RE: I Have Returned (Full Version)

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RangerJoe -> RE: I Have Returned (2/19/2020 2:32:04 AM)

Get Naval Support built up to repair all minor damage first for the Wee Vee. Then the shipyard should be faster.

The S boats are slower, that is why they have trouble making contacts, especially against faster ships.

Per can get supplies and fuel from eastern Australia by rail if it is needed. Still good to build it up but build the fortifications first so it would be harder for the Japanese to grab.



Taxcutter -> RE: I Have Returned (2/20/2020 11:40:32 PM)

At this point Perth will not be easily grabbed. I've gotten the 6th and 7th Aus divisions there. Geraldton is solidly held by home guard brigades.

It's a long way from Soerabaja to Perth. I don't think the IJN has that much lift capacity to boot the Auddies out of Perth/Geraldton.

This script is pestering me with nuisance invasions of places he can't hold (Lord Howe Island, Horn Island, etc). He sends surface raids to the Hawaiian Islands. Great training for my USMC dive bombers.



RangerJoe -> RE: I Have Returned (2/21/2020 2:03:49 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Taxcutter

At this point Perth will not be easily grabbed. I've gotten the 6th and 7th Aus divisions there. Geraldton is solidly held by home guard brigades.

It's a long way from Soerabaja to Perth. I don't think the IJN has that much lift capacity to boot the Auddies out of Perth/Geraldton.

This script is pestering me with nuisance invasions of places he can't hold (Lord Howe Island, Horn Island, etc). He sends surface raids to the Hawaiian Islands. Great training for my USMC dive bombers.


PBYs also can torpedo and at night as well. Just set a carrier above or below the route in and out to train your naval air crews. I sank the Yamato one game with a torpedo from a Devestator (the pilot died doing so), then the next day with three PBY torpedoes, the third day had a Devestator hit with a torpedo which put the Yamato out of my misery.



jwolf -> RE: I Have Returned (2/21/2020 2:05:23 PM)

quote:

... put the Yamato out of my misery.


Not how this is usually put, but I like it better this way! [:D]



Taxcutter -> RE: I Have Returned (2/21/2020 3:07:14 PM)

Since PH, I have used my PBYs for search and a little ASW. As a result they have low experience and low Low naval attack skill.

Fortunately AI didn't have a particularly big first turn. Sank Arizona and Oklahoma. Badly (over 350 days) damaged California and West Virginia. All the others? Less than 60 days in the yards.

As a result the Maryland was A-OK til the last raid (now she has 40-odd days pierside damage and is at PH. I have six Standards moving to a concentration point at Alameda. I intend to concentrate the Standards at PH - leaving Nevada to head up a specialist bombardment group including the Dutch gunboat Soerabaya with her pair of 280 mm guns.

IJN CAs are tough, but a hail of radar-directed 14 and 16 inch gunfire will mow that down. While under repqir, I did upgrade the old BBs with radar, but I really don't want to commit them until after the 6/42 upgrade (500+ flak value).

AI's tour of PH got two CAs and one CL beaten up some by the limited dive bombers I have at Pearl.



Taxcutter -> RE: I Have Returned (2/21/2020 3:29:05 PM)

As for islands:

AI ran a big, honkin' IJA infantry division (the 11th AV >405) into Koumac. I already had the 41st US Army division at Noumea and had begun digging in. I used the 1st USMC Raiders to lure the 11th south, so it is now outside Noumea (where I now have two US infantry divisions, two battalions of armor and four artillery regiments.) Soon as some more troops enter the area, I'll nab Koumac and put the 11th out of supply. The 11th is on good defensive terrain and I need to impose low supply to offset that terrain. For now I'll pummel them with artillery and A-24s.

I have a USMC defense battalion, and Army infantry regiment and a battalion of 6 inch coastal defense guns and lots of supply at Luganville.

Canton is getting stronger. I have run in two US Army infantry battalions and another is on the way. I have another CD regiment waiting to be sneaked in. Supply stocks are more than adequate. AI visits twice a month but Canton is so far from Truk he can't stay there very long.

AI did nab Diego Garcia just after some of my little AKLs sailed for Capetown. Again these troops are a LONG way from support and the brits will get them.

