RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 4/1/2016 6:56:25 PM

Canoerebel

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The main objective up north is to keep John busy. That's why the combat TF remained at Adak, right under his nose and within reach of his carriers and combat TFs. That's part of why merchants have been busy steaming back and forth. And that's why bombers and fighters are focusing on Amchitka. I want John to see a lot of activity so that he'll conclude that something's about to happen here. What's actually happening up here (repositioning troops, fighting in the air, and fighting at sea) is secondary, though favorable results are welcome.

Right now John has a lot (most?) of his Pacific power up here: this is where he's concentrating subs (lots of them, and none showing around West Coast, Hawaii, or CenPac). Half KB is up here. And most of his combat ships are up here (what aren't in Sumatra). He has some other power (carriers and combat ships) but they may be at Tokyo, though I'm watching to see if they might be in CenPac or heading that way.

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 4/1/2016 7:32:17 PM

witpqs

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

The main objective up north is to keep John busy. That's why the combat TF remained at Adak, right under his nose and within reach of his carriers and combat TFs. That's part of why merchants have been busy steaming back and forth. And that's why bombers and fighters are focusing on Amchitka. I want John to see a lot of activity so that he'll conclude that something's about to happen here. What's actually happening up here (repositioning troops, fighting in the air, and fighting at sea) is secondary, though favorable results are welcome.

Right now John has a lot (most?) of his Pacific power up here: this is where he's concentrating subs (lots of them, and none showing around West Coast, Hawaii, or CenPac). Half KB is up here. And most of his combat ships are up here (what aren't in Sumatra). He has some other power (carriers and combat ships) but they may be at Tokyo, though I'm watching to see if they might be in CenPac or heading that way.

Interesting that. No subs as Intel pickets? It's part of their utility.

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 4/1/2016 7:35:02 PM

Lowpe

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Intel pickets don't go

!

This is John we are talking about.

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 4/1/2016 8:31:26 PM

ny59giants

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Dan is involved in his own 'psych ops' with John.

He is showing John what John would hope to see up north. Dan is then hoping that John draws the conclusion about future ops occurring here in the near future. John has seen and engaged a few SC TF and from John's perspective, he has come out ahead. John has seen more transports and has sunk a few. John continues to see TFs in motion, thus reinforcing his thoughts that more action will or still is to occur up north. John hasn't seen Dan's CV and fast BBs, but is probably looking at Kodiak, Prince Rupert, etc. with Glens to find them. Dan has played John more than I have, but both of us have learned to use John's aggressiveness against him.

KUDOS to Dan!!

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 4/2/2016 3:56:25 AM

Capt. Harlock

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I confess I don't see the logic in having an Atlanta-class CLAA in a surface TF. If you're going to include something larger than a destroyer, shouldn't it be a CA or a Brooklyn-class CL?

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 4/2/2016 4:49:06 AM

JeffroK

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Sometimes you have to go with what you got.

But I would agree with sending in just the DD's.

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 4/2/2016 2:55:52 PM

Canoerebel

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6/21/43

Battle of Sumatra: Yamato and Two Brothers bombard Sabang. Supply remains at 19k. Enemy bombers focus on the base, which is a rarity, but bombardment disruption is limiting the effectiveness of AA. It's about time for John to try another attack.

Operation Circus: Half KB returns to Attu Island. I managed to get part of a base force ashore at Ulak, which now supports a PBY squadron. P47s and P38Gs sweep Amchitka, brushing aside weak opposition. Then 2EB and 4EB from Umnak hit the base uncontested. Mouseover shows 85% damage. John expresses frustration at the effectiveness of the P47s. He'll have to try something different if he wants to protect Amchitka. I'm going to stick to the same pattern to give him something to shoot for. 1st Cav. arrives at San Fran, begins prep for Attu, and will move to north. Dutch Harbor garrison is down from 81k to 58k, meaning halfway to the stacking limit. At Cold Bay, the Allies wiped out the remnant of Kure Assault Div., the last IJ unit remaining above Amchitka.

Operation Roller Coaster: A few amphibious TFs have already departed with many others to leave tonight. I think the Allies will target eight enemy bases (after adjusting expectations to match the amphibs and ground troops available). Ships are still straggling in. One CVL might not make it in time. But the final lineup of carriers will be: eight fleet, one CVL, and nine CVEs. These - especially the CVEs - are weighted heavily to defense (meaning I expect the main threat to be from LBA rather than carriers, though I'll watch carefully for any signs of the latter).

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 4/2/2016 3:06:28 PM

T Rav

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I just want to say that I enjoy your AAR. It's well written and well thought out. Many thanks.

