RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 8/30/2013 7:31:00 PM

witpqs

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From: Argleton
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Do I understand, then, than 8 is the new 9? IE, once Sabang airfield goes to level 8 (in about three days), air support is doubled. So, I currently have about 450 support, meaning I can handle 900 aircaft (engines) there? Or is a level 8 field still restricted to 50 x 8 engines (so that while support is doubled, the limit on aircraft remains the same).

I'm confused!

You are misreading this. The number engines that can be handled at a base is 50 * level for level 1 through 8, and unlimited for level 9. The number of groups that can be handled at a base varies based on HQ proximity, but is unlimited for level 9.

The amount of air support (aviation support squads), is what it is for levels 1 through 7. For levels 8 and above, the number is doubled (each enabled aviation support squad is counted twice, in effect).

The amount of air support (aviation support squads) is 1 per aircraft, that is to say there is no more cap of 250 or any other number except maybe for the AI. If you have 5,000 aircraft you need 5,000 air support or else you are in the red and suffer the penalties for that.

To bring multiple factors together in an example if the airfield is level 8, then you would only need 2,500 aviation support squads to get 5,000 air support because at size 8 and above the tally gets doubled. However, a size 8 airfield can only support 8 * 50 engines so the field would be massively over stacked and probably liable to spontaneous combustion. Further, the number of groups required to be present to equal 5,000 aircraft is best not guessed at, but it too will surely over-subscribe the amount allowed at a size 8 airfield, even if the Wright brothers were staffing the air HQ.

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Post #: 3331

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 8/30/2013 7:38:20 PM

Cap Mandrake

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From: Southern California
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May we have a screen capture of Northern Sumatra?

PS. If the screen tries to run away when you go to capture it, try Windex flavored doggie biscuits. They love 'em.

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Post #: 3332

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 8/30/2013 7:42:26 PM

Canoerebel

Posts: 21100
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From: Northwestern Georgia, USA
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Thanks, witpqs. Here's how I understand my current situation at Sabang:

1. In three days, the airfield goes to level 8. So the field will then be able to handle 50 x 8 = 400 engines. I already have 400 av support at the base, which is doubled to 800, which is more than adequate (obviously) to handle whatever # of aircraft total 400 engines.

2. When the airfield goes to level 9, it can handle an unlimited number of engines. At that point, the av support doubled meaning, 400 x 2 = 800. So then the field can handle the number of aircraft that totals up to 800 engines (which should be more than enough to handle nearly any contingency).

(in reply to witpqs)

Post #: 3333

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 8/30/2013 7:46:49 PM

Crackaces

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Joined: 7/9/2011
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Thanks, witpqs. Here's how I understand my current situation at Sabang:

1. In three days, the airfield goes to level 8. So the field will then be able to handle 50 x 8 = 400 engines. I already have 400 av support at the base, which is doubled to 800, which is more than adequate (obviously) to handle whatever # of aircraft total 400 engines.

2. When the airfield goes to level 9, it can handle an unlimited number of engines. At that point, the av support doubled meaning, 400 x 2 = 800. So then the field can handle the number of aircraft that totals up to 800 engines (which should be more than enough to handle nearly any contingency).

"One Aviation Support point is required for each aircraft operating at an airbase for those aircraft to function at maximum efficiency" (p. 252).

Support =1 for 1 Aircraft not engines .....

< Message edited by Crackaces -- 8/30/2013 7:47:43 PM >

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Post #: 3334

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 8/30/2013 7:50:32 PM

Canoerebel

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Oh, gotcha. So, a level nine airfield can handle unlimited engines. With 400 x 2 Aviation Support, I could, for example, base 500 fighters, 200 SBD and Avengers, and 50 B-25s (two engines) and be at the limit that 400 Av Support could handle.

