RE: [Clever Title Here] Texas_D (J) vs Marbakka (A)

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All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition >> After Action Reports >> RE: [Clever Title Here] Texas_D (J) vs Marbakka (A)

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RE: [Clever Title Here] Texas_D (J) vs Marbakka (A) - 4/5/2012 9:01:46 PM

marbakka

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December 15, 1941 Report

PI
- The abuse of surviving troops in Mindanao continues and there is nothing I can do about it but watch in horror as they are hunted down in the jungle
- Legaspi and Lucena fell today
- My MTBs and PTs may two independent attempts today. In both cases, they charged in, glanced around at the defenseless enemy ships, and charged out without firing a shot. Both groups are ordered back to Manila where their commanders are to be summarily executed.

Malaya/Burma
- Survivors from Koto Bharu continue to endure harassment as they desperately attempt to flee southward
- Kuantan has been captured
- Victoria Point has been captured. I expect he'll para-capture Port Blair soon enough. That seals 1 squadron of AVG in the DEI for the time being

Other
- Enemy forces have taken Tabiteuea in the Gilbert Islands
- My cruisers in the Rabaul area bombarded the invasion force at Kavieng (to little effect) and are now headed home for refitting

I have a critical situation that has arisen as a result of my newbish ignorance. Fortunately, I saw this coming as I was issuing yesterday's orders, but the situation will not be resolved until tonight at the earliest and 2-3 days if my patchwork fix doesn't work. I'll be keeping OPSEC until the crisis passes. Just know that I'll be pacing around my apartment waiting on the next few turns. (I have an epic screenshot I'll share when the danger passes)

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by marbakka -- 4/5/2012 9:10:02 PM >

(in reply to HansBolter)

Post #: 91

RE: [Clever Title Here] Texas_D (J) vs Marbakka (A) - 4/5/2012 11:55:32 PM

marbakka

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Orders Summary - December 15, 1941

China
- Ordered reinforcements to being moving to Changsha since he has a force of ~40,000 pushing from Wuchang
- Ordered the 1990 AV force sitting at Inchang to move into the forested hex to the east. I'm hoping he sees this as a threat to Hankow and Wuchang's rear and chooses to withdraw back to Wuchang
- AVG and Bombers to conduct ground pounding of enemy troops west of Wuchang

Malaya
- The enemy is without honor. They have cut off the rail line into southern Malaya, trapping about 160 AV worth of troops in the middle of the jungle. Those troops are ordered to gather and prepare for the end

DEI
- Force Z is only waiting on BB Prince of Wales to finish the last bit of repainting and then she'll be ready to head to sea.
- There is a Japanese SAG splashing about in the waters east of Balikapan. I believe this to be a trap intended to pull Force Z into that area. The KBa was last seen headed east toward Truk, but it could easily have returned

India
- Troops have begun arriving at Chittagong and are being distributed along the CDL
- I went through the Indian bases looking for troops that could be moved without dropping below the Garrison Requirement. There were precious few, but I'll be checking back every week or so.

Australia
- Adjusted some expansion
- Combined the 2AUS Div and set it to rest/training

Pacific Theatre
- Big fleets are headed toward PaPa. Engineers are already stacked high there and hammering away at the new port facilities
- Today, I received about 8 shiny new DDs (Sims Class) in Balboa. These have been sent to San Diego from whence they will head to PH or possibly join the various carrier groups
- Force A has arrived in the Bering Sea and taken up position north of Adak. Here's hoping he tries to land something there. My lighter SAG was sent back to Kodiak. A single AM has been sent westward as a picket of sorts
- BB Tennessee is holding steady at 16 floatation damage and should arrive in Seattle within the next 48 hours (they're taking their sweet time about it)

NEWB QUESTIONS
- What is the value of Horn Island (north of Australia)? Is that little piece of property worth having all those troops on?
- Are supplies automatically crossed from Wellington to Blenheim? I'm wondering if I'm going to need to supply both Auckland and a city on the other island or just the one.
- Talk to me about pickets. What ships are best to use? How do you use them (stationary or patrol route)? How far out? How many?

(I'm including some screenies to update you on China as I haven't said much about it thusfar)

Attachment (1)

(in reply to marbakka)

Post #: 92

RE: [Clever Title Here] Texas_D (J) vs Marbakka (A) - 4/5/2012 11:59:04 PM

marbakka

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The blue line is where I'd like to hold him, if able. This means withdrawing from some of the northern bases (something I've already initiated). North of the blue line, I'm harassing him wherever I can.

The Ichang forces are feinting toward Hankow. We'll see how that turns out.

He is also building up forces on the border with Indochina. I've sent the garrison from Nanning to the border, and have instructed troops from Kweiyang to fill the vacuum behind them.

Hong Kong should fall within the next day or two.

Troops in "the bulge" are generally heading NE, but he is bombing and attacking them with ground forces wherever he can. It's slow going.

