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RE: Bad luck - 1/20/2013 7:05:54 PM

veji1

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quote:

ORIGINAL: JohnDillworth

GJ,
I'm curious as to why you have the KB at Truk. Sooner or later a push will be made in the DEI, probably sooner. He probably can't do much in the Central Pacific and even if he did what can he take that is a real threat? The DEI is different. He takes one or two bases and he has the troops and landing craft to just keep rolling you up. He can't really touch the KB with the aircraft he has but if he gets a closer base, that changes. The KB is can really mess up any invasion, even a day or two after the fact. Your LBA,perhaps, but maybe not

Particularly with the Engineering situation meaning your AFs are harder to keep open.

Having the KB in Mindanao or so would seem to make sense. Until he has Hellcats en masse, you don't have too much to fear and you want to prevent him from setting foot in the DEI until late 43. IF he gets a couple of bases in octobre 43, fair enough although a bit early. in June 43 that would really be bad.

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Post #: 1861

RE: Bad luck - 1/21/2013 3:58:08 AM

Cribtop

Posts: 3890
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From: Lone Star Nation
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GJ, I concur with the previous posters.

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Post #: 1862

RE: Bad luck - 1/21/2013 7:09:07 AM

GreyJoy

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April 12-18 1943

The situation at Timor is growing desperate for the IJNAF. During the last week the enemy bombed and swept us to oblivion. The P-38s rule the skies and are obtaining a 4-1 kill ratio, which, basically, means i've being bleeding to death.
He bombed again Lautem and Dili, closing those two airfields forever. His cruisers bombed Taberfane and Dobo, while we tried to mass our air defences to Alor and Koepang. He then chose to close Alor and sent 100 P- 38s on sweep mission on the16th, destroying 54 of my fighters ( georges and zeros). Then, on the 17th, 100 4Es arrived escorted by 50 P38s... Despite the heavy losses we managed to place at Alor 115 fighters ( A6M2, A6M5s and Georges)... We fought bravely but his escort was too strong...Alor is closed and now our last bastion, Koepang, is isolated.
B25s and Beauforts strafed a DD flottilla at Dili, sinking 2 of my DDs... The waters around Timor are, every day, more dangerous.

Over the last 6 days i lost 240 planes and 47 pilots... I cannot efford these losses. My air groups are shattered, demoralized and need to be retired from the front line....

Now enemy cruisers are spotted moving towards Lautem once again....

At Karaikira the enemy managed to immediately build a strip in no time and already 25000 men are based there, while some CVEs are based at Ndeni clearly ready to support another leap....

At Tabiutea he's ready to advance once again, under an umbrella of 130 fighters.

Lost a couple of subs during this week, trying to harrass his movements in the DEI...for no gain.

The tide has changed fast...

About the engineers: i'm doing my best to place enough eng into my major bases, but there are simply not enough of them. Once hit an AF is, de facto, closed for weeks with no hope of relief. As Crsutton said, this is pretty much what happened in RL so i cannot really complain.

My air leaders are all good ones. I check them every day and change them when needed but my zeros are simply too fragile and outdated to defend anything and the N1K1s, despite being good, cannot stay on the frontlines for more than a couple of days.... After a couple of fights the groups have all their planes grounded and are simply preys for the enemy's bombs.

Imho the role of the KB now is to defend against a deep penetration in the pacific. If he lands in the Mariannas or in Centpac i'm toasted: the whole pacific front may crumble all at once. I need him to struggle there and to advance slowly, isle by isle and to take risks. In the DEI i still have a strong surface fleet and my bombers fleet is still untouched. Untill i know where his CVs are i won't move out my CVs

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Post #: 1863

RE: Bad luck - 1/21/2013 8:25:36 AM

GreyJoy

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The Solomons are voulnarable. Lack of supplies almost everywher, from PGN to lower Solomons. Barely enough supplies to keep Rabaul fed. Fuel is a luxury for SOPAC/SWPAC. Tanaka has to retire with his BBs in order not to burn too much fuel in a battle near Karaikira...a battle that wouln'd be decisive anyway. Brad is using low-value ships for these operations and manly (sep) Inf rgts and sea bees...nothing so valuable to risk my precious BBs and CAs. Same goes for Tabiutea and CentPac. He's doing a really good job. He keeps on advancing but without risking anything of any value. He knows all the tricks and knows how to keep his valuable assets safe untill the right moment comes. Just like he did with P-38s and 4Es...basically he has never used them...untill now, when he decided to deploy them en masse in the Southern DEI and to cover his operations in Southern Solomons... a good lesson i need to learn for my next game.

