quote:

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

It's not, or at least shouldn't be, either send your carrier wings to die or send in your amphib invasions without air protection and I think you know that. If you have such a strong position at Koepang with plenty of land-based air, he should:

1) Be aware that is the case through recon/naval search
2) Neutralize that threat through an air/naval bombardment campaign before charging in

Now you might retort that Japan is in desperate straits and needs to take the risks to capture Koepang and you would be right. But the answer to that is that frankly the game is way past salvaging for Japan and the reason Japan is in such dire straits to begin with is because of the numerous bad decisions that we have seen being taken from the start of this game.

quote:

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Why use a little hammer when you have a big one?

Go big or stay home . . .

quote:

ORIGINAL: castor troy

quote:

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

It's not, or at least shouldn't be, either send your carrier wings to die or send in your amphib invasions without air protection and I think you know that. If you have such a strong position at Koepang with plenty of land-based air, he should:

1) Be aware that is the case through recon/naval search
2) Neutralize that threat through an air/naval bombardment campaign before charging in

Now you might retort that Japan is in desperate straits and needs to take the risks to capture Koepang and you would be right. But the answer to that is that frankly the game is way past salvaging for Japan and the reason Japan is in such dire straits to begin with is because of the numerous bad decisions that we have seen being taken from the start of this game.

I'd say 1) plus the decision it's too late and there is no chance to take Timor.

The area North of Darwin has been turned into a triangle of Death with built up bases that have been heavily reinforced plus the fact that literally my whole Navy is in the area. Same goes for most of the airforce and lots of troops that could be brought as reinforcements if the Japanese would manage to land considerable force somewhere. Bombarding Koepang would lead to his ships running into Force Z plus the whole USN and big parts of the RN. Air offensive is out of scope too IMO, he would face several hundred Warhawks with 70/70 pilots that would drain his air offensive. I could add in my P-38 flying circus which I haven't even employed yet with 50 replacement P-38 in the pool.

Mundy is aware that I have built up several bases (at least there was recon so he should be aware) and Timor is the next step from Java but what he isn't aware is that Darwin has been the biggest Naval port in history over the last months with my Navy waiting to strike. I would have been willing to fight the decisive battle the Japanese always dreamt of but then Mundy would have had to bring everything. I did.

quote:

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

quote:

ORIGINAL: castor troy

quote:

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

It's not, or at least shouldn't be, either send your carrier wings to die or send in your amphib invasions without air protection and I think you know that. If you have such a strong position at Koepang with plenty of land-based air, he should:

1) Be aware that is the case through recon/naval search
2) Neutralize that threat through an air/naval bombardment campaign before charging in

Now you might retort that Japan is in desperate straits and needs to take the risks to capture Koepang and you would be right. But the answer to that is that frankly the game is way past salvaging for Japan and the reason Japan is in such dire straits to begin with is because of the numerous bad decisions that we have seen being taken from the start of this game.

I'd say 1) plus the decision it's too late and there is no chance to take Timor.

The area North of Darwin has been turned into a triangle of Death with built up bases that have been heavily reinforced plus the fact that literally my whole Navy is in the area. Same goes for most of the airforce and lots of troops that could be brought as reinforcements if the Japanese would manage to land considerable force somewhere. Bombarding Koepang would lead to his ships running into Force Z plus the whole USN and big parts of the RN. Air offensive is out of scope too IMO, he would face several hundred Warhawks with 70/70 pilots that would drain his air offensive. I could add in my P-38 flying circus which I haven't even employed yet with 50 replacement P-38 in the pool.

Mundy is aware that I have built up several bases (at least there was recon so he should be aware) and Timor is the next step from Java but what he isn't aware is that Darwin has been the biggest Naval port in history over the last months with my Navy waiting to strike. I would have been willing to fight the decisive battle the Japanese always dreamt of but then Mundy would have had to bring everything. I did.