< Message edited by Canoerebel -- 8/30/2013 7:51:25 PM >

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Post #: 3335

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 8/30/2013 7:55:05 PM

Crackaces

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Oh, gotcha. So, a level nine airfield can handle unlimited engines. With 400 x 2 Aviation Support, I could, for example, base 500 fighters, 200 SBD and Avengers, and 50 B-25s (two engines) and be at the limit that 400 Av Support could handle.

and actually [just completing a thought for your readers] you can choose to overstack beyond support / airfield levels.. the penalties for doing this range from extra days for airplane repair and increased operational losses to adjusting the damage and numbers involved from an airfield attack ...

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Post #: 3336

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 8/30/2013 8:42:26 PM

Lomri

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For planning it is helpful to know all these rules. But at the end of the day you'll just want to keep an eye on the base aircraft list. At the top it lists what your max number is, and which value you went over in order to "over stack". (Worth mentioning that having less AV support than aircraft isn't overstacking, just under supporting).

I don't know, so I'd be curious to hear, if administrative over stacking has an impact on aircraft damage during attacks (bombard/airfield).

I've attached a screen shot of a level 9 airfield where it clearly stops having a "max" and an administratively over stacked airfield for examples.

However, while technically not overstacked, a level 9 airfield with 800 aircraft seem to take a lot higher frequency of damaged and destroyed airplanes from bombardment and airfield attacks. This is particularly noticeable on night time airfield attacks which rarely hit anything until you have a lot of planes sitting around on the ground. You may not be technically over stacked but you have created a target rich environment.

Attachment (1)

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Post #: 3337

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 8/30/2013 9:34:23 PM

Canoerebel

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12/18/42

Thanks, Lomri and all you gents, for helping me understand this aspect of the game. Now, on to today's turn, which was ugly for the Allies, which could have been better, and which could have been worse. But, all in all, an icky day.

Carriers: No sign of the KB. The Allied carriers are moving slowly north. Illustrious is due to withdraw in 19 days.

The March of the Victims: That enemy TF west of Port Blair turned out to be four DDs raiding my sea lanes. The TF caught up with a replenishment TF, sank three AO and crippled PG Soerabaja, which in turn sank one enemy DD. Enemy subs claimed two other AOs today. Ouch! A stout Allied TF led by CA Frobisher intercepted the raiders, but the latter broke contact successfully.

Sumatra: Three Allied combat TFs were targeted to Langsa to intercept incoming enemy bombardment TFs. The first two Allied TFs - all destroyers - succeeded. Five of the DDs went under. They, in turn, took down a couple of DMS with them. The enemy BBs were undoubtedly low on ammo, but the fast Allied BB TF arrived too late to engage, for some reason, and then hung aruond the entire turn in the open! The TF underwent attack by well more than 100 Netties, plus a gaggle of Kates and Vals. Fortunately, no torps hit home and the only damage was a modest hit on CL Ceres (very lucky there, though also very unlucky in failing to have surface combat, if you follow). The newly arrived merchantmen have all unloaed, so Sabang has 250k supply. Two empty merchantmen TF will depart Sabang tonight for the very hazardous trip back to Ceylon - these crews aren't getting paid enough.

Colombo: The triage unit is beginning to empty out. CA New Orleans and CL Mauritius (plus a number of subs and xAPs) will be ready in less than ten days. Then, CAs Pensacola and Qunicy will have a turn. Meanwhile, BB Indiana and CA Wichita are a day or two out. They will form the core of the theater reserve.

(in reply to Lomri)

Post #: 3338

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 8/30/2013 10:53:52 PM

JohnDillworth

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quote:

Enemy subs claimed two other AOs today

I think your AO's have been taking on the chin. You have to be short of these by now. IIRC you don't really have excess AO's & TK's until late 43

< Message edited by JohnDillworth -- 8/30/2013 10:54:09 PM >

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Post #: 3339

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 8/31/2013 1:07:57 AM

witpqs

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From: Argleton
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Oh, gotcha. So, a level nine airfield can handle unlimited engines. With 400 x 2 Aviation Support, I could, for example, base 500 fighters, 200 SBD and Avengers, and 50 B-25s (two engines) and be at the limit that 400 Av Support could handle.

and actually [just completing a thought for your readers] you can choose to overstack beyond support / airfield levels.. the penalties for doing this range from extra days for airplane repair and increased operational losses to adjusting the damage and numbers involved from an airfield attack ...

