RE: Mushrooms over Maizuru: Chickenboy (J) vs. AcePylut (A) (Full Version)

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rustysi -> RE: Mushrooms over Maizuru: Chickenboy (J) vs. AcePylut (A) (10/6/2018 7:04:22 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: grond69

Schooling opportunity: how do you turn on the search arcs?? I have to go through my bases individually and can't see whether I have sufficient overlap. I have looked in the manual but couldn't find anything


As said above the 'Z' key will turn on your search arcs. In addition to that the colors mean:

Green: First day movement phase.

Blue: Second day movement phase.

Black: Both phases.



rustysi -> RE: Mushrooms over Maizuru: Chickenboy (J) vs. AcePylut (A) (10/6/2018 7:10:43 PM)

quote:

Next, at Kavieng, CA's Louisville and Canberra, CL's Perth and Adelaide, and DD's Voyager and Triomphant met 3 PB, 1xAK, and 7 xAKL and sank all of them. 468 IJ troops want to the bottom with those transports. Banzai! My fleet skirted across the north of New Britian and will attempt to engage an IJ fleet unloading at Lae.


Ah, there's the play while the 'cats' away.[:D]

Not much in shipping, but who cares. Believe it or not the Japanese unit is much more important, even though small. He doesn't have a lot of LCU's at this time in these parts to complete his expansion.



AcePylut -> RE: Mushrooms over Maizuru: Chickenboy (J) vs. AcePylut (A) (10/6/2018 10:36:01 PM)

Yeah, it's more of a psychological victory than an actual victory. I hope it makes the IJ stop and think that any invasion might be contested, so he'd better bring aircover or combat ships - and that slows down expansion. I suspect the Kavieng TF may have been loading the SNLF that took Kavieng last turn, so that's good news if those were combat troops.

Also, these mini-actions give me a little "boost" to my morale in these opening months where I get crushed everywhere (like at Manila). I think I've been able to extract about 5 ships from Manila (not counting about 7-8 subs) so that's worse than usual. Chickenboy has had a couple of sctf's parked outside Bataan since Dec 7th. I've tried luring them into Bataan's guns, I've sent subs at them, airplanes, the works... nothing has made him open it up. Oh well. That's why I consider all those ships in the PI as "sunk ships" on Dec 7th, it doesn't get me too upset when they all sink.



AcePylut -> RE: Mushrooms over Maizuru: Chickenboy (J) vs. AcePylut (A) (10/9/2018 1:19:07 AM)

Dec 15th.

One more ship at Manila goes under the waves. Other than subs, I think I've been able to extract about 4 ships from here. That's much worse than usual. I created a PT Tf and am launching it at the blockading IJN fleets.

KB shows up by Ternate. My 4 SCTF's in the DEI are near Koepang. Force Z will head to Denpassar along with the Houston/Boise TF. The other two sctfs are low on fuel and will depart to Townsville, escorting the Repulse as she makes her way to Melbourne.

My "Kavieng" SCTF encountered a lone patrolling CL near Finschafen (sp) and sank it.

I had 2 CL in Noumea, and sent them to Luganville. One of the CL's had taken a sub torp a couple of turns ago. They encountered 2 DD at Luganville, and sank one of them. The torped CL got a few more hits and is moderately damaged, so she will head to the yards with a "job well done". The other CL will head there too. I have no search coverage and no idea what my lurk beyond, so better safe than sorry.

B17s squadrons are starting to show up in Oz, so that's good.

The Queen Elizabeth is halfway between PH and the West Coast. She moves :) Can't wait to load her up with a division and get her moving back to Oz.



AcePylut -> RE: Mushrooms over Maizuru: Chickenboy (J) vs. AcePylut (A) (10/11/2018 3:00:20 PM)

Dec 16th. No major encounters in the DEI. Damaged and low-on-fuel-and-ammo combat ships are retiring nicely to Oz for fuel and ammo.

