along the whole front made it difficult for Chinese units to withdraw orderly into difficult terrain. There was a weak point in the Chinese line just to the east the Tuyun road. I made this hex the focus of my attack, to gain the flank of the large stack and force a withdrawal to Tuyun. The Chinese army has now withdrawn to Tuyun. They must hold Tuyun, however, in my opinion. If Tuyun falls, I will be 1 hex from better offensive terrain and 1 hex from cutting one of the only 2 major roads to Paoshan and Burma. Cutting off the interior of China from Burma is my objective.

What is the lesson here? Extensive recon is absolutely essential to the proper conduct of any campaign. In China, my offensive is being conducted properly and is well planned: on Fiji, not so much. The difference is recon, recon, recon.

[image]local://upfiles/48678/7EFBA109E11F4DC884D65CF17BBE49B9.jpg[/image]




Aurorus -> RE: Argentina vs. USA: Aurorus (J) vs. Apbarog (A) (3/14/2018 4:34:54 AM)

Any time that you think that you have seen everything, something unique happens. The impossible...

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Kabara at 136,164

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
B5N2 Kate x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
PT-41
PT-39
PT-40, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
PT-38

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp


Hitting a PT boat with a torpedo.

The pilot who achieved the impossible attack. Hirohito himself will present him with an award.

[image]local://upfiles/48678/9299143418C24266A29D6D2DDCF3E202.jpg[/image]




Aurorus -> RE: Argentina vs. USA: Aurorus (J) vs. Apbarog (A) (3/14/2018 2:46:49 PM)

The build-up of Cocos Islands in the Indian Ocean is nearing completion. I have an AKE, an AV, an AS, and a handful of Mavis on Cocos. The airfield on Cocos is nearly size 2 and fortification construction will commence.

If I am able to close the Pacific route to India, I want to be positioned to ambush any TK groups that move through this region from Cape Town. 5 submarines are now based at Cocos Islands, including 1 glen-carrying sub, which is patrolling 3 hexes from the map edge. I also have 2 AMCs patrolling near the map edge, and 4 more AMCs en route to Cocos Islands. 2 of these were spotted yesterday by an allied submarine as they moved through the straits between Batavia and Oosthaven. They were escorted by 3 PBs, which managed to draw the submarine attack. I hope that Apbarog thinks that these ships were transporting units or supplies and not moving to sortie as an SCTF from Cocos. They will not be escorted as an SCTF and are very vulnerable to submarine attacks.

[image]local://upfiles/48678/065DAA49802549B18456163048693784.jpg[/image]




adarbrauner -> RE: Argentina vs. USA: Aurorus (J) vs. Apbarog (A) (3/14/2018 4:33:09 PM)

The purpose of the Auxiliary Armed Merchant or Cruisers is to draw enemy scarce naval resources. This you shall obtain, but after initial spottings and hopefully successes their fate shall be cast and , if kept at sea, short.




Aurorus -> RE: Argentina vs. USA: Aurorus (J) vs. Apbarog (A) (3/14/2018 5:02:24 PM)

Shoho arrived safely in Luganville. She has 4 escorts and will now try to make the long journey to Honshu via Truk. Her A6M2s were offloaded at Luganville, and she was able to repair 2 more point of system damage at sea. There are allied subs patrolling around Tulagi, so she may try to move directly from Ndeni to Truk, where she will put in to repair any minor systems damage before returning to Honshu. She has survived the 1st leg of the journey, but there is a long way to go.

[image]local://upfiles/48678/2F52C3A5ED9B4C1481447FE619954A36.jpg[/image]




Aurorus -> RE: Argentina vs. USA: Aurorus (J) vs. Apbarog (A) (3/15/2018 9:02:28 AM)

Apbarog made another bold move with his CL TF that narrowly avoided encountering Tanaka's BBs at Koumac and finished their move 1 hex out of KB's strike range a few days later. The CL TF moved at full speed into the slot directly between Luganville and Nadi. There they encountered the small amphibious group that had landed the armored regiments. The results of the battle were another Japanese CL and DD sunk along with an x-AKt.