As soon as the SeaBees get the port at Midway up to level 4, I'll pull them out and put in another CD regiment. By then, my mine pools should be deep enough to strengthen to over 500. By May, it should be a tough nut to crack.

My CVs are still at san Diego training air crews and upgrading the ships. When I ran the CVs back to San Diego a IJN sub hit Lexington 11 times and sank her. (How did a single sub get by 8 of my most modern DDs and hit her ELEVEN times?) So I'm not too offensively minded right now.

I have completed my four-piper upgrades. Two became APDs and the rest became DEs (ASW=8).



Taxcutter -> RE: I Have Returned (2/27/2020 2:31:17 PM)

Mini-Midway in the Coral Sea

May 10-13

The aggressive AI script gave up on surface raiding the Hawaiian Islands. I have beaucoup search aircraft up and spotted him. I don't yet have enough to meet him head-on so I pulled everything into Pearl and left the AI to consider the guns of Fort Kamehameha. His fuel ran out and he withdrew to the west.

The AI put 12,000 troops onto Canton Island but he is nowhere near able to eject me. I have 20% higher AV and am running reinforcements in. I got two battalions of the 102nd regiment in and the third wait at Pago Pago. I'm running in the 54th CD regiment. Those big CD regiments are murder on assault transports. Mine fields help as do level four fortifications. Swarms of S-boats make it an unhealthy place for Kido Butai. I do maintain AS on Pago Pago and Palmyra Island to keep the S-boat swarm dense.

I am grinding down his infantry division of New Caledonia.

So the AI shifts his attention west. Port Moresby has more infantry than his little force can handle and I've been running in assets to hold onto it. Three Australian brigades, some US artillery and flak, an engineer regiment and some small base forces aggregating about 100 plane support. Plenty of supply to stand off a siege.

Up until now his CVEs and CVLs have been aiding in cleaning up the DEI and PI. He has escorting Zeros for carrier strike planes hitting helplessly abandoned garrisons. I fugure the script is building up experience and land bombing skills.

So now he shifts these and some surface assets to Rabaul and swoops into Port Moresby and (more importantly) Brisbane. Unfortunately for the AI these are hornets' nests of my (dubious) USAAF and RAAF fighters. All P-40E and P-39D with pilots of ~50 EXP and ~55 Air skill. Roughly 90 fighters at Port Moresby and 125 at Brisbane. I don't have enough base forces yet to spread them out much. I have good search forces (B-17D, B-17E, Catalinas, and Hudsons) so I saw him coming. So I reset the fighter squadrons to 90% CAP, 10% training, and max range of 0.

His strike hit Brisbane and got hit by 110 fighters at altitude = 15000. My fighter lost only about the same as the Zero losses. (Not the IJN varsity I figure). But the P-39s and P-40s massacred the Kates and Vals. By time he passed Brisbane and headed for Sydney he was out of strike planes. Good thing - I had no fighters at Sydney.

Same thing on a smaller scale at Port Moresby. Even up against the Zeros and crushed the strike planes.

In this whole fracas I lost only about six fighter pilots. Range at Zero means they parachute back onto their own bases where the IJN pilots are gone for good. Airframe losses were not a problem as both bases are well-supplied and the airframe replacement pools are very deep.

It's a long way from Rabaul to Sydney so the TF retired to the north and a second phase opened up.

AI was attempting an amphibious invasion at Port Moresby at the same time I was running the Aus 22nd brigade in. Escorting cruisers on both sides ignored each other and slaughtered transports. My cruisers (CA Pensacola and CL St Louis) sank five transports and a bunch of ground-pounders but the IJN cruiser Mikuma got the transports carrying the 22nd brigade. I really wanted the 22nd alive into PM, but now they are fish food. AI put a few ground-pounders ashore (composition indeterminate at this time but my hold on PM is not immediately threatened.

Most of my US Army troops are tied up on New Caledonia, so I'll have to spend some political points and activate some more Aussies.

WitP-AE is like real war. Turns and turns of boredom and moments of furious action.



Canoerebel -> RE: I Have Returned (2/27/2020 2:46:48 PM)

Hey, Taxcutter, thanks for posting the AAR. I'm glad you've joined the community. I have a prediction to make.

If you continue to find the game involving "turns and turns of boredom," you'll leave it soon enough.

