RE: Feb.27, 1944 - Battles in the Andaman Sea, Cont. (Full Version)

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Anachro -> RE: Feb.27, 1944 - Battles in the Andaman Sea, Cont. (7/21/2020 1:50:20 PM)

@MM I have 7 SCTFs (which I am certainly happy to change up, I had the DMS embedded as I initially planned that force as a bombardment force where an embedded DMS helps avoid mines): 1 cruiser force, 1 small BC force, 1 fast BB/BC force, and three slow BB/DD forces. I am with you, mind_messing, on what I'd do if I was John. As for CLAAs, they are there for extra because I had nothing else on hand: beggars cant be choosers. Good news: more destroyers, cruisers, and the newest fast American BBs and some French BC is on their way to the Indian theater from Australia currently.

@GetAssista The supply situation at PB is very dire and I need to extract the forces there to get them to recover. This was my biggest mistake this whole op was not landing enough supply there and my AV has suffered. I have additional reinforcements I can bring in but it will take time to get them and I'm not sure I have that time: I can, of course, use my surface fleet for bombardments here while extracting. Moulmein has enough to survive for now, though I have additional reinforcements waiting in the wings to be landed there, which I will probably eventually do with more supply: these ops will be easier once the full Allied SCTF might is here.

@Bearcat All the forces are led by good admirals: Halsey, Palliser, etc. I think the bigger problem was speed of the enemy force versus my own perhaps, also I'm not sure if Japanese radar is better or worse than historical in this mod as in some cases their radar detected my TF before mine detected the enemy (this is 1944 though which I am less experienced with).

Also, I just realized when analysing the Japanese CAs that sunk that they all have ASW capabilities (value of 2), wish I could say the same for my CAs...haha.



BBfanboy -> RE: Feb.27, 1944 - Battles in the Andaman Sea, Cont. (7/21/2020 1:51:37 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Bearcat2

Pathetic showing by your Surface TF's for 1944; who were leading these TF's?

Weather can do that no matter how good the radar and leaders and crew experience. Weather might also explain why IJ LBA did not find and attack the transport TF.

Looks like John did not expect the Allied TFs to move in closer to Moulmein, so his BB-heavy TFs may be off toward PB or the other side of the Andamans. He likes to use full speed a lot when he senses prey is near.



mind_messing -> RE: Feb.27, 1944 - Battles in the Andaman Sea, Cont. (7/21/2020 2:55:07 PM)

quote:

@Bearcat All the forces are led by good admirals: Halsey, Palliser, etc. I think the bigger problem was speed of the enemy force versus my own perhaps, also I'm not sure if Japanese radar is better or worse than historical in this mod as in some cases their radar detected my TF before mine detected the enemy (this is 1944 though which I am less experienced with).


I think you need to check the specific ship captains, especially on the bigger ships.

As Japan I cherry-pick the 70+ Naval skill commanders as the surface fleet is small enough to enable that.

For the more extensive Allied fleet you need to be a bit more selective, but getting 60+ on all the capital ships is definitely possible.

To be honest it does sound more like a crew skill issue than IJ radar being more effective. Worth remembering how naval DL works, and there's no excuse for the Allies at this stage to not flood the area with search planes (both day and night).



Anachro -> RE: Feb.27, 1944 - Battles in the Andaman Sea, Cont. (7/21/2020 3:11:07 PM)

The search plane pools in this mod are simply pitiful relative to the attrition they take from enemy CAP, etc. I do not have much there and and always short on supply, even using the mod that lets me buy out extras; I did of course set all my search assets to night and day search at 100% for the turn. I also have replaced all my captains with better ones, even my destroyers. I do not have enought 70+ ones, but all should at least be 60+ naval skill and hopefully 60+ aggressiveness, at the least 55+ aggressiveness. As for where John's BBs went: besides the ones currently at PB, I suspect he flanked west to try and hit my ships and then down south, perhaps to Victoria Point, which has been the staging and re-arming point for John's SCTFs. I have placed numerous mines on the shallow hex between there and PB that numerous IJN SCTFs pass through, but frustratingly none have passed encountered those minefields yet, even when passing through the hex.

I have a SCTF with the carriers, I'll send that south to hit the IJN survivors just one hext south and send my invasion force back north towards safety. My SCTFs and Carriers will move towards Port Blair, with the carriers first moving northwest to try and avoid entanglements. Probably.



Anachro -> RE: Feb.27, 1944 - Battles in the Andaman Sea, Cont. (7/21/2020 3:19:20 PM)

Admirals are as follows:

1. 3CA/2CLAA/5DD: My weakest force, currently with the carriers, led by Captain Morgan, which is the weakest of my TF leaders at 60NAV/50 Aggression.