Attachment (1)

(in reply to marbakka)

Post #: 93

RE: [Clever Title Here] Texas_D (J) vs Marbakka (A) - 4/6/2012 2:41:16 AM

princep01

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On China, I'd defend the woods in front of Ichang. The city itself is a nice place to rest and replace while you hold those woods.. You can get a BF or two into Ichang (from Loyang and the city next door) and build the AF to a respectable size. Since it is behind a river, I would not surrender it without a fight.

Early in the Scenario I games, Nanchang (SE of Changsha) can be taken fairly easily by the Chinese. In Scenario 2 games, with a free set up and extra troops....I don't think it is likely.

Finally, I am always loath to abandon those forest/hill hexes. They are a tough nut for even crack IJA troops to push an establish Chinese force out of.

Otherwise, I like your blue line, but doubt it is feasible in the North over the long period. Don't stay in Yenan too long once he crosses the river to the south.

(in reply to marbakka)

Post #: 94

RE: [Clever Title Here] Texas_D (J) vs Marbakka (A) - 4/6/2012 3:47:12 AM

marbakka

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December 16, 1941 Report

A pretty boring turn, which is what I needed.

- Lots of sub action. IJ sub sunk one of the transports coming out of San Diego. It looks like he's positioned the sub to intercept stuff coming from Balboa
- Reports indicate that a mine at Mersing sunk the CA Kumano. I don't know how reliable the report is or WHEN this sinking took place, but it is showing up on tracker, and that makes me happy enough.
- Hong Kong finally fell to Japanese forces
- PI: Iba and Calayan fall. I have 3 INF units with a total of 308 AV left in Manila. I'd rather abandon Manila and make them pay for CF, but there is something to be said for bleeding them a little in the city streets. I dunno.

(in reply to princep01)

Post #: 95

RE: [Clever Title Here] Texas_D (J) vs Marbakka (A) - 4/6/2012 6:25:45 AM

BBfanboy

Posts: 18046
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From: Winnipeg, MB
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quote:

ORIGINAL: marbakka

Orders Summary - December 15, 1941

India
- I went through the Indian bases looking for troops that could be moved without dropping below the Garrison Requirement. There were precious few, but I'll be checking back every week or so.

Pacific Theatre
- Today, I received about 8 shiny new DDs (Sims Class) in Balboa. These have been sent to San Diego from whence they will head to PH or possibly join the various carrier groups

NEWB QUESTIONS
- What is the value of Horn Island (north of Australia)? Is that little piece of property worth having all those troops on?
- Are supplies automatically crossed from Wellington to Blenheim? I'm wondering if I'm going to need to supply both Auckland and a city on the other island or just the one.
- Talk to me about pickets. What ships are best to use? How do you use them (stationary or patrol route)? How far out? How many?

Re: India garrisons - as the garrisons train and gain experience and morale, their AV will slowly increase. Sometimes this will allow you to release one of the units in garrison because the remainder have enough AV. Check about twice a month.

Not sure why you sent those DDs to San Diego - they can go directly to PH from Balboa.

Re: Horn Island - it sits at a strategic choke point and if he takes it, Port Moresby is outflanked and isolated. If he built the AF to level 3 he could have Betties running down the east coast and as far west as Darwin. It doesn't do that much for you while you have Pt. Moresby, but if you lose PM, you want to keep that island to have a chance of running supply to Darwin and deny his warships easy passage south of New Guinea.

I read somewhere that supply can travel over one hex water separations at a rate of 5 per day [or was it week?]. Not enough to sustain very many troops or any construction. NZ can be nearly self-supplying if it gets fuel and if you put a few xAKLs [3 or 4] down there to move resources from the South Island to the industrial centres at Wellington and Aukland. The same ships can haul supply back to the South Island every other trip or so. The fuel has to come from the US. Austrailia has none to spare and it is a long haul from Cape Town/Abadan. Better to use that fuel for west Aus. I usually supplement NZ with a couple of larger cargo ships of supply [5-6,000 tonners] a month - more when the Liberty Ships start to arrive.

Pickets can be any vessel you are prepared to lose. Lots of players use xAKLs, but I like those little ships for supplying tiny ports that can't dock big ships. Subs are good pickets, especially after they get radar, but being a picket may take them away from the shipping lanes where they should be hunting. Using small auxilliaries like your AM and maybe SCs makes good sense. Just don't take the AM from a port where it is tending a minefield.
Also keep an eye on your Nav Search losses. If you start to get a bunch lost to enemy fighters in an area over the ocean, take a deep breath.

_____________________________

No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

(in reply to marbakka)

Post #: 96

RE: [Clever Title Here] Texas_D (J) vs Marbakka (A) - 4/6/2012 9:53:20 AM

HansBolter

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About those aborted PT attacks, it's going to happen as often as not even if you place the most aggressive commanders available in command. PT's can be fickle. It often depends as much on the moonlight condition as anything else. Low moonlight being better. Those guys don't want to be too visible when making thier attack runs.