In these dark days, the only good feeling i get is when i look at my mighty Combined Fleet...pride of the Empire... Pride of me... The Fleet is intact, powerfull...but it's been a caged lion so far. Brad never gave me a chance to use it... i waited and waited and waited...waited so long for a decisive battle...a battle that never came. The allies kept their shining ships pretty always safe...always under the umbrella of his LBA Cap... knowing we were stronger, they wisely decided not to engage...not untill their superiority could pop up in all its mighty... and now that day is arriving fast... his cruisers rule the southern Seas and his Fletcher DDs are able to stand and fight with our CLs... which are, by now, nothing more than fat destroyers.
Our Air Fleet, so powerfull untill few months ago, seems now impotent not only to offend, but also to defend its own fields. Nells and Betties are easy preys of the allied naval flak fire. Brad told me that, during our last attacking run against his shippings at Karaikira (where a group fo 45 Nells with crac-pre-war pilots attacked), all his transports had at least 300 flak guns... and, considering how well the naval flak works in DBB, that explains why, out of 45 Nells, only 3 scored an hit...

Give this grimm situation, what's next?
Well, the way i see it is that i need to get ready for another defensive line very soon. Despite my efforts, i'm way behind with the preparation. The Mariannas still need to get garrisoned (just bought the 61st Division at Tokyo) and Luzon and Mindanao are empty. If he makes a breach in the perimeter now... everything is lost. I gotta hurry up. Can't keep on waiting.

N1K1s are no wonder weapons. In april 1943 they seem to be already outclassed. I'm pretty sure i'll have the same feelings looking at the Franks. Wonder if all those efforts in the R&D are worth the supplies spent-

But you know what? I really love this role... i love to feel like David against Goliah....it brings me back the memories of those glory days when i was desperately defending Karachi... yes, sorry my dear AFBs...but my heart now beats for the Empire of the Rising Sun.

Long Live the Emperor!!

(in reply to GreyJoy)

Post #: 1864

RE: Bad luck - 1/21/2013 9:04:21 AM

obvert

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Ha ! You've certainly found some joy in the knowledge of coming difficulties and also the perseverance to keep going and pushing back. The Japanese side is so difficult, so tenuous, but it is that lack of solidity that makes us use everything we have to try to fight back.

I remember a cartoon a friend gave me long ago just before a big chess tournament. It showed a stork with a frog in it's mouth, but the frog had his hands still gripped around the stork's throat so he could not be swallowed.

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Post #: 1865

RE: Bad luck - 1/21/2013 9:05:34 AM

GreyJoy

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quote:

ORIGINAL: obvert

Ha ! You've certainly found some joy in the knowledge of coming difficulties and also the perseverance to keep going and pushing back. The Japanese side is so difficult, so tenuous, but it is that lack of solidity that makes us use everything we have to try to fight back.

I remember a cartoon a friend gave me long ago just before a big chess tournament. It showed a stork with a frog in it's mouth, but the frog had his hands still gripped around the stork's throat so he could not be swallowed.

AWESOME!!!

(in reply to obvert)

Post #: 1866

RE: Bad luck - 1/21/2013 12:32:28 PM

JohnDillworth

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quote:

Imho the role of the KB now is to defend against a deep penetration in the pacific.

Perhaps, but he knows where your carriers are and you don't know where his are. Big advantage for the blue eyed devils. At least make him guess

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Post #: 1867

RE: Bad luck - 1/21/2013 4:20:10 PM

GreyJoy

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quote:

ORIGINAL: JohnDillworth

quote:

Imho the role of the KB now is to defend against a deep penetration in the pacific.

Perhaps, but he knows where your carriers are and you don't know where his are. Big advantage for the blue eyed devils. At least make him guess

Sure John, i'll try to move my KB to keep him guessing!

Thanks

April 18, 1943

Brad is a lucky ******rd!!!

But DBB naval flak is really kicking in guys... The Cruiser TFs spotted ysterday arrived at Lautem...but Brad messed it up and it ended at Lautem hex during daytime... a juicy TF composed of 3 CAs and 3 Modern CLs...what could i ask more?... During the morning phase storms covered the lucky ships... but during the afternoon 3 waves of Netties took off from Ambon and Koepang... a total of 115 bombers... all with VERY good pilots... no CAP.... the perfect target, right?
...nope...

Flak was so intense that none of them scored a single hit!!!