2. 1BC/5DD: Small, fast force centered around the BC Constellation, led by Admiral Halsey 76NAV/90 Aggression.

3. 1BB/1BC/2CA/1CL/6DD: Fast BB/BC force led by British Admiral Somerville 78NAV/85 Aggression.

4, 5, 6: Three slower BB forces led by Norman Scott of Guadalcanal fame (74/61), Admiral Merrill (75/62), and Ching Lee (83/71).

I misstated above; I only have 6 SCTFs, not 7.



Lowpe -> RE: Feb.27, 1944 - Battles in the Andaman Sea, Cont. (7/21/2020 3:27:09 PM)

Seeing how you are fighting John in his mod, I throw my two cents in on TF composition.

Create a couple of 4 ship destroyer skirmishing task forces. Give them high naval low aggression leaders. Give them low task force numbers.

Use them like cavalry. They go in first to skirmish or patrol the flanks of you main SAG, they get the IJN to launch torpedoes and waste ammo on them before your serious ships get involved. They might even get a lucky torpedo hit in.

It is a great use of leaders that normally never get picked. Plus, they boost detection levels.

I would not be afraid of sending such task forces against any IJN SAG.

Some games it seems every Allied TF is led by Lee or Somerville. Get so tired of seeing them.[;)]



Anachro -> RE: Feb.27, 1944 - Battles in the Andaman Sea, Cont. (7/21/2020 3:40:47 PM)

Yes, I have tried this in the past. The problem is do you set such DD SCTFs to simply follow the others with a higher reaction number? How do you protect when moving? I've had so many cases where in this PBEM match so far where I've had fast DD and CL/DD SCTFs supposedly covering my carriers/transports for such a purpose only to see John somehow get his forces through to my carriers or transports instead (luckily it hasn't hurt me yet in such engagements).



Lowpe -> RE: Feb.27, 1944 - Battles in the Andaman Sea, Cont. (7/21/2020 3:53:58 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Anachro

Yes, I have tried this in the past. The problem is do you set such DD SCTFs to simply follow the others with a higher reaction number? How do you protect when moving? I've had so many cases where in this PBEM match so far where I've had fast DD and CL/DD SCTFs supposedly covering my carriers/transports for such a purpose only to see John somehow get his forces through to my carriers or transports instead (luckily it hasn't hurt me yet in such engagements).



It is not easy, but never use follow. You really have to work the patrol settings, mdl, dl, for them. Counting hexes.

Offensively, it is a lot easier to use them as skirmishers.



mind_messing -> RE: Feb.27, 1944 - Battles in the Andaman Sea, Cont. (7/21/2020 4:00:06 PM)

Second Lowpe's suggestions. The big fleet engagements have a frustrating habit of going Japan's way. The Allied method of death by destroyer is much better in my view.


My approach to naval search is that more is always better. Working a little NavS training into your level bomber training programme pays big dividends in places where the search planes suffer. Thankfully most of the Allied level bombers get radar as the norm.

On seeing Lee and Somerville, Loka managed to get Mush Morton off a sub and in command of a DD force at one point. Saw some brutal actions around Palembang with IJN CA's.



Anachro -> RE: Feb.27, 1944 - Battles in the Andaman Sea, Cont. (7/21/2020 5:33:12 PM)

I will probably ponder today and put the orders in some time tonight; the two forces shown near me on the map are the damaged and out-of-ammo DD forces that remain. I'm pretty confident all 3 CAs and the CL sunk, as well as 3-4 DDs. Thus, I don't think I am in danger too much at the moment: the transports will retire as we move on Port Blair. Pressure can be applied to PB to make it a prison even without troops on the ground and I really need to extract my troops before they are destroyed and need to be rebuilt completely. I expect to see John's heavies make a reappearance over the next few days however.

Luckily, BB Yamato is sunk. BB Musashi is operational but did take damage from one torpedo which got a "belt armor pierced" and "critical damage" message. BB Shinano is coming if not already operational, and I'm almost certain John has the other 1-2 Yamato-class BBs he can build on the way in production. Then there are his remaining CVEs and CVs. Need to be cautious.



Anachro -> RE: Feb.27, 1944 - Battles in the Andaman Sea, Cont. (7/21/2020 5:42:00 PM)

A Reminder of IJN vessels sunk so far over the course of the campaign, obviously fog of war included. Some ships below listed are alive, some ships not listed are perhaps sunk.