I've mentioned getting the the most aggressive commanders available, but I failed to mention that naval skill is what is actually most important in determining how well any ship or TF will perform in surface combat. Agression determines how aggressively they will press home the attack. Yes, you want aggressive commanders but they must also have high naval skill. If you're looking at a list of available commanders and sort the list by agression and the top guy has 81 aggr and 45 nav and the next guy down has 75 aggr and 65 nav, you want to choose the latter. I have also learned to look at each ship commander I place in a SAG and not just the TF commander.

BBfanboy, as far as sending DDs or even APDs from Balboa to San Diego instead of directly to Pearl, since the US is so short of escorts, I find it can be useful to divert to SD first and use them to escort a transport mission on their way to Pearl, before committing them to other duties.

When leaving San Diego it can be useful to use the map edge to your advantage. Set your first waypoint 8 or 10 hexes south of SD directly on the map edge. It will often take you right around the sub's patrol zone.

Once your PT attack oppurtunities dry up in the PI you can either get your PTs out by base hopping, which can provide more attack oppurtunities or get your PTs slaughtered by a SAG patrolling in thier path or you can simnply return them to the pool for eventual use elsewhere.

In China, the 20th and 26th armies of the 6th War Area, spread out over the Hankow to Changsha area are two of the strongest, best fleshed out armies the Chinese have. If your opponent allows you the oppurtunity to concentrate them, you can threaten to take objectives from him instead of pulling back into better terrain and giving up all those cities concentrated in that area. If you can get 1500 to 2000 AV into a quadrupled defense hex like Hankow it will take en enormous concentration of his forces to have a hope of dislodging you even if you aren't strong enough to take it from him. This will hinder his ability to use that force to steamroll you elsewhere.

Keep an eye to the ship reinforcement track and note when and where your carriers arrive. A few DDs will often arrive at the ame ports a few turns ahead of the carriers and it's better to hold those DDs in port awaiting the arrival of the carriers than to make your carriers wait for escorts to come to them from Pearl.

< Message edited by HansBolter -- 4/6/2012 10:20:42 AM >

_____________________________

Hans

(in reply to BBfanboy)

Post #: 97

RE: [Clever Title Here] Texas_D (J) vs Marbakka (A) - 4/6/2012 1:41:53 PM

princep01

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HansBolter, reading your last two posts in this AAR is like listening to myself giving advice on this game. I was astonished at how closely you and I preceive and execute both strategy and tactics in this game. Well said on both posts, sir.

BBFanboy, I too take at least most my new DDs transitting the Panama Canal to SD initially for the reason Hans said. In fact, I sometimes leave 4 DDs in the SD/LA area and create an ASW TF to jab at the IJN subs off the West coast. I have only sunk one sub in two games doing this, but the TF has damaged many others causing them to take their nasty Glens and go home.

(in reply to HansBolter)

Post #: 98

RE: [Clever Title Here] Texas_D (J) vs Marbakka (A) - 4/6/2012 6:24:18 PM

marbakka

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December 17, 1941 Report

Another quiet turn, but "radio chatter" indicates that the next will be eventful.

- Getting another report of a ship sunk by mines at Mersing. This time, it is reported that the CA Mikuma was sent to the bottom.
- Catanduanes and Taiping have fallen
- A TK was sunk by an enemy sub within two hexes of PaPa. I think this is probably the radio transmission contact that was reported 3-4 days ago. DDs dispatched.
- My PT/MTB groups in the PI ran into a brick wall when they encountered a group of DDs at Iba

Orders Summary - December 18, 1941
- Force Z is moving toward Ambon, mostly to stay out of IJ bomber cover out of Billiton and Singkawang. I won't be taking them very far north until I have some idea where the KB is (I don't have ANY indication of carrier locations right now)
- The crisis situation that I mentioned a day or two ago has not been resolved, and the resolution is still several days away. However, the alternate disaster may well occur this turn. This game is not good for my blood pressure.
- Three light AA units and a RAF squadron are loading at CT and bound for Chittagong
- Growth at the Palembang Pillow Fort continues at a frustratingly slow pace
- With the HQs safely to CF and Bataan, I have ordered the last INF units out of Manila. It is mostly drained of supplies and the enemy is at the doorstep.

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RE: [Clever Title Here] Texas_D (J) vs Marbakka (A) - 4/6/2012 9:15:47 PM

HansBolter

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quote:

ORIGINAL: princep01

HansBolter, reading your last two posts in this AAR is like listening to myself giving advice on this game. I was astonished at how closely you and I preceive and execute both strategy and tactics in this game. Well said on both posts, sir.

BBFanboy, I too take at least most my new DDs transitting the Panama Canal to SD initially for the reason Hans said. In fact, I sometimes leave 4 DDs in the SD/LA area and create an ASW TF to jab at the IJN subs off the West coast. I have only sunk one sub in two games doing this, but the TF has damaged many others causing them to take their nasty Glens and go home.

Been a wargamer since '73 and have played this series since Uncommon Valor. Most of what I advise is pretty basic stuff learned from playing quite a few games. It doesn't surprise me that it would have commonalities with what others have learned.