Right - and in a series of lengthy threads on the subject, the devs and TheElf in particular noted that they intend for over stacking to be a burden on players, as a check on operational tempo. You are not 'doing something wrong' if you over stack. Rather, you are making a trade off and will pay the piper with whatever the penalties are for that over stacking (whether if be having too many engines, too many groups, too little air support for the # of planes...).

Having said that, some players seem to think that over stacking is dastardly and have house rules against it. Whatever trips your trigger.

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Post #: 3340

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 8/31/2013 4:19:40 AM

crsutton

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From: Maryland
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Oh, gotcha. So, a level nine airfield can handle unlimited engines. With 400 x 2 Aviation Support, I could, for example, base 500 fighters, 200 SBD and Avengers, and 50 B-25s (two engines) and be at the limit that 400 Av Support could handle.

Well, you can do that but you better hope he does not slip a bombardment force in.

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Post #: 3341

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 8/31/2013 4:19:49 AM

crsutton

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quote:

ORIGINAL: JohnDillworth

quote:

Enemy subs claimed two other AOs today

I think your AO's have been taking on the chin. You have to be short of these by now. IIRC you don't really have excess AO's & TK's until late 43

Actually, I am finding that you never have excess tankers capacity. By 1945 you are using so many ships that it is still a chore moving enouogh fuel. It can be done but excessive losses in AO and Tks will come back to haunt you.

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Post #: 3342

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 8/31/2013 4:31:01 PM

Canoerebel

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12/19/42

Carriers: No sign of the KB, which has been gone a long time. The Allied carriers are well to the WNW of Sabang, but each of the five TFs shows elevated detection levels. The carriers will move NW about five or six hexes, which I don't think John would expect. Their purpose is to prompt some caution by John. I don't particularly want a carrier battle right now; I'm willing to chance one if it's deep inside my own territory; but I definitely don't want John to get enough of a feel for my carriers to orchestrate an solid ambush.

Sumatra: Three TFs left today for Colombo - two empty merchantmen TFs and one damaged DD TF. Tomorrow, an emtpy merchantman TF, a damaged DD TF, and the damaged BB Pennyslavnia TF leave - all eyes on the latter. BB PA has modest damage and can make 14 knots, but she's in harm's way. Airfield goes to 7.83 (I think I overstated it's level a post or two back - the field is probably four days from going to level 8).

Malaysia: Alor Star falls to an enemy counterattack and a strong element of 18th UK Div. (110 AV) surrenders. The failure of this unit - properly supplied and in good defensive terrain - to hold for awhile comes as another unpleasant surprise. The perimeter around the core of the Allied position - Sabang and Langsa - is shrinking. How much longer before John assaults Sabang? That's going to be an interesting campaign.

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Post #: 3343

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 8/31/2013 4:51:58 PM

Cap Mandrake

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Seems like you could build up Great Nicobar to at least level 2 and put some SBD's in there so that when he does come for Sabang, he will have another base to worry about.

Also, you may have covered this already but what is going on with Port Blair? Who owns that? That could be a really ugly place for wee Jap dobber search aircraft.

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Post #: 3344

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 8/31/2013 6:07:39 PM

Flicker

Posts: 229
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From: Rocket City USA
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"...PG Soerabaja, which in turn sank one enemy DD..."

