RE: Empire of the Sun (Full Version)

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DesertWolf101 -> RE: Empire of the Sun (6/30/2020 2:20:41 AM)

December 14, 1941

S/SW Pacific

The KB continues its movement north, picking up the surface warship pickets around Brisbane and pulverizing the remaining shipping there with a powerful strike from the air.

Submarines

In the Makassar Strait, KX attempts to hit I-155 with two torpedoes but misses.

Philippines

A Japanese destroyer task force encounters the British MTB squadron near Vigan, destroying one of them.

Japanese troops come ashore at Naga in southern Luzon.

Malaya

Japanese troops capture Taiping in the drive south towards Singapore.

Borneo

Jesselton falls to the Empire.



DesertWolf101 -> RE: Empire of the Sun (6/30/2020 2:35:55 AM)

December 15, 1941

Submarines

South of San Diego, I-22 puts a torpedo into the large AP Mariposa but the torpedo fails to explode! Frustrating, as this ship was almost certainly carrying troops.

S/SW Pacific

Japanese troops land at Wewak.

Celebes Sea

Having rearmed, my cruiser task force was back in the area. AK Si Kiang was caught and sunk during the night.

Philippines

Bombers and escorting Zero fighters strike Manila today, destroying the remaining four submarines that were damaged and under repair there.

10 Catalina patrol boats attempt to strike my shipping at Naga. Zero and Claude fighters from the light carrier Ryujo were on duty however, and repulsed the attacks.

Kate bombers from the carrier also sight and engage DD Peary, sinking her with 5 bomb hits.

Japanese troops capture San Fernando and Naga as the two pincers push towards Clark and Manila from the north and south.

China

Three Japanese divisions arrive near Changsha and throw back three Chinese Corps back into the city with heavy losses. 322 Chinese combat squads are destroyed for 3 Japanese.

Meanwhile, Ichang is firmly in Japanese hands as it is reinforced and secured.

-------

With the last vessels in Manila neutralized, I counted 17 out of the 27 submarines in the port destroyed. This reinforces my view that the KB is not needed for a strike on Manila and is better used elsewhere.



DesertWolf101 -> RE: Empire of the Sun (6/30/2020 2:49:07 AM)

Kido Butai Operational Results

The KB has wrapped up its port strike operation in Australia, this is the estimated damage inflicted on my opponent in terms of sunk ships:

1 CA
1 CL
1 DD
1 CM
2 PG
2 AM

2 AO
14 TK
1 AMC
19 AP
76 AK
29 AKL

I would qualify this as a good result for the investment allocated. Is this better than a strike on Pearl Harbor? I would say that depends heavily on your particular goals and approach. Given my particular strategy going into the game, I think this operation was a success.






RangerJoe -> RE: Empire of the Sun (6/30/2020 3:15:53 AM)

It definitely looks like more VPs. Those tanker losses should hurt in the long run.



Alamander -> RE: Empire of the Sun (6/30/2020 4:47:42 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

Kido Butai Operational Results

The KB has wrapped up its port strike operation in Australia, this is the estimated damage inflicted on my opponent in terms of sunk ships:

1 CA
1 CL
1 DD
1 CM
2 PG
2 AM

2 AO
14 TK
1 AMC
19 AP
76 AK
29 AKL

I would qualify this as a good result for the investment allocated. Is this better than a strike on Pearl Harbor? I would say that depends heavily on your particular goals and approach. Given my particular strategy going into the game, I think this operation was a success.







For comparison's sake, I am pursuing a similar strategy to yours and sent KB to Singapore on Dec. 7th. I also kept track of what I suspect they sunk in the first 2 weeks. The immediate move down the coast of Borneo from Singapore also prevented much oil or fuel from escaping the DEI. I almost got that annoying combination of Marblehead, Boise, and Houston, but the strike came in at 7 hexes in bad weather and I was out of torpedoes, so I had to settle for bouncing about or 15 so 50 KG Val bombs off the armor of the three, and only one kate was able to land a bomb on Houston. All 3 ships survived.

2 BBs (PoW and Repulse)
2 CLs
3 DDs
2 CMs
5 APs
21 TKs
8 AMc
4 AG
4 PC
3 AK
1 AO
8 AKLs
1 AVD
3 AM
1 AVP

This list does not include some ships sunk at Singapore that were sunk by a combination of Netties and KB. In both cases our VP hauls are higher than most PH attacks, but I agree with you that, ultimately, 700 or 800 VPs in sunken support ships is not as important as employing KB in the manner that best supports one's long-term strategic objectives and that the PH strike remains a very viable option for many Japanese strategies.