Regarding the mine hits, at the very beginning of the naval movement phases there is an audio file that plays when ships hit mines, it gives you a heads up that your opponent has run afoul of them. There is also a ship sinking audio that runs after sub attacks that gives you a clue that your target has sunk.

As for the PTs at Iba....too many times to the well......with the abandonment of Manila it's time to pull the little boys out.

< Message edited by HansBolter -- 4/6/2012 9:21:46 PM >

_____________________________

Hans

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Post #: 100

RE: [Clever Title Here] Texas_D (J) vs Marbakka (A) - 4/6/2012 11:32:06 PM

marbakka

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December 18, 1941 Report

PI: Batangas and Cagayan (Mindanao) were occupied by IJ forces
DEI/SOPAC: Sansapar falls. Rabaul has been invaded in a big way. Mouseover indicates around 17000 troops landed on the first day. I wish I'd had a few more days and I would have retrieved all of the troops there. As it was, I lost a LOT of transport planes who tried to fly in. This leads me to believe that he has carriers assisting with the invasion, though I've yet to spot the TF. If the KB is down there, it is a big relief. In Palembang, the Pillow Fort has 214 pillows stacked high (AV)
Burma: I have spotted troops moving West out of Chiang Mai. With Singapore largely contained, will he move on Burma? We'll see. Pegu is at around 300 AV.

For the past two days, I'd received reports of IJN CAs (Heavy Cruisers) being sunk by mines. Today, the report is that two DDs were sunk (at Rabaul). Seems like these mines are my greatest asset at the moment

SigInt: Notice that he has a division planning for Rangoon

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by marbakka -- 4/7/2012 3:50:52 PM >

(in reply to HansBolter)

Post #: 101

RE: [Clever Title Here] Texas_D (J) vs Marbakka (A) - 4/7/2012 3:00:00 AM

BBfanboy

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I'm very skeptical of the mine-induced sinkings reported. I haven't had any mine encounters since updating AE to the newest version, so I don't know if the effect of mines has been increased. In the old version, subs could often survive a mine hit and DDs could often survive two hits. There is always a tiny chance of a magazine explosion but two CAs on consecutive days just isn't believable. Still, your mines are hitting something and it shows he hasn't been careful about minesweeping. If you can do sub minelaying, continue to sneak into his heavily used ports near the front [less likely to have his mines than the established major ports]. Biggest problem for the allies is the very slow rate of mine production.

About that division for Rangoon - the 7/ in front of the division number seems to indicate it is a fragment or sub-element. Could be a bit of phony planning to throw you off, OR it could be that you just haven't yet got a whiff of the other six parts of the division. [After marching in the hot jungle for several days you really should be able to smell them coming

.]

_____________________________

No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

(in reply to marbakka)

Post #: 102

RE: [Clever Title Here] Texas_D (J) vs Marbakka (A) - 4/7/2012 3:27:35 AM

marbakka

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Orders Summary - December 19, 1941

China
- He has a force moving toward Nanyang. I'm considering whether to make it a fighting retreat or just abandon the disadvantageous terrain outright
- Lots of recon from Changsha. AVG is spending one more day there before returning to the rear.

India
- Shuffled some troops to more efficiently fill garrison requirements and sent the leftovers to the CDL
- CVL Hermes is finally out of the yard and ready to go Swordfish hunting west of Sumatra. She'll not do much after that. Maybe hunt subs in the IO. In general, she'll be serving as a training platform until another CV arrives next month

DEI
- Big airlift AG from PM arrived in Batavia and is working on getting some more hefty AV up to the Pillow Fort
- Sent some DDs toward the IO to serve as ASW in the Hermes' fleet

Other
- I've decided to send all of the units under the Fifth USAAF to Cape Town via the East Coast. They'll be out of the action during transit, but from there I can quickly move them to India or Australia. This includes the V Bomber Command and the II Fighter Command. The actual HQ will be with them wherever they go.

I'm getting faster at doing these turns. Every time I feel like I'm missing something major.

(in reply to marbakka)

Post #: 103

RE: [Clever Title Here] Texas_D (J) vs Marbakka (A) - 4/7/2012 3:36:46 AM

princep01

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It is very seldom wise to fight the IJA in the open in China. You get bombed snotless, strafed senseless and then you get kicked in the kneecap and bayoneted. Yes, it is that much fun. In a word, unless you are attacking and have overwhelming strength, DON'T.

The open area south of the "twin cities" is a death trap for the Chinese. Fighting for Nanyang might be okay for a time to delay him, but hold the rough terrain to the west and south. I seldom give up a rough/wood hex without a good fight as the Chinese.

(in reply to marbakka)

Post #: 104

RE: [Clever Title Here] Texas_D (J) vs Marbakka (A) - 4/7/2012 6:09:45 AM

BBfanboy

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quote:

ORIGINAL: princep01

It is very seldom wise to fight the IJA in the open in China. You get bombed snotless, strafed senseless and then you get kicked in the kneecap and bayoneted. Yes, it is that much fun. In a word, unless you are attacking and have overwhelming strength, DON'T.