This was very bold and incredibly fortunate. Not only did these CLs miss (somehow... see below) encountering or being trapped by 2 BB groups, they also somehow managed to finish their move 1 hex outside KBs search range once again.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Ambrym at 126,152, Range 20,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E7K2 Alf: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CL Nagara, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Oite, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Hayate, Shell hits 2
APD Shimakaze
AK Hirokawa Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire
AK Kinka Maru, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
AK Kyushu Maru, Shell hits 8, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CL Leander
CL Achilles, Shell hits 1
CL Trenton
CL Marblehead
DD Helm
DD Henley
DD Patterson, Shell hits 1
DD Jarvis
DD Benham
DD Ellet




Aurorus -> RE: Argentina vs. USA: Aurorus (J) vs. Apbarog (A) (3/15/2018 9:10:16 AM)

This CL TF is the most charmed unit in the history of warfare. What I do not understand about this engagement is the process that allowed it to occur. Asakura's TF was at Nadi. Tanaka's TF was at Luganville. I decided, yesterday, to rotate the two. Asakura (who depleted some more ammunition engaging PT boats) was to withdraw to Luganville. Tanaka was to move down from Luganville to Nadi.

These two TFs should have crossed paths and finished their moves in almost the exact hex in which Apbarog's CLs engaged Nagara group. However, both TFs moved at full speed for no reason that I can discern. They were both set to mission speed, and there was no reason for either TF to move at full speed to their destination. So, instead of moving directly into the path of Apbarog's CL TF in the daylight, they passed through that area at night and missed the incredibly fortunate CL TF who somehow avoided being trapped by 2 BB groups. I have no idea what caused both these TFs to move at full speed. Any ideas?

Not only did this cause them to miss the CL TF. It also caused them to burn far more fuel than I intended and caused system damage that will force me to remove them from action earlier than I intended. This was very frustrating, because I was depending upon these 2 TFs to make 2 more bombardment runs at Nadi or Suva. Now I am short on fuel and have 4 BBs and 5 CAs that have accumulated signficant systems damage.



[image]local://upfiles/48678/1F690DE475114243AB60D2AEE04C7590.jpg[/image]




Aurorus -> RE: Argentina vs. USA: Aurorus (J) vs. Apbarog (A) (3/15/2018 9:35:14 AM)

The IJN was able to extract some revenge on the allies by hitting several submarines. Operating in shallow water with a tight patrol zone that does not remove enough potential DL in the night phase near aerial search and ASW assets (from KB) results in submarines losses.

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ASW attack near Nadi at 131,160

Japanese Ships
CL Tama
DD Arare
APD Asagao
xAP Baikal Maru
xAP Ural Maru
DD Numakaze
DD Namikaze
DD Hokaze

Allied Ships
SS S-31, hits 4


One of these hits set fire to the bridge, another flooded the control room, and a third caused severe engine damage. This sub may be sunk.

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Sub attack near Nadi at 131,160

Japanese Ships
xAP Montevideo Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
CL Tama
DD Numakaze
DD Arare
APD Asagao
xAP Baikal Maru
xAP Ussuri Maru
DD Namikaze
DD Hokaze

Allied Ships
SS Grenadier, hits 4


6 First Air Fleet pilots also reported scoring bomb hits on submarines today.

B5N2 Kate attacking a Narwhal class SS at 131,161
:::::::: an Allied SS is reported HIT

D3A1 Val attacking SS Cuttlefish at 133,158
:::::::: SS Cuttlefish is reported HIT

D3A1 Val attacking a KVIII Class class SS at 130,157
:::::::: a Electric Boat S-42 class SS is reported HIT

D3A1 Val attacking a Barracuda class SS at 131,161
:::::::: an Allied SS is reported HIT

E13A1 Jake attacking SS Cuttlefish at 133,158
:::::::: SS Cuttlefish is reported HIT

E13A1 Jake attacking a KVIII Class class SS at 131,158
:::::::: a Grampus class SS is reported HIT


3 other submarines were reported as "attacked" from the air, but no hits were reported in these attacks. The Val pilots on the CVs now all have ASW ratings of 65+.

I expect that this flotilla of damaged submarines will head for Vava U. I may try to bomb that port in a few days. It is remarkable that I sailed 4 amphibious TFs, 2 BB TFs, a CA TF, and 2 CV TFs into a swarm of 20 submarines, operated there for days, took only 2 torpedo hits, and put many of the subs out of the action.




Aurorus -> RE: Argentina vs. USA: Aurorus (J) vs. Apbarog (A) (3/15/2018 10:46:12 AM)

I reviewed supply and fuel levels in SoPac. There is little fuel at the front: 6k at Tulagi and 5k at Luganville. Rabaul has 56k fuel and Truk has 49k. There are 2 TKs at Kwajalein offloading 20k. There are 3 fast AOs at Rabaul now loading 30k for the SoPac fleet. A replenishment TF of 5 slow AOs (13-knot AOs) is loaded with 40k fuel near Rabaul. So, there is a total of 180k fuel in the theater. Supplies are ample. Rabaul has 63k. Truk has 70. Tulagi has 17k. Luganville has 21k. There is 10k ashore at Nadi. New Caledonia has dropped to 17k and will need resupplied soon. There is 100k between the Marshalls bases, Ponape, Nauri, and Kusai. So, there is approximately 350k supply in SoPac. 50K is loading on cargo ships at Tokyo now for tranport to SoPac.




adarbrauner -> RE: Argentina vs. USA: Aurorus (J) vs. Apbarog (A) (3/15/2018 2:05:24 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Aurorus

The IJN was able to extract some revenge on the allies by hitting several submarines. Operating in shallow water with a tight patrol zone that does not remove enough potential DL in the night phase near aerial search and ASW assets (from KB) results in submarines losses.