DesertWolf101 -> RE: Empire of the Sun (6/30/2020 5:56:05 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Alamander

quote:

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

Kido Butai Operational Results

The KB has wrapped up its port strike operation in Australia, this is the estimated damage inflicted on my opponent in terms of sunk ships:

1 CA
1 CL
1 DD
1 CM
2 PG
2 AM

2 AO
14 TK
1 AMC
19 AP
76 AK
29 AKL

I would qualify this as a good result for the investment allocated. Is this better than a strike on Pearl Harbor? I would say that depends heavily on your particular goals and approach. Given my particular strategy going into the game, I think this operation was a success.







For comparison's sake, I am pursuing a similar strategy to yours and sent KB to Singapore on Dec. 7th. I also kept track of what I suspect they sunk in the first 2 weeks. The immediate move down the coast of Borneo from Singapore also prevented much oil or fuel from escaping the DEI. I almost got that annoying combination of Marblehead, Boise, and Houston, but the strike came in at 7 hexes in bad weather and I was out of torpedoes, so I had to settle for bouncing about or 15 so 50 KG Val bombs off the armor of the three, and only one kate was able to land a bomb on Houston. All 3 ships survived.

2 BBs (PoW and Repulse)
2 CLs
3 DDs
2 CMs
5 APs
21 TKs
8 AMc
4 AG
4 PC
3 AK
1 AO
8 AKLs
1 AVD
3 AM
1 AVP

This list does not include some ships sunk at Singapore that were sunk by a combination of Netties and KB. In both cases our VP hauls are higher than most PH attacks, but I agree with you that, ultimately, 700 or 800 VPs in sunken support ships is not as important as employing KB in the manner that best supports one's long-term strategic objectives and that the PH strike remains a very viable option for many Japanese strategies.



Thanks for sharing. I do see the advantages of having the KB strike near Singapore. It is a good way to insulate against the danger of Force Z and to add heft to the push to take the SRA. I have to say though that on balance this is not my preferred approach. I see the KB's employment against targets that are ultimately within the reach of Japan's other forces, particularly its LBA, as a bit of a wasted opportunity. I have mentioned previously how I see the KB, as Japan's most powerful force projection weapon, as best used to strike at distant Allied strategic targets in the first month of the war. Ultimately though this does come down to a certain level of individual prioritization, the strategic focus one is pursuing, and the related geographic areas of interest.



Lowpe -> RE: Empire of the Sun (6/30/2020 11:02:53 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

Kido Butai Operational Results

The KB has wrapped up its port strike operation in Australia, this is the estimated damage inflicted on my opponent in terms of sunk ships:

1 CA
1 CL
1 DD
1 CM
2 PG
2 AM

2 AO
14 TK
1 AMC
19 AP
76 AK
29 AKL

I would qualify this as a good result for the investment allocated. Is this better than a strike on Pearl Harbor? I would say that depends heavily on your particular goals and approach. Given my particular strategy going into the game, I think this operation was a success.






Nicely done.[sm=00000436.gif]



DesertWolf101 -> RE: Empire of the Sun (6/30/2020 12:28:51 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Lowpe


quote:

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

Kido Butai Operational Results

The KB has wrapped up its port strike operation in Australia, this is the estimated damage inflicted on my opponent in terms of sunk ships:

1 CA
1 CL
1 DD
1 CM
2 PG
2 AM

2 AO
14 TK
1 AMC
19 AP
76 AK
29 AKL

I would qualify this as a good result for the investment allocated. Is this better than a strike on Pearl Harbor? I would say that depends heavily on your particular goals and approach. Given my particular strategy going into the game, I think this operation was a success.






Nicely done.[sm=00000436.gif]


Thanks!



DesertWolf101 -> RE: Empire of the Sun (6/30/2020 12:32:54 PM)

December 16, 1941

Submarines

East of Kota Bharu, the hunter becomes the hunted when KXII strikes and sinks sub chaser Ch7 that was in an ASW task force.

Philippines

Betty bombers on naval strike put a 60kg bomb into AM Bittern. Sally bombers hit Clark airfield and knock out a recon plane on the ground.