Hong Kong withstands yet another assault. She's doing quite nicely.

The KB and assorted combat ships take a position east of Sorong (up by the NW corner of Papau New Guinea).

I created a PT squadron (approx 12 PT's) at Manila and launched it at the blockading ships, but didn't score any hits and lost a PT in return.


My 2 Dutch Base Forces spoken of early are nearing Perth. I've also decided to load up the RN naval base force at Columbo and ship it to Oz. Looks like this will be my base of operations to bring the fight to Japan later in '42/'43.

Luganville falls. Also, the IJ invaded the base west of Kuching (Singkawang?).

The thrust into Luganville makes me think he's going to setup an interdiction of supply to OZ. I'd expect Noumea to be invaded rather quickly also. As such, I may need to consider starting to build up New Zealand. Tahiti is being built as a way-station for the transports headed that way.



rustysi -> RE: Mushrooms over Maizuru: Chickenboy (J) vs. AcePylut (A) (10/11/2018 7:11:37 PM)

quote:

Hong Kong withstands yet another assault. She's doing quite nicely.


Interesting, I don't believe it has ever withstood a second hit in my games. Take what you can get though.

quote:

The KB and assorted combat ships take a position east of Sorong (up by the NW corner of Papau New Guinea).


To me at least this seems like a rather unusual position. If I were to have the KB in the SRA I'd rather it be in the thick of things being very aggressive, and that could be dangerous. Its why I prefer it to be in the SE/4th fleet areas. It just seems to be easier to use the Mini-KB with added LBA support to subdue the region. Who knows, maybe that's too slow.

quote:

I created a PT squadron (approx 12 PT's) at Manila and launched it at the blockading ships, but didn't score any hits and lost a PT in return.


An attempt at least. Now you have the boats there to get MacArthur out.[:D]

quote:

the IJ invaded the base west of Kuching (Singkawang?)


That's a good base to use as a jump off spot for Palembang.

quote:

I've also decided to load up the RN naval base force at Columbo and ship it to Oz. Looks like this will be my base of operations to bring the fight to Japan later in '42/'43.


Personally, I'd hold off on this in case he decides to head for Ceylon. If you wish to use it for a push from OZ there seems there'll be plenty of time to do it later. JMHO.

quote:

I'd expect Noumea to be invaded rather quickly also.


Possible, but its not a base he'll be able to hold once you have the forces to retake it. To me its an over-extension. Of course it could still keep you on your heels for a bit.

Anyway not too bad, although you're not that far in as yet.[:)]



rustysi -> RE: Mushrooms over Maizuru: Chickenboy (J) vs. AcePylut (A) (10/11/2018 7:15:12 PM)

quote:

The Queen Elizabeth is halfway between PH and the West Coast. She moves :) Can't wait to load her up with a division and get her moving back to Oz.


Just one thing here, doesn't she have any early withdrawal date? Lot's of PP's lost here if you don't get her out on time.



AcePylut -> RE: Mushrooms over Maizuru: Chickenboy (J) vs. AcePylut (A) (10/11/2018 8:42:18 PM)

At Hong Kong – if he’d have shock attacked, or brought in another regiment, it would have fallen. I have been moving (or, attempting to move) troops into Canton, and I did see a few “reverse movement dots”, so I suspect that he pulled some of the troops slated to attack Hong Kong back to Canton… as you said, I’ll take it 😊

IIRC if there are enemy troops in a hex with HI, the HI does not produce (IIRC, but not exactly sure). As such, a few years ago in this one match I played, I moved some troops into Canton and “didn’t do anything with them”. It took the IJ player about 4 months to finally notice they were there hehehe.

With moving the RN Naval BF to Oz, I don’t really view India/Burma as a naval theater where I’ll need the naval support. About all I need is some support in Karachi to take fuel/supply. I wanted the BF in Oz before the DEI is taken and before Perth is put at risk, to give at least another “underdeveloped base” the ability to rearm the big ships. I figure I’ll get it there asap, rather than later… as even if I did leave it in Ceylon, it wouldn’t really be any use to me.

