RE: Intellectus Ex Nihilo (Wal-Mart on Ice) (Full Version)

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Canoerebel -> RE: Intellectus Ex Nihilo (Wal-Mart on Ice) (7/25/2019 3:40:30 PM)

11/29/43

Battle of Kusaie: The Allied strike is also an alpha - no secondary strikes following. The enemy CAP is about 60 Zeroes - far too few to handle what's coming. The first target is Junyo.

[image]local://upfiles/8143/1F4EB43B556146FDB5251D22A1731D4A.jpg[/image]



Canoerebel -> RE: Intellectus Ex Nihilo (Wal-Mart on Ice) (7/25/2019 3:41:33 PM)

11/29/43

Battle of Kusaie Island: Next is Hiyo.


[image]local://upfiles/8143/19652A0075EF44A69E67F25A4FF1BA15.jpg[/image]



Canoerebel -> RE: Intellectus Ex Nihilo (Wal-Mart on Ice) (7/25/2019 3:43:53 PM)

11/29/43

Battle of Kusaie Island: Then CVL Mizuho...and thereafter more and more and more capital ships targeted and hit. It is a one-sided bloodbath.

[image]local://upfiles/8143/C3AF205023E341C98EB3A7BE09E8560D.jpg[/image]



jwolf -> RE: Intellectus Ex Nihilo (Wal-Mart on Ice) (7/25/2019 3:44:02 PM)

This looks like a rare miscalculation by Dave. Congrats for some long-awaited revenge!



Canoerebel -> RE: Intellectus Ex Nihilo (Wal-Mart on Ice) (7/25/2019 3:45:39 PM)

11/29/43

Battle of Kusaie Island: The carnage in the a.m. phase is great:

[image]local://upfiles/8143/D9266C6281044AE9BF340EF87882785C.jpg[/image]



Gridley380 -> RE: Intellectus Ex Nihilo (Wal-Mart on Ice) (7/25/2019 3:49:51 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

11/29/43

Battle of Kusaie Island: The carnage in the a.m. phase is great:



Oooh, pretty! :-)

Five second-line carriers gone, given the position and IJN damage control a good chance two more will sink on their own, and you even sliced up the screen pretty well!

There should be some Navy Crosses for this action!



Canoerebel -> RE: Intellectus Ex Nihilo (Wal-Mart on Ice) (7/25/2019 3:51:03 PM)

11/29/43

Battle of Kusiae Island: There are no Japanese aircraft in the sky during the afternoon phase. There is again a solitary and major Allied strike, which does a good job of hitting good ships.

In the end, confirmation of all carriers sunk plus CA Mikuma. The two BBs are clearly crippled, so DS will try to finish them off tomorrow.

Allied losses are minimal. No ships hit. Even aircraft losses less than about 20. Just the greatest day - almost the exact opposite of what happened in the Bay of Bengal five months back. This is as lopsided as the Allied carrier victory vs. John III near the Marshalls, and involves bigger ships.

[image]local://upfiles/8143/59768303479A4EE8B517878A09FE46BB.jpg[/image]



Gridley380 -> RE: Intellectus Ex Nihilo (Wal-Mart on Ice) (7/25/2019 3:53:11 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

11/29/43

Battle of Kusiae Island: There are no Japanese aircraft in the sky during the afternoon phase. There is again a solitary and major Allied strike, which does a good job of hitting good ships.

In the end, confirmation of all carriers sunk plus CA Mikuma. The two BBs are clearly crippled, so DS will try to finish them off tomorrow.

Allied losses are minimal. No ships hit. Even aircraft losses less than about 20.



Encore! Encore! :-)



jwolf -> RE: Intellectus Ex Nihilo (Wal-Mart on Ice) (7/25/2019 4:08:32 PM)

With that enemy carrier force destroyed, the Japanese just lost their flexibility. They still have the KB, which I assume is still ferocious and very dangerous. But they have nothing else, and can only cover one area at a time. Conversely, your ability for force projection will only grow (unless you suffer a really major defeat).

Is this interpretation correct?



Lovejoy -> RE: Intellectus Ex Nihilo (Wal-Mart on Ice) (7/25/2019 4:14:27 PM)

Well done CR!



Canoerebel -> RE: Intellectus Ex Nihilo (Wal-Mart on Ice) (7/25/2019 4:27:44 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: jwolf

With that enemy carrier force destroyed, the Japanese just lost their flexibility. They still have the KB, which I assume is still ferocious and very dangerous. But they have nothing else, and can only cover one area at a time. Conversely, your ability for force projection will only grow (unless you suffer a really major defeat).

Is this interpretation correct?