Malaya

21 Sally bombers escorted by 18 Zero fighters went on a mission to attack Singapore’s port facilities where a number of British warships hit on the first turn where still in dock repairing. 12 Buffalos intercepted the strike and a few Zeros and Sallies were shot down before the attack broke through and put five bomb hits on CL Mauritius, two on DD Jupiter, and one each on DD Isis, DD Encounter, and DD Vendetta.

In Georgetown, I assembled a large formation of barges for a planned crossing of the Strait of Malacca to secure a foothold in Sumatra. Allied recon sighted the barges however and Wildebeest bombers swooped in, knocking out six of them.

Borneo

With Sinkawang captured and operational, Betty and Nell bombers on naval attack sank CMc Pro Patria and CM Willem v d Zaan at Paelmbang but not before a few of the bombers were lost to the three Buffalos on cap there. Looks like my opponent just mined Palembang.

Moluccas

Japanese troops land at Ternate.

China

Ki-36 aircraft begin a daily routine of bombing the airfield at Wenchow. The plan here is to prevent fortifications from being built with daily airstrikes to buy time for my troops to deal with other priorities before taking the town.

Kweiteh is taken by advancing Japanese troops.

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

Meanwhile across China Japanese troops are assembling in their positions, bases are getting their garrisons and a few Chinese Corps are caught and smashed here and there. The focus of my first operation in the theater will be on securing Chengchow and Loyang. A secondary but still important push will happen towards Wuchow and then onwards towards Nanning and Kweilin. Changsha meanwhile will be threatened to pin enemy troops in place while the two other efforts do their work.



DesertWolf101 -> RE: Empire of the Sun (6/30/2020 12:43:39 PM)

December 17, 1941

Submarines

In the same place where I lost my subchaser yesterday, KXIII was moderately damaged by six depth charge hits from Ch 22.

Philippines

Japanese arrive and take an abandoned Lingayen. Further south, Japanese troops land on Jolo.

Kate bombers from a Japanese light carrier destroy an MTB at Cagayan. Looks like the Allies have sent down these torpedo boats to Mindanao.

Malaya

Another raid hits Singapore’s port, putting another bomb hit into CL Mauritius and DD Encounter.

Borneo

Two SNLF units are landed on Tandjoengselor. I want to minimize the risk from my opponent’s coastal guns so these troops will slowly make their way across to Tarakan.



DesertWolf101 -> RE: Empire of the Sun (6/30/2020 12:59:25 PM)

December 18, 1941

Submarines

My mine laying subs dropped off some eggs at Banjoewangi a few days earlier and DD Banckert is heavily damaged when it slams into one today.

KXVI launches four torpedoes at heavy cruiser Nachi in the Celebes Sea but misses.

O20 hits and sinks AKL Sasago Maru with two torpedos near Jolo. The AKL was carrying part of the 15th Naval Guard Unit and a few squads were lost as a result.

S/SW Pacific

The KB shows up near Rabaul and pounds the defenders in anticipation of the Japanese landings. Unfortunately, I forgot allow my troops to unload this turn! Oh well, tomorrow they land.

North Pacific

The 7th Base Force arrives and lands at Adak Island.

Celebes

Japanese troops land at Sidate.

Malaya

More sweeps over Malay and a couple more hits on CL Mauritius – tough warship this one.

The besieged British and Indian troops at Alor Star are attacked and wiped out. The loss of the 6th and 15th Indian Brigades in particular should hopefully make the assault on Singapore a bit easier.



Bif1961 -> RE: Empire of the Sun (6/30/2020 4:04:39 PM)

You said attacking Sydney and the east coast of OZ falls into you plans so comparing it to a typical PH result would have to be weighted against your strategy. But you did sink 140+ vessels, so that is a good start and if you are sinking the flee herd from PI you might find yourself with 250-300 ships sunk for the Allies in the first month of the war. The question is, will not bombing PH and leaving all those shore bombarding old battlewagons come back to haunt you?



Alamander -> RE: Empire of the Sun (6/30/2020 5:11:09 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101


I have mentioned previously how I see the KB, as Japan's most powerful force projection weapon, as best used to strike at distant Allied strategic targets in the first month of the war. Ultimately though this does come down to a certain level of individual prioritization, the strategic focus one is pursuing, and the related geographic areas of interest.




Yes... KB is Japan's projector of force, but that is not its only function. Preservation of assets is key to success for Japan as well, and KB functions very well to preserve assets over a wide area, basically by causing every hostile vessel to flee, or be very wary, in the early months of the war.