If Mundy is aware that you have such a strong position that can't even be reduced by a preparatory campaign, then it is an even bigger mistake to send in vulnerable divisions of troops to their death. Either he knows the position is too well defended and he still went in or he didn't know that is the case and he should have swept and naval bombed to find out before sending in the invasion. Honestly, better yet to recognize the truth that this game is lost and just starts defending if he decides to continue with the seal clubbing adventure.

quote:

ORIGINAL: castor troy

quote:

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

quote:

ORIGINAL: castor troy

quote:

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

It's not, or at least shouldn't be, either send your carrier wings to die or send in your amphib invasions without air protection and I think you know that. If you have such a strong position at Koepang with plenty of land-based air, he should:

1) Be aware that is the case through recon/naval search
2) Neutralize that threat through an air/naval bombardment campaign before charging in

Now you might retort that Japan is in desperate straits and needs to take the risks to capture Koepang and you would be right. But the answer to that is that frankly the game is way past salvaging for Japan and the reason Japan is in such dire straits to begin with is because of the numerous bad decisions that we have seen being taken from the start of this game.

I'd say 1) plus the decision it's too late and there is no chance to take Timor.

The area North of Darwin has been turned into a triangle of Death with built up bases that have been heavily reinforced plus the fact that literally my whole Navy is in the area. Same goes for most of the airforce and lots of troops that could be brought as reinforcements if the Japanese would manage to land considerable force somewhere. Bombarding Koepang would lead to his ships running into Force Z plus the whole USN and big parts of the RN. Air offensive is out of scope too IMO, he would face several hundred Warhawks with 70/70 pilots that would drain his air offensive. I could add in my P-38 flying circus which I haven't even employed yet with 50 replacement P-38 in the pool.

Mundy is aware that I have built up several bases (at least there was recon so he should be aware) and Timor is the next step from Java but what he isn't aware is that Darwin has been the biggest Naval port in history over the last months with my Navy waiting to strike. I would have been willing to fight the decisive battle the Japanese always dreamt of but then Mundy would have had to bring everything. I did.

If Mundy is aware that you have such a strong position that can't even be reduced by a preparatory campaign, then it is an even bigger mistake to send in vulnerable divisions of troops to their death. Either he knows the position is too well defended and he still went in or he didn't know that is the case and he should have swept and naval bombed to find out before sending in the invasion. Honestly, better yet to recognize the truth that this game is lost and just starts defending if he decides to continue with the seal clubbing adventure.

Mundy's recon most likely showed him this. 16 units, 50,000 men. port 3, airfield 6. Aircraft, well, two dozen fighters, some naval search.

What his recon couldn't show him, because recon is no time machine, is this: 16 units, 50,000 men. Force Z, the whole USN and 500 aircraft in the area outside of his recon range.

quote:

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

quote:

ORIGINAL: castor troy

quote:

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

quote:

ORIGINAL: castor troy

quote:

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

It's not, or at least shouldn't be, either send your carrier wings to die or send in your amphib invasions without air protection and I think you know that. If you have such a strong position at Koepang with plenty of land-based air, he should:

1) Be aware that is the case through recon/naval search
2) Neutralize that threat through an air/naval bombardment campaign before charging in

Now you might retort that Japan is in desperate straits and needs to take the risks to capture Koepang and you would be right. But the answer to that is that frankly the game is way past salvaging for Japan and the reason Japan is in such dire straits to begin with is because of the numerous bad decisions that we have seen being taken from the start of this game.

I'd say 1) plus the decision it's too late and there is no chance to take Timor.

The area North of Darwin has been turned into a triangle of Death with built up bases that have been heavily reinforced plus the fact that literally my whole Navy is in the area. Same goes for most of the airforce and lots of troops that could be brought as reinforcements if the Japanese would manage to land considerable force somewhere. Bombarding Koepang would lead to his ships running into Force Z plus the whole USN and big parts of the RN. Air offensive is out of scope too IMO, he would face several hundred Warhawks with 70/70 pilots that would drain his air offensive. I could add in my P-38 flying circus which I haven't even employed yet with 50 replacement P-38 in the pool.

Mundy is aware that I have built up several bases (at least there was recon so he should be aware) and Timor is the next step from Java but what he isn't aware is that Darwin has been the biggest Naval port in history over the last months with my Navy waiting to strike. I would have been willing to fight the decisive battle the Japanese always dreamt of but then Mundy would have had to bring everything. I did.