That's exactly right. Dave has to guess now and deploy KB accordingly. He fears an attack in the Andaman Sea or Indian Ocean but the Allies are weighted in the Pacific. He'll counter. I'll probably counter his counter by moving into the Coral Sea for ops against New Guinea or in the Gulf of Carpentaria. If I can keep tabs on KB or accurately predict where it isn't, I can proceed with major amphibious ops. I think that's the end result of this action.



RangerJoe -> RE: Intellectus Ex Nihilo (Wal-Mart on Ice) (7/25/2019 4:59:42 PM)

As I pointed out in another AAR, as some people would say, payback is a female canid . . .

You could even consider diving your forces and start attacking even more places as long as you know where the KB is, but that might need a few more carriers to be safely done.



Canoerebel -> RE: Intellectus Ex Nihilo (Wal-Mart on Ice) (7/25/2019 5:44:02 PM)

I think Dave is sending every carrier this way (that's his way, anyhow), with projected date of arrival perhaps as soon now as six days. I'm trying to shoe-horn in an invasion of Ponape, which I probably don't have quite enough time to do. Can my carriers take on his? Part of the equation is that I can't deplete sorties chasing merchantmen, etc. :)



jwolf -> RE: Intellectus Ex Nihilo (Wal-Mart on Ice) (7/25/2019 5:48:14 PM)

Dave has a history of high speed runs with KB when he senses the need. Maybe you should hold off on Ponape; collect your winnings and leave the casino for the night.



Canoerebel -> RE: Intellectus Ex Nihilo (Wal-Mart on Ice) (7/25/2019 6:03:57 PM)

That's a possibility too. But his KB is coming from Singers, so if he's sprinting, that's wear and tear.



Lawless1 -> RE: Intellectus Ex Nihilo (Wal-Mart on Ice) (7/25/2019 6:12:10 PM)

Well played CR



USSAmerica -> RE: Intellectus Ex Nihilo (Wal-Mart on Ice) (7/25/2019 6:57:42 PM)

Nice work, Dan! [sm=00000436.gif]



Gridley380 -> RE: Intellectus Ex Nihilo (Wal-Mart on Ice) (7/25/2019 6:57:47 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

I think Dave is sending every carrier this way (that's his way, anyhow), with projected date of arrival perhaps as soon now as six days. I'm trying to shoe-horn in an invasion of Ponape, which I probably don't have quite enough time to do. Can my carriers take on his? Part of the equation is that I can't deplete sorties chasing merchantmen, etc. :)


I'd be tempted to call it a win and go back to port to replenish - sure, with only ~20 A/C lost today you're probably at 90%+ air group strength, and after that short, smashing victory fatigue, sorties, and morale are probably all pretty good.

But pretty good isn't the same as great. Your strength will only increase, and now he only has one carrier force. If you did get into a long running battle it could turn against you and undo the advantage you've gained here.

Go home, polish out the dents, and be ready to face KB at 100% next time.



Canoerebel -> RE: Intellectus Ex Nihilo (Wal-Mart on Ice) (7/25/2019 7:16:47 PM)

There are other factors, most importantly the pending arrival of the CVE TF from Wake Island. I think the escort carriers carry 300 aircraft, 75% of which are fighters (including some F4U-1As). With that force added to DS, and with the likelihood (not certainty) that Singers KB can't arrive before the Ponape invasion, I'm presently inclined to see things through.

In steaming from Pearl towards Ontong Java, hoping to make an intercept, DS used one flank-speed run. The carriers were set to the usual offensive/CAP settings and were split from the CVEs. All of that is contrary to my usual practice, which Dave is fully aware of. So, for the record, I do use flank speed on occasion! (The most recent occasion prior hereto was in my game with John III, in late 1944, trying to chase down some raiding CVs near Ndeni.)



Canoerebel -> RE: Intellectus Ex Nihilo (Wal-Mart on Ice) (7/25/2019 8:28:47 PM)

11/30/43 to 12/2/43

CenPac: In the aftermath of the battle, no cripples were located. I think it's 100% that one of the BBs went down; 70% that the other did (by scuttling).

DS swept the area and got close enough to Truk to take out some merchantmen.

In this calm interlude, a YMS's sudden report of an air threat due N of Truk caused consternation. Even while waiting for the Ponape invasion TFs to move up, DS will retire somewhat. I hope to develop the situation before making a final decision. I definitely won't proceed if there's any chance of a large scale surprise.

[image]local://upfiles/8143/258967B532344D9E96191287B6553297.jpg[/image]



Canoerebel -> RE: Intellectus Ex Nihilo (Wal-Mart on Ice) (7/25/2019 8:52:59 PM)

Thanks for the comments and kudos, gents. This one was lovely. We each play this game for months and sometimes years between a good one on this order. This was especially sweet given what happened in the Bay of Bengal in June, five months back.