The open area south of the "twin cities" is a death trap for the Chinese. Fighting for Nanyang might be okay for a time to delay him, but hold the rough terrain to the west and south. I seldom give up a rough/wood hex without a good fight as the Chinese.

+1

Also note that every clash your units survive boosts their experience and morale which in turn improves their AV. Eventually when you secure the Burma road and get some aircraft and support into China, you can overwhelm the IJA wiith numbers of reasonably experienced units, enough supply and air support. Probably 1944 before it comes together but if you know how it develops it is less depressing in the early go.

_____________________________

No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

(in reply to princep01)

Post #: 105

RE: [Clever Title Here] Texas_D (J) vs Marbakka (A) - 4/7/2012 6:21:04 AM

BBfanboy

Posts: 18046
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From: Winnipeg, MB
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quote:

ORIGINAL: marbakka

Orders Summary - December 19, 1941

China
- He has a force moving toward Nanyang. I'm considering whether to make it a fighting retreat or just abandon the disadvantageous terrain outright
- Lots of recon from Changsha. AVG is spending one more day there before returning to the rear.

India
- Shuffled some troops to more efficiently fill garrison requirements and sent the leftovers to the CDL
- CVL Hermes is finally out of the yard and ready to go Swordfish hunting west of Sumatra. She'll not do much after that. Maybe hunt subs in the IO. In general, she'll be serving as a training platform until another CV arrives next month

DEI
- Big airlift AG from PM arrived in Batavia and is working on getting some more hefty AV up to the Pillow Fort
- Sent some DDs toward the IO to serve as ASW in the Hermes' fleet

Other
- I've decided to send all of the units under the Fifth USAAF to Cape Town via the East Coast. They'll be out of the action during transit, but from there I can quickly move them to India or Australia. This includes the V Bomber Command and the II Fighter Command. The actual HQ will be with them wherever they go.

I'm getting faster at doing these turns. Every time I feel like I'm missing something major.

I think you said a turn or two ago that Japan took Oosthaven, the southernmost base on Sumatra. This is unfortunate because that is the best base for supplying the pillow fort. Socking a lot of troops in there has a logistics consequence. You MUST keep the base on the west side of the island that has a direct road to Palembang, and keep the road open. Canoerebel's Fortress Palembang strategy was to hold Oosthaven, Palembang and that base on the west side. He got mutual air support from the three bases and could outflank attackers at one by moving troops from the other two. He used every Austrailian, Indian and US ground and air unit he could free up to create the bastion. I guess the lesson is - go big or get out before your troops get trapped. They can last a while at Palembang under seige but you would have to be prepared to lose them eventually.
Any chance you could reclaim Oosthaven?

_____________________________

No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

(in reply to marbakka)

Post #: 106

RE: [Clever Title Here] Texas_D (J) vs Marbakka (A) - 4/7/2012 11:34:36 AM

HansBolter

Posts: 7704
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quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

I'm very skeptical of the mine-induced sinkings reported. I haven't had any mine encounters since updating AE to the newest version, so I don't know if the effect of mines has been increased. In the old version, subs could often survive a mine hit and DDs could often survive two hits. There is always a tiny chance of a magazine explosion but two CAs on consecutive days just isn't believable. Still, your mines are hitting something and it shows he hasn't been careful about minesweeping. If you can do sub minelaying, continue to sneak into his heavily used ports near the front [less likely to have his mines than the established major ports]. Biggest problem for the allies is the very slow rate of mine production.

About that division for Rangoon - the 7/ in front of the division number seems to indicate it is a fragment or sub-element. Could be a bit of phony planning to throw you off, OR it could be that you just haven't yet got a whiff of the other six parts of the division. [After marching in the hot jungle for several days you really should be able to smell them coming.]

If you're not getting mine kills it's because you're not deploying them in the enemies path. Granted there is FOW in the list below, but I firmly believe that if they weren't sunk they are at least out of action for an extended duration getting the hulls patched up.

Attachment (1)

_____________________________

Hans

(in reply to BBfanboy)

Post #: 107

RE: [Clever Title Here] Texas_D (J) vs Marbakka (A) - 4/7/2012 2:11:09 PM

marbakka

Posts: 410
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quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

I think you said a turn or two ago that Japan took Oosthaven, the southernmost base on Sumatra. This is unfortunate because that is the best base for supplying the pillow fort. Socking a lot of troops in there has a logistics consequence. You MUST keep the base on the west side of the island that has a direct road to Palembang, and keep the road open. Canoerebel's Fortress Palembang strategy was to hold Oosthaven, Palembang and that base on the west side. He got mutual air support from the three bases and could outflank attackers at one by moving troops from the other two. He used every Austrailian, Indian and US ground and air unit he could free up to create the bastion. I guess the lesson is - go big or get out before your troops get trapped. They can last a while at Palembang under seige but you would have to be prepared to lose them eventually.
Any chance you could reclaim Oosthaven?

Oosthaven has not been taken. Billiton, the island SE of Palembang has been, and he's using it as an airbase to disrupt operations in the Java Sea.