If you come to find that every turn is exciting, whether there's combat action or not, you'll stay. I love every single turn of the game, because I'm planning so far ahead, and taking the little steps that turn into big things in three months or a year, and watching things happen, and trying to gauge what my opponent is up to, etc.

Some people find backpacking the Appalachian Trail extremely boring and tedious. They stick in ear buds and listen to music. For most of us, the chance to think and study and mull and observe and relish the thought of the next cold spring or lunch or break on the top of the mountain means there's never boredom. Ever.

Different strokes.



Cheesesteak -> RE: I Have Returned (2/27/2020 2:58:09 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Hey, Taxcutter, thanks for posting the AAR. I'm glad you've joined the community. I have a prediction to make.

If you continue to find the game involving "turns and turns of boredom," you'll leave it soon enough.

If you come to find that every turn is exciting, whether there's combat action or not, you'll stay. I love every single turn of the game, because I'm planning so far ahead, and taking the little steps that turn into big things in three months or a year, and watching things happen, and trying to gauge what my opponent is up to, etc.

Some people find backpacking the Appalachian Trail extremely boring and tedious. They stick in ear buds and listen to music. For most of us, the chance to think and study and mull and observe and relish the thought of the next cold spring or lunch or break on the top of the mountain means there's never boredom. Ever.

Different strokes.


+1

I'd only add this: different strokes can also take the form of AI vs PBEM. There are a lot of great players who exclusively play against the AI. For me, it tends to be a diminishing return. Before dropping, I'd advise giving a noob-friendly PBEM game a try.



Chickenboy -> RE: I Have Returned (2/27/2020 3:06:55 PM)

Hiya Taxcutter,

Like Canoerebel says-welcome to the game and this community!

Back when I used to play against the AI, I found the first 5-6 months of the war riveting. The breathless action, the flight to safety, the defensive stands that skewered the AI's poorly constructed invasion efforts. All good stuff.

But after the AI shot its proverbial bolt, then the game stagnated. It's not like the Japanese can come up with another fleet carrier on a spur of the moment after KB is whittled down. The AI lacks imagination and is incapable of getting out of its logistical handcuffs once their tide recesses. I found myself slaughtering amphibious TFs with 100,000 troops aboard. I found myself setting up CAP traps that the Japanese airforces repeatedly ran into in senseless headlong slaughter. I found that I no longer had to retreat from historically lost ground. Simply put-the AI no longer provided me a good game.

After initial reluctance, I took on the mantle of a PBEM campaign. It made all the difference in the world. There is no more apt an opponent than another human. I've never looked back and, like Canoerebel, I relish every turn like it's the finest wine or juicy morsel of steak. Every day. It's amazing.

So, when you're ready for it, try a PBEM in one of the scenarios and then consider moving further. You'll see the difference right away. The Opponents Wanted section of the board is a good place to start and still very active. I've been known to do some of these from time to time as well...[8D]



Taxcutter -> RE: I Have Returned (2/27/2020 4:02:56 PM)

Let me assure you, I have no intention of quitting. Nor am I a rookie. I started with Uncommon Valor. If any horse could throw this cowboy, it would have been UV with all those fragments of units.

If you look far enough back you can find entries from 2010 at least. I just got throw when the Robber of Redmond jammed Windows 10 down my throat, and my old version of WitP wouldn't work at all. Worse yet, it sounded like Matrix had given up on it, too. Good thing I was wrong.

Playing this game teaches one a lot that resonates with real history. Logistics rules. You gotta think (game) months ahead. Train your pilots. Put aggressive skippers in subs. Learn the relative advantages and disadvantages of equipment and upgrades. For instance, I hold onto B-17Ds like gold. Their speed and long range make them unexcelled for naval search until the recon variants of the B-24 and B-29 come along. P-39s are fine bomber-killers if you combine them with more agile planes. P-47s are clumsy if you treat them like normal fighters. Set them for max altitude and they are wonderful Zero-killers.

This fall I'm retiring and will get into a PBEM because a0 I'll have the time and by then I'll be sharp enough that only the first couple turns are necessarily long.

Actually I've played three games against the AI all the way through to surrender.(Oct 1944, Jan. 1945, and May 1945) Mostly as training missions to master heavy amphibious warfare. Only thing I think I've missed is atomic bombs. Has anybody ever played a game where the AI made a competent attack against India?