The PG Soerabaja is a tough old tub and one of my favorite ships in-game (for no real good reason). It was a pre-WW1 armored cruiser which was "obsolete by the time of her completion". The Soerabaja story makes for interesting trivia: it was bombed by the Dutch (to put down communist mutiny), sunk by the Japanese (then raised and used as an AA battery), then sunk again by the Allies. Attacked by air each time.

http://www.netherlandsnavy.nl/Soerabaia.htm

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Post #: 3345

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 8/31/2013 6:50:57 PM

Chickenboy

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From: San Antonio, TX
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Malaysia: Alor Star falls to an enemy counterattack and a strong element of 18th UK Div. (110 AV) surrenders. The failure of this unit - properly supplied and in good defensive terrain - to hold for awhile comes as another unpleasant surprise. The perimeter around the core of the Allied position - Sabang and Langsa - is shrinking. How much longer before John assaults Sabang? That's going to be an interesting campaign.

A philosophical question for you, Dan. If you were unable to exploit bases beyond Sabang, and the theatre around Sabang resulted in static warfare, would you consider this expedition a success? Obviously if the Allied position in Sabang collapses and your units surrender, that would be a significant blow, but is a "just hanging on" in Sumatra ad infinitum a version of a successful outcome for you?

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Post #: 3346

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 8/31/2013 7:16:09 PM

Canoerebel

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Oh, yeah. Major success. I'm counting on the Allies holding on at Sabang and possibly Langsa. Not only has this operation resulted in a major attritional campaign, which I think the Allies will utlimately come out on top of, but it's also drawn John's entire attention after he had given all of his attention to New Guinea. How much fuel and effort it cost him to move everything is just the icing on the cake.

The Allies are usually going to have a hard time in late '42 or early '43 in making that first big leap forward into Indian country. Here it came a little on the arly side and John is pushing back hard, which I would expect. So if the Allies hold on - and I think there's a good chance they will - it gives the Allies a major base (or more) right on the edge of the Japanese vitals. This position will ultimately eliminate John's ability to keep Burma and Port Blair. It also opens up future areas to short leaps forward - the Malay coast and the rest of Sumatra. And it should be pretty easy to keep many Japanese assets tied up here, thus probably opening up some areas elsewhere (though, for now, the Allies used so many units for this operation that I'm not going to mount anything major elsewhere).

(in reply to Chickenboy)

Post #: 3347

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 8/31/2013 7:50:10 PM

Canoerebel

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From: Northwestern Georgia, USA
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12/20/42

Carriers: No sign of the KB, at least in the IO, which is where I think it will come from. That same old mysterious carrier force showing only about 20 aux planes is now in the Malacca Straits near Georgetown. It might be a CS-flagged raiding force. I don't think John would risk flattops in the sub-choked straits, but we'll see. The Allied carriers are moving to a point on the sea lane between Sabang and Colombo, but closer to the latter than the former.

Sumatra: BB Pennsylvania didn't have any hostile encounters on its sprint out of Sabang, though a number of other ships did (IJN subs sank three or four xAK). Two supply TFs are inbound and close, but I've halted the outbound flow until I get a better feel for what I am referring to as the CS-flagged raiders. The number of empty merchantmen remaining at Sabang is now a much more manageable number. Most of them are small xAK that I can use to reinforce or supply islands at low risk. Most (but not all) of the AK and AP are long gone - some at Colombo, many at Capetown. Of those two classes, I think the Allies lost one AK during the operation. Sabang airfield up to 7.89.

Colombo: Indiana and Wichita are present with CL Richmond a few days out. CA New Orleans will be ready for action in a week.

What's John Going to Do? He's shown a marked reluctance (or extreme patience) in organizing an assault on Sabang. He's going to come eventually, but the longer he waits the better. In 11 days, the USN fleet subs will have working torps (well, at least a bit more likely to work), which will increase the risk factor for him in the Malacca Straits. The Allies have a stout number of good combat ships and mines at Sabang, so any clash there is probably going to be very bloody (hopefully for Japan). The big unknown is the air campaign. I'm hoping that the 325 army fighters on hand (mostly P-40K), supplemented by carrier Wildcats in their role as theater reserve, will be enough to break the back of an enemy air assault, but that's not a given. Tension!

