Lokasenna -> RE: Irregularity - (A) vs. Lowpe (J) (12/4/2020 10:44:19 PM)
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December 6 Since it's an ahistorical start, I get to do some stuff on the first turn. I set up a bunch of AE/AKE conversions, mostly just the AEs (C2 Lassen class, if I remember correctly) as in previous games I didn't find much use for AKEs - except for not risking AEs in AKE use cases. I converted a couple, but I won't really need AKEs until late war and the xAKs may be more valuable in 1942. I tried to take care of all the base expansions (AFs in CONUS for VPs, forts on the West Coast just in case, forts around the map). I set some LCU movements, particularly in China, but I save the vast bulk of these for the next day. And of course, Force Z is ordered to flee. Should rename it Force Flea... I'm allowed to give orders to other TFs at sea. The USN and various ABDA forces around the DEI that are already in TFs are ordered to form up near Mindanao or Soerabaja. And I finish up by converting every xAP I can find, from xAKs, aside from those in somewhat exposed ports in the Bay of Bengal and Australia, given that I don't know exactly how he plans to open this yet. December 7 Reporting on this is like reporting on the use of negative space by an artist. KB is split into at least 3 parts, with 1 part off of Manila apparently attempting to catch fleeing ships. Another 2 parts are near Singapore/Malaysia, striking Allied shipping and airfields there. Big port strikes on Manila and Singapore overall, but mostly it's just some xAKs sunk/damaged and subs damaged. As near as I can tell, Shokaku, Kaga, Hiryu, and Soryu are near Singapore, with Akagi, Zuikaku, and presumably Ryujo (and possibly Hosho and/or Taiyo) near Luzon. I did see 2 Kongos still with the Malaysian invasion fleets, so there might be an opening to catch some flattops with their pants relatively down, if I can concentrate enough surface forces. Also, there are strikes on Force Flea outside of Billiton - sinking the Prince of Wales and CL Durban, and damaging the Repulse. Remaining TF is ordered to scatter to nearby coastlines. So: a focus on SE Asia? My immediate thoughts are that this may be a gambit for India and potential 1943 autovictory, more likely the former and less likely the latter (although I expect him to gun for it if he thinks he can). However, in the very short term, he's given up 180-190 VPs per BB not sunk at Pearl, and I still have all of those Catalinas. This, and the known whereabouts of KB on the western side of the map, might open up some more options for me in the eastern Pacific than I would otherwise have in an early war position. For now, I order all the subs in ABDA and Manila to patrol around Luzon, Borneo, the Celebes, and Malaysia. I'll try to be cheeky with the Brit DDs at Hong Kong, and I'll try to sneak the xAKs and support ships out of Manila via Legaspi on the way to Midway. Anything that makes it out will be considered a bonus. Likewise for ships from Singapore, via Oosthaven/Batavia to Australia or the slower ships via Medan/Sabang to Colombo. In the air, Zeroes from KB and LBA have been doing their job in decimating the Buffalos and P-40s available over Singapore and Luzon. I don't expect to have much in the way of air forces here for long, and with the massing of the IJN I'm not sure I care to even try to stick around.
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