I'm picking up Silent Hunter again after getting bored with SH2. Guys say it has a steep learning curve. I tell them: No problema, I've played WitP-AE all the way through. Big problem with SH3: My Cincinnati Deutsch can't keep up with the real language.

The only game that got the better of me was World of Tanks. After four years of trying I concluded there was no way to get ahead of the cheating endemic to the game.



BBfanboy -> RE: I Have Returned (2/27/2020 5:24:03 PM)

quote:

Taxcutter: IJN CAs are tough, but a hail of radar-directed 14 and 16 inch gunfire will mow that down. While under repqir, I did upgrade the old BBs with radar, but I really don't want to commit them until after the 6/42 upgrade (500+ flak value).


Don't equate having radar with having radar fire control. Getting the fire control automatically fed by radar comes later, in 1944 IIRC. Alfred implied it is one of those "under the hood" things that is not announced but happens on a certain date on ships with the latest radar. This is accurate since the old BBs at Surigao Strait in October 1944 had a mixture of the latest fire control (which fired accurately at Fuso and company) and some that had older radars and no radar fire control (which used the shell splashes of the equipped BBs as an aiming point for their salvos).

In 1941 to 1943 crew experience and captain quality matters far more than the radar fitted. The Japanese CAs and DDs regularly enjoy night fights where they close on the old US BBs and have an easy time hitting such large, ungainly targets with long lances. Meanwhile the US BBs rarely score with their main guns.
If you do use the old BBs for surface battles early on, give them lots of CLs and DDs to hold off the enemy from your BB line.



Taxcutter -> RE: I Have Returned (2/28/2020 2:22:11 PM)

Good point about CLs and DDs with any battleships. Think four Brooklyns plus about 10 DD are enough?

I prefer to keep Atlanta-class CLAA as flak support for CVTFs.



Taxcutter -> RE: I Have Returned (2/28/2020 2:40:18 PM)

AI must have sent an awful lot of transports to Port Moresby. I sank twelve and he still had some to land a small invasion. Not enough to push me out but too many to wipe out with a shock attack. I'll have to let artillery work on them a while.

His main CVL/CVE task force withdrew to the north unable to throw more than 3 strike planes at an unescorted 1,500 to freighter.

But he did leave a Kongo-class BB, so my cruisers bugged out for now.

Reinforcements on the way to Australia: 32nd Infantry Division, a tank battalion, some artillery, three base forces, 3 x CA, 3 Brooklyns, six DDs.

My four-piper DEs have taken over ASW duties at Pearl, the US West Coast and the Australian East Coast, so more modern DDs can handle ASuW and AAW duties. Should be seeing first Fletchers before long.

It doesn't appear that the script is gonna seriously attempt to invade India. So the Southeast Asia front devolves to a fighter bloodletting over the Imphal ridge. P-40s and Hurris vs Oscars if form holds. One US fighter group is in Bombay working up and another just appeared at Aden. In earlier games I have sent 3-5 USMC fighter squadrons to the Burma front to gin up experienced pilots.



Taxcutter -> RE: I Have Returned (3/4/2020 2:41:22 PM)

I know the AI here is just a script, but it is the most aggressive script I've ever seen. It REALLY, REALLY wants Port Moresby. Yeah I know PM is a lot of VP. But committing the Yamato in May or 1942 to the PM invasion?

The AI has committed almost all of the IJN except Kido Butai to Port Moresby and he is wearing down my formible defenses. He has chased off my cruisers and is shelling the bejeebers out of my air groups. He has beaten up two S-boats (I have newer subs on the way). Most of my dive bombers are in hawaiian water or on the US West Coast. I have a squadron of Beaufighters that can't reach PM and the A-24s on New Caledonia are Army planes with low NavB ratings.

But my land forces are still tough (a division and a half of Aussies with some US artillery, engineers and flak. Still well supplied, and thank goodness I started fortifying PM on Dec 8. Current fort level 4. But apparently he has built up supply and fuel in Rabaul enough to keep a relay of surface action groups off PM.