Anyway, it is good to see someone else pursuing a similar strategy to mine, which is basically to make allied tankers the priority target for as long as possible. This is really the only weakness in the allied OOB: the ability to transport fuel. This seems to me to be the best way to hold the DEI as long as possible as well: try to delay the fuel buildup in Australia for as long as possible, which is the other reason, in addition to force protection that I sent KB to Singapore, to prevent those 21 TKs from loading fuel and oil to ship to Australia.



RangerJoe -> RE: Empire of the Sun (6/30/2020 6:52:36 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

You said attacking Sydney and the east coast of OZ falls into you plans so comparing it to a typical PH result would have to be weighted against your strategy. But you did sink 140+ vessels, so that is a good start and if you are sinking the flee herd from PI you might find yourself with 250-300 ships sunk for the Allies in the first month of the war. The question is, will not bombing PH and leaving all those shore bombarding old battlewagons come back to haunt you?


Most of those old BBs don't get sunk at Pearl Harbor unless the KB stays and the Japanese get lucky. If you do make the Hawaiian Islands a priority, then the entire fleet there can be sunk. But that can be very costly and it may not work.

Crippling those assets in Australia makes it easier to take eastern New Guinea, then Australian operations are possible. Think of that strategy with some magic moves in the area.



DesertWolf101 -> RE: Empire of the Sun (6/30/2020 7:11:29 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Alamander


quote:

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101


I have mentioned previously how I see the KB, as Japan's most powerful force projection weapon, as best used to strike at distant Allied strategic targets in the first month of the war. Ultimately though this does come down to a certain level of individual prioritization, the strategic focus one is pursuing, and the related geographic areas of interest.




Yes... KB is Japan's projector of force, but that is not its only function. Preservation of assets is key to success for Japan as well, and KB functions very well to preserve assets over a wide area, basically by causing every hostile vessel to flee, or be very wary, in the early months of the war.

Anyway, it is good to see someone else pursuing a similar strategy to mine, which is basically to make allied tankers the priority target for as long as possible. This is really the only weakness in the allied OOB: the ability to transport fuel. This seems to me to be the best way to hold the DEI as long as possible as well: try to delay the fuel buildup in Australia for as long as possible, which is the other reason, in addition to force protection that I sent KB to Singapore, to prevent those 21 TKs from loading fuel and oil to ship to Australia.



I will soon post the number of tanker kills achieved thus far in my campaign. What date have you reached thus far on yours?



DesertWolf101 -> RE: Empire of the Sun (6/30/2020 7:14:36 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe


quote:

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

You said attacking Sydney and the east coast of OZ falls into you plans so comparing it to a typical PH result would have to be weighted against your strategy. But you did sink 140+ vessels, so that is a good start and if you are sinking the flee herd from PI you might find yourself with 250-300 ships sunk for the Allies in the first month of the war. The question is, will not bombing PH and leaving all those shore bombarding old battlewagons come back to haunt you?


Most of those old BBs don't get sunk at Pearl Harbor unless the KB stays and the Japanese get lucky. If you do make the Hawaiian Islands a priority, then the entire fleet there can be sunk. But that can be very costly and it may not work.

Crippling those assets in Australia makes it easier to take eastern New Guinea, then Australian operations are possible. Think of that strategy with some magic moves in the area.


Yes, I did mention how subsequent operations in the area would be aided by the wholesale destruction of allied sealift in Australia. At this point in the campaign my troops are about to land in New Britain and other islands in the Solomons as the initial step so we will see how far this helps. The destruction of the minelayer at Sydney for instance has already relieved me of having to worry about the potential of mines at Rabaul or Port Moresby at this early stage.



DesertWolf101 -> RE: Empire of the Sun (6/30/2020 7:35:28 PM)

December 19, 1941

Submarines

RO-34 uses its deck gun to sink an AKL north of Darwin.

S/SW Pacific

Japanese troops land at Rabaul. The Allied coastal guns here prove ineffective as the transports come under the protection of light and heavy cruisers.

Sulu Sea

West of Zamboanga, light cruiser Naka and three destroyers encounter and sink three Allied AMs.

Malaya

With Force Z neutralized, the Imperial Guards and the 21st Division lands at Mersing. The Allied air forces feebly respond, but Zeros from the Zuiho and Hosho are on CAP here and shoot down the incoming bombers.

Meanwhile, Kate torpedo bombers from the light carriers sink a large AK fleeing southwards from Singapore.