If Mundy is aware that you have such a strong position that can't even be reduced by a preparatory campaign, then it is an even bigger mistake to send in vulnerable divisions of troops to their death. Either he knows the position is too well defended and he still went in or he didn't know that is the case and he should have swept and naval bombed to find out before sending in the invasion. Honestly, better yet to recognize the truth that this game is lost and just starts defending if he decides to continue with the seal clubbing adventure.

Mundy's recon most likely showed him this. 16 units, 50,000 men. port 3, airfield 6. Aircraft, well, two dozen fighters, some naval search.

What his recon couldn't show him, because recon is no time machine, is this: 16 units, 50,000 men. Force Z, the whole USN and 500 aircraft in the area outside of his recon range.

Not to belabor the point, and I think at this stage we are starting to get to the agree to disagree stage, I will make one final comment.

If that is what recon showed him, then why did he stand down KB's strike wings? If he was in the least bit suspicious that you may surge aircraft in then he should have bombarded and bombed the airfields to prevent you from using land based air. If you have CV superiority, then he should have never invaded to begin with.

quote:

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

He should have at least had some SCTFs move in first, small ones with DDs first, the CLs and DDs, then CAs with DDs and maybe even BBs. The BBs could have been set to bombard. If he has taken so many losses already to his surface fleet, then he should try to figure out where your ships are and attack elsewhere.

quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Well done CT! Losses for the Allies may sting, but for the Japanese those losses are a crippling wound.

The presence of Mabels in the KB strike indicate how heavy his loss in carrier TBs have been. Now they are worse. Pilot quality will be hurt accordingly too.

The two KB strikes also seem to illustrate what I was contending in another thread - when AA and/or CAP is heavy, the bombers won't always go for the most valuable ships. The torpedoes launched at an MMS and AMc(s) suggest pilots wanting to drop their ordnance and scram! The big ships have nasty AA so the easiest targets are picked.

quote:

ORIGINAL: castor troy


I'd say 1) plus the decision it's too late and there is no chance to take Timor.

The area North of Darwin has been turned into a triangle of Death with built up bases that have been heavily reinforced plus the fact that literally my whole Navy is in the area. Same goes for most of the airforce and lots of troops that could be brought as reinforcements if the Japanese would manage to land considerable force somewhere. Bombarding Koepang would lead to his ships running into Force Z plus the whole USN and big parts of the RN. Air offensive is out of scope too IMO, he would face several hundred Warhawks with 70/70 pilots that would drain his air offensive. I could add in my P-38 flying circus which I haven't even employed yet with 50 replacement P-38 in the pool.

quote:

ORIGINAL: jedwardpita

Very exciting last two days. I have not seen a better high reward/low risk trap. [&o]

quote:

ORIGINAL: Wirraway_Ace

quote:

ORIGINAL: castor troy


I'd say 1) plus the decision it's too late and there is no chance to take Timor.

The area North of Darwin has been turned into a triangle of Death with built up bases that have been heavily reinforced plus the fact that literally my whole Navy is in the area. Same goes for most of the airforce and lots of troops that could be brought as reinforcements if the Japanese would manage to land considerable force somewhere. Bombarding Koepang would lead to his ships running into Force Z plus the whole USN and big parts of the RN. Air offensive is out of scope too IMO, he would face several hundred Warhawks with 70/70 pilots that would drain his air offensive. I could add in my P-38 flying circus which I haven't even employed yet with 50 replacement P-38 in the pool.

This was very nicely done as a strategy, and given the loses he has suffered to his ground troops, carrier groups and surface ships prior to the battle, I think victory for him was very, very unlikely. That your tactics were better, just made it worse (or better, depending on the perspective).

quote:

ORIGINAL: castor troy

quote:

ORIGINAL: jedwardpita

Very exciting last two days. I have not seen a better high reward/low risk trap. [&o]

Thanks and welcome to the AAR. Wasn't much of a trap though and I fear it could have played out better as the losses to ships (I hate losing ships) were severe. Even if it was a victory overall I think the loss of a BB is not something that gets public applause in the States.