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 4/2/2016 7:32:52 PM

crsutton

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

I confess I don't see the logic in having an Atlanta-class CLAA in a surface TF. If you're going to include something larger than a destroyer, shouldn't it be a CA or a Brooklyn-class CL?

I use the Detroit class as DD leaders some times. Their six inch guns will outclass any Japanese CL. and they are expendable.

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 4/2/2016 11:36:57 PM

JeffroK

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quote:

ORIGINAL: crsutton

quote:

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

I confess I don't see the logic in having an Atlanta-class CLAA in a surface TF. If you're going to include something larger than a destroyer, shouldn't it be a CA or a Brooklyn-class CL?

I use the Detroit class as DD leaders some times. Their six inch guns will outclass any Japanese CL. and they are expendable.

Omaha class.

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 4/3/2016 12:55:28 AM

Capt. Harlock

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quote:

I use the Detroit class as DD leaders some times. Their six inch guns will outclass any Japanese CL

Maybe not in this game, if John 3rd has built more Oyodo's.

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 4/3/2016 1:10:55 AM

Canoerebel

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6/22/43

Operation Circus: As hoped, John used his carriers to provide LRCAP over Amchitka. This resulted in 100+ IJN fighters (mainly Zeroes augmented by LBA) vs. P49 and P38G sweepers followed by Mitchells and Liberators. John got what he wanted - downing 15 Mitchells and a handful of Liberators. Damage done to the airfield was modest. But I got what I wanted. John lost roughly 30 carrier fighters and (hopefully) will continue to view this as a challenge. Tomorrow a new squadron of P49s will sweep. Most importantly, KB is still here - a few hexes SE of Attu.

Operation Roller Coaster: Ships are on the move. As mentioned yesterday, there are eight primary targets with two secondary (and highly unlikely). The two divisions prepping for those two are also serving as theater reserve. Some of these eight islands targets may be stiffly garrisoned, so I'm not expecting 100% success here. But if the Allies have time to land and to bombard without KB breathing down their necks, then the Allies should come away with enough bases to matter. I think at least two of the islands are lightly held, and the operation will begin with one of them.

Australia: Japanese fighters knocked down some bombers here (some of those 15 probably came from here, now that I think about it), but an Australian brigade shock attacks, destroys 53 vehicles, and boots two IJA tank regiments from the hex.

Battle of Sumatra: Two IJA divisions attack on the west road at 1:2 odds. They take a licking. The third IJA division (2nd Tank) is moving across island to join the battle at Sabang. The campaign might be over (or at least winding down) by the time she arrives. Lots of enemy air hitting Sabang now. Two Kongos and Three Sisters bombard today. Supply is at 17k.

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 4/3/2016 4:31:25 AM

Canoerebel

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6/23/43

Operation Circus: More encounters between American sweeps and enemy carrier fighters over Amchitka. Details show the following carriers contributing: Renkaku, Tiakuku, Raikaku, Nishin, Hiyo. I'll need to check the OOB to see which ships those are, but since Half KB is still showing roughly 390 aircraft, I think this is part of a powerful carrier group. Half KB posted SE of Attu. The Allies do very well in the aerial skirmishing, downing 33 Zeroes and 64 aircraft total on the day. The Allies lose 18, including 6 P47s. I "think" John may be moving a supply or reinforcement TF to Amchitka, so I'm switching my routine. Most fighters now on 0% CAP and 100% escort with about four SBD squadrons and one TBF squadron (bomb only) set at four hexes. John's lost some carrier fighters. That's good attrition for me no matter what the ratio is (but the ratios have been quite nice anyhow).

Operation Roller Coaster: No signs of detection (and there shouldn't be for another four days or so. The main group is 20% of the way to the beachheads. I'm worried about the "Real" KB - Zuikaku, Shokaku, Akagi, Kaga, Soryu, etc. My best guess (and no more than that) is that they might be upgrading at Tokyo (that's a nice thought) or posted at some midway point (perhaps even Truk). I'll be as careful as possible with pickets and the like to try to get advance notice.

Battle of Sumatra: No bombardments or ground attacks today, but enemy air focuses heavily on Sabang. More IJA troops inbound and close. The end of the month seems about right for the end of the Battle of Sabang.

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 4/3/2016 4:48:23 AM

Canoerebel

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A quick peek at what's going on up north.