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ASW attack near Nadi at 131,160

Japanese Ships
CL Tama
DD Arare
APD Asagao
xAP Baikal Maru
xAP Ural Maru
DD Numakaze
DD Namikaze
DD Hokaze

Allied Ships
SS S-31, hits 4


One of these hits set fire to the bridge, another flooded the control room, and a third caused severe engine damage. This sub may be sunk.

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Sub attack near Nadi at 131,160

Japanese Ships
xAP Montevideo Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
CL Tama
DD Numakaze
DD Arare
APD Asagao
xAP Baikal Maru
xAP Ussuri Maru
DD Namikaze
DD Hokaze

Allied Ships
SS Grenadier, hits 4


6 First Air Fleet pilots also reported scoring bomb hits on submarines today.

B5N2 Kate attacking a Narwhal class SS at 131,161
:::::::: an Allied SS is reported HIT

D3A1 Val attacking SS Cuttlefish at 133,158
:::::::: SS Cuttlefish is reported HIT

D3A1 Val attacking a KVIII Class class SS at 130,157
:::::::: a Electric Boat S-42 class SS is reported HIT

D3A1 Val attacking a Barracuda class SS at 131,161
:::::::: an Allied SS is reported HIT

E13A1 Jake attacking SS Cuttlefish at 133,158
:::::::: SS Cuttlefish is reported HIT

E13A1 Jake attacking a KVIII Class class SS at 131,158
:::::::: a Grampus class SS is reported HIT


3 other submarines were reported as "attacked" from the air, but no hits were reported in these attacks. The Val pilots on the CVs now all have ASW ratings of 65+.

I expect that this flotilla of damaged submarines will head for Vava U. I may try to bomb that port in a few days. It is remarkable that I sailed 4 amphibious TFs, 2 BB TFs, a CA TF, and 2 CV TFs into a swarm of 20 submarines, operated there for days, took only 2 torpedo hits, and put many of the subs out of the action.



90% of the reported "hits" are false - you know it




Aurorus -> RE: Argentina vs. USA: Aurorus (J) vs. Apbarog (A) (3/15/2018 4:33:09 PM)

I often find my subs damaged from aeriel ASW attacks after a phase in which no hits have been reported. So, I find that for every false report of a hit, there is also a hit that is not reported. With the high DLs on these subs, I suspect that they are taking some hits. They are building up DLs in the daylight with multiple sightings and not fully removing the potential DL at night, because subs remove a DL per phase and per hex moved. They are in a very tight patrol zone, so they are not moving many hexes at night to remove DL. In the daylight, once spotted again, they have a very high DL, which leads to aerial attacks and unusually accurate Japanese escort ASW.




Aurorus -> RE: Argentina vs. USA: Aurorus (J) vs. Apbarog (A) (3/15/2018 7:18:14 PM)

I have my first set of Ann pilots fully trained for ASW warfare, and they are not on station in the DEI. A size-12 squadron of Maries is also flying ASW from Balikpapan. A 2nd Ann squadron will be divided into 3 join them shortly once their ASW and NavS skills exceed 65. It's 3 groups will station at Miri, Donggala, and Soerabaja.

In 2 or 3 weeks, I will bring a group of Anns, similiarly divided into 3 groups, down from Korea to Toyohara and Hokkaido to begin patrols there. Anns, Maries, and DBs are my primary ASW patrol craft for the moment.

[image]local://upfiles/48678/0C1FCCECC1024C41853A78F005F15BC9.jpg[/image]




Aurorus -> RE: Argentina vs. USA: Aurorus (J) vs. Apbarog (A) (3/17/2018 2:46:30 AM)

Who has seen this? I have never seen this until tonight.

Cargo explodes during unloading of xAK Yodogawa Maru at Hong Kong
xAK Yodogawa Maru sinks....


The level of detail in this game is amazing. When I think that I have seen it all, something unique happens.




ericv -> RE: Argentina vs. USA: Aurorus (J) vs. Apbarog (A) (3/17/2018 6:14:07 PM)

Looking at the Exe with a Hex editor reveals a load of messages I have never seen in the game. This game is amazing in every aspect.




