Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A)

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Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 2/6/2014 1:21:03 PM

mind_messing

Posts: 3393
Joined: 10/28/2013
Status: offline

After my brutal defeat at the hands of Miller, I've thrown myself back in to the game in an effort to put the lessons won by the sacrafice of the IJA and IJN pilot pools in my last game in to practice. The result of my previous game has really shaped my planning, plotting and mindset for this game, which I hope will be a positive thing.

Game Settings

Scenario 1

FOW ON
advanced Weather On
Allied damage control On
PDU On
historical first turn Off
Dec 7 surprise On
reliable USN torps Off
realistic R&D On
no unit withdrawals Off

House Rules

At Lokasenna insistance, we've decided on no house rules whatsoever. This has had, and will continue to have big implications throughout the game and for both sides. I, for one, welcome the absence of house rules, as freedom to move LCU's from Manchuria in to China on the first day has had an overwhelmingly positive impact on that theater, and the possibility for free movement of Allied LCU's from Assam in to Burma makes the possibilities in that theater even more interesting.

It's also a welcome relief to not worry about aircraft altitude bands for once. Lokasenna, so far, seems to have been content with reasonably historical CAP altitude, I've not been shy in sending the Zero's and Oscars up to the high altitudes, and I've no doubt things will come full circle as the war continues (FWIW, based on my observations, sweeps and altitude seems well balanced: you get good air-to-air advantages, but the group losses a bunch of planes to OPS and fatgiue takes it out of operation for at least the next day).

AAR Content

I might mix things up a little, and throw the occasional bit of writing in to keep things interesting, but the basic format will consist of overviews of the main areas where operations are bound to occur.

Long-term goals

- Last longer than my last AAR. Feb 1942 is not a hard goal to beat - we're nearly there already!
- Keep the KB a competitive force until 1943
- Establish a perimiter to prevent strategic bombing of the Home Islands or the SRA.
- Conduct a defensive war from late 1942 onwards based on the principle of active defence.
- Establish sufficent stockpiles of resources in the Home Islands in order to meet these goals.

Advice is more than welcome, I can't get enough of it. I'll have a post up soon detailing the progress of our game so far. The current game date is in min-January 1942, and there's plenty happened so far!

< Message edited by mind_messing -- 2/6/2014 3:00:12 PM >

Post #: 1

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 2/6/2014 1:42:49 PM

EHansen

Posts: 360
Joined: 12/6/2013
Status: offline

What scenario are you playing?

(in reply to mind_messing)

Post #: 2

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 2/6/2014 1:54:45 PM

koniu

Posts: 2763
Joined: 2/28/2011
From: Konin, Poland, European Union
Status: offline

Good luck

_____________________________

"Only the Dead Have Seen the End of War"

(in reply to EHansen)

Post #: 3

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 2/6/2014 1:59:50 PM

mind_messing

Posts: 3393
Joined: 10/28/2013
Status: offline

Situation of the war as of 16th Jan, 1942

North Pacific

Token American forces garrison Adak. IJN air support units garrison Attu, and IJN search has the region under close watch. The IJN achived a stunning victory here on 1st Jan, sinking an American light crusier and a destroyer in exchange for a single IJN destroyer despite being ambushed and the T crossed.

Offensive operations are planned in this region, but limited. Based on moves so far, this appears to be an important theater for the Allies, so the pressure is on to make it as difficult for the Allies as possible. The Mini-KB is currently in transit for the Home Islands for some quick repairs and air group resizes, and will be deployed to the 5th Fleet AO some time afterwards.

Central Pacific

One USN CV is sunk by an eight hex strike from the KB in the aftermath of Pearl Harbour.

Wake, Ocean, Nauru, Tarawa, Taibuitea and Canton Island are all captured. USS Saratoga appears to intefere with the inital invasion of Canton Island, but is struck by a torpedo from an I-boat and withdraws the following day. An seaplane base is established on Canton Island to extend the search envelope of the Empire.

Taibuitea will be built up in order to enable torpedo-bombers to operate in the region, with Tarawa and possibly one other base built up to support it.

South-West Pacific

Rabual, Port Moresby and Tulagi are all secured.