Sumatra

Japanese troops use invasion barges from Georgetown to land at Langsa.

Borneo

The Empire’s flag is planted at Sambas following the defeat of the Allied garrison there. In the eastern side of the island, Kudat is also taken.



RangerJoe -> RE: Empire of the Sun (6/30/2020 7:49:56 PM)

1942?

Or is it 1941?



DesertWolf101 -> RE: Empire of the Sun (6/30/2020 7:59:15 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

1942?

Or is it 1941?



[X(] I can't believe I didn't catch that until now! I will have to go back and edit all the posts where I made the silly mistake. Thanks for alerting me to it!



DesertWolf101 -> RE: Empire of the Sun (6/30/2020 8:16:27 PM)

December 20, 1941

S/SW Pacific

Rabaul falls to the Empire.

Celebes

A major surface engagement occurred tonight! My opponent sent a large cruiser task force composed of the heavy cruiser Houston, the light cruisers Boise, Java, Tromp, and De Ruyter, and five destroyers to smash up my landing at Sidate.

Fortunately, the Allied task force first ran into my covering force of warships. Unfortunately, this covering force, being composed of the heavy cruiser Haguro, the light cruiser Sendai, and four escorting destroyers, was nowhere near large enough to contend with the threat. The Japanese warships nevertheless did fairly well, soaking up the Allied ammunition and badly damaging the heavy cruiser Houston with a torpedo hit and 14 shell hits, most of them 8inch shells from Haguro (the Houston sank right after the engagement). Sendai even put a torpedo into Boise but the darned thing failed to explode! In return, the Allied task force hit Haguro with a torpedo and five shell hits, put Sendai in danger with heavy fires, and critically damaged the destroyer Ayanami with another torpedo hit. After the battle, Haguro and Sendai limped back to Babeldaob and then back to the home islands for repairs, while Ayanami had to beach itself at Sidate with 87 float damage until I eventually sent an AR to repair it enough for it to reach a shipyard under its own power.

Having dealt with the covering force, the Allied task force then powered through to reach the landing force composed of an AMC, an AP, an AK, and their escorts of the light cruiser Isuzu and two destroyers. The Allied task force remained relatively unscathed during this fight. Frustratingly, Boise again was hit with a long lance only for the torpedo to fail to explode! The Japanese on the other hand lost the AK and the AP and the AMC had 32 fire damage, which despite my hope that it would be dealt with, continued to burn the ship for many turns to come until finally I had had enough and scuttled it. The key silver lining here was that all the troops had already disembarked.

After this second engagement, a small Japanese landing force that was transitioning through the area was unlucky enough to get caught in the melee, losing two small AKs before the Allies pulled back as they ran low on ammunition, sparing the escorting TB and PB from damage. This was very lucky as these escorts picked up the survivors from the Naval Guard unit and quickly landed them at Sidate.

Malaya

86 Sally bombers hit the Singapore port facilities, losing half a dozen to the flak and three Buffalos that rose up to meet them. No allied ships were present in the port however, as my opponent had decided to get out with the surviving vessels while he can despite their damaged state.

Luckily, Kates from my light carriers at Mersing were still within range, and they quickly responded to the fleeing ships, finally sinking the light cruiser Mauritius as well as DD Encounter, the AMC Kanimbla, the TK Harpa, and two AKs and an AKL.

Japanese forces capture Mersing. I attempt a paradrop at Johore Bahru but the British base force holds it ground there.

Philippines

Heavy bombing of Clark airfield meets no fighter opposition for several days now. My opponent has clearly long ago pulled out the defending fighter squadrons. Likely sending them to Australia?

Burma

Japanese troops take Tavoy.



RangerJoe -> RE: Empire of the Sun (6/30/2020 8:27:02 PM)

The P-40Es with drop tanks have the range to make it to China.



DesertWolf101 -> RE: Empire of the Sun (6/30/2020 8:32:39 PM)

Allied Tanker Losses

The combination of the KB's strike in Australia and the Japanese operations in the SRA region has resulted in substantial Allied sealift losses thus far. The damage inflicted on tankers and replenishment vessels has been particularly notable. Overall at this point in the campaign, my opponent has lost what I believe to be 27 TKs and 4 AOs. All of these are of the medium to large sized variety.

I'm not sure how much this will hurt the Allies over the course of the year, but I hope it will go some way towards hindering their logistical buildup. Thoughts?