...and 4 got downed while 14 more got damaged...ouch!
Then 24 Kates took of from Koepang... 3 got blown away by flak but, finally, we managed to score a hit... not devastating but still... CA Chigago is burning...

CRsutton: for those like you (and me!) who really complained about allied flak in stock...well, you should really play DBB!!

100 more P-38s swept Alor...killing 8 zeros for no losses...

Nothing more is happening...in China we've been finally repulsed during our last attack at Kunming bastion... there's no way to break his well supplied lines there... i'm abbandoning the whole idea of conquering the western China...pity...it would have been a great dream come true

I made a mess with my mega Fuel Convoy...it's unloading at HK

.... two weeks lost and now i have to load it back again

(in reply to JohnDillworth)

Post #: 1868

RE: Bad luck - 1/21/2013 5:08:00 PM

Cribtop

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Consider carefully that Q's Schwerpunkt appears to be coming along the Darwin-Timor axis that he made popular with AFBs long ago. Once he takes bases in range of of your oil centers he may be able to quickly crash your fragile economy. Thus, guarding the Marianas with KB is a tough choice. Yes, the fall of the Marianas will spell doom once B-29s arrive, but the fall of Timor and Flores will spell doom even earlier. Under these circumstances I would use KB to try to stop his first move into Timor and environs, give up the Western China offensive, and garrison the Marianas so as to avoid a cheap conquest. KB at or near Babel would be ideal basing, IMHO.

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Post #: 1869

RE: Bad luck - 1/21/2013 5:10:56 PM

Cribtop

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PS - I do like some of the realism in this mod, but I'm glad to hear supplies were bumped up a bit in later versions. I will also note that the constraints of the mod do not include addressing the operational tempo issues inherent to AE. Thus, realistic ability to take a given target plus unrealistic ability to rapidly jump to the next target = rapid Allied victory. Not sure there is a solution to this problem, but it will make for a tough game for Japan.

PPS - I think you need to prioritize defending key, large airfields with what engineers you have. Try to keep one key base in a region open with 100 or more ENG squads, even if that means the others go wanting. Very tough to deal with, I admit.

< Message edited by Cribtop -- 1/21/2013 5:13:22 PM >

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Post #: 1870

RE: Bad luck - 1/21/2013 5:42:53 PM

GreyJoy

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Crib, thanks a lot for your suggestions!

As always i keep every thing you all guys say in great considerations. My concern is the following: i haven't seen the enemy CVs in a while now. Since our last clash they disappeared and my subs haven't spotted them near Perth or near Syndey for a long time.

I don't think he can succesfully land anywhere north of Bathrust Is without the CV cover. Sure he has the LBA cover, but we all know how misrable is the LRCAP at long distances. I have 3 BBs, 5 CAs and several DD flottillas in the theatre (based at ambon and Kendari). Moreover, even without Timor airfields, i still have quite a decent air power in the backyards at Ambon and in the nearby areas. Moving the whole KB down there would mean to leave the whole pacific undefended, from the Marshalls to the SOPAC/SWPAC, from the Kuriles to the Mariannas...

I had experimented on my own skin what the allies can do in mid-late 1943 talking about amphib operations against not-well defended targets. Without the KB he could simply bypass the first perimeter crust and get a foothold in the Mariannas...
Now my Southern DEI, even after the recent defeats, is far from being unguarded.

Even in bases like Babar, Saumlaki, Selroe, Taberfane or Babo i have regiments dug in, with supplies and plenty of support. A landing at Lautem or Koepang would require months of constant bombings and a total air superiority (something he cannot really achieve for the moment).

What i fear the most, playing Japan, is to get overcomitted on some theatres, and completely forget others. This is what Japan has done in RL and was blessed by the fact that the allies decided not to chose to open another front in the southern DEI...

IF i see enemy CVs or CVEs moving towards northern Oz i may reconsider my strategic position...but untill that moment, i feel the need for the KB to act as a constant sentinell in the Pacific.

About the Mod... Crib, this is a great Mod, believe me! However i do agree that the Allied ability to mass engineers like they do in Stock hasn't been changed... Karaikira, for example, went from level 0 to level 1 AF in 2 days

... this surely unbalances things a bit... but probably that's what happened in RL, so i cannot really complain.