An SNFL Company lands at Ndeni, but fails to capture the base (by me forgetting to order them to attack, rather than due to resistance). They then move to Luganville, where a USA regiment and engineers counter-invade, and crush the couple of hundred Japanese defenders. Due to this, Luganville is now a high priority target, but fears of a trap require the KB to be present to cover any counter-invasion.

ANZAC crusiers attempt to ambush a Japanese troop convoy loading troops after the fall of Port Moresby, but are sent packing by the IJN DD escort. They're attempting to escape at full speed, but this is unlikely. While there are few troops loaded, the loss of the shipping will hurt.

Eastern DEI

Quiet inital moves here are shatted by a sortie of the ABDA fleet. Force Z intercepts a small IJN surface combat force flagged by a light crusier, utterly destroying it. Force Z then vanishes.

The USN crusiers intercept the Mini-KB, and come within shooting range of the carriers, but are driven off doing only light damage to the flight decks. Two carriers are laid up for a fortnight in Babeldoab repairing systems damage, so KB is transfered to this AO in order to cover.

ABDA forces attempt a Fortress Timor strategy. Significant air and naval assets are spotted around Koepang, and B-17s and British crusiers close Ambon, the first Japanese airstrip opened in the region. The IJN responds with a massive redeployment to the region, with two battleship task forces, two air headquarters and the KB being deployed to suppress Koepang.

The result is a complete naval and air blockade of the base, and the KB sinks several large xAP's carrying a significant number of Allied troops. The IJA details the 65th Brigade for the invasion of Koepang, while two SNFL units secure eastern Timor with minimal resistance. The destruction of the units garrisoning Koepang (along with the long list of aircraft damaged in bombardments) will be a welcome haul.

Tarakan and Balikipan are secured, and are currently serving as forward refueling depots for the IJN units in theater.

Darwin is a medium term objective for this AO.

Western DEI/Malaya

Besides the continual air bombardment of Singapore, Malaya is quiet, along with much of the Western DEI. Singkawang is secured, and air bombardment of Palambang airstrip was met with no Dutch resistance whatsoever.

Nearly 3k Japanese AV will attack Singapore next turn while two regiments and a SNLF are at sea to invade Palambang, with IJN ships covering the ocean and Nells, Zeros and Oscars covering the skies.

China

Following massive reinforcement from China, the IJA barrels a path in to the Chinese interior. Sian and Changsha are the targets. Sian is certain to fall by the end of January with a significant Japanese army investing it, and Changsha is not predicted to last to March. Recon flights indicate a drastic Chinese strategy - a complete withdrawal from the Luichow-Chansha area to the intetior.

Wuchow has fallen, and two divisions are currently engaged in mop up operations, while a armoured push of three regiments are heading for the northern Chinese oil resources, backed up by a division.

< Message edited by mind_messing -- 9/25/2014 5:42:05 PM >

(in reply to mind_messing)

Post #: 4

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 2/6/2014 2:00:58 PM

mind_messing

Posts: 3393
Joined: 10/28/2013
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: EHansen

What scenario are you playing?

Scenario 1, the extra toys seem cheap to me!

quote:

ORIGINAL: koniu

Good luck

Luck is good! Good advice is better!

(in reply to EHansen)

Post #: 5

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 2/6/2014 4:50:45 PM

obvert

Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011
From: PDX (and now) London, UK
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

quote:

ORIGINAL: EHansen

What scenario are you playing?

Scenario 1, the extra toys seem cheap to me!

quote:

ORIGINAL: koniu

Good luck

Luck is good! Good advice is better!

Ok. Sweep high!!! Real high! With no HRs, you should clean up the skies much faster in the one.

_____________________________

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill

(in reply to mind_messing)

Post #: 6

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 2/6/2014 6:27:01 PM

mind_messing

Posts: 3393
Joined: 10/28/2013
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: obvert

quote:

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

quote:

ORIGINAL: EHansen

What scenario are you playing?

Scenario 1, the extra toys seem cheap to me!

quote:

ORIGINAL: koniu

Good luck

Luck is good! Good advice is better!

Ok. Sweep high!!! Real high! With no HRs, you should clean up the skies much faster in the one.

Indeed, it makes things much more interesting in the air. My use of air units has been much better this game. Bar the occasional Betty flight flying to doom, the IJAF and IJNAF have managed to come away from almost every air engagement with an advantagous result.

I can't take complete credit for it, however, but it's a refreshing change...