What I gather about the KB position, is that he’s trying to be in a relatively close support position to protect his invasions of the Solomon Isles and also the southern DEI.


I agree with your statement that you can use the Mini-KB to sweep through the DEI… but if you’re going to use the KB, use it… but then again, I’ve got a lot of Dutch subs setup at DEI choke-points, and all it takes is one golden torpedo…. It would certainly be nice to get one of my sub torps to hit something, seeings the carnage his subs are causing at my “DEI exit” points and every dang sub firing away at the Manila blockading force can’t hit jack squat.

Yes, the QE has a really early withdrawal date, but there’s enough time to make at least one run to Oz and back. She moves pretty fast 😊



BBfanboy -> RE: Mushrooms over Maizuru: Chickenboy (J) vs. AcePylut (A) (10/11/2018 9:29:31 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: AcePylut

At Hong Kong – if he’d have shock attacked, or brought in another regiment, it would have fallen. I have been moving (or, attempting to move) troops into Canton, and I did see a few “reverse movement dots”, so I suspect that he pulled some of the troops slated to attack Hong Kong back to Canton… as you said, I’ll take it ��

IIRC if there are enemy troops in a hex with HI, the HI does not produce (IIRC, but not exactly sure). As such, a few years ago in this one match I played, I moved some troops into Canton and “didn’t do anything with them”. It took the IJ player about 4 months to finally notice they were there hehehe.

With moving the RN Naval BF to Oz, I don’t really view India/Burma as a naval theater where I’ll need the naval support. About all I need is some support in Karachi to take fuel/supply. I wanted the BF in Oz before the DEI is taken and before Perth is put at risk, to give at least another “underdeveloped base” the ability to rearm the big ships. I figure I’ll get it there asap, rather than later… as even if I did leave it in Ceylon, it wouldn’t really be any use to me.

What I gather about the KB position, is that he’s trying to be in a relatively close support position to protect his invasions of the Solomon Isles and also the southern DEI.


I agree with your statement that you can use the Mini-KB to sweep through the DEI… but if you’re going to use the KB, use it… but then again, I’ve got a lot of Dutch subs setup at DEI choke-points, and all it takes is one golden torpedo…. It would certainly be nice to get one of my sub torps to hit something, seeings the carnage his subs are causing at my “DEI exit” points and every dang sub firing away at the Manila blockading force can’t hit jack squat.

Yes, the QE has a really early withdrawal date, but there’s enough time to make at least one run to Oz and back. She moves pretty fast ��


The production situation changed a few releases back - now only Resources and Oil production stop; other industry will go on as long as it has the inputs it needs. This is the "Stalingrad Tractor Factory" model of industrial output.



AcePylut -> RE: Mushrooms over Maizuru: Chickenboy (J) vs. AcePylut (A) (10/11/2018 9:46:55 PM)

Thanks for the info BB! Always something new to learn every day with this game.



T Rav -> RE: Mushrooms over Maizuru: Chickenboy (J) vs. AcePylut (A) (10/12/2018 12:47:17 AM)

I'm enjoying the AAR. It's much better than doing chores.

I just tell my wife that it is professional development for me. She doesn't believe that, but I'm sticking to my story.

T Rav



AcePylut -> RE: Mushrooms over Maizuru: Chickenboy (J) vs. AcePylut (A) (10/12/2018 2:44:58 PM)

Thanks T Rav and Rustysi and BBFanBoi. A few words of encouragement always helps.

Dec 17th:

Hong Kong withstands another attack. As there is no suppression of the airfield or port, every turn my level 1 forts get knocked to zero, and get built right back up to level 1… but, my defenders *are* losing this battle of attrition and won’t last much longer. In order to try and extend the defense, I’m going to get the Chinese C-47’s to reinforce HK with some troops. If HK can hold out a few more turns, or at least make my worthy opponent send more troops to finish the job, then that’s a victory in itself.