I'm slowly making my way through Canoerebel's AAR, and I don't think this game is going to be at all similar, mostly because my opponent is moving more rapidly and in a more organized manner. My strategy in Palembang is pretty well limited to getting as many dutch units in there as possible before the end comes. Its more of a speedbump than anything. The only non-Dutch troops that may end up there is the AUS division out of Australia if I decide to buy them (at the steep price of 668 PP as of last turn), but even then, I'd rather send those guys to Australia or PM.

(in reply to BBfanboy)

Post #: 108

RE: [Clever Title Here] Texas_D (J) vs Marbakka (A) - 4/7/2012 4:10:51 PM

BBfanboy

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Careful with the assumptions HB. I am not getting mine hits because I am at the end of a game against the AI and there are no IJN ships left, and I have cleared all his mines. Are you saying the update to the game made the mines more powerful?

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Post #: 109

RE: [Clever Title Here] Texas_D (J) vs Marbakka (A) - 4/7/2012 4:15:25 PM

BBfanboy

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Thanks for clarifying your strategy Marbakka. I agree that using the concentrated Dutch units as a speedbump is a good idea - you are going to lose them anyway since there are never enough PP to buy them off their islands. The longer you hold Palembang the less oil/fuel he gets to extract. Dig in boys!

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Post #: 110

RE: [Clever Title Here] Texas_D (J) vs Marbakka (A) - 4/7/2012 4:15:50 PM

marbakka

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December 19, 1941 Report

PI: Burias falls. He's hunting down some troops that got cut off in the north. INF units have abandoned Manila. PT TF is going to attempt to island hop to Java (for some reason, I can't disband it)
DEI: Dagua, Wewak, and Sorong are all captured. I didn't fight for any of them
SOPAC: Kavieng and Rabaul both fall. He committed a LOT of troops to Rabaul (and KBa?), but even if he hadn't, I'd already removed most of the troops to PM. Whatever air units he has covering the Rabaul landing decimated my transport planes out of PM. I believe I have 3 AGs remaining there with 5 planes between them. There is a report of BB Ise hitting a mine while assisting at Rabaul
CENPAC/NOPAC/WC: 34th Infantry has arrived at PH. Base forces for Adak are a few days out. An AVP should arrive tonight to support search operations there

Orders Summary - December 20, 1941

China
- Began a fighting withdrawal in the north
- A large force of enemy troops arrived in the hex next to Nanyang, so I have begun to fade into the woods NW of there.
- AVG to Chungking for happy fun time

Malaya
- AUS units still sitting in Singapore in strat mode. It will cost around 670 PP to buy them out of there (2 days and I'll have that). I'm still undecided as to whether I should buy them. If I did, they would probably have to make a stop in Palembang because of the naval/air threat out of Billiton, and it may be that they stay there to add to the Pillow Fort (I'd hate to pay that much PP just to stick them in Palembang). Otherwise, they'd continue on to Australia or PM.

India
- Troops have arrived in Chittagong and are resting. Fort level there is 2 now
- CVL Hermes continues her Swordfish run to Sumatra and will be joined there by some cruisers and destroyers out of Soerabaja
- Cargo TF of xAKLs sent to Rangoon

DEI
- Patrol tender and PT TF sent to the little base just west of Billiton (with a supply fleet soon to follow). If he lets me set up there, I'll terrorize anything that approaches that port
- Pillow Fort is around 260 AV now
- Sent some fuel to Ambon

SOPAC
- Still trying to airlift troops from New Guinea to PM, but I've got very few planes left to do it with
- Both cruiser TFs have arrived in Australia. The first is repairing at Brisbane for the next 5 days or so, the other is running down to Sydney to spend some time in that yard (about a week).
- There is a submarine near PaPa and it is driving me insane. ASW patrols adjusted.

CENPAC/NOPAC/WC
- I desperately need some short range tankers. I've shifted 1 to PH, but I need more!
- Crisis averted? There remains one major threat to be overcome before I can say that I have recovered from my incredible foolishness (see below)
- Saratoga is steaming for the Bering Sea in the hopes of catching a lightly guarded landing force there (there were radio transmissions headed that way 4-5 days ago). However, the only support she has up there is Force A (2 BBs and escorts), so if there is the slightest whiff of KBa up there, she will turn tail and run.

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RE: [Clever Title Here] Texas_D (J) vs Marbakka (A) - 4/7/2012 4:33:27 PM

BBfanboy

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Looks to me like you are getting a good handle on all the things you need to do and watch for. Not sure what the replacement rate for transport aircraft is - I think you can look it up in the industry list on the intel screen. You get quite a few transport units in late 1942 but until then most players seem to use them in less risky areas. Good luck!

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No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

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Post #: 112

RE: [Clever Title Here] Texas_D (J) vs Marbakka (A) - 4/7/2012 4:52:57 PM

marbakka

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December 14-20, 1941 - Week in Review (2)

This week seemed quiet and uneventful compared to last week. That is partly because our pace has picked up considerably (almost 2 turns per day). It is also partly because there is no blood left to flow in Manila.