I do prioritize major AFs... at Lautem (AF lvl 8) i have 115 Engineers, while 120 are based at Koepang (lvl 9). At Dili (lvl 7) i have 93 engineers and 60 more are based at Alor (lvl 5)... but that's not enough. Lack of Eng vehicles really kicks and, despite my efforts, i cannot simply move all my engineers to front lines cause i need them to build rear area bases in order to estabilish a second line of defences (Sorong-Menado line for example). I'm now moving out all the engineers i could from PM and Buna, moving them to CENTPAC and to North New Guinea...

But hey, like my Master (Princeps) would say in these situations: Do not wheep Reek! By this date, in RL, the allies had already smashed the Combined Fleet and have bled to death the Japanese Air Army, being ready to isolate Rabaul and attack the CENTPAC. In this match the empire hasn't lost anything important yet, it is still dominating Burma, have put to her knees the whole China (most of it) and are still able to rapresent a decent deterrent to any allied bold move. I cannot complain. I'm happy for what i have got and, truth to be told, i'm pretty proud of my achievements

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Post #: 1871

RE: Bad luck - 1/22/2013 5:34:01 PM

GreyJoy

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QBall's Cruiser TF (with CA Chigago still embedded) managed to sink 2 of my DDs that tried to interfere with their retreat from Lautem. Another cruiser TF visited Lautem tonight, avoiding my subs and smashing the strip, destroying 30 planes on the ground.
Enemy 4Es visited again Alor, which now is closed for good.

Enemy CVEs spotted near Ndeni and near Townsville... It seems he will try a double advance in SOPAC... my bet? Rossell Island and possibly Tassafaronga... The KB is slowly sliding south...lights off...no search planes... I'd like to make Brad think i'm moving the KB to the DEI so that he may be trying for a fast landing operation in SOPAC...supported only by a couple of CVEs... that would be a nice prey...

Let's see... The first Frances Group is ready at Rabaul! Good!

The 61st Division is moving to Kuriles

3 Tank Divisions and 4 Tank Regiments are ready to be moved out of China. Good.

Nothing much happened today

(in reply to GreyJoy)

Post #: 1872

RE: Bad luck - 1/23/2013 8:29:01 AM

GreyJoy

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April 20, 1943

SOUTHERN DEI:

The enemy pounded for two days in a row Boela, closing the airstrip once again. Enemy's P-38s keep on sweeping Timor AFs... the only open airfield i have in the area now is Koepang...but i know it's just a matter of time before he sweeps me to death and finishes me off with his 4Es.
SDBs from Bathrust Island keep on pounding Babar and Saumlaki, destroying my supplies stock there (already turned "red").
We're waiting for another naval bombardment sessions...probably Taberfane or Saumlaki.

I'm trying to rebuild my air force in this area, but it's not easy. Supplies are lacking and the last month bombings have dried out a lot of them. At the same time i just realized i cannot compete with the P-38s on sweep with the combo Zero/George... i'd need some Tojos, but the IJAAF is busy defending Burma and guarding Singapore, Palembang, Batavia and Sosarbaja (all places reachable from Cocos Is...)

SOPAC/SWPAC:

It's confirmed that there's an enemy CVTF lingering near Ndeni. Probably a couple of CVEs and a CVL, along with several warships waiting at Lungaville. He's up to something here, that's for sure. The KB has been spotted, unfortunately, by a lucky sub (Tautog) during its trip from Truk to Rabaul. We avoided the enemy's attack but, now that my path has been discovered, i switch the "lights" on, placing all my DBs and TBs on ASW/NavS. We have slowly moved 2 hexes southeast of Rabaul...but the enemy Catalinas based at Karaikira spotted us and got a 10/10 DL

.... at least its presence should slow him down a bit. I don't think he'll try a move against Rossell, Milne or PNG with the KB so close. A landing at Tassafaronga or, even more, Tulagi or Lunga would be pretty damned risky, even if his CVs are parked out of my sight.
The presence of not less than 10 enemy subs spotted between Truk and Rabaul tells me that he's creating a early-warning shields for SPWAC and CENTPAC...which may only mean he's ready to advance here.

CENTPAC:

He could be planning a move here with his unseen CVs. The KB is close enough to forbid any deep penetration, so i don't think he's going to try anything particularly bold. Tabiutea is being built so i think he will first expand its facilities before committing to another leap.

In the meanwhile we're building fast Ponape and Kusiae. The 90 Inf Rgt has just being bought and is moving to Ponape, along with 2 artillery units from China.
More engineers are being shipped from Rabaul to Kusiae, along with a couple of strong SNFL units.
Planning to move an Air HQ Flottilla to Ponape ASAP.
More AA units are gathering to these two locations

SUMATRA:

We haven't forgot this theatre. A Tank Division, divided into 3 regiments, will occupy the bases of Bankoleng, Padang and Siberoet, joining the forces already present there. 3 Artillery units are being shipped, along with the 1st Tank Div to the named locations.