When I emailed this turn, I said there wasn’t much going on. Well, my smart opponent sent a sub to Tahiti, which promptly sank 2 xAKL and 1 xAK I had used to “just” pickup and drop off a French INF unit. I guess I’ll have to protect my convoys a little better, duh. In LA, I have an AA unit, a BF unit, an ENG unit, and a Marine INF unit that is getting picked up for transport to Tahiti, as I want to build up this port as a way station. Also, I’m going to pick up about 10 air groups for shipment to Oz. I’ll protect these convoys with the Saratoga and adequate DD’s and they will make the long route to Oz.

The Lex and Yorktown are “somewhere” in the Pacific, I think they will be ready for combat opportunities in about a week or so.

Tulagi and the Shortlands were invaded. The following islands in the Solomons are now lost: Lae, Kavieng, Shortlands, Tulagi, Luganville.

I’m torn between trying to massively reinforce Port Moresby or not. I want to reniforce, just to make it harder to invade, but then don’t want to throw troops away. I can airlift plenty of Oz squads into PM (sans heavy equipment), and I have a pair of Aussie CD units with a number of 6” guns that would make a nice reception to any invading fleets (but it would cost about 150ish PP to change their HQ so they can be transported). I would expect to lose this battle, but hopefully gain time… and really, am I going to use that CD unit or two anywhere else where it might be as effective as it would be trashing a potential PM invasion fleet? Probably not. I think I just convinced myself to forward-reinforce PM. I did say I want to be aggressive, so I can’t puss out now. I just wiffle-waffle back and forth, knowing that I can’t really stop the IJ from going where the IJ wants to go at this point in time. Yeah that reminds me, I need to send one of those CD units to Darwin and hope it gets there before Darwin gets invaded.

An Indian INF regiment landed in Rangoon today, bolstering its defense.

4 Enemy divisions entered Changsa today. I’m trying to sneak in a unit behind the IJ to cut off the supply path for these divisions. We’ll see how it goes.

In the DEI – not much to add. He consolidates his positions.

KB and multiple combat TF’s are still hanging around Sorong. I’ll readjust my search patterns to get more clarity on these units.

I'll post a screenie or two later, they always add to an AAR in a way that text doesn't.



rustysi -> RE: Mushrooms over Maizuru: Chickenboy (J) vs. AcePylut (A) (10/12/2018 6:51:33 PM)

quote:

IIRC if there are enemy troops in a hex with HI, the HI does not produce (IIRC, but not exactly sure).


What BB said.

quote:

What I gather about the KB position, is that he’s trying to be in a relatively close support position to protect his invasions of the Solomon Isles and also the southern DEI.


And in his current position he really does neither.[&:]

quote:

I’ve got a lot of Dutch subs setup at DEI choke-points,


And I would have a number of ASW TF's patrolling said shallow waters looking to send 'em to 'Davy Jones' Locker'.

quote:

Yes, the QE has a really early withdrawal date, but there’s enough time to make at least one run to Oz and back. She moves pretty fast


That was my understanding, but having never played the Allies, I just wanted to bring attention. Lest one forget.[;)]

quote:

I’m going to get the Chinese C-47’s to reinforce HK with some troops. If HK can hold out a few more turns,


Now that's a nice aggressive little move, and as you say, maybe you could last a bit longer.

quote:

I’m torn between trying to massively reinforce Port Moresby or not.