Platoonist -> RE: Argentina vs. USA: Aurorus (J) vs. Apbarog (A) (3/17/2018 9:17:24 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Aurorus

Cargo explodes during unloading of xAK Yodogawa Maru at Hong Kong
xAK Yodogawa Maru sinks....



It least wasn't the Mutsu.




FlyByKnight -> RE: Argentina vs. USA: Aurorus (J) vs. Apbarog (A) (3/17/2018 9:19:29 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: ericv

Looking at the Exe with a Hex editor reveals a load of messages I have never seen in the game. This game is amazing in every aspect.

What kind of data can one see?




Aurorus -> RE: Argentina vs. USA: Aurorus (J) vs. Apbarog (A) (3/18/2018 3:19:10 PM)

For a few days, I was receiving "heavy radio traffic" from Pearl Harbor. This is not unusual, as large cargo and TK TFs move through Pearl often. Today, however, I receive reports that an allied radio operator broke radio silence in Centpac and that there was a heavy volume of radio traffic west, northwest of Johnston Island. What would be in Centpac, west of Johnston Island producing a heavy volume of radio traffic? A large group of Freighters? I think not.

[image]local://upfiles/48678/5A5FA29D520A4C01B6A94199AC443ABB.jpg[/image]




Aurorus -> RE: Argentina vs. USA: Aurorus (J) vs. Apbarog (A) (3/18/2018 3:51:24 PM)

The 3 CVEs were en route to SoPac and are 2 days from Truk. The A6M2s from 2 of the CVEs have flown ahead of them to Kusaie Island. 42 Tojo IIas were in the process of transferring down to SoPac from Korea. They are now at Saipan. Every free air asset, not being used at New Caledonia and Luganville, is en route to the Marshalls. The Marshalls is not the abandoned frontier that it was 3 months ago. I have not completely reinforced the area, but there are basic support units and garrisons in place. The 24th Air Fleet, with torpedo capability, is at Kusaie Island, which is now a size 4 airfield and size 3 port. Tomorrow there will be 72 Ki-43s, 67 A6M2s, 48 Vals, and 45 Betties in the theater. The day after 42 Tojos will join them. If that is indeed US CVs in Centpac, they will walk into a nasty trap.

[image]local://upfiles/48678/A12AF289425B46809EC5317B2B1B0872.jpg[/image]




adarbrauner -> RE: Argentina vs. USA: Aurorus (J) vs. Apbarog (A) (3/18/2018 5:47:34 PM)

Nice SIGINT warning!

Something is working sometimes within the Japanese Navy!

But Kusaie is far from southern and Central Marshalls, if this is indeed the target....

And , in any case, if there is there a carrier group, what the Betties could do more than acting as flaming fireflies?




DanSez -> RE: Argentina vs. USA: Aurorus (J) vs. Apbarog (A) (3/18/2018 6:25:08 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Aurorus

... I have no idea what caused both these TFs to move at full speed. Any ideas?


The only thing I can think of is the local command decision based on Air Cover/Threat so speed was increased to remove or reduce the threat calculation in pathing the move.

pure conjecture on my part:
Lot of voodoo going on under the hood exemplified in carrier task force command decisions. I would think there would be a few similar pathing codes for all the other types of task forces. Getting Bombardment TFs to do exactly what I want is conditional on factors I may not be aware of.





Aurorus -> RE: Argentina vs. USA: Aurorus (J) vs. Apbarog (A) (3/18/2018 6:31:44 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: adarbrauner

Nice SIGINT warning!

Something is working sometimes within the Japanese Navy!

But Kusaie is far from southern and Central Marshalls, if this is indeed the target....

And , in any case, if there is there a carrier group, what the Betties could do more than acting as flaming fireflies?


The purpose of the air HQ and Betties at Kusaie is not so much to hit CVs as to attack any amphibious group that tries to land on the Marshalls. Hitting them in the daylight phase and causing a few fires on APAs or sinking some APAs is a very good way to cause an atoll invasion to fail. At this point, however, forts on the Marshalls are only at 3 or 4, and each atoll is not at the stacking limit. There are some additional units that I want to use to reinforce the theater, so if he does try a landing, it may succeed. I would welcome a battle in the Marshalls at this point, far from allied ports and close to IJN bases, supply, and air.