(in reply to obvert)

Post #: 7

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 2/6/2014 7:26:21 PM

Simonsez

Posts: 110
Joined: 12/7/2011
Status: offline

Nice for you to be at Singer's doorstep. Be patient and you'll crack it. Steady pressure.

Be sure not to have any INF regiments combined into the attack at Singers - only use a full division. Recombine any divisional fragments before driving over the causeway into Singers. Add in whatever armor, combat engineers and heavy artillery you can find. Get Southern Army HQ to Mersing and the appropriate Army HQ (14th, 15th, 25th - can't remember which and am at work at the moment, working on my TPS reports

) to Johore Bahru to get their AV and prep bonuses - as well as having HQ's nearby under which you can rest to recover disabled troops in case things go sideways. Sweep, sweep, sweep then bomb airfields to prevent fort rebuilding.

_____________________________

Simonsez

It's a trap!

(in reply to mind_messing)

Post #: 8

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 2/6/2014 8:25:19 PM

mind_messing

Posts: 3393
Joined: 10/28/2013
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Simonsez

Nice for you to be at Singer's doorstep. Be patient and you'll crack it. Steady pressure.

Be sure not to have any INF regiments combined into the attack at Singers - only use a full division. Recombine any divisional fragments before driving over the causeway into Singers. Add in whatever armor, combat engineers and heavy artillery you can find. Get Southern Army HQ to Mersing and the appropriate Army HQ (14th, 15th, 25th - can't remember which and am at work at the moment, working on my TPS reports ) to Johore Bahru to get their AV and prep bonuses - as well as having HQ's nearby under which you can rest to recover disabled troops in case things go sideways. Sweep, sweep, sweep then bomb airfields to prevent fort rebuilding.

The hammer blow at Singapore will go in tomorrow. Can't remember the exact AV, but it's a fair few divisions (more than six, I think), along with every heavy gun unit Southern Army has to bear (bar a couple bombarding Clark) so we're expecting good things.

(in reply to Simonsez)

Post #: 9

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 2/7/2014 12:08:25 AM

championzhao

Posts: 51
Joined: 8/13/2008
From: Ningbo,China
Status: offline

Good luck~~

_____________________________

The most persistent sound which reverberates through man's history is the beating of war drums.

(in reply to mind_messing)

Post #: 10

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 2/7/2014 10:51:40 PM

mind_messing

Posts: 3393
Joined: 10/28/2013
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: championzhao

Good luck~~

Thank you! Hopefully you'll not get any information you'll find that you can you against me!

(in reply to championzhao)

Post #: 11

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 2/7/2014 11:24:41 PM

mind_messing

Posts: 3393
Joined: 10/28/2013
Status: offline

Jan 16th to Jan 18th, 1942

North Pacific

Long-range recon from Attu spots ships in Adak on the 16th. An air attack by the same recon planes confirms that it's a small minesweeper, probably on picket duty. Nevertheless, a light crusier sweep the hex, and find an oiler along with the minesweeper. Both are Long Lanced before even getting the engines started.

The battleship Yamashiro goes in to bombard shortly, and the 80th Regiment is about a week out from the island to push the American off the keystone of the Aleutians.

The deployment of both units and fuel to Adak indicates the possibility of a submarine base, or perhaps more. The Mini-KB will take a look at this in some time.

Central Pacific

Nothing of note. Forts are building up nicely on most of these bases, though engineers are sorely needed for Taibutiea.

South-West Pacific

Carriers spotted!

Evidently, five carriers are approaching Milne Bay from the south. Taken with a pinch of salt, I suspect a single carrier is attempting a raid on Port Moresby or Rabaul. Shipping is fleeing for Truk, while Port Moresby and Rabaul have about twenty Zero's defending - enough to blunt any single carrier group.

The KB is currently transiting to Babeldoab, that has now been changed to Truk. The hope is that Glen-equipped subs can find a target worth of a strike, or even better, locate the USN carriers, as it is unlikely the USN will remain around long enough for the KB to strike them.

Eastern DEI

Koepang is bombarded by battleship, leaving this base fully suppressed. The 65th Brigade unloads at Kendrai to lose disruption before being reloaded for the invasion of the Allied stronghold.

Submarines lay mines around Balikipan, but IJN minesweepers are already on station and the attempt gains nothing. A few ineffective depth charges are sent after USN submarines, but no damage confirmed.