(in reply to Canoerebel)

Post #: 3348

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 9/2/2013 3:52:37 PM

crsutton

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

12/19/42

Malaysia: Alor Star falls to an enemy counterattack and a strong element of 18th UK Div. (110 AV) surrenders. The failure of this unit - properly supplied and in good defensive terrain - to hold for awhile comes as another unpleasant surprise. The perimeter around the core of the Allied position - Sabang and Langsa - is shrinking. How much longer before John assaults Sabang? That's going to be an interesting campaign.

I think the Allied player has to take in consideration the relative weakness of all Commonwealth divisions in 1942, they are not as good as they look. Poor exp, poor replacement rates, poor devices, weak squads and biggest of all very little AT assets. I don't think you are beat by any measure and still like your position but these factors and the pitiful replacement rate of your aircraft probably is the major reason for restraint in 1942. Especially with Indian and British troops.

I really am enjoying this game as it raises the question of the value of such an early offensive move. You might crash and burn here but it still may be worth it as your venture has tied up all of John's attention and resources. Any sort of aggressive acts by the Japanese in the other theaters have pretty much been closed down and that is a big accomplishment for the Allies in 1942. If the campaign fails, your losses may be very high but given the amazing ability of the Allies to recover almost any sort of loss in 1942, the strategic gain may well be worth it.

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 9/2/2013 4:57:34 PM

FOW

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Re the withdrawal of the RN CV.

In WWII the RN used tailored air groups on its CV � i.e. they added squadrons according to the mission at hand � not having a permanent air wing (like the USN).
In my version of following history I disembark my FAA squadrons just before withdrawing the CV. This allows me to train additional pilots until the ship returns and also provides air cover at a rear base allowing me to deploy the RAF units further forward.
A possible benefit to you is access to the A/C pools otherwise unavailable � useful in this war of attrition. Only consider if this fits with your morals and game playing style.

Steve
Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton
�Home of the Fleet Air Arm�

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Post #: 3350

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 9/2/2013 8:37:36 PM

Canoerebel

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12/21/42

FOW, that's a timely suggestion regarding Illustrious, thanks.

Carriers: No sign of KB. I did get an audible "...spotted enemy carriers," but nothing on the map seems to match the report. There is single carrier showing at Singapore, but whether that's a phantom or not, I don't know. The Allied carriers are not far south of Ceylon. One TF reports detection. The carriers will slide about four hexes due west tomorrow.

Sea Lanes: Lots of ships arriving and departing Sabang. BB Pennsylavnia is just about safe now (13 hexes from Colombo and making 14 knots). I'm holding BB California, which can make 11 knots, until the situation clarifies. A supply TF arrived at Sabang today, with a small reinforcement convoy "backing up" due to presence of an enemy combat TF. Lots of activity in the waters out here.

Sumatra: Sabang is a 7.96. I toyed with moving some carrier fighter squadrons here today, but ultimately decided to keep them as theater reserve, hoping that the LBA can blunt or handle the first big enemy attack, which I think is coming sooner rather than later. The Allies have 346 fighters at Sabang - mostly P-40K, but perhaps 75 F4F and 20 P-38G. Lots of AA too. About six combat TFs guard the port, includnig four BB, one CA, and one DD. There are also 700 mines and about five PT Boat TFs. All in all a pretty stout little bastion, though out on a limb and probably about to undergo a Landing Zone X-Ray kind of experience. I hope Lieutenant Colonel Hal Moore is in command.

Elsewhere: Stuff going on in Burma, China and around New Caledonia, but nothing earthshaking, so I'll move along without comment.