Always an Allied dilemma. Just plan on losing what ever you're willing to put in there, and if it doesn't happen your ahead of the game. Keep in mind though that its much easier for Japan to move overland than IRL. I did it in my current AI game just to see.

quote:

Aussie CD units with a number of 6” guns that would make a nice reception to any invading fleets


I don't know what your experience is, but I know that Japanese CA's will just shrug off hits from guns as large as 9.2". Although sometimes those will get in a telling blow. At any rate 6 inchers aren't going to do much against a bombardment fleet, but force him to bring a few more 'gunboats' to the party. That and a few in the invasion fleet and those CD's are just cannon fodder.

quote:

KB and multiple combat TF’s are still hanging around Sorong.


Good, nothing to do in that area.[8D]

OK, I'll stop buggin' ya for a bit.[:D]



AcePylut -> RE: Mushrooms over Maizuru: Chickenboy (J) vs. AcePylut (A) (10/13/2018 12:07:25 AM)

BANZAI!!!!

Wait, um, no, that doesn't work...


Remember Manila!!!!!

[image]local://upfiles/11397/6ABB0967BBF44ECF9C9D67666CDE0399.jpg[/image]



AcePylut -> RE: Mushrooms over Maizuru: Chickenboy (J) vs. AcePylut (A) (10/16/2018 2:02:48 AM)

Dec 18th. Today was a good day... as my subs vectored into Morotai in the previous post's screenie found gold.

[image]local://upfiles/11397/560B800C3EEF413A832B9751F675BE16.jpg[/image]



AcePylut -> RE: Mushrooms over Maizuru: Chickenboy (J) vs. AcePylut (A) (10/16/2018 2:03:20 AM)

But wait.. there's more!

[image]local://upfiles/11397/827080098A7A45589B3DB6CC44522168.jpg[/image]



AcePylut -> RE: Mushrooms over Maizuru: Chickenboy (J) vs. AcePylut (A) (10/16/2018 2:06:02 AM)

2 hit's on the Hiei, she'll be out of commission for a while. She says "sunk" but I'm not so sure.

Also, outside of Manila, the SS S-39 planted a torp into the DD Natsugumo, but in revenge, an IJ Sub near the West Coast sank a US DD.

But wait... there's more...

At Ichang, Chickenboy said he didn't authorize an attack, but for some reason, the IJ stack attacked and beat themselves up, right before the Chinese attacked.

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

Ground combat at Ichang (83,48)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 17198 troops, 128 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 660

Defending force 42579 troops, 273 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1419

Japanese adjusted assault: 430

Allied adjusted defense: 607

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
2816 casualties reported
Squads: 132 destroyed, 108 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 11 (3 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1146 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 132 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 29 (4 destroyed, 25 disabled)

Assaulting units:
11th RGC Temp. Division
34th Division
13th RGC Temp. Division

Defending units:
45th Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Corps
32nd Chinese Corps
68th Chinese Corps
67th Chinese Corps
75th Chinese Corps
26th Group Army


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


Ground combat at Ichang (83,48)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 40921 troops, 270 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1316

Defending force 15300 troops, 125 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 492

Allied adjusted assault: 1292

Japanese adjusted defense: 155

Allied assault odds: 8 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied forces CAPTURE Ichang !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), leaders(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
6827 casualties reported
Squads: 204 destroyed, 93 disabled
Non Combat: 98 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 42 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 58 (51 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 36 (36 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 3

Allied ground losses:
820 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 79 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
32nd Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Corps
45th Chinese Corps
68th Chinese Corps
67th Chinese Corps
75th Chinese Corps
26th Group Army

Defending units:
34th Division
13th RGC Temp. Division
11th RGC Temp. Division



AcePylut -> RE: Mushrooms over Maizuru: Chickenboy (J) vs. AcePylut (A) (10/16/2018 2:10:18 AM)

In the Solomons, it appears that the Japanese are probing at Port Moresby defenses... my retiring Brit BC is closeby and will try to form up with some scattered Allied ships to possibly "probe back".

The KB has disappeared from my screen, but I suspect it's close by, so if there isn't a 'dash and smash' opportunity for the allies, I will retire my fleet.