At the same time I am proceeding well in other areas. Midway is fortified and and I am unloading a regiment of CD guns and a 90 plane base force. He has lost interest in Canton Island and I have enough infantry on-island to make this a death camp for the IJA. The AI is lightly probing the entrenched units at Imphal. Supply in India is no problem. I have more supply at Karachi than at Cape Town.

Operations at Perth are immobiled by lack of fuel. It's a long way to Abadan via Cape Town, but I have 115,000 tons of fuel on the way. Darwin is effectively isolated but there is a reasonable stash of supply there.

I did get 16 little Commonwealth and Dutch 1000 ton AKLs to Cape Town and I'm setting up a auto-convoy to Canada. One is reserved for Port Stanley but it just need survival supply. Maybe one mission every three months.

The four-piper DEs have pretty much suppressed the IJN subs. Four ship service groups escorts ships in and out of waters near big ports.



Barb -> RE: I Have Returned (3/5/2020 7:26:03 AM)

Little advice: Try not to mix ships with widely different capabilities together for Surface Combat (Old BBs+New BBs+CAs+CLs). You will inherit the weaknesses of each.



HansBolter -> RE: I Have Returned (3/5/2020 12:08:28 PM)

The AI is notorious for aggressively following up failed invasions, especially at PM.

After you defeat the landed force you might want to consider throttling back your responses to follow up convoys attempting to land support forces. Otherwise you can break the AI.



Taxcutter -> RE: I Have Returned (3/5/2020 4:35:38 PM)

Port Moresby will be a close-run thing at best.

My carrier force is not ready for prime time so they are training aircrew in San Diego, so beating him up too much has to wait.

I have played games where the AI took PM early and I just operationally bypassed it. The Japanese forces needed to hold it preclude him holding anything else too well. But PM is very rich in VP and I'll never close out the game if I don't eventually take it. But for now I still hold the base and I am willing to burn up ground forces to hold it. If I can just throttle down his re-invasion convoys I can hold it indefinitely. I've built up a level 4 port and a level 2 airfield so garrisoning it gets easier if I am not too ambitious.

The AI grabbed Milne Bay and Rossel island (among others) but recon doesn't show anything there. I can use Aussie commandos or MSMC Raiders to recon in force. If it is not well held I'm starting to get enough sealift to drop a whole division of infantry, lots of SeaBees, and 20,000 supplies. they can build up a base and from Rossel Island the corner at Milne bay is in SBD-3 range as well as B-25s, so I can start taxing his convoys into PM worse that he can do me.

I do have plenty of political points so I could activate a lesser Aussie infantry division to help hold PM. I intend to land the US 32nd Division if necessary. I'm holding the Australian First Corps in reserve for offensive actions later. But right now I have to wait til the AI ships run out of fuel/ammo and have to pull back to rabaul and I'; lucky to squeeze in a battalion at a time.

As for mixed TFs, I do think to use the old BBs (I have 7 usable right now, Having Brooklyns would keep IJN DDs and CLs and their torpedoes at arm's length and the old BBs can do their thing. Also Brooklyns give me decent flak suites. By limiting myself to points in range of my USAAF fighters but out of range of Zeroes at Rabaul or Shortlands, my lame fighters can slaughter bombers and build up lots of EXP for my fighters. Even P-400s kill Betties just fine, and good flak can clean up.



BBfanboy -> RE: I Have Returned (3/5/2020 5:33:26 PM)

Port Stanley does need one small injection of supply to support base building (for points) until about mid 1942 when one of those "Replenishment Convoys" that appears as a land unit shows up and dumps supply and fuel there. I am not sure if that will last into mid 1943 when I suspect another replenishment will appear.



Taxcutter -> RE: I Have Returned (3/12/2020 12:23:49 PM)

Re: Post #48

I've seen the "Replenishment convoy show up at Port Stanley, but I keep a 1,000 ton AKL at Capetown to provide emergency supply. The rest went into off-map convoys as advised.



Taxcutter -> RE: I Have Returned (3/12/2020 12:45:59 PM)

AI REALLY wants PM bad. He has sent most of the IJN (including parts of Kido Butai) to isolate the garrison. He has driven off my cruiser-based escorts so supply is draining down. I'm getting a little supply in via air transport (not much available yet) and sub cargo runs. I extracted my air units as I had a lot of well-trained P-39 and P-40 drivers there becoming "seed corn" for when I get better fighters.