(in reply to FOW)

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 9/2/2013 10:26:43 PM

Canoerebel

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12/22/42

Carriers: Still no sign of KB - her absence has been prolonged. The Allied carriers still have one TF showing detection. The group will move NE tonight, drawing pretty close to Ceylon. An enemy raider TF - possibly including a CS - is patroling the sea lanes between Sabang and Ceylon and may draw within range tomorrow (I'm not hunting it, but I'm not really avoiding it either). Once again, I've elected to keep the carrier fighters aboard.

Sumatra: Sabang airfield goes to level 8. The Allies have a blocking position in the jungle south and southwest of Medan. An IJA division attacked in the one to the SW and didn't accomplish anything. The question is whether John will see this as a strong enough roadblock to hazard an amphibious landing at Medan or Langsa. I doubt it, but I have contingencies in place. Sabang airfield now how 349 fighters (drawing three more P-38G). I hear Jaws music because I think John's coming soon.

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 9/2/2013 10:58:22 PM

JohnDillworth

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quote:

I'm holding BB California, which can make 11 knots

I don't know if I agree with this. Take a lesson form another BB trapped in port within range of LBA. Port attacks will come, even if they are not targeting the BB. The BB will take a large number of bomb hits and over time have such a high level of operational damage that it will end the war right where it is now. BB's are bomb magnets, move it or lose it

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Post #: 3353

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 9/3/2013 3:09:27 PM

Canoerebel

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12/23/42

Carriers: One USN carrier TF tangles with the IJN raiders (two CL, two DD) near Ceylon. No damage done, but it gives John great information. The other oddity is that the engagement ended up spearating that TF from the other three carrier TFs, sending it home. Orders are issued for the carrier TFs to recombine well to the SW of Ceylon, in the open IO and in a position to move towards Diego Garcia or Sabang if needed. (The carriers were following a CA TF - why it didn't go into action first, I dunno.) Meanwhile, Seawolf fires a spread of four torps at CVL Zuiho near the Sunda Straits. This, in turn, gives me pretty reliable informatino about the KB. I think it's coming now, though probably two days away from hitting Sabang, if that's the target, or three to four from moving towards Ceylon, if the Allied carriers are the target. Finally, a CVL TF of some size reported on a SE course south of Milne Bay. So John think the Allies will return to Noumea (they aren't). The best thing is that it means not all 314 Japanse carriers will be involved at Sabang.

Sumatra: Langsa forts go to level three, which is actually pretty significant. With Sabang airfield at level 8.04 it will take more than a month to reach level nine. Thinking I may not have that long, I've switched on fort development too.

Fortress Sabang: With the KB possibly/probably near the Sunda Straits, the Allies will send another gaggle of ships sprinting towards Ceylon from Sabang, including BB California, three TK, one AO, and a bunch of DM (who just wiped out mine inventory to bring mine levels here to 900+). There are only about 65 ships remaining in port now. As far as Allied strategy, I've evaluated a variety of courses of action. I have determined (you will say: "Duh") that abandoing Sabang isn't an option. But due diligence required that I least give it full consideration. The Allies have built this fortress and it must now serve, for good or for ill. I think the situation on the ground and at sea is fine (the Japanese can bring more than I have at sea, but the resulting battle would be very costly to both sides, which equates to an Allied victory). The real question is the air war. That's going to be a booger. I have 350 good land-based fighters and the carrier fighters as a reserve, but John can probably bring 1k or 2k? Supply situation is good - another TF just came in bringing supply to 275k and dropping off another USA Coastal AA unit. The Allied carriers will take a somewhat menacing/threatening position in hopes of keeping John "honest" - having to allow for a carrier battle at the same time he's trying to configure an attack on Sabang. Momentous moments.

(in reply to JohnDillworth)

Post #: 3354

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 9/3/2013 4:43:21 PM

Chickenboy

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From: San Antonio, TX
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel
abandoing Sabang isn't an option. But due diligence required that I least give it full consideration.

Good on you for due dilligence and due consideration, but you're right. You can hold at Sabang for a long time and really be a thorn in his side for some time to come. Fighter strength could be a problem for you, as you know, but you should be able to keep a grasp on Sabang for some time.