[image]local://upfiles/11397/FCACFEC2F02E4AF9A5B9739F0A87C59C.jpg[/image]



AcePylut -> RE: Mushrooms over Maizuru: Chickenboy (J) vs. AcePylut (A) (10/16/2018 2:12:39 AM)

And lastly, in the DEI, 3 DD's underwent a Nettie "bomb, but no torp" attack from bombers out of Singkawang. My DD's will test the waters on the fleet at Singkawang and see if I can smoosh some easy pickings. Right behind them will be my Houston/Boise TF for a possible bombardment/surface exchange next turn.

[image]local://upfiles/11397/B79470CE97DC424989B206AC09F6495C.jpg[/image]



BBfanboy -> RE: Mushrooms over Maizuru: Chickenboy (J) vs. AcePylut (A) (10/16/2018 1:42:52 PM)

Singkawang starts out with a pretty small AF but I think Kuching is a couple of levels bigger. The lack of torps in that attack is likely because he doesn't have an Air HQ on Borneo to provide them yet.
I like your aggressiveness. Let's hope "fortune favours the bold" holds true![:)]



AcePylut -> RE: Mushrooms over Maizuru: Chickenboy (J) vs. AcePylut (A) (10/16/2018 7:41:56 PM)

In thinking more about this, I believe these fleets in New Guinea are Buna and Gili-Gili invasion fleets. I suspect there is some carrier support closeby, but I don’t have search planes up and looking for it. The next turn, I will fly some PBY’s into Rabaul and PM and establish coverage. I wish I had thought of that last nite, but oh well.

This delay should give my “Brit BC Fleet” the time needed to form up and get into a close attack position. I can’t prevent the landings, but if I get lucky and time it right, I can maybe sink some ships.



AcePylut -> RE: Mushrooms over Maizuru: Chickenboy (J) vs. AcePylut (A) (10/16/2018 8:41:30 PM)

Singkawang's airfield is 3, and the strike vector (and mouseover) both showed that it was the offending airfield.



AcePylut -> RE: Mushrooms over Maizuru: Chickenboy (J) vs. AcePylut (A) (10/17/2018 7:30:32 PM)

Dec 19th

Hong Kong withstands yet another deliberate attack. The IJ troops are pretty beat up, they have failed to get a 1-1 for the last 3 or 4 attacks. Sooner or later, my HK boys will run out of supplies and replacements, but not this turn and not next turn 😊 Attacking AV was 567, but only 399 after adjustment. The defending force AV is 119, but 553 after adjustment. The IJ lost 25 squads destroyed and 22 disabled. I lost 3 squads destroyed and 8 disabled. I do have “accept replacements on” for the HK troops. I am not able to fly any Chinese troops into HK. Something about “restricted units” or such, and I don’t have enough PP to change the base to fly in Chinese troops.

2 Chinese units just entered Canton, and 2 more will arrive in about 3-4 days. These troops are “why” there aren’t enough IJ troops at HK to finish the job. Chickenboy is rightfully protecting Canton from the Chinese horde (although, all he really needs to defend it is about a regiment, given it’s heavy urbanness terrain and weakarse Chinese attackers).

Elsewhere – my 3 DD headed to Singkawang got intercepted by an IJ fleet of 3 CA and 4 DD. After a set of 3-4 running battles along the coast, all of my DD’s were sunk and the IJ fleet retired to Singkawang. The Japanese will be out of torps and moderately low on ammo as my DD’s did put up a valiant effort and hit the enemy a few times, but no serious damage inflicted. Mouseover at Singkawang shows multiple TF’s and 70 IJ bombers. I may send in the Houston/Boise TF to see what it can do… however… if one of those IJ transport TF’s is unloading an Air HQ and the bombers have torps – it may get ugly for me. If I do send in my fleet, I will send every bomber I have at Singkawang’s airfield and hope to suppress it a little. I’m undecided at the moment on what I’ll do. The BB POW tf is too far away to do anything (it’s by Ambon just chillaxin).