BTW I'm at June 10, 1942.

But the price of his PM campaign is that he has gone into hibernation everywhere else. apparently, this scrip has no aggressive intentions on India. He & I face each other over the Imphal ridge but he is making no effort to suppress Chittagong, Silchar, or Ledo. Most AIs like to have a P-40 vs Oscar bloodletting over Burma. That front is trangely quiescent and has allowed me to build up significant reserves in case of a feint.

Also the AI has apparently given up on Canton Island. He does have 9,000 starving troops there. Unless Kido Butai returns soon I'll make fish food of the assault troops.

Both AI and I are mailing it in in China. I'm ignoring him in the Aleutians. I've tried this in the past playing as the Japanese. The Aleutians/Alaska is a cul-de-sac leading nowhere. I can pick the garrisons off when I get good and ready and need the VP to close out the game. AI is nowhere near automatic victory conditions so I must be winning.

Right now I'm using everything that floats to move supply/fuel to local logistical hubs (Sydney, Brisbane, Noumea, Perth, Colombo, Bombay, karachi) and main in-theater hubs like pearl and Capetown. As always, not enough tankers. Its a long, long way from LA to Sydney and Abadan to Perth. So I guard my long-haul tankers jealously and use AOs to extend the range of big but short-legged tankers.

As i get into a better position to get aggressive the war will get going in earnest in the Solomons and the islands east of Milne Bay.

One thing about WitP. It shows you why on this, the widest battlefield of all, the combat is so channelized.



BBfanboy -> RE: I Have Returned (3/12/2020 3:43:33 PM)

I like the 8075 ton capacity tankers to haul from Abadan to Perth because of their 12,500 NM range. Even that comes up a little short, but I can either refuel at Colombo or set the tanker TF to "minimum refuel" and it will take a tiny amount of the fuel it brought to Perth to get back to Abadan.
Early on, I had to escort the tankers heavily because of AI's raiders that like to make forays around Diego Garcia or around Christmas Is. (IO). Once I sank a few of them the raiding stopped.



RangerJoe -> RE: I Have Returned (3/12/2020 4:06:45 PM)

If you send the tankers to Karachi to unload, other tankers could pick up the fuel at Cochin to go to Perth. That might save time and fuel.



Taxcutter -> RE: I Have Returned (3/18/2020 1:17:53 AM)

Minor problem with airframe replacement.

I got two squadrons of fighter out of PM but a bit short of airframes. These squadrons are now sitting on their respective HQ at bases with over 20,000 supply, but the game will not tap their adequate replacement pools.

I have about 20 experienced pilots sitting around with no mighty steeds to ride across the sky.

Any ideas?



BBfanboy -> RE: I Have Returned (3/18/2020 2:47:36 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Taxcutter

Minor problem with airframe replacement.

I got two squadrons of fighter out of PM but a bit short of airframes. These squadrons are now sitting on their respective HQ at bases with over 20,000 supply, but the game will not tap their adequate replacement pools.

I have about 20 experienced pilots sitting around with no mighty steeds to ride across the sky.

Any ideas?

I think you need either an Air HQ within range (2X its command radius) or a large enough airfield (7).



RangerJoe -> RE: I Have Returned (3/18/2020 3:05:00 AM)

Set replacements to "on" but the replacements might show up elsewhere . . .



Anachro -> RE: I Have Returned (3/18/2020 3:26:53 AM)

Replacements can also be delayed by a few days. If this is the case, if you mouse over the replenishment button, it should tell you how many days before you can draw from the pools again.



Taxcutter -> RE: I Have Returned (3/26/2020 12:48:10 AM)

I got the replacement situation figured out.

On the other hand AI took PM. He sent damn near two thirds of the IJN. Drove my resupply ships away. Early July 1942 I'm not ready to take him on, but that may change shortly. The Aussies made PM look like a combination of Omaha Beach and Ypre, but AI (like any self-respecting IJA commander) was not impressed by 25,000 dead IJA grunts.

I got my carriers sorted out and lots of trained pilots (in inferior fighters). Organizing three CVTFs at San Diego. Most everything fully updated and in good repair. Scads of flak. USS Washington, 6 x CA, 3 x Atlanta CL, twelve best DD I have.