Western DEI/Malaya

The Singapore shock attack gets a 1:1 ratio and drops the forts. AV for Japan looks very, very good, at just under 2500 to some 970 odd British AV. We'll bombard till the Japanese AV reaches above 2500 then attack again.

Palambang is invaded. Horrifically, we find no less than 7 base forces defending it. While most are of the small Dutch variety, it causes us extreme concern. We'll mount a deliberate attack regardless, but will be extremely unhappy if Palambang is trashed.

Burma

A brutal air battle over Rangoon ends with mixed results. The AVG get 6 Oscar Ia's for breakfast, but a combined sweep of Oscar Ic's and Tojo's leaves them badly bruised by the end of the day. There's also the possibility of a IJA armoured unit catching planes on the ground at Tongoo.

Things in this AO remain slow, as much of the units detailed for Burma have been sent to Singapore.

China

A small KMT force south of Yenan is all but destroyed, and the surviors left to be a drain on supplies. Yenan will be left to rot.

A massive bombardment attack at Sian nets almost 1200 dead Chinese! With most of the Manchurian gun units being employed here, it's no suprise that the results are what they are. A deliberate attack will follow such a massive bombardment.

Home Islands

The Mini-KB is one day out from Tokyo, where they will spend some time repairing minor damage caused by USN shellfire and resizing Home Island airgroups and floatplane units. Once this is done, they'll be sent to the Northern Pacific AO, to hopefully blunt Allied adventures in this area.

< Message edited by mind_messing -- 9/25/2014 5:42:21 PM >

(in reply to mind_messing)

Post #: 12

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 2/8/2014 5:07:26 PM

mind_messing

Posts: 3393
Joined: 10/28/2013
Status: offline

Jan 19th, 1942

North Pacific

Yamashiro is one day out from bombarding Adak. Following this, she'll return to the Home Islands to rearm, refuel and then support the invasion of Adak. The 80th Regiment is leaving Korea to acomplish this task.

We get a Sig-Int hit on Dutch Harbour. Mavis from Attu will take a look, and we'll see if the Mini-KB has a target. If it's not worth it, we'll raid it with our light cruiser force and schedual a bombardment for later. I'm loath to commit too much to this theater, especially this far forward. Depending on how the Adak invasion goes, we may push on to Dutch Harbour, but no further.

Central Pacific

Base forces being to arive as forts rise across the island bases. Still sparse on the ground, and that doesn't look like it will change soon.

South-West Pacific

Supposed USN carriers stick around for another day. As a plus, naval search spots a big convoy trying to sneak down the eastern Austrailian coast, likely DEI refugees. There's some hope that IJN torpedo equipped bombers might sortie against them, and scare off the supposed carriers.

Eastern DEI

Koepang is bombarded again by a crusier force, with diminished results. The troops for the invasion of the island are and Kendrai and unloading for a few days R&R before being sent to take the Allied strongpoint.

Elsewhere, Balikipan is chock-full of Japanese shipping, as the IJN's thirsty ships drink deep in to the fuel reserves. Tankers are already on station to start shipping the stuff to Babeldoab, where it will be sent to where it's sorely needed, namely Rabaul.

Western DEI

A deliberate attack on Palambang takes forts down to one, and the Allied bombardment attack shows the Japanese as having a 3:1 advantage in raw AV afterwards.

The possibility of damage as a result of this extended battle makes us wary, but the hope is that if the disruption on the enemy units is kept high, they won't be able to sabotage the Palambang facilties. To that end, every bomber in range will sortie against the troops defending the base before tomorrows attack.

Singkawang reaches level four airstrip, a bit late to make any real difference.

Malaya

Bombardment of Singapore nets a cool 150 Allied losses. No further attacks planned till the disrutpion of a few key LCU's falls.

China

This was the gem of the day.

Sian falls, with some 31200 Chinese losses, and 871 squads destroyed, along with four units. Japanese losses are some 3000 men, with only 11 squads destroyed, mostly focused on a single division.

Even better, Changsha falls right after, with 5000 Chinese losses (and 543 squads!) to 1000 Japanese losses.

