Slitherine

quote:

Amphibious Assault at Manus (101,119)

TF 90 troops unloading over beach at Manus, 101,119


Allied ground losses:
956 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 128 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 112 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 56 (0 destroyed, 56 disabled)
Vehicles lost 92 (0 destroyed, 92 disabled)


13 troops of a USA Rifle Squad 44 lost in surf during unload of 24th Infantry Div /4
13 troops of a USA Rifle Squad 44 lost in surf during unload of 24th Infantry Div /7

quote:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Darwin at 76,124

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 74 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B6N2 Jill x 24
N1K2-J George x 21



Allied aircraft
P-38H Lightning x 22
F4U-1A Corsair x 20


Japanese aircraft losses
B6N2 Jill: 16 destroyed
B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak
N1K2-J George: 10 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1A Corsair: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CL Nashville
CL Phoenix

quote:

The next move in NG will be harder. I´m considering bypassing Aitape/Wewak and go straight for Hollandia. Its a bit risky though unless I capture the base quickly. Nearest AF is 7 hexes away. I have troops 100 Prepped for both Aitape and Wewak. But not enough to capture them as Erik has reinforced them heavily with 20.000 troops on each. Will have some time to decide though as I want Manus secured first to extend my naval search a bit and make sure KB doesn´t show up uninvited.

quote:

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Even though he has brought in those troops, you have the 100% prep which should equal x2 AV values. If you have any HQs with 100% prep, that will add in even more. Use your old slow BBs, or if needed fast CA/CLs to make bombardment runs at his troops. You can quickly get the disruption values into the 70s by doing this. By this point in the game, shear numbers don't tell much. You have superior Anti-Armor (great for taking down forts) and good Anti-Soft values for you troops.

quote:

Ground combat at Manus (101,119)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 5935 troops, 75 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 249

Defending force 21513 troops, 430 guns, 634 vehicles, Assault Value = 740

quote:

Sub attack near Sarmi at 91,113

Japanese Ships
CA Nachi, Torpedo hits 1
CA Mikuma
CL Oyodo
DD Hatsushima
DD Hamakaze
DD Ariake
DD Yugure

Allied Ships
SS Seadragon, hits 3

quote:

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

I looked at the Aitape/Wewak situtation and went through the troops I have prepping. It might be doable but it will force me to postpone the Hollandia operation for about 2 weeks. Might be worth it though so I decided to go for it.

Manus will hopefully fall within a few days. First deliberate attack was just ordered. Once it is secured I will start Operation Hrym. I changed the description and hopefully Erik will see it and get a little bit nervous for a few days! :D

quote:

Ground combat at Dagua (95,119)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 2131 troops, 17 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 127

Defending force 1405 troops, 17 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 49

Allied adjusted assault: 13

Japanese adjusted defense: 15

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 2)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), preparation(-), fatigue(-)
Attacker: op mode(-), Yes I am an idiot! shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
81 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled


Allied ground losses:
112 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Assaulting units:
503rd Parachute Rgt /1
1st Australian Para Bn /1
1st Fiji Commando Bn /1
2nd Fiji Commando Bn /1

Defending units:
Maizuru 1st SNLF
12th JAAF AF Coy

quote:

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

Jocke,

The P40 isn't nearly as bad as you think.

What I see is you using the wrong P40 model. Look at the stats on the N5. It should really be categorized as a fighter bomber.

Its maneuver ratings are way, way below that of the N1. The N1 is a capable fighter for CAP duties. The N5 is not.

I only equip a very, very small number of squadrons with N5s. Most get N1s.

The same is true of the Hurricane IID. It carries a 40mm gun best used for strafing tanks. I equip only one sqaudron with IIDs.

Since you get decent pools of N5s and IIDs there is considerable temptation to equip a lot of squadrons with them. Not a good choice.

quote:

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Hans,

I would love to use the N1. But they only run for one month (7/43). So you only get 70 of those during the whole game. Sadly my pool of those are emtpy! So I´m stuck with the N5!

Luckily I don´t have to use Hurricanes at all! Eriks very defensive play in the air war has led me to being able to field Spit VII with all squadrons!

quote:

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Already have them there!

But I don´t want to "waste them" on CAP duty. But it seems I will have to until more USMC squadrons arrive! The P40 has really been useless in my game. Utterly useless. A side effect of our 2nd best MVR band HR I think.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

quote:

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Already have them there!

But I don´t want to "waste them" on CAP duty. But it seems I will have to until more USMC squadrons arrive! The P40 has really been useless in my game. Utterly useless. A side effect of our 2nd best MVR band HR I think.

I do think that it is better to not throw aircraft away than to put up a fight unless putting up the fight is going to change bombing results or something worse worth losing the aircraft. I propose that due to the Allies having to win a autovictory of sorts or lose. Your aircraft losses become a part of the denomiator in this equation and every loss makes it twice as hard to achieve that 2:1 ratio needed for the Allies to win. The game does have all kinds of deep nuances that guides strategy, operations, and tactics ...