DesertWolf101 -> RE: Empire of the Sun (6/30/2020 8:33:42 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

The P-40Es with drop tanks have the range to make it to China.


Good to know. I haven't seen them there yet but I guess they could have also hopped on from there to India.



Alamander -> RE: Empire of the Sun (6/30/2020 8:34:29 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101


I will soon post the number of tanker kills achieved thus far in my campaign. What date have you reached thus far on yours?




I am in early-mid May, 1942. I am playing Mike McReary (formerly Wargamer), who is a veteran of many campaigns against NJP (twice), Mr. Kane (thrice), and Lowpe. After a few victories, he had a couple bad games, but he has really refined his tactics, applying many of the lessons learned in the games against Lowpe and Mr. Kane. I read his AARs and those of his opponents, and it seems to me that I am playing a different player than Lowpe or Mr. Kane did.

We are in mid-May. I have taken the whole DEI, Cocos Island, Malaysia, Burma and all of the Phillipines except Luzon and Cebu (where some SNLFs are now engaged). I moved very quickly from the DEI, basically sailing KB straight through the DEI to North Oz, taking all the coastal bases in N. Oz, Horn Island, and Moresby. Then I just kept sailing east, basically, taking Rabaul, the whole of the Solomons, New Caledonia, Fiji, Norfolk Island, and Raoul Island (off the coast of New Zealand). This was all accomplished before the end of the amphibious bonus. Things slowed down dramatically in April, but are picking back up again. After the amphib bonus expires, you will discover that Japan has very few amphibious-capable ships, until some of the xAKs can be converted to AKs... very important, especially the Kyushus.

He is pressing me to the limit in the air over Burma with large-scale fighter sweeps daily and massive bomber raids preventing much of my airfield construction. We are playing PDU:off, so at the moment, all I have are Zeros and Oscar Is, which limits my ability to do much more than Cap key bases and hold on. He discovered a TF of 2 AMCs and 3 TBs patrolling west of Perth trying to intercept convoys from Capetown to Perth, and my subs have been active in that area and south of New Zealand. More, I cannot say at the moment, but basically.. he knows that my subs are concentrated around the only 2 paths to Australia that remain under allied control: South of New Zealand and west of Perth.



RangerJoe -> RE: Empire of the Sun (6/30/2020 8:40:19 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Alamander

quote:

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

I will soon post the number of tanker kills achieved thus far in my campaign. What date have you reached thus far on yours?

I am in early-mid May, 1942. I am playing Mike McReary (formerly Wargamer), who is a veteran of many campaigns against NJP (twice), Mr. Kane (thrice), and Lowpe. After a few victories, he had a couple bad games, but he has really refined his tactics, applying many of the lessons learned in the games against Lowpe and Mr. Kane. I read his AARs and those of his opponents, and it seems to me that I am playing a different player than Lowpe or Mr. Kane did.

We are in mid-May. I have taken the whole DEI, Cocos Island, Malaysia, Burma and all of the Phillipines except Luzon and Cebu (where some SNLFs are now engaged). I moved very quickly from the DEI, basically sailing KB straight through the DEI to North Oz, taking all the coastal bases in N. Oz, Horn Island, and Moresby. Then I just kept sailing east, basically, taking Rabaul, the whole of the Solomons, New Caledonia, Fiji, Norfolk Island, and Raoul Island (off the coast of New Zealand). This was all accomplished before the end of the amphibious bonus. Things slowed down dramatically in April, but are picking back up again. After the amphib bonus expires, you will discover that Japan has very few amphibious-capable ships, until some of the xAKs can be converted to AKs... very important, especially the Kyushus.

He is pressing me to the limit in the air over Burma with large-scale fighter sweeps daily and massive bomber raids preventing much of my airfield construction. We are playing PDU:off, so at the moment, all I have are Zeros and Oscar Is, which limits my ability to do much more than Cap key bases and hold on. He discovered a TF of 2 AMCs and 3 TBs patrolling west of Perth trying to intercept convoys from Capetown to Perth, and my subs have been active in that area and south of New Zealand. More, I cannot say at the moment, but basically.. he knows that my subs are concentrated around the only 2 paths to Australia that remain under allied control: South of New Zealand and west of Perth.


Lowpe can educate a lot of people in this game and get them to a higher level of play.

AMCs act like APs for invasions. It would be wise to use them for such tasks.