Christmas Island has been reinforced recently. Now 540 AVs are present, behind 4 forts. Not an easy landing site i'd say.

KURILES:

The 61st Division is already aboard ships, moving, divided in regiments, to Onnekotan, Paramushiro and Shimushiri Jiima.

In the meanwhile we have re-organized the defence of Wake and Marcus, changing completely the philosophy of the kind of defence we want for our atolls.

Wake now has the static CD unit (heavy and useless imho, but can't choose here), an AT unit (with 47mm AT gun), a IJA battallion, a crack-experienced SNLF unit (with 90 exp and light tanks) and an indipendent light tank company. 5997 men

Marcus has an AT unit (always with 47mm AT guns), a Tank regiment (with medium tanks), a crack experienced SNLF unit, an IJA battallion, an AA unit (with the 8cm AA gun) and 4 pieces of 150mm guns, along with a small base force (with only 8 aviation support) and a small engineer company. 5986 men

The idea here (and i'm doing the same for Ponape and Kusiae) is to maximise the Anti Armour value instead of the general AV value. SNLF units alone are really poor defenders, but i hope that the very expeirenced ones, packed with some decent armour and AT guns can defend themselfs.

I've read somewhere about an IJA player fortifying the Bonis already in 1942... i haven't even started to do that in mid 1943

... i have nothing to send there now, but they are next on my list!

The campaign for Western China is officialy over. We have lost the momentum here few months ago and now my time has run up, so i have to quit. I'll create a defensive perimeter east of Kunming and simply let those chinese live.
In Central China we're reducing the last enemy strongpoint that we want to clear...in order to open a major road for the plains. nothing particularly interesting but those divisions cannot be bought out yet (no PPs left) so why not keep on defeating the chinese anyway?

I'm relocating some minor IJAAF units to defend the industrial cities conquered in China. Nicks are based at Lanchow, Chengtu, Changsha and Sian. Soon we'll also have Nicks at Canton and HK (as soon as i have enough PPs to transform some 1E light bomber units to FB)

I'm creating fuel stocks at Saipan and Manila...better to start building some reserves on my backwaters...

(in reply to GreyJoy)

Post #: 1873

RE: Bad luck - 1/23/2013 9:56:31 AM

obvert

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quote:

Wake now has the static CD unit (heavy and useless imho, but can't choose here), an AT unit (with 47mm AT gun), a IJA battallion, a crack-experienced SNLF unit (with 90 exp and light tanks) and an indipendent light tank company. 5997 men
Marcus has an AT unit (always with 47mm AT guns), a Tank regiment (with medium tanks), a crack experienced SNLF unit, an IJA battallion, an AA unit (with the 8cm AA gun) and 4 pieces of 150mm guns, along with a small base force (with only 8 aviation support) and a small engineer company. 5986 men
The idea here (and i'm doing the same for Ponape and Kusiae) is to maximise the Anti Armour value instead of the general AV value. SNLF units alone are really poor defenders, but i hope that the very expeirenced ones, packed with some decent armour and AT guns can defend themselfs.

This method seems good. It won't matter if he has the time and patience to work the place long enough, but if he's goes in quickly, the anti-armor strategy could do well. You've certainly maximized the stacking space.

Good defense of far-flung islands with no close air support is really tough. You just have to make it as strong as you can and hope it takes time to reduce. Unless the KB can be brought, which is not worth it in your case especially.

< Message edited by obvert -- 1/23/2013 9:57:04 AM >

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Post #: 1874

RE: Bad luck - 1/23/2013 10:22:49 AM

GreyJoy

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quote:

ORIGINAL: obvert

quote:

Wake now has the static CD unit (heavy and useless imho, but can't choose here), an AT unit (with 47mm AT gun), a IJA battallion, a crack-experienced SNLF unit (with 90 exp and light tanks) and an indipendent light tank company. 5997 men
Marcus has an AT unit (always with 47mm AT guns), a Tank regiment (with medium tanks), a crack experienced SNLF unit, an IJA battallion, an AA unit (with the 8cm AA gun) and 4 pieces of 150mm guns, along with a small base force (with only 8 aviation support) and a small engineer company. 5986 men
The idea here (and i'm doing the same for Ponape and Kusiae) is to maximise the Anti Armour value instead of the general AV value. SNLF units alone are really poor defenders, but i hope that the very expeirenced ones, packed with some decent armour and AT guns can defend themselfs.