Thus every platform has to be used in its optimum role according to game parameters to optimize the opportunity for victory. It is like trying to use knights in chess to charge across the chessboard because knights did that in real life, but the rules of chess limit the knights to a 'L' movement pattern. I think the same thing applies to WitP AE. I try hard to look at the database for the indicies and use my platforms how the designers see the world ... it is a lot less frustrating :) .. So I just learned the P40N5 is going to get a ground attack role in my next game and I will get other aircraft to do CAP. I learned from DocUp the power of P39's doing LowNav attacks which I found to be more effective toward the end goal than letting them get swept by Zero's ...

quote:


Ground combat at Dagua (95,119)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 2080 troops, 17 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 113

Defending force 1304 troops, 16 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 39

Allied adjusted assault: 72

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 72 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Dagua !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), disruption(-), preparation(-)
fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
788 casualties reported
Squads: 27 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 22 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 8 (8 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 3


Allied ground losses:
305 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 35 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
1st Fiji Commando Battalion
1st Australian Para Battalion
503rd Parachute Regiment
2nd Fiji Commando Battalion
503rd Parachute Rgt /2

Defending units:
Maizuru 1st SNLF
3rd South Seas Gsn /2
12th JAAF AF Coy

quote:

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Crackaces,

That is exactly how I have been reasoning. The problem is that the USAAF is so bloody short of Fighters you are more or less forced to use inferior AC. I was using the P39 up until late 43. And my opponent have been very cautious in the air meaning I have suffered very small losses.

I think this is major mistake on his part though. He can produce almost unlimited numbers of planes while the allies are crippled by lack of good planes. I now has almost exclusively P38/47/Spits and Corsairs on the frontline. He cannot compete against that. Had he been more aggressive my pools would have forced me to rely on weaker planes like the P39/40/Hurries/Kitties. That in turn would have meant an easier time for him. Now I think its too late for him to change that. I have some 700 P47/38 on map augmented by almost 300 Corsairs.

I tried using the P39 for barge busting but the simply refuse to fly. I also have found in my game the the lack of range makes it a lot less useful. I just havn´t gotten any opportunities!

quote:

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

quote:

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Crackaces,

That is exactly how I have been reasoning. The problem is that the USAAF is so bloody short of Fighters you are more or less forced to use inferior AC. I was using the P39 up until late 43. And my opponent have been very cautious in the air meaning I have suffered very small losses.

I think this is major mistake on his part though. He can produce almost unlimited numbers of planes while the allies are crippled by lack of good planes. I now has almost exclusively P38/47/Spits and Corsairs on the frontline. He cannot compete against that. Had he been more aggressive my pools would have forced me to rely on weaker planes like the P39/40/Hurries/Kitties. That in turn would have meant an easier time for him. Now I think its too late for him to change that. I have some 700 P47/38 on map augmented by almost 300 Corsairs.

I tried using the P39 for barge busting but the simply refuse to fly. I also have found in my game the the lack of range makes it a lot less useful. I just havn´t gotten any opportunities!

The short range of the P39 does limit it. I find it most effective in New Guinea where enemy ports are often within its range. Also getting any plane set to Nav attack to fly against small craft is hit or miss. I didn't so much mean literal barge busting as hitting AKs and AKLs. Basically anything larger than a small craft and lacking in sufficient AA to make strafing too costly.

quote:

Ground combat at Manus (101,119)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 2244 troops, 33 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 73

Defending force 27296 troops, 489 guns, 660 vehicles, Assault Value = 781

Japanese adjusted assault: 0

Allied adjusted defense: 1479

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 99 (fort level 0)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-), morale(-), supply(-)

Japanese ground losses:
1598 casualties reported
Squads: 95 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 44 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 26 (19 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Units destroyed 1


Allied ground losses:
24 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Assaulting units:
Kure 6th SNLF
91st Naval Guard Unit
60th JNAF AF Unit

Defending units:
37th Infantry Division
754th Tank Battalion
24th Infantry Division
3rd RAAF M/W Sqn
12th RAAF M/W Sqn
11th RAAF M/W Sqn
71st RAAF Wing
10th RAAF M/W Sqn
15th Marine Def Bn /1
9th RAN Base Force /1

quote:

Let his troops use banzai charges to die. When his large brigades and divisions die, they will cost around 500 PPs to buy back out and then take a long time to fill out. Those troops will have poor experience levels when they are done.

quote:

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Let his troops use banzai charges to die. When his large brigades and divisions die, they will cost around 500 PPs to buy back out and then take a long time to fill out. Those troops will have poor experience levels when they are done.

Wow, 500 PPs that massive! I can certainly live with that.

Corsairs on CVEs - I would use them and set their range to 1 vs 0. If the detection is more than 42 miles, I want them to get there. I would have some set for 6k to 9k altitude just in case you get some bombers set at 1k to use their LowN skills and speed to get by your CAP.

Cap range 1 it is. Check!

Air Superiority - You want it locally, not everywhere. I'm already using my aircraft just for this, but sometimes you have to use it just to keep him honest at certain places.

I´ve started doing this around bases in NG. Just to harass him a bit.

B-29s - Have you started to look at bases with large AF potentials for these beast?? From your comments, how close to Babeldoab do you need to be and what AF could you use??


The first batch of them arrives at Aden so they will go to Burma where I have a lot of level 9 AFs.

The second batch arrives at EC and will go to SOPAC. I have Hansa Bay and Darwin at level 9 by then. Hopefully I will have made the jump to Dili/Lautem giving me two more level 9 AFs.
I´m quite worried about not being able to use the B29s in the historic role. 4E losses against CAP is horrendous. I just lost 12 4E against 27 Jacks. So I guess I will have to rely on night bombings.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Crackaces
And .. it drains the device pools from replacing any better experienced units ...

Joc: Speaking about the points .. where are you at in terms of auto-victory? What are your thoughts for acheiving this by late 1945? There are all kinds of little nits going on this game but if you have a strategic plan and follow it .. I believe it does not matter ...