While these losses are a huge blow to the KMT, the Japanese situation is still uncertain. The Chinese have mounted a huge withdrawal to the interior of China, and while this leaves much of central and southern China uncontested, the critical northern oil centers are still not secure and the KMT is still a strong fighting force.

Air support units are rebasing closer to the Chinese interior, and a prompt air campaign will begin against the cities in the Chinese interior while the IJA mops up the KMT units. Long-term plans are for a dual thrust against the Chinese interior, supported by a massive air campagin. Airbase construction to support it has already begun.

< Message edited by mind_messing -- 9/25/2014 5:42:30 PM >

(in reply to mind_messing)

Post #: 13

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 2/8/2014 7:37:03 PM

mind_messing

Posts: 3393
Joined: 10/28/2013
Status: offline

Jan 20th, 1942

North Pacific

Yamashiro bombards Adak, and finds a coastal gun unit there. The Japanese battleship will withdraw to mainland Japan to rearm and refuel, and be the flagship for the invasion of Adak.

In response, the Americans send three light crusiers to Attu, and sink the Kitakami and her escorting destroyer. This loss hurts, as the Kitakami had been left needlessly exposed, but air search hadn't caught a whiff of any American reinforcements in the theater.

The appearance of three light crusiers (and good ones, at that rate) is the final confirmation we need that the Americans are up to something here. The Mini-KB has been ordered to depart with all possible haste from Tokyo for the Northern Pacfic.

Yamashiro is left in a bad position, having used its main gun ammo and just having refueled its escorts. She'll head straight west, away from the American task force, and hope for the best. She is unspotted, so hopefully the Americans will waste fuel in a chase.

South-West Pacific

IJN crusiers fail to intercept the transports, and the supposed carriers move to the edge of our naval search range. The KB is still three days out of Truk. If the USN carriers want to withdraw, now is the time.

Imperial General Headquarters suspects Sydney is the main Allied port, so the possbility of a carrier raid on the port is being discussed.

Eastern DEI

Koepang invasion forces reload for the invasion proper, while a surface force of two battleships will provide cover. The base is well suppressed, and the hope is that the units used here will provide the spearhead of the invasion of northern Austrailia.

Ai support units are being sent under LRCAP from Balikipan to Makassar, which was taken with no resistance by a Naval Guard unit. These units will then cover a further leapfrog to Denpasser, which will be the eastern base for the suppression of Java.

Western DEI

Palambang is captured in an almost pristine state! The IJA units will clear Southern Sumatra, while planes, air support and an Air HQ will move in to Palambang itself. These units will then be used as the western base for the suppression of Java.

Burma

Most IJA units sit outside Rangoon awaiting reinforcements before assaulting the city, but the air campaign against Rangoon will commence regardless. Most of the Thai bases north of Rangoon are being built up to support this effort, though the air units involved will be second-line.

< Message edited by mind_messing -- 9/25/2014 5:42:38 PM >

(in reply to mind_messing)

Post #: 14

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 2/9/2014 7:24:25 PM

mind_messing

Posts: 3393
Joined: 10/28/2013
Status: offline

Jan 21st and Jan 22nd, 1942

North Pacific

The American crusier force bombards Attu and disapears. The Yamashiro makes her escape back towards the Home Islands while the 80th Regiment get a day or two of rest in the Home Islands before shipping out to take Adak.

The Mini-KB sails eastwards, as part of a plan to deter any intervention in the Adak invasion.

South-West Pacific

The supposed carrier withdraws. The KB is two days from Truk, where it will refuel and head south to sheild the capture of Noumea, and possibily bomb Sydney or Suva.

Eastern DEI

The Keopang invasion force departs Kendrai while the suppression of the base continues.

An AKE makes its way to Balikipan, turning this base in to the forward depot for the IJN ships in the region. Now with the ability to quickly refuel and reload, the IJN operational tempo will increase.

Tainan Zero's sweep Soerabaja for utterly fantastic results. Per the air losses screen, 43 Buffalo's are marked as destroyed, as well as 11 B-339D's and four Blenheim IFs. Another Zero wing sweeps shortly after, but there's not much Allied aircraft left flying. Recon shows the fighters in Soerabaja down to zero, after being at around sixty the previous day!

Western DEI

Palambang is bombed, with B-17s and Blenheims tearing in at 1000 feet. They meet Nates and heavy AA, and go away badly damaged with only a scarce few manpower hits to show for it. While the risk to the major oil center is obvious, the fact that the runway is left alone is welcome, and will be operational shortly.