This method seems good. It won't matter if he has the time and patience to work the place long enough, but if he's goes in quickly, the anti-armor strategy could do well. You've certainly maximized the stacking space.

Good defense of far-flung islands with no close air support is really tough. You just have to make it as strong as you can and hope it takes time to reduce. Unless the KB can be brought, which is not worth it in your case especially.

Exactly Erik. This philosphy is founded on the assumption that it's hard for the allies to pound to ruins isolated bases like Ponape, Marcus, Kusiae, Wake or Truk. The BBs can surely make a couple of runs, but not a sustained bombing campaign. The idea is to prevent him from an easy drop&capture campaign. I want him to stay and be forced to remain there, giving time for my assets to concentrate in the backwaters and counterattack.
Same goes for the Kuriles. I cannot prevent a landing there. In late 1943 the allies have enough stuff to be able to grab almost everythig they want...but if Japan has fortified they need to bomb it to dust first, which also means that places outside the LBA range aren't likely targets. There's no worst scenario for the allies to remain stuck on the beaches with only CVs in support... if the KB comes, even if outnumbered, can surely ruin allied plans and make a whole amphib operation fail.

These are the basics of my defensive strategy

(in reply to obvert)

Post #: 1875

RE: Bad luck - 1/24/2013 7:16:43 AM

GreyJoy

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April 22-24, 1943

So, as soon as my CVs got spotted near Rabaul, the enemy's CVE/CVLs disappeared from Ndeni. They are probably rebased at Lungaville now. However BBs and CLs are spotted at Ndeni, along with several valuable transports (APs, APAs, AKs etc). Enemy fighters from Kairakira sweeps Russell Island, while his bombing runs against Lunga and Tulagi have stopped for the moment. He's reconning Russell, Munda (where i have 100 fighters and some 40 bombers) and Shortland.
I'm keeping my most valuable fighters and bombers at Rabaul. They will be moved to Munda and Shortland as soon as i understand where he's aiming at.
His subs are hunting in New Britain...hunting my CVs and BBs... i gotta be very very cautious here...dangerous waters

In the DEI, his usual cruisers bombed Bacar last night, destroying a good portion of my engineers and support troops. Saumlaki is constantly air bombed. We tried to LRCAP yesterday using oscars and zeros from Taberfane (recently re-opened) but his corsairs on escort role did have the upper hand and i lost nearly 20 fighters and 12 pilots for no gain at all.
On the 24th Enemy's 4Es plastered again Lautem, while his PTs every day sweep Babar, Saumlaki and Selroe.
The news here is that he started to recon the empty dot bases east of Lautem. Probably planning a para-drop. I cannot defend every dot base in the DEI so i'll leave them empty...once i lost the air superiority in the theatre is impossible to think to garrison and feed more isolated frontline places....
At port Hedland there's always too much activity. 150 bombers, 50 fighters and a lot of ships (including APAs)... this doesn't sound right to me, but for the love of me i cannot understand what is he up to here....

We're expecting another naval bombing run tomorrow. Probably Saumlaki or Taberfane.
My surface assets are being moving from Kendari to Ambon. 3 BBs, 3 CAs, 1 CVL, several DDs and 4 CLs. Wanna try to ambush, sooner or later, one of those bombing runs.

2 Tank Divisions, 3 Tank regiments and 5 artillery units are finally moving from China to Singapore! From there they will be spread all over the planned locations in the DEI.

The 61st Division is unloading in the Kuriles, along with 35k tons of supplies.

In Centpac we have reinforced Nauru Island and we're running to send reinforcements to Kusiae and Ponape. The arrival of the crack 90th Regiment at Ponape, along with a good artillery unit and some decent AA should keep the base safe for the next couple of months, untill the 35th Division can be bought out from China (already 100% prepped).

No sign...not a single one from his CVs... i fear an "out of the blue" bolt-attack in some unexpected place. Only time will tell if i've been wise with my defensive strategy and disposition and God knows how much i'm scared.

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Post #: 1876

RE: Bad luck - 1/24/2013 7:43:34 AM

BBfanboy

Posts: 18046
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From: Winnipeg, MB
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Chances are he has withdrawn the CVs for upgrades and repairs, but in this game you never know ...
I just think your subs would have had some indication if they were in the area.