[image]https://i.imgur.com/3Z7DCN5.png[/image]



BBfanboy -> RE: Feb.27, 1944 - Battles in the Andaman Sea, Cont. (7/21/2020 9:53:54 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Anachro

I will probably ponder today and put the orders in some time tonight; the two forces shown near me on the map are the damaged and out-of-ammo DD forces that remain. I'm pretty confident all 3 CAs and the CL sunk, as well as 3-4 DDs. Thus, I don't think I am in danger too much at the moment: the transports will retire as we move on Port Blair. Pressure can be applied to PB to make it a prison even without troops on the ground and I really need to extract my troops before they are destroyed and need to be rebuilt completely. I expect to see John's heavies make a reappearance over the next few days however.

Luckily, BB Yamato is sunk. BB Musashi is operational but did take damage from one torpedo which got a "belt armor pierced" and "critical damage" message. BB Shinano is coming if not already operational, and I'm almost certain John has the other 1-2 Yamato-class BBs he can build on the way in production. Then there are his remaining CVEs and CVs. Need to be cautious.

I'm pretty sure the "Critical Damage" message implies a good (for you) damage roll on Engineering and Systems damage, but not necessarily Flotation damage. I know on my own ships that about three "Critical Damage" results leaves them wrecked. Musashi might take a bit more, but would be a cripple. So for now, she can still fight but likely has been seriously slowed and will not shoot or fight damage as well as John would like. He might retire her for repairs rather than send her further into shark infested waters.



Bif1961 -> RE: Feb.27, 1944 - Battles in the Andaman Sea, Cont. (7/22/2020 5:41:36 PM)

Your TF under the command of Captain Morgan may not have the most aggressive or experienced leader but I understand they get an extra daily rum ration. [:D]



RangerJoe -> RE: Feb.27, 1944 - Battles in the Andaman Sea, Cont. (7/22/2020 6:49:05 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

Your TF under the command of Captain Morgan may not have the most aggressive or experienced leader but I understand they get an extra daily rum ration. [:D]


[sm=character0272.gif][sm=happy0005.gif][sm=party-smiley-012.gif]



Anachro -> Feb.28, 1944 - Battles in the Andaman Sea, Cont. (7/22/2020 10:00:41 PM)

Feb. 28, 1944

Not much to report today other than that tomorrow might be...interesting. I sink some escorts at Port Blair (damn these escorts have good ASW ratings of 8 and 9 and have been wrecking my subs so nice to get them), as well as see my SCTFs finish a few destroyers from yesterday's engagement. Unfortunately, half my invasion transports despite being set to go home at flank speed decide to stick around because they are trying to unsuccessfully invade an empty hex. This turn I reset their waypoints and such completely and expect them to head home. Because some Japanese survivors still seem to be at Moulmein, I break off some DEs and a CL to cover them.

[image]https://i.imgur.com/l8K4fcJ.png[/image]

The real news is tomorrow because John once again claims that there will be a large surface battle as my forces approach Port Blair. My transports should arrive this turn and, if not sunk or hindered, will begin loading PB invasion survivors tomorrow. In the mean time, I have set my various SCTFs to patrol the approaches to and around Port Blair to hit any Japanese force on the way. So far, all we see is a 8 ship DD force coming that is currently southwest of PB, but it could be more than DDs. To help with this, I've created a ton of new, smaller DD forces from other TFs and even my carriers to, again, patrol the approaches to Port Blair. I've sent my carriers to go around PB and sit on the far side, with the islands providing protection from enemy SCTFs. Hopefully they can also provide air cover to my SCTFs.

Of course, it remains to be seen if John actually comes tomorrow. He tends to have a lot of bluster in his messages, somtimes founded, sometimes put there as an attempt by him to manipulate my own actions when putting in orders I suspect. His comments on knowing where my carriers are is a bit useless, as I also know where his are, not that they can do much harm to me; perhaps he'll try a raid somewhere. Main KB was last seen only over a week ago around Port Blair, a smaller KB is somewhere in the Marianas or Truk.

quote:

John 3rd: Very busy day yesterday. Worked 11.5 hours and it was nasty. Here you go. Haven’t been able to connect with my Big Boys but looks like this turn coming will take care of that! If we lose the surface fleet here, then so be it. It is nice, however, to know where your primary CV strength is.



CaptBeefheart -> RE: Feb.28, 1944 - Battles in the Andaman Sea, Cont. (7/23/2020 2:40:34 AM)

I know CR didn't like getting those emails.

Do you have any AKEs in any of those TFs to resupply your ammo at Little Andaman?