Near PM, the “Gili-Gili” SCTF pulled back and is supporting a fleet headed towards Buna. I’m sorry but ever since Flat Top, I’ve always called it Gili-Gili and not Milne Bay. My Repulse fleet isn’t quite formed up yet, but will sit a few hexes SW of the “gili-gili” gap for a turn and be prepared. This will also allow me to get some search coverage out of PM and Rabaul to search for the KB.

Speaking of – the KB and Mini-KB has been out of sight for a few days now. Perhaps it went to rearm sorties, perhaps it’s lurking out of range waiting for me to make a stupid mistake. As such, my aggressive level will be toned down to a more cautious level for those locations just inside any of my search ranges. Across the South Pacific, I have multiple AVD’s and AV’s slowly getting into position to setup a multi-layered search coverage. It’s the key for me, right now.

Morotai, Davao, and Victoria Point all fell to the enemy today.



AcePylut -> RE: Mushrooms over Maizuru: Chickenboy (J) vs. AcePylut (A) (10/18/2018 1:31:41 PM)

After careful deliberation, I sent in the Houston/Boise/DeRuyter 4DD tf on a full speed dash into Singkawang.
There are three factors that caused hesitation:
1) I hope that the IJ fleet is moderately low on ammo (I believe so)
2) I hope that there isn’t another similar IJ SCTF close by (I don’t think there is).
3) hope the Singkawang Netties don’t have torps (I don’t know).

My thoughts on each:
#1- I feel confident considering the actions against the 3 DD fleet yesterday. At the least, I know the IJ fleet they expended many of their torps. I know I put a few shells into 2 CA’s so hopefully their “flames” make them easier to spot and hit (I have no idea if this is coded so I’m role-playing this hope).
#2- I consider the IJ fleets in the Solomon’s, Esprito Santo, Morotai, and KB/MiniKB escort duty, and the lack of Allied Surface fleets north of Borneo, there isn’t really a reason to have heavier IJ ships in the region. I’m pretty sure he’ll make the Palembang move when he’s got air superiority, and is assured that the POW and Repulse are not close by (or at least, are not a factor due to torpedo Nettie threat)
#3- In attempt to limit this threat, I’ve rebased all my Dutch bombers to Palembang and set them to attack Singkawang’s airfield at 2k feet alt. Mouseover of Singkawang and Kuching shows no fighters, so hopefully I only have to contend with AA. These bombers will be at extended range and will each only carry (2) 300kb bombs. I have about 40 on attack. Also, I re-based a fair amount of my Dutch search planes to Batavia and have them set to airfield attack. They also carry 300kb bombs. It’s the best I can do. I’ve always considered the Dutch air force a “one shot weapon” and this is the shot that gives me the best chance to do something effective with it, rather than get slaughtered against CAP trying to stop an unstoppable invasion fleet of Java.

These three items made me waffle between being aggressive and cautious. I want to play aggressive, but not stupid. This would be aggressive and could lead to a few ships sunk on my side for no gain, it could lead to an approximate split of ships sunk (I’d be happy with that), it could lead to me smashing a few IJ ships at little to no cost (I’d be ecstatic about that).
It came down to this: Even if I do get smashed for no IJ ships sunk, I have gained the “initiative” in a sense. Such an action tells Chickenboy that I’m not afraid to fight with important ships in a less than 50/50 battle. This will force him to believe that “anywhere he goes, I might show up with combat ships and planes” and that will force him to protect all his fleets with what he believes to be adequate to defend against my ships. There won’t be any “no escorts for the AK’s’ invasions. This will delay, however, briefly, the invasion of the DEI and gains me time. And time gained, for the Allies at this stage of the game, is victory. This is why I’m sending the fleet it… not so much because I believe I will score a dramatic victory, but because I want him to ask himself, on ever decision to invade anything, “Do I have enough ships, and can I afford to lose them”



anarchyintheuk -> RE: Mushrooms over Maizuru: Chickenboy (J) vs. AcePylut (A) (10/18/2018 3:35:20 PM)

+1 Gili Gili



AcePylut -> RE: Mushrooms over Maizuru: Chickenboy (J) vs. AcePylut (A) (10/18/2018 4:47:54 PM)

Just watched the replay and all my hopes failed.