The key question that I need an answer for: what is this carrier group? Is it the Half KB (if so, makeup and aircraft numbers are very different than what I've been seeing). Has John swapped out this KB (with 250 aircraft) for the Half KB (390 aircraft) to sprint south? That's a key question. But I do have picket ships between the Aluetians and CenPac. Heck, I've had picket ships right off Marcus and Wake for weeks with no detection.

Attachment (1)

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 4/3/2016 4:55:18 AM

Canoerebel

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I did a bit more sleuthing on that carrier composition. Info the day before showed the IJN carrier TF with 380 aircraft (consistent with what I've been calling "Half KB" for weeks). And the sweeps that occurred yesterday reported fighter groups from the same carriers: Nishin, Hiyo, Taikaku, Renkaku, etc. So, I don't think John has pulled a switcheroo here (my concern being that he withdrew a powerful Half KB with 390 aircraft, sent it south, and replaced it with a 250-aircraft Mini KB, all so that he could combine his major carriers in preparation for a carrier clash). So, at the moment, I feel somewhat confident that John hasn't sniffed out what's coming.

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 4/3/2016 5:05:09 AM

witpqs

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The TF is only "Spotted" instead of having a good DL. Such information is notoriously unreliable.

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 4/3/2016 5:07:09 AM

Canoerebel

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Those three carriers with "unusual names" (Taikatsu, Renkaku, Raikaku, or something like that) are three Shokaku Class that I think are specific to Reluctant Admiral. Anyhow, their capacity is 81 aircraft (9 more than the actual Shokaku).

That's good information. I would think John would want those puppies involved in any major carrier clash and would deploy them anywhere he thought there might be a carrier clash. So this information is helpful, I think, in evaluating John's current mindset.

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 4/3/2016 5:10:42 AM

Canoerebel

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You know, I bet I've had the precise location of at least a Half KB for 60% to 70% of the turns since around December 1. First John had Half KB deployed around Sabang, in easy sight of Allied patrols. So for about four straight months I had pinpoint info nearly every day. Then there was a gap of a month or more. Now, for most of the month of June, I've again known every day the precise location of KB or Half KB. It's easier to make plans when that information is readily at hand.

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 4/3/2016 1:54:55 PM

Canoerebel

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If the combat report for a clash between my LBA fighters and enemy LRCAP from carriers includes information identifying the enemy fighters as squadrons from Nishin, Renkaku, etc., can I count on that information or is the reporting based on the original carrier the squadron was assigned to? I think it's the former, but it's worth asking.

IE, if Zero Squadron A starts the game on Zuikaku but later is reassigned to Renkaku, and then from that ships participates in LRCAP combat, will the combat report indicate Zero Squadron A is from Renkaku (which I think is the case) or from the original Zuikaku?

I'm asking to make sure I understand this correctly. If I do, then I know which carriers are up north contributing to John's LRCAP. But if I'm wrong - if it's the original carrier that is always reported - then John could be working a switcheroo to confuse me here.

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 4/3/2016 2:24:04 PM

Canoerebel

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6/24/43

Operation Circus: Half KB (aka Seeming KB) pulls back to Attu Island (readers, see question in previous post; if you know definitively, please chime in). I'm still a bit puzzled about what's going on. The Allies have lots of NavSearch forward in the Aleuts and have been getting very consistent reports for weeks; now, suddenly, the reports are a different, smaller consistent. Something's going on, but I'm not sure what. John didn't put up CAP over Amchitka today. A few Allied B25s hit largely unprotected Attu port, scoring single hits on two subs and a couple of other ships. An IJN sub picks off a damaged xAK near Kodiak. The Allies continue moving troops around apace. One APD operating under the shadow of KB has been busy retrieving cadres of 4th Raiders that took dot hex bases at the opening of the campaign. One cadre left to retrieve. Most of 4th Raiders now at Atka.

Operation Roller Coaster: Ships moving apace. D-Day should be before the end of the month. Two APD TFs are carrying small forces meant to take islands (if lightly occupied, as hoped) or to feel out defenses (if more strongly defended, as probable). TFs still strung out all over the place. The last carrier TF will move forward tomorrow after the lagging CVL arrives. Peanut 4 arrived at the main base of embarkation today. And Cotton Candy 1 arrived at East Coast after the long journey from Aden. After more than five months, all the troop shifting is complete. The weight of the Allied army is in the Pacific.

Battle of Sumatra: No bombardments or ground attacks today. Enemy bombers focus on Sabang. 16k supply. 1st Marines will pull back to Sabang after roughing up the two IJA divisions that attacked on the west road. The Marines will arrive at Sabang in three days; whether they have that long is the big question.