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Post #: 1877

RE: Bad luck - 1/24/2013 8:01:25 AM

koniu

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From: Konin, Poland, European Union
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quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Chances are he has withdrawn the CVs for upgrades and repairs, but in this game you never know ...
I just think your subs would have had some indication if they were in the area.

Very passable. He should right now have 100+ F6F so why not spend some time with upgrading ships and air groups. Few weeks and he will be ready again to fight You but this time with better planes and ships.

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Post #: 1878

RE: Bad luck - 1/24/2013 8:23:16 AM

GreyJoy

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Yes, probably you are right... but Brad is a master of deception and I never feel really safe.

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Post #: 1879

RE: Bad luck - 1/25/2013 10:09:35 AM

GreyJoy

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April 26, 1943

As predicted, 3 Cleveland Class CLs, along with the Achilles CL and several DDs bombed Saumlaki, burning out all my supplies reserves

. I cannot stop these naval raids cause the ships are always back at Darwin the following morning.
However wasn't a complete blue day for the Empire...
Enemy 4Es arrived unescorted over Dili, probably trying to close it back again. The strip was damaged but we managed to put there,nonetheless, 100 fighters, while 100 more were LRACAPping from Koepang. Out of 80 4Es, 15 resulted destroyed in A2A combat, 4 got directly by flak and 18 more are reported lost for Op reasons... we lost 5 planes in A2A (mainly zeros and Tojos), 5 on the ground and 11 for op losses...but only 2 KIA pilots. I'd call it a victory!
My 3 BBs, covered by the CVL Ryuho with her 20 zeros, are stationing between Ambon and Saumlaki...waiting...

More 4Es closed Taberfane and hit Port Moresby...

Heavy naval actions around Ndeni...my KB gets back to Rabaul without being spotted this time in order to avoid the pack of subs that was on her heels.

Usual bombing runs in Burma at Mitikina...nothing new. In Burma, once again, everything seems still... why is Brad so passive here?

Not that i complain, obviously, but with more than 700 fighters spotted between Chittahong, Kalemyo, Ledo, and the other bases in Assam, along with nearly 500 bombers, i think he should try to do something more than those useless bombing runs against Mitikyna...

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Post #: 1880

RE: Bad luck - 1/25/2013 11:01:27 AM

obvert

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Maybe he wants you to let down your guard in Burma and areas around, and feel like you have a stalemate while he prepares something new. If you'd been stopped on the ground in the Burmese jungles in a stacking limit game, entering the monsoon season, what would you try to do? Whenever we put ourselves into the opponent's shoes I think it erases the things we want to believe are happening and shows us what might really be going on.

As for his air force, if he's focused on keeping your bases closed in the DEI, maybe he just doesn't have the pools to fight in both theaters right now.

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Post #: 1881

RE: Bad luck - 1/25/2013 11:44:09 AM

GreyJoy

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Maybe you're right Erik, but his pools must be more than full. He has lost really few a/c so far and the whole air war has been far less bloody than average.

In any case, I don't complain... the less bloody the war is, the biggest and deepest will be my pilots and planes pools when the war will really become a meatgrinder

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Post #: 1882

RE: Bad luck - 1/25/2013 2:56:24 PM

JohnDillworth

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quote:

I cannot stop these naval raids cause the ships are always back at Darwin the following morning.

You can use your CA's. Just make sure that are out of harms way in the morning. Even if they are not he doesn't have great anti-shipping aircraft. Heck of a fight, you CA's vs. Cleveland CL's. They throw as much weight as your 8" guns

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Post #: 1883

Iam da Frog - 1/25/2013 3:11:10 PM

1EyedJacks

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Which enemy airfields can you attack? If he's on the attack then he's not on the defense...

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Post #: 1884

RE: Bad luck - 1/25/2013 4:06:23 PM

crsutton

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From: Maryland
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quote:

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

The campaign for Western China is officialy over. We have lost the momentum here few months ago and now my time has run up, so i have to quit. I'll create a defensive perimeter east of Kunming and simply let those chinese live.
In Central China we're reducing the last enemy strongpoint that we want to clear...in order to open a major road for the plains. nothing particularly interesting but those divisions cannot be bought out yet (no PPs left) so why not keep on defeating the chinese anyway?

Well, fighting the Chinese any more will still eat up supply. The Chinese army is impotent now and really can't rebuild until Northern Burma is open. Then what with the casualties they have taken won't really be a threat unit 1945. My experience is that Allied advances elsewhere makes China much less important by the time The Chinese forces get stronger. Plus they never really replace all the lost guns so remain very weak forever.