Alamander -> RE: Empire of the Sun (6/30/2020 9:17:12 PM)

It is a good idea to pay attention to your signal intelligence. Most people discount Japanese signal intelligence, but you receive enough to have a very good idea of your enemies convoy routes and where he is massing forces to begin his counter offensive.

You will even receive signal intelligence from off-map hexes from time-to-time, which can alert you that a convoy is inbound. Lowpe used signal intelligence to good effect in his game against Wargamer. I put a sub on the exact hex of a convoy out in the middle of the Indian Ocean doing the same, having tracked its movements all the way from Capetown... loose lips sink ships... in this case a fat AK laden with fuel.



DesertWolf101 -> RE: Empire of the Sun (6/30/2020 9:21:24 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Alamander

It is a good idea to pay attention to your signal intelligence. Most people discount Japanese signal intelligence, but you receive enough to have a very good idea of your enemies convoy routes and where he is massing forces to begin his counter offensive.

You will even receive signal intelligence from off-map hexes from time-to-time, which can alert you that a convoy is inbound. Lowpe used signal intelligence to good effect in his game against Wargamer. I put a sub on the exact hex of a convoy out in the middle of the Indian Ocean doing the same, having tracked its movements all the way from Capetown... loose lips sink ships... in this case a fat AK laden with fuel.


I agree - I have also used Japanese signals intelligence to good effect in my current campaign. I will detail that when I arrive at the relevant date.



Alamander -> RE: Empire of the Sun (6/30/2020 9:36:30 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe


Lowpe can educate a lot of people in this game and get them to a higher level of play.

AMCs act like APs for invasions. It would be wise to use them for such tasks.



Yes... but not quite. They have the unload rate of an AK, but the daily disruption rate aboard is 2 rather than 1 and the unload damage is 2 rather than 1, resulting in more disabled devices. So... yes they are better than xAKs and xAPs, but not as good as AKs.



Alfred -> RE: Empire of the Sun (6/30/2020 9:37:11 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

Allied Tanker Losses

The combination of the KB's strike in Australia and the Japanese operations in the SRA region has resulted in substantial Allied sealift losses thus far. The damage inflicted on tankers and replenishment vessels has been particularly notable. Overall at this point in the campaign, my opponent has lost what I believe to be 27 TKs and 4 AOs. All of these are of the medium to large sized variety.

I'm not sure how much this will hurt the Allies over the course of the year, but I hope it will go some way towards hindering their logistical buildup. Thoughts?


It won't hinder at all the buildup, it just means it will have to be accomplished by the alternative means.

1. AE allows for general merchantmen to carry fuel in their cargo holds at the 50% rate. So the real world restriction of liquid carry to dedicated liquid holds doesn't exist.

2. The TK you have sunk are too large to dock at the small Allied ports which are the norm at this stage of the war. Hence in terms of getting fast turn arounds at this stage, use of the small xAKL and xAK even when only carrying 50% of capacity in fuel will be better than off shore unloading of the big tankers.

3. There is usually only a single opportunity to load up DEI oil/fuel using the small DEI TK and AO before Japanese forces are in position to close down this operation. That time is largely over by now and the valuable tankers should be out of danger by now. Unless of course your opponent is greedy.

4. The real buildup limitation, in addition to small port size, (and related spoilage limits), is the scarcity of Allied convoy escorts. As Pearl Harbor was not struck, The Allies have more available escorts than normal. Not only are the escorts undamaged, they don't have to be reserved for escorting the damaged capital ships back from Pearl to the West Coast shipyards. The question is whether your opponent is the usual trigger happy fellow who really can't see beyond just shooting up the enemy, or is primarily focussed on logistical and infrastructure considerations.


Yes the haulage of sunk Allied ships is good, just don't expect that it creates any real problems to a strong Allied player who is fully cognisant of game mechanics.

Alfred



RangerJoe -> RE: Empire of the Sun (6/30/2020 9:46:41 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Alamander

quote:

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Lowpe can educate a lot of people in this game and get them to a higher level of play.

AMCs act like APs for invasions. It would be wise to use them for such tasks.


Yes... but not quite. They have the unload rate of an AK, but the daily disruption rate aboard is 2 rather than 1 and the unload damage is 2 rather than 1, resulting in more disabled devices. So... yes they are better than xAKs and xAPs, but not as good as AKs.


True, but they can also be used in Fast Transport convoys. They also have more firepower which helps against the land targets. Some of the can and do carry float planes.



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