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 4/3/2016 2:32:33 PM

Alfred

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

If the combat report for a clash between my LBA fighters and enemy LRCAP from carriers includes information identifying the enemy fighters as squadrons from Nishin, Renkaku, etc., can I count on that information or is the reporting based on the original carrier the squadron was assigned to? I think it's the former, but it's worth asking.

IE, if Zero Squadron A starts the game on Zuikaku but later is reassigned to Renkaku, and then from that ships participates in LRCAP combat, will the combat report indicate Zero Squadron A is from Renkaku (which I think is the case) or from the original Zuikaku?

I'm asking to make sure I understand this correctly. If I do, then I know which carriers are up north contributing to John's LRCAP. But if I'm wrong - if it's the original carrier that is always reported - then John could be working a switcheroo to confuse me here.

You are incorrect.

Air unit names cannot be changed. Whatever name you see is the original name.

As an Allied player you will have noticed that some air unit names "change". But these are always units which withdraw and then return with their new name.

Alfred

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 4/3/2016 3:24:05 PM

witpqs

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A small correction. Squadrons do change names while in play, if they are configured to do so in the scenario files. Many US units do withdraw and return with a new name as mentioned. But other air units (not restricted by nationality) do change names while in play. Such is noted in that turn's Operations Report.

As to the original question, you see the squadron name, period. The scenario designer can name a squadron as they wish, and players can move them around as they wish. I have seen players comment about rearranging squadrons just to reduce the useful Intel the squadron name provides.

< Message edited by witpqs -- 4/3/2016 5:00:18 PM >

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 4/3/2016 4:17:26 PM

crsutton

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

SoPac: Troops are prepping in this region with one African division inbound. No operations will take place anytime soon, but this will be a theater of operations in the autumn. John sent two tank units forward to Tennant Creek, where Allied 2EB and 4EB have been able to muss them up pretty bad. Their deliberate attack on an Aussie brigade (militia only) at Tennant Creek failed and now John is withdrawing the units due tot he air threat. Allied F3Fs here knocked down a bunch of Helens and Sallys yesterday.

Commonwealth infantry squads go from an inherent AT value of around 15 to an amazing 70 when they undergo the 43 upgrade. Two tank brigades have no hope vs an intact infantry brigade unless he has major air support with the attack. My numbers may be off as I have not been in the editor for a while, but the change is significant.

Americans get three (I think) 36 plane VF squadrons as spares in mid-late 43. I think the Americans rotated their squadrons more so than the Japanese. And, I tend to rotate my bomber and torpedo squadrons. So, you really can't tell much with American units. And, my skilled opponent frequently switches his carrier groups around to throw me off. It is just smart play.

< Message edited by crsutton -- 4/3/2016 4:27:56 PM >

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 4/3/2016 4:19:11 PM

crsutton

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

quote:

I use the Detroit class as DD leaders some times. Their six inch guns will outclass any Japanese CL

Maybe not in this game, if John 3rd has built more Oyodo's.

Yeah they are a pretty good counter but still an old America Cruiser still helps balance things out.

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 4/3/2016 5:31:46 PM

Canoerebel

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Crud. Now I have something new to worry about (John switching around fighter squadrons to mislead). In fact, I guess those fighters could have been on LRCAP from an airfield.

I'll be as careful as I can in proceeding - last turn, fighter CAP was set to 20% CAP, 10% rest since the carriers were still behind friendly lines. Today I set them to 40% CAP, 10% rest. In another day or two, they'll be in no-man's-land, and I'm not sure what's out there waiting.

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 4/3/2016 9:00:03 PM

Canoerebel

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6/25/43

Operation Circus: That same sighting of the same "Half KB" or "Faux KB" or whatever it is at Attu Island. My spidey senses want to tell me that John is up to something, but figuring out what it is will be the tough part. Modest aerial combat over Amchitka today, with the Allies coming out well ahead.

Operation Roller Coaster: No sign of detection today. I think I may get one more day before bells start going off. My TFs are a bit scattered, but that's okay as I prefer the carriers lagging a bit and for the forward ships to serve as canaries in the coal mine, if necessary. I just don't have enough info to know what's going on. John may have no clue the Allies are moving in strength. Or he may have made good deductions and even now have a well-orchestrated welcome party. It won't take much for me to pull the plug, but I hope the op can proceed (I said the same thing about Circus a week before the landings).

Battle of Sumatra: Against no bombardments or ground attacks, but it looks like BBs are in the way in for tomorrow. Lots of bombers, mainly focusing on Sabang. Supply at 15.5k. It's five minutes to midnight. At the stroke of that hour, I turn into a pumpkin and John's Banzaiis ring in a new era.