In the PI, Japan has captured most of the islands. Some PT action gave a bit of a morale boost, but those have now had to flee. Troops are massed in CF and Bataan, and will die there soon enough. The "radio chatter" indicates that Japan will use CF as a training ground for his bomber pilots for a protracted period. That should be...painful

In Malaya, about 150 AV worth of troops were cut off from Singapore and have massed in central Malaya to make a small stand. I expect to be pushed out of JB this week and the siege of Singapore to begin. Burma will be up next.

In India, Hermes is finally back on her feet, though her usefulness is questionable at this stage of the war. Troops have beefed up through resting and Garrisons are being shuffled to the front as able. Fuel convoys have been arriving from Abadan and the thirst of India has temporarily been quenched.

In DEI, the enemy has established an airbase at Billiton. Thusfar, the only thing they have done is snoop every TF within range and recon Palembang, but I expect them to start giving me trouble soon. Force Z is repaired and back at sea to the east of Soerabaja.

In SOPAC, Rabaul and Kavieng have fallen as expected. Unfortunately, I lost many of my transport planes on the day of the invasion. I'm led to believe that KBa may be operating in the area, though I have no solid proof yet. My cruisers are all repairing in Australia and will be out most of the week.

In the US, the Fifth USAAF (V Bomber Command, II Fighter Command) has been ordered to move to Cape Town and prepare for deployment in either India or Australia. I've begun to ferry troops assigned to Pacific Fleet to PH and those assigned to Southwest Pacific to PaPa. Efforts continue to fortify Adak Island against attack in NOPAC. Saratoga has cleared Seattle and is en route to cover operations there.

Lexington's Distress
I'm an idiot. I ordered Lexington SW of Wake about a week ago to strike at an enemy SAG there with some mild success. To do this, she dashed at full speed west then south. The next day, to avoid bombers out of the Marshal Islands, she fled directly north at full speed (Texas_D tells me that he was disappointed not to find her the next day). Her next mission was to return to PH for a break, but a radio transmission NW of her position tempted me. I ordered her to dash (full speed again) to the NW before turning east toward PH. She made it to a position about 3 hexes North of Wake and then ran out of fuel. Lesson learned: Three straight days of Full Speed = no no. I had already started loading a replenishment fleet in PH "just in case," but it was still several days away. Meanwhile, my attempts to refuel Lexington by adding well fueled ships to the TF failed when it turned out those ships were incompatible with the Air Combat TF (CMs, DMSs). Finally, last night, CA San Francisco, which had been escorting a supply run to Wake, arrived and shared enough to let the (now wounded) Lexington limp back toward PH at a greater than 1 hex/turn rate. She should meet up with the replenishment fleet tonight, as well. The danger has mostly passed (I was terrified that KBa was on its way to support an invasion of Wake), however, last night a submarine was spotted in the hex next to the fleet. I've all manner of ASW in the works, but it is possible that it will get a lucky shot. Meanwhile, Enterprise refueled and immediately deployed to help escort her sister home. I'm debating using her to strike at that SAG again (it's still down there). If I do, I can assure you it won't be on Full Speed for more than a day!

I have a second replenishment fleet already loading..."just in case"

For Next Week: I expect another week of grasping by the Japanese. I find it somewhat curious that he hasn't taken a stab at Ambon yet. I hope he doesn't until I can figure out where KBa is. If it is not covering the push to Ambon, Force Z will pounce. If it is, well then there isn't much to be done. Ambon is somewhat beefed up, but not enough to resist any real effort. I also expect him to start moving into Burma. Frankly, I wish he'd hurry up as I'm losing VP each turn because all my troops are at my temporary line of defense in the forest instead of the cities of Mandalay and Rangoon. Maybe this next week will be quiet enough to calm my nerves after my foolishness this past week. Let's hope so.

(first screenshot from the 15th...second screenshot from today)

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RE: [Clever Title Here] Texas_D (J) vs Marbakka (A) - 4/7/2012 4:53:44 PM

marbakka

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And today. If that sub sinks my carrier.....

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RE: [Clever Title Here] Texas_D (J) vs Marbakka (A) - 4/7/2012 5:12:30 PM

BBfanboy

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I think it was Churchill who said "There is nothing so exhilarating in life as to be shot at and missed." Sometimes the game's thrills come not from victories, but from survival!
This early in the war PH is still vulnerable to a KB attack. I would send the carrier and any cruisers needing yard time to the West Coast.

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Post #: 115

RE: [Clever Title Here] Texas_D (J) vs Marbakka (A) - 4/7/2012 6:33:03 PM

HansBolter

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quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Careful with the assumptions HB. I am not getting mine hits because I am at the end of a game against the AI and there are no IJN ships left, and I have cleared all his mines. Are you saying the update to the game made the mines more powerful?

Can't say one way or the other regarding the update, just posting results. I hadn't really noticed they were terribly ineffective before the series of beta patches leading to the official update.