Turns out there was a bigger, larger fleet at Singkawang, and the netties did have torps.

A few running battles with a 2 BB 2 CA 2 CL 6 DD Japanese fleet put the Houston, DeRuyter, and 2 DD's on the bottom of the ocean. The Boise took 1 large caliber hit and is damaged. The netties with their torps didn't really do anything but finish off a DD.

I figured out what happened - a Dutch Pilot spotted BB's, but translated the Dutch "B" into an English "P" in his reports, so we suspected there were 2 PB's, not 2 BB's. That's a fatal mistake.... fatal for the Dutch pilot as he's been taken out back and shot.


That's my excuse and I'm running with it :)

So.....

1) I hope that the IJ fleet is moderately low on ammo - Doesn't matter
2) I hope that there isn’t another similar IJ SCTF close by - There was.
3) hope the Singkawang Netties don’t have torps - They do.


As Sun Tze said - "If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle."

I knew myself, but not my enemy, so on this engagement - I suffered a defeat.



rustysi -> RE: Mushrooms over Maizuru: Chickenboy (J) vs. AcePylut (A) (10/18/2018 10:49:52 PM)

quote:

Just watched the replay and all my hopes failed.


Geeze, that was quick.[:D]

There's another axiom that maybe you should consider. Something about 'a fleet in being'.[:D]



AcePylut -> RE: Mushrooms over Maizuru: Chickenboy (J) vs. AcePylut (A) (10/19/2018 1:37:44 PM)

The Main Body of the KB is at the Admiralty Islands west of Kavieng. A detachment of the KB - perhaps the Mini-KB - is located at Shortlands. Also, Efate flipped to IJ control. I'm thinking this portends a move to New Zealand, or perhaps Australia. It seems like an awful lot of air power to cover the PM invasion. It might also indicate a move to the East towards Suva and Pago Pago. They are all low hanging fruit.



BBfanboy -> RE: Mushrooms over Maizuru: Chickenboy (J) vs. AcePylut (A) (10/19/2018 5:29:29 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: AcePylut

The Main Body of the KB is at the Admiralty Islands west of Kavieng. A detachment of the KB - perhaps the Mini-KB - is located at Shortlands. Also, Efate flipped to IJ control. I'm thinking this portends a move to New Zealand, or perhaps Australia. It seems like an awful lot of air power to cover the PM invasion. It might also indicate a move to the East towards Suva and Pago Pago. They are all low hanging fruit.


Chickenboy is an experienced IJ player and he knows the dangers of over-extension, which a NZ gambit would be - big time. I think he is hunting your ships and especially your carriers while he knows he has superiority in numbers, quality and experience. Every IJ player dreams of knocking out all the US carriers and having a free hand right into 1943. At the same time there are some mandatory targets he has to cover for his invasions - Rabaul, Port Moresby, Milne Bay and Horn Island, plus all the Solomons.



rustysi -> RE: Mushrooms over Maizuru: Chickenboy (J) vs. AcePylut (A) (10/20/2018 7:17:04 PM)

quote:

Chickenboy is an experienced IJ player and he knows the dangers of over-extension, which a NZ gambit would be - big time. I think he is hunting your ships and especially your carriers while he knows he has superiority in numbers, quality and experience. Every IJ player dreams of knocking out all the US carriers and having a free hand right into 1943. At the same time there are some mandatory targets he has to cover for his invasions - Rabaul, Port Moresby, Milne Bay and Horn Island, plus all the Solomons.


+1



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