When can you start daylight strategic bombing of Palembang by your house rules? January 1, 1943? Don't forget about Medan and that other small oil producer on Sumatra just NW of Singapore too. Burn 'em out. Magwe should go up like a torch on January 1, 1943 too. Put the fear of God into him that you're going to burn out Palembang and it will be a nice distraction for some of his heavy fighter groups.

ETA: What are Sabang's forts now?

ETA II: Duh.

< Message edited by Chickenboy -- 9/3/2013 4:44:07 PM >

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 9/3/2013 7:45:21 PM

Canoerebel

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12/24/42

It seems to me like an all-or-nothing situation in Sumatra for the Allies. If John can get his bombardment TFs in to reduce Sabang it won't hold long. But getting in is the challenge for him. I don't think he can win unless he wins the air war. Can he win the air war? Yes, I think he can. But, toughies for me, I've built it to force him to come, so I've gotta stand and take it.

Carriers: The Allies carriers rendezvous far to the SW of Ceylon, once again have the freedom of the open ocean. One TF shows a detection level, darn it, so John will probably know where they are. I didn't pick up any KB sightings today, but my picket DE west of Padang showed detection for the first time. John's carriers could be in position beginning tomorrow, so it's time to battend down the hatches.

Fortress Sabang: In preparation for the coming hurricane, I've battened down the hatches and stowed the gear as best I can. California made it safely out of Sabang, as did a variety of other TFs, but one TF ran afoul of four enemy DDs. An xAK and frigate went under. Sabang forts went to 1.48 in a single day (just beginnign work on those after concentrating soley on the airfield). 60 ships are left in port. A handful will depart tonight, but I'll keep many of the others - support ships, minesweepers, APDs and expendable small xAK useful in running supply to the remaining island garrisons. The Malacca Straits are choked with Allied subs. That's not the direction the KB will come from, but it should keep John leary of using those waters and eventually - I really believe this - something good is going to happen.

Strategic Bombing and House Rules: Chickenboy, the House Rule prohibits strat bombing until 1/1/1944. The Allies hold Medan at the moment - this might not be long term, but the fuel from that base really helped the ships at Sabang. Magwe is still in Japanese hands. I think I agreed to House Rules that were somewhat lopsided in favor of Japan, but since I agreed to 'em, 'nuff said. Next time, though, I won't agree to the "no 4EB of land units" unless Japan concedes something similar nor the strat bombing rule. In fact, I'd just prefer to Go Bullwinkle - no house rules. The heck with house rules. A pox upon house rules for a clumsy lout.

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 9/3/2013 7:59:24 PM

Bullwinkle58

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Another one bites the dust!

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 9/3/2013 8:07:15 PM

Canoerebel

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That's the kind of title John uses for his AAR posts. I hope this isn't an example of foreshadowing.....

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 9/3/2013 8:08:50 PM

catwhoorg

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

Another one bites the dust!

When I start a PBEM, my proposed house rule list would be 'don't be an ass'

I'm not a fan on the concept unless something is really broken.

(the last time I actually used a house rule in online gaming was years ago, and it was something that was so broken as to effective render all other options pointless. Unless HR'ed everyone did exactly the same thing, it was just so much better than all the options. THAT made for a dull game)

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 9/3/2013 8:18:57 PM

Bullwinkle58

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quote:

ORIGINAL: catwhoorg

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

Another one bites the dust!

When I start a PBEM, my proposed house rule list would be 'don't be an ass'

I'm not a fan on the concept unless something is really broken.

(the last time I actually used a house rule in online gaming was years ago, and it was something that was so broken as to effective render all other options pointless. Unless HR'ed everyone did exactly the same thing, it was just so much better than all the options. THAT made for a dull game)

That's a good rule even when playing with no HRs.

Imagine how different this game would be right now if Palembang could be bombed. Utterly different force allocations, by both sides.

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