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Post #: 116

RE: [Clever Title Here] Texas_D (J) vs Marbakka (A) - 4/7/2012 9:27:28 PM

BBfanboy

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Hmmm - the question remains then. I am starting a new campaign against the AI and will watch for mine results. In the one I just finished [my first full campaign, AI oppenent] I was amazed that subs could survive a mine hit and BBs like Nagato just seemed to shrug them off. Three mine hits and it still made about 18 kts on the way to the dockyard. I know there are different sizes [and thus effects] for the mines but the results just didn't seem to emulate real life. One air-dropped magnetic mine put CL Belfast in the dockyard for a year!

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No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

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Post #: 117

RE: [Clever Title Here] Texas_D (J) vs Marbakka (A) - 4/8/2012 3:17:29 AM

marbakka

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December 20, 1941 Report

A very quiet turn, but it included this text flashing up on the screen: "Task Force 405 has refueled and is proceeding to Pearl Harbor" Yay!

Bayombong, Lubang, Wewak, and Tsiaotso were all captured. That last was being abandoned when a full division of Japanese showed up and shock attacked. Killed ~7000

I believe I can say that we have located the KBa (4 CVs). A TF has arrived between Singapore and Singkawang fitting the description. It could be fog of war, but the TF is sitting in the middle of overlapping Naval Searches out of Singapore and Palembang. The question, of course, is what is it doing? it's heading SW which leads me to wonder if he's headed to put the hurt on Palembang, but I don't see any landing fleets, so that doesn't make a ton of sense.

Meanwhile, both search planes and SigInt confirms that a TF is on its way to land at Kendari. Force Z is within striking distance and can probably be waiting for them when they arrive. My only real concern about doing this is that a) I'm not 100% sure that the TF off of Singapore is the KBa, and b) I have no clue where the mKB is. I would have thought that the mKB would be spotted by the naval searches I have coming out of Kendari and Ambon, but it is always possible that it was missed. I'd hate to send PoW & gang into a nasty situation, but on the other hand, I'd like to hang onto Kendari/Ambon for as long as possible to keep my fuel routes open. I'm inclined to send Force Z in. I wish they had a couple more cruisers with them, but most all of my cruisers are in Sydney/Brisbane for another 5-6 days.

KBb, which had been parked to the east of Mersing for nearly a week, disappeared this turn.

Who was shooting down my transports over Rabaul? mKB? Float planes from his invasion escorts?

Lexington is refueled and headed home. She'll pass Enterprise in the night.

106th USN Base Force left Sitka last night and is due to arrive in Adak in 12-13 days (lesson learned on TF speed selection).

Orders Summary - December 21, 1941

- Unless I change my mind before I send the turn, Force Z is ordered to proceed to Kendari and then to stand off and on to the SE intercepting any invasion forces that attempt to land there.
- Enterprise is headed around Wake to take a shot at the wounded enemy SAG sitting at Eniwetok. She'll swing wide north of Wake before coming straight south for the attack. All of this will be under the search plane umbrella out of Wake. I wouldn't be doing this except that it appears that the enemy carriers are elsewhere and I don't think he'll expect me to do it twice (also, his subs have to be thoroughly confused as to what direction my carriers are headed). The slightest hint of danger and I'll call it off and run her east as fast as she'll go (she's full on fuel and I'm parking a replinishment fleet at Midway until she's safely home).
- I've started moving some of my transport AGs from Palembang to Batavia. I was mostly pulling but now I'll split between pulling and pushing so that my fighter AGs can fly more efficient CAPs (I've overstacked it like you wouldn't believe)
- Hermes picked up her swordfish and is fleeing back toward Ceylon
- I've lost sight of the troops that were marching toward Burma. Recon flights assigned.

Still going over a few things before I send the turn back...

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< Message edited by marbakka -- 4/8/2012 4:23:23 AM >

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Post #: 118

RE: [Clever Title Here] Texas_D (J) vs Marbakka (A) - 4/8/2012 6:26:49 AM

BBfanboy

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Hmmm - did you notice that Ise class BB at Billaton on the SIGINT report? Not sure if that is one or two turns sailing from Kendari.
I'm willing to bet that he doesn't send BBs out singly, and there are usually a couple of CAs to add to the Long Lance threat.
I like your preference for attack - go ahead and raid Kendari but don't linger in the same hex afterward.

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No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

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Post #: 119

RE: [Clever Title Here] Texas_D (J) vs Marbakka (A) - 4/8/2012 6:32:11 AM

marbakka

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quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Hmmm - did you notice that Ise class BB at Billaton on the SIGINT report? Not sure if that is one or two turns sailing from Kendari.
I'm willing to bet that he doesn't send BBs out singly, and there are usually a couple of CAs to add to the Long Lance threat.
I like your preference for attack - go ahead and raid Kendari but don't linger in the same hex afterward.

I know he has BBs at Billiton because they hit some mines this turn (forgot to mention it). In any case, to get from there to Kendari, he'd have to truck it right past Soerabaja where it happens that I have some cruisers in from escort duty who could (theoretically) run interference if needed.

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