AI has been tormenting me with three independent forces since I booted him off Canton Island. Biggest one sealing off PM. One trying to help the 11th infantry I've trapped on New Caledonia. A smaller one (if anything that included Yamato can ever be thought of as small) dogging me at Midway. For him Midway is a tough nut. Size 4 fortifications a USMC defense battalion and an army CD regiment. 500 mines. PT boats. And it is a sub base so he has to wade through shoals of Mk 10 torpedoes. He bashed some PT boats, and shot up a squadron of Dauntlesses. His force also include Soryu and Hiryu and Buffaloes just can't escort anything against a fragment of Kido Butai. He also sent Ise and Hyuga to bombard.

Development of the base is complete so I left the Bobcats half-sized SeaBee battalion to effect repairs.

I have my entire surface force (7 x Standards plus 4 x CA, plus 4 x Brooklyns and 10 DD). I intend to hang Nevada out as bait in the lagoon - a very sturdy shore battery. My surface force will lurk two hexes NE of Midway and my CV TF another three further away. Now the Yamato may tear the Nevada to bits (the Yamato was specifically designed to kill Standards). My plan is make a TBF attack on the Yamato and send the SBDs after the CVs. I subbed and extra Wildcat squadron on the Wasp to escort the SBDs and left most of the native CV fighters on CAP.

Big battle is a few days away but should be fun.



Taxcutter -> RE: I Have Returned (4/1/2020 12:23:12 AM)

Sitrep 7/18/42

The overall situation has stabilized. AI is reduced to nuisance raids near Pearl Harbor to force me to tie down a "garrison." So far this tactic has gotten some of his amphib forces slaughtered three times. AI has been pestering me around Midway but I have it near built up to the point I can ignore him. I set the Nevada there as "bait" (and to thrash his bombardment TFs). AI seems to sense I have an avalanche ready to fallon him if he takes the bait.

India, China, and the North Pacific are quiet, so I can really click through turns. My fleet subs with high aggression skippers is starting to take a real bite despite the fact the Mark 14s won't explode most of the time.

I landed on Koumac in New Caledonia and his 11th Division is now toast. Two Army divisions, the 2nd Marine Division and a lot of artillery at his front and the 1st Marine Division sitting on his supply base. I took his fortified position a La Foa on the 16th.

Supply, and support building up OK. Fuel is still tight. I run at cruise speed a lot. I'm building up a whole raft of good fighter pilots. My planes are no match but lots of quality pilots offset that if I don't get greedy. Aussies start getting Spit Vs shortly. Not really a match for a Zero but generally excellent point defense fighters. Still … many months to Hellcats.



Taxcutter -> RE: I Have Returned (4/7/2020 1:19:44 AM)

July 30 sitrep.

I have New Caledonia all to myself. The 11th division has been exterminated. A relief force ran afoul of my cruisers. A cheap-Charlie effort. Not even a DD as escort. Four transports and 12,000 men are fish food.

Luganville is under development. 2 port 1 AF but three SeaBees beavering away. CD guns, flak are present plus a US Army regiment to prevent monkey business. Enough cruisers to require a major effort to invade.

My main carrier and surface force sit NE of Midway. AI has been probing. He snuck in a minelaying sub and a patrol sub. My low value garrison took some damage. Nevada will be in drydock for sixty days I estimate. I'll extend the drydock time to add another 200 points of flak.


I have built up in NE Australia. AI will have to land the whole IJA to make any impact. Cooktown and Cairns seem to be out of Zero range. AI sacrifices a few Betties and IJAAF bomber to hold my attention. At this time I am content to build up EXP and AIR in my fighter squadrons to offset the lousy handling planes.

As always, it's the fuel.

India is quiet. I'm trying to goad the AI into have a go at my CAP-trap at Chittagong. I'm using heavily escorted Blenheim IVs to pound his refinery at Magwe. If AI refuses battle for another ten days the oil field and refinery will be junk yards. Not a big thing in the overall picture, but its all I can reach at this point and he'll have to bring supply into Burma just to keep me at bay.

AI tried to grab Dutch Harbor, but I ran in a regiment of infantry and made crab-chow out of them.

Got most all of my little 4000 range AKLs running supply into Capetown. Couple of 35,000 ton convoys every other month.



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