The question is do you need to start saving supply over killing more Chinese?

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Post #: 1885

RE: Bad luck - 1/25/2013 5:32:27 PM

GreyJoy

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quote:

ORIGINAL: JohnDillworth

quote:

I cannot stop these naval raids cause the ships are always back at Darwin the following morning.

You can use your CA's. Just make sure that are out of harms way in the morning. Even if they are not he doesn't have great anti-shipping aircraft. Heck of a fight, you CA's vs. Cleveland CL's. They throw as much weight as your 8" guns

Exactly John, those CLs are that kind of asset against which i DON'T want my CAs to fight against. The Cleveland CLs are better taken by airplanes and not by my precious CAs!

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Post #: 1886

RE: Iam da Frog - 1/25/2013 5:34:26 PM

GreyJoy

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quote:

ORIGINAL: 1EyedJacks

Which enemy airfields can you attack? If he's on the attack then he's not on the defense...

Darwin and Bathrust are his main AFs. But in this mod allied Flak is deadlier as ever and the 250kg japanese GP bomb is reduced by 33%... so i don't see a real chance of doing anything spectacular, also because i don't have any operational AF close enoughto those bases...
consider also that i'm losing every day 1 or 2 Dinah III flying at 25,000 feet due to flak

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Post #: 1887

RE: Bad luck - 1/25/2013 5:36:42 PM

GreyJoy

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quote:

ORIGINAL: crsutton

quote:

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

The campaign for Western China is officialy over. We have lost the momentum here few months ago and now my time has run up, so i have to quit. I'll create a defensive perimeter east of Kunming and simply let those chinese live.
In Central China we're reducing the last enemy strongpoint that we want to clear...in order to open a major road for the plains. nothing particularly interesting but those divisions cannot be bought out yet (no PPs left) so why not keep on defeating the chinese anyway?

Well, fighting the Chinese any more will still eat up supply. The Chinese army is impotent now and really can't rebuild until Northern Burma is open. Then what with the casualties they have taken won't really be a threat unit 1945. My experience is that Allied advances elsewhere makes China much less important by the time The Chinese forces get stronger. Plus they never really replace all the lost guns so remain very weak forever.

The question is do you need to start saving supply over killing more Chinese?

To be honest i've killed enough chinese so far. I don't look at the chinese casualities as a general strategic goal. Once i've taken what i needed startegically (oil and HI resources in China and a domination of the chinese theatre) i consider it's enough. Won't go fighting for the sake of fighting...supplies are much more important!

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Post #: 1888

RE: Bad luck - 1/25/2013 5:45:15 PM

GreyJoy

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April 27, 1943

The enemy sent his cruisers, once again, against Taberfane, while 110 P-38s swept an empty Dili, looking for my fighters. His intentions are clear: he's closing every AF that can cause him problems for his next advance. i'm trying to be as smart as i can, not wasting my precious planes and pilots, trying to haul them for the right moment...i wanna fight at my own conditions, not his.

In the Solomons, the enemy is on the move: a para-commando of NZ boys took an empty Thousands Ships Bay... i can bet now he will use catalinas and fast transports to unload engineers and start to ouflank Tulagi and Lunga. My KB is parked at Rabaul...ready to strike if he sends something more. Judys, Frances and Jills are warming their engines...

Again, no signs of the enemy's CVs... i also lost contact with the CVEs that were around Ndeni...mmmm... i'd love to get them but i don't wanna get overconfident...

The 61st Division unloaded in the Kuriles... now our position really seems strong... don't think he can do anything really serious here for another 6 months.

Near Shangai, an american sub put a damned torp in one of my CVEs hat were escorting the TKs to Japan....

damages are light, but will need some 20/30 days in a repair yard....

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Post #: 1889

RE: Bad luck - 1/25/2013 7:47:55 PM

Cribtop

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From: Lone Star Nation
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My advice is play small ball. Put a few regular subs, six of the 500 endurance mini subs, mines, maybe even a few of the minuscule number of PT boats the Japanese get in Taberfane and Saumlaki. Perhaps even a force of 4 older but torpedo armed DDs (although your DD losses in this game are high enough I might not do this). Then have naval bombers waiting in the second line with carefully chosen max ranges. Intention is to burn his Ops points, maybe get a lucky hit or two, and leave all or part of his force exposed to air attack the next day. Make him pay some price for these tactics without risking the big stuff.

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Post #: 1890