Dave didn't say a thing. He just kept on flipping turns all day long. He's something. The turn-flipping will eventually help him put this in the past, and it's forced me to do the same. I regret that just a bit. Gotta savor the really good days, because they are so rare and therefore precious.



BBfanboy -> RE: Intellectus Ex Nihilo (Wal-Mart on Ice) (7/25/2019 9:01:25 PM)

I will add my congrats - it isn't often that a plan goes off as set, and even rarer for it to go off better than expected! Your diligence in gathering Intel and using maskirovka is finally rewarded! Hoist a sasparilla (sp?) or two! [sm=party-smiley-012.gif][sm=party-smiley-012.gif]

I think that air threat could have come from Truk - just some of his bombers doing Nav Search? I don't know, but I wonder if a sub Glen could trigger the air threat warning. Small ships seem to be very susceptible to the warning because they are vulnerable and have weak AA.



Canoerebel -> RE: Intellectus Ex Nihilo (Wal-Mart on Ice) (7/25/2019 9:10:38 PM)

The air threat seemed to generate that TF icon, to the WNW. I didn't see that icon again at any point during the turn, so I think it could be the source of the "Air Threat" message.



T Rav -> RE: Intellectus Ex Nihilo (Wal-Mart on Ice) (7/26/2019 1:46:07 AM)

With my best Rebel Yell... WHOOP!!!!



RangerJoe -> RE: Intellectus Ex Nihilo (Wal-Mart on Ice) (7/26/2019 1:47:21 AM)

A very nice job and I think that prudence might be the better part of valor now if the KB is coming. You will keep getting stronger, let him dance to your tune as you don't want to be out of position and sorties.



CaptBeefheart -> RE: Intellectus Ex Nihilo (Wal-Mart on Ice) (7/26/2019 3:36:22 AM)

Well done. I wonder what that 3/3 detection level on your DS showed him? Not much, I'd guess.

By the way, I like how you did that Wake invasion: overwhelming firepower and I assume plenty of supply to go with it.

Cheers,
CB



Bif1961 -> RE: Intellectus Ex Nihilo (Wal-Mart on Ice) (7/26/2019 4:56:49 PM)

[&o] Congrats and now you feel on top of the world MA! You did what most Allied players hope to do, cripple or eliminate the mini-KB so he has to decide what to protect with carriers and what he has to leave to land base Naval Air. His decision cycle has just been sped up and you have gained both the initative and flexibility.



Canoerebel -> RE: Intellectus Ex Nihilo (Wal-Mart on Ice) (7/31/2019 11:58:51 AM)

12/3/43 to 12/25/43

KB at Sorong: Allied long-range recon from Coen found KB on the 24th. KB remained there on the 25th. She's perfectly positioned to respond to threats in the Solomon Sea region, the Gulf of Carpentaria, and the DEI. The Allies have designs in two of those regions in the next week. I'm assuming Dave won't like the detection and will move KB but the challenge for him is "where?" There's no other big port nearly as well-position to cover everything. I won't know exactly where it goes unless he moves it forward, committing to one vector or another.

Rabaul: Night bombers from Portland Roads ran into light night fighters on the 24th, which stymied the bombing enough to score no hits. But Dave had few fighters there overall, so the bombers went in naked in daylight on Christmas Day - 36 in all, scoring multiple hits on a host of ships including two AS, an AD, an AKE and a DD. A number of ships sank.

[image]local://upfiles/8143/E81359F764B34C6CBF02C4F0C9BAFC54.jpg[/image]



Canoerebel -> RE: Intellectus Ex Nihilo (Wal-Mart on Ice) (7/31/2019 3:55:58 PM)

12/26/43 and 12/27/43

Invasion of Milne Bay: KB remained at Sorong long enough that I triggered the Milne Bay invasion. The invasion armada got a bit of a head start, but Dave can disrupt things if he uses flank speed. Tomorrow should be fairly quiet. The day after may be very noisy. Should I take on KB in this environment? KB has about 900 aircraft; DS has about 1,000. He'll have friendly airfields, though I don't think they'll be particular effective for various reasons. Rabaul is somewhat distant and poses the biggest threat.

[image]local://upfiles/8143/1A83FAFC26C04FC4BBA771F388280E7A.jpg[/image]



Canoerebel -> RE: Intellectus Ex Nihilo (Wal-Mart on Ice) (7/31/2019 4:06:21 PM)

P.S. The more I play, the more apparent it is that information is the most important element in the game, ahead of logistics, planning and tactics.



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