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 4/4/2016 5:06:33 AM

Canoerebel

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6/26/43

Battle of Sumatra: Japanese deliberate attack comes off at 3:1 and drops forts to 2. Casualties are relatively heavy, with the Allies losing 100+ squads (a variety, mainly non-combat) and the Japanese suffering 400+ disabled. If John's troops can attack tomorrow, Sabang will fall. If he has to rest them a couple of days then 1st Marine Div. will arrive and the garrison might hold until month's end. Supply is down to 11.5k, though, so we're at the end now. Seven BBs and several Sisters bombard. So the immense Japanese commitment here is still paying some dividends, but that's all about to come to an end.

Operation Circus: A CB and Three Sisters (Maya, Chikuma and Tone) bombard Adak Island, messing up the field and damaging a bunch of aircraft. Patrols report the "Half KB" at Attu Island, this time generating the "Spotted Enemy Carriers" message that had been missing the past few days. But the most important item of information is the cruisers. Adding the two that were torpedoed up here a few days back plus the CAs involved in yesterday's bombardment of Sabang (I'll double-check later to see how many they were - either two or three) means that many of John's CAs are accounted for: nine sunk, five confirmed in the Aleuts in recent days, and two or three in Sumatra. That doesn't leave a lot for John to use in his carrier TFs. It isn't essential to use CAs as escorts, I suppose, but John is also very short on BBs. So if there is a Half KB or Three-Quarters KB out there ready to pounce, it's going to be relying mostly on CLs and DDs for escorts. Meanwhile, the Allies have resumed moving troops forward to various staging points in preparation for the next round of invasions (in about 45 days, if things go properly in CenPac).

Operation Roller Coaster: The lead Allied TFs are only 20 hexes from the first beaches now. No signs of detection or any enemy presence. No TFs even show the 1/0 detection level that I think indicate a TF generated a "radio signals" SigInt report. Every player who has orchestrated a major operation moving into Indian Country with the exact whereabouts of KB unknown can imagine how nerve-wracking these turns are now. John may have sniffed this out. A substantial carrier TF and LBA may be waiting. But I don't see any signs of it. And, as noted above, nearly all BBs and most CAs are accounted for far away, not to mention the "Half KB" at Attu. I doubt John would move against Death Star with so much of his ships committed elsewhere. In a few days, Death Star will be joined by a CV TF comprised of Formidable and CVL Independence. CVL Brandywine is on map and moving to join, but will only arrive in time to cover the second half of the operation.

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 4/4/2016 5:21:55 AM

Canoerebel

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Confirmed that Kumano, Myoko and Atago are at Sumatra. So three there, five in NoPac, and nine sunk (I think). That's 17 CAs that aren't available for duty in the Roller Coaster area of operations.

As for BBs, three are confirmed sunk, one (Mutsu) is almost certainly in drydock, seven confirmed in Sumatra, and two CBs confirmed in NoPac. I think that leaves John with just one or two available.

Bottom line, if John has sniffed this out, he can bring more carriers to bear, but the Allies will seriously outnumber John in capital combat ships, and if a carrier clash occurs, KB is going to be light on big escorts.

< Message edited by Canoerebel -- 4/4/2016 5:23:16 AM >

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 4/4/2016 9:23:49 AM

Encircled

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Fine, but in this mod doesn't he have about 367 CAs?

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RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent - 4/4/2016 11:44:56 AM

Canoerebel

Posts: 21100
Joined: 12/14/2002
From: Northwestern Georgia, USA
Status: offline

John gets the usual 18 CAs plus two others. All should be on the board now. He gets 10 BBs at start plus two others plus two CBs. All of those should be on the board now.

CAs: 20 total. 9 sunk, two damaged, three in NoPac, three in Sumatra. That leaves three others that could be available for carrier escort duty.

BB/CB: 14 total. 3 sunk, one in the yards, seven in Sumatra, two (CB) in NoPac. That leaves one (Musashi) available for carrier escort duty.

He should also have 12 CVs now along with 5 CVLs (augmented by some CVL conversions).

Not that John would necessarily use these capital ships as escorts. And it's possible that these ships are somewhere other than where I'm going. But the conclusion I reached last night is right: He has more CVs than I do (by four), but in the Roller Coaster area of operations, I'll have considerably more BBs and CAs (at least in the opening rounds).

(This recapitulation is offered in detail so that I can refer back to it later; else I'll forget all these things in a couple of days...or hours.)

(in reply to Encircled)

Post #: 5310

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