I suspect more a raid than an invasion. I will probably not use the Betties here for anything but naval search, unless there is an amphibious group. Instead, I will use the Ki-43s to set a CAP trap over Kwajalein. I will base 60 A6M2s and 48 Vals at Maloelap to try to strike the CVs if this is a mere raid. Oscar Ics are not ideal for a CAP trap, but that is all that I have available at the moment. If I can bring the Tojos in theater before the raid, those F4Fs will take a very bad beating. All the pilots in the Tojo squadron have 75+ experience, and my 20 available IJA Tracom pilots are split between that squadron and the Ki-45s at Koumac. The other TRACOM eligible IJA pilots are in training squadrons.




Aurorus -> RE: Argentina vs. USA: Aurorus (J) vs. Apbarog (A) (3/19/2018 2:24:08 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: DanSez


quote:

ORIGINAL: Aurorus

... I have no idea what caused both these TFs to move at full speed. Any ideas?


The only thing I can think of is the local command decision based on Air Cover/Threat so speed was increased to remove or reduce the threat calculation in pathing the move.

pure conjecture on my part:
Lot of voodoo going on under the hood exemplified in carrier task force command decisions. I would think there would be a few similar pathing codes for all the other types of task forces. Getting Bombardment TFs to do exactly what I want is conditional on factors I may not be aware of.





Yes. There is an "air-superiority" check in theaters that affects how TFs move and respond to threats. In theaters where the enemy has air-superiority, TFs often behave in unexpected ways. I have found that,i n the case of bombardment TFs in theaters where the enemy has air superiority, commanders with aggression below 70 often pause or hesitate to move to their target, which can cause major problems, especially if you have planned fighter cover near the base where you expect them to withdraw after bombarding.

Both Asakura and Tanaka are very aggressive (85 and 91) respectively and I am certain that I have air superiority in the theater, given that I have 7 fleet CVs, 2 CVLs, and 200 LBA fighters here, so they may have been reacting to a threat that they perceived that did not appear (such as the CL TF) and merely failed to engage it, because I had no DL. Asakura made a similar move in my game against Opilot, changing to full speed in the night impulse to engage a CA TF 6 hexes away. In that case, however, I had very good DL on that TF and Asakura had a reaction range of 6 and was moving to cover one of my bases where I suspected that TF was moving. The allied TF did move to that base, and Asakura was waiting for them. His TF performed poorly in that engagement, however, losing 2 CLs to 1 allied CA and 2 CLs (though he had a far superior TF: 4 BBs and 2 CLs against 2 CAs and 3 CLs).




adarbrauner -> RE: Argentina vs. USA: Aurorus (J) vs. Apbarog (A) (3/19/2018 3:30:31 PM)

and how can possibly be calculated local air superiority by the game?




Aurorus -> RE: Argentina vs. USA: Aurorus (J) vs. Apbarog (A) (3/19/2018 7:41:21 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: adarbrauner

and how can possibly be calculated local air superiority by the game?


I have no idea how the game calculates this and how the theaters or regions are divided, but it does. It is part of the sequence of play, and you will see the notification that the game is "calculating air superiority" every turn during the combat replay.




adarbrauner -> RE: Argentina vs. USA: Aurorus (J) vs. Apbarog (A) (3/19/2018 7:48:23 PM)

That's right...




Aurorus -> RE: Argentina vs. USA: Aurorus (J) vs. Apbarog (A) (3/22/2018 4:33:58 PM)

The game is suspended for a short time. Apbarog is hosting a party at his home this weekend for a baseball league draft, and I will be meeting my mother in Cordoba and traveling with her until Tuesday of next week. This is not an opportune time to leave off the game and hurry a turn before leaving. There is so much activity. I am landing 2 more SNLFs and a construction battalion at Hoorn Islands. 2 JNAF aviation support units arrived at the base at the end of the last turn, but need to disembark. The CVs, Tanaka, a heavy CA TF, and Asakura are all nearby covering the operation. I have another aviation support unit and another construction battalion en route.

If the radio traffic in Centpac (which I intercepted up again the day after the initial signal) is indeed the U.S. CVs, I have 36 DBs and 70 A6M2s at Maloekap set to naval strike and 78 Oscar Ics flying CAP over Kwajalein and Roi Namur. However, I now have this troubling piece of information. Some predator is frightening my small transport groups moving to Hoorn Island in the area around the Ellice Islands. I have AOs and other vulnerable and important assets (such as the 26th Air Flotilla moving toward Luganville behind Ndeni as well. With my air force divided between the Marshalls and New Caledonia, I have nothing to attack shipping in this region, except a small SCTF with 2 heavy CAs at Luganville.

What is in the area around the Ellice Islands that is causing my TFs to take such a convoluted route to Hoorn Islands?

[image]local://upfiles/48678/FBA8A772BD334D95828CEB346B4497E6.jpg[/image]




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