Cheers,
CB



Anachro -> Feb.29, 1944 - Battles in the Andaman Sea, Cont. (7/23/2020 5:38:02 PM)

Feb. 29, 1944

It seems John was mostly bluster in regards to his emails. No big BB SCTFs appear, yet, perhaps they'll make an appearance this turn. For now, there is a DD and maybe a CL/CA force right off Little Andaman. One of my DD forces ran into it, but did poorly and lost one DD at least. That said, John's SCTFs have a few unspotted enemy ones right around it. My carriers launch one very ineffectual strike against these forces. This turn will be focused on bombardments, attacking John's SCTFs and quickly extracting my units from PB. Once again, one of my transport TFs refuses to move...keeps trying to unload into an empty hex though I've cancelled that and told it to go home last two turns. I clicked cancel unload this time (maybe I forgot it for this particular TF) and again have set it to flee at flank.

[image]https://i.imgur.com/AjqD37M.png[/image]

John sends another email, this time gloating over the good position of Japan. I did mention he likes to play mind games through his emails, which is a bit frustrating when playing against him. Oh well, it's motivation. I do think he has so much here in India that there are gaps elsewhere.

quote:

March 1944! The Empire, all things considered, looks pretty good.



RangerJoe -> RE: Feb.29, 1944 - Battles in the Andaman Sea, Cont. (7/23/2020 6:22:53 PM)

You might have to take that unmoving transport TF and put all of the ships into that one. Sometimes my ships would not move for a turn or three on the East Coast to Cape Town run. I don't know why. It did it sometimes with other TFs as well.



Bif1961 -> RE: Feb.29, 1944 - Battles in the Andaman Sea, Cont. (7/23/2020 10:15:00 PM)

Sometimes it is responding to the threat leave set, sometimes there is a vessel or two that needs fuel, or one the collided and slows everyone else down.



BBfanboy -> RE: Feb.29, 1944 - Battles in the Andaman Sea, Cont. (7/23/2020 10:22:53 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

Sometimes it is responding to the threat leave set, sometimes there is a vessel or two that needs fuel, or one the collided and slows everyone else down.

I had a TF with a ship grounded once (not unloading either, just passing by the coast). It was stuck for three days before it got back to sea. Damage was not severe.



Anachro -> Mar 1. 1944 (7/24/2020 12:32:34 AM)

Mar 1. 1944

Turn is pretty benign, though with some bad luck. The Port Blair evacuation is mostly successful, with all transports loaded and most already away towards safety. The interesting part is the appearance of what appears to be KB at Sabang, or parts of it that weren't damaged in the last carrier engagement a few weeks back. If I was to guess I'd say John was either planning to hit me at PB or perhaps try and intercept my forces on their path of retreat towards Ceylon; he still might try that. Of course, I can simply change my boats to head due north instead of northwest to avoid this. My carriers also aren't too far away and I still have ~1100+ A/C on them with sorties and torpedoes remaining, but Sabang is a level 7 airfield and I certainly expect there to be a heavy fighter presence there. I could, of course, move down with my capital ships and my carriers for a big engagement; probably not prudent though. What should I do, you think, my venerable staff aides? [:D]

Other than that, the good news is my ships pretty much swat aside enemy destroyers, making up for the destroyer lost yesterday. We also sink a sub, but the bad news is that sub managed to put 3 torpedoes into the Oklahoma. The Oklahoma is not sunk and has no fire, but is very heavily damaged and can only move at a mission speed of 6 or cruise speed of 3. Our best bet is to move her to Akyab for emergency repairs, but this puts her in range of enemy bombers, though we can provide LRCAP perhaps. I might opt to move northwest first despite her heavy float damage. The transports stuck just south of Rangoon finally moved, which I am thankful for since it was carrying 11k troops.

[image]https://i.imgur.com/3y3zEts.png[/image]



Anachro -> RE: Mar 1. 1944 (7/24/2020 12:38:06 AM)

Cont.

A better view of the Japanese situation as we can see it towards Singapore. Notice the direction of most of the "heavy" SCTFs. It seems either John blinked or his bluster about committing the entire surface fleet was just that. Like I said, mind games.

[image]https://i.imgur.com/bD5wUsQ.png[/image]



RangerJoe -> RE: Mar 1. 1944 (7/24/2020 1:39:02 AM)

IIf you were to move the Oklahoma to Akyab, have lots of naval support there to help the dewatering. Depending upon your CVEs, you could put them at Akyab for CAP support. Unless he has Naval Strike missions, that should make any port raid costly. Your regular CVs could be one hex away. After a turn dewatering, then move it up the coast and repeat as is necessary.



Anachro -> RE: Mar 1. 1944 (7/24/2020 1:00:21 PM)

2 of my CVEs are now up at Akyab because I was running low on fighters from them, currently they have ~30. They could be sent to cover Oklahoma while my carriers do other things. My inner Halsey says attack the carriers, but my Spruance says no!



Lowpe -> RE: Mar 1. 1944 (7/24/2020 1:08:21 PM)

I would move the deathstar towards Sabang and set them up to fully absorb an enemy air strike. No offensive strike at all. Drain the Empires offense on day 1, hunt to kill on day two.

Mine the straits of Malaca, and put subs in every deep water hex near the straits.

Assuming you have the fighters to do so.



Anachro -> RE: Mar 1. 1944 (7/24/2020 2:38:59 PM)

Currently, my carriers have 594 operational fighters, 328 dive bombers, and 232 torpedo bombers. As before, most of my sorties remain, as well as a decent number of torpedoes. I could move up with towards Sabang with my surface vessels and carriers to the same hex and just absorb any strikes the next day and provide cover for my SCTFs. Then I can try a clash the next day with both SCTFs and carriers. My SCTFs have okay ammo but will need to replenish after engagement. The only BB truly low on ammo is Prince of Wales, unfortunately.

[image]https://i.imgur.com/QA6NlJs.png[/image]



Chickenboy -> RE: Feb.28, 1944 - Battles in the Andaman Sea, Cont. (7/24/2020 2:39:52 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Anachro
He tends to have a lot of bluster in his messages, somtimes founded, sometimes put there as an attempt by him to manipulate my own actions when putting in orders I suspect.


I always wonder why players get so caught up in email psyops / deep thought meta / whatever. When you post these messages that's a clear indication that his silly head games are having an effect on you. At *zero* cost to him.

Ignore these emails across the board. In your head you should read *all* text in the email as saying "here's the turn". Nothing more. Nothing less. Anything further is akin to listening the CCP state media / propaganda or the mouth of Sauron.

If you listen to it and try to make sense of it, you're wasting your effort. If you *act* upon what it says, you're allowing yourself to be victimized. Don't be that guy.



Anachro -> RE: Feb.28, 1944 - Battles in the Andaman Sea, Cont. (7/24/2020 2:45:35 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy


quote:

ORIGINAL: Anachro
He tends to have a lot of bluster in his messages, somtimes founded, sometimes put there as an attempt by him to manipulate my own actions when putting in orders I suspect.


I always wonder why players get so caught up in email psyops / deep thought meta / whatever. When you post these messages that's a clear indication that his silly head games are having an effect on you. At *zero* cost to him.

Ignore these emails across the board. In your head you should read *all* text in the email as saying "here's the turn". Nothing more. Nothing less. Anything further is akin to listening the CCP state media / propaganda or the mouth of Sauron.

If you listen to it and try to make sense of it, you're wasting your effort. If you *act* upon what it says, you're allowing yourself to be victimized. Don't be that guy.



Haha, CB, I already follow your advice just to avoid this: when I get these turns I tend to simply open John's emails and deliberately move my eyes down before reading any text, download the attachments, and run the turn. Only after do I then read perhaps what he has said. The only times this harms we is when I decide to hold off on completing the turn and ask the forum for advice before completing orders, but then my hope is forum advice minimizes any impact from the poisoned intelligence of emails. [:D]

I recognize very much the psyops nature of his emails, as evidenced by these last few turns. I try to minimize their impact, but they probably have some, just like the propaganda of Japan in real life.



RangerJoe -> RE: Feb.28, 1944 - Battles in the Andaman Sea, Cont. (7/24/2020 2:45:35 PM)

If you want to play head games with him, then post a picture of a tree and invite lots of comments. Especially if there is a delay between turns. [:D]



Anachro -> RE: Feb.28, 1944 - Battles in the Andaman Sea, Cont. (7/24/2020 3:07:13 PM)

@RangeJoe Did I do this right? Have to say, wading back through CR's AAR to help with this was fun because I re-read some of his own observations/interactions with John. For all the agony of the emails and game, John is a good person and a great opponent to have. Anyone who gets the chance to play him should. I love this PBEM. Speaking of CR, where is he? Doesn't seem as active as he used to be.

----------------------------

My lady-friends [:)] and I are back from a very difficult trip on the Appalachian Trail. At least it was difficult for me; not so much for them and their 20-year-old legs and circulatory systems. Here's some highlights:

[image]https://i.imgur.com/9I1pFyT.jpg[/image]

It wasn't an exhausting trip for me. The terrain really wasn’t bad. In cool weather and without deadfalls it would be a pretty easy stretch. But the girls tested me.



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