As a stopgap measure, more aircraft are being relocated to Malaya to LRCAP the base, to afford some measure of protection, while the IJA units on Sumatra seek to secure additional airbases to better defend Palambang.

China

Operations enter the pursuit phase, as KMT units routed after the dual disasters of Changsha and Sian flee for the interior. The IJA will pursue and bomb, but half-heartedly. The overall goal is not to destroy units, but to make the supply situation in China unsustainable for the Chinese.

There are concerns over a large-scale withdrawal of Chinese units from China to Burma, but considering the poor road networks in this region, we have no cause to expect any significant Chinese units before April.

< Message edited by mind_messing -- 9/25/2014 5:42:46 PM >

(in reply to mind_messing)

Post #: 15

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 2/9/2014 10:53:51 PM

mind_messing

Posts: 3393
Joined: 10/28/2013
Status: offline

Jan 23rd and Jan 24th, 1942

South-West Pacific

The SNFL company sharing Ndeni with a small Austrailian unit will make their attack tomorrow, hopefully to claim this dot base for the empire.

Reforcements are marked for Lae, which will become a supporting base for Port Moresby. The engineer units currently building up Rabaul will be diverted here once the airstrip reaches level seven.

Eastern DEI

The Koepang invasion is one day out. A battleship force, several crusiers and a PB ASW force acompanies.

The first tanker convoys are created, and start moving forward to draw fuel and oil from the newest conquests of the Empire. Subs are still active in the region, but the deployment of significant ASW assets will hopefully start to push them out. For the most part, ASW falls on the seaplane tenders and their search planes to find the subs and the short-legged sub-chasers to kill them.

The plan is to convert every floatplane group to Jakes, so production has been ramped up accordingly to 48 per month, in the hope of converting two CS resized groups per month.

Western DEI

The B-17s and Blenheims go in at Palambang again, with much better results. Fires kill off nearly a hundred oil and refinery points, despite only a handfull of manpower hits. Nates and Oscars damage the attackers, but no kills. Flak damages nearly all of the attackers, but the 18 8cm guns are enough to damage, but not enough to kill outright.

The damage done by fires caused by the bombers is probably more than the bombers would have caused had they directly targeted the oil wells or refineries!

The upside is that the airstrip is nearly fully repaired, and the adjacent base captured, both of which allow more fighters to be directly deployed to the immediate area. Should the bombers return, they'll be in for a tougher fight.

Phillipines

The IJA attacks Clark, dropping the forts to 1. The IJAAF continues to bomb with anything that carriers a bomb while the two Nate units detailed for this theater enjoy a couple of weeks extra training to bring the lower skilled pilots up to par.

< Message edited by mind_messing -- 9/25/2014 5:42:53 PM >

(in reply to mind_messing)

Post #: 16

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 2/10/2014 12:17:51 AM

mind_messing

Posts: 3393
Joined: 10/28/2013
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Jan 25th, 1942

North Pacific

Operation Carillon is underway! The 80th Regiment is loading, bound for Adak, with Yamashrio escorting.

The Mini-KB is south of Attu, still undetected. Ships are spotted in Dutch Harbour, and SigInt reports contacts in Anchorage, so targets exist aplenty for the preliminary part of the operation.

The invasion force will take five days to reach Adak, the Mini-KB will be on station off Dutch Harbour in about four. If needs be, the invasion will be posponed to allow the Mini-KB to santize the region.

Central Pacific

AMC raiders in the depth of the Allied supply lines spot a contact. Subs and AMC's vectored in.

South-West Pacific

Ndeni becomes a battleground as the SNFL Company battle with the Rabaul base force for control of the island. Japan has the upper hand.

No idea, how part of the Rabaul base force ended up on Ndeni...

The KB departs Truk to cover the retrival of the 4th Division from Port Moresby, and thence to cover the invasion of Noumea and the recapture of Luganville. We scrub the possibility of a raid on Sydney or Fiji for lack of confirmed targets.

Eastern DEI

Koepang invaded! The 65th Brigade, supported by an SNFL and air support units storm ashore. Both sides are even, with about 250 AV each, but air and naval support, as well as superior martial valour swings the favour firmly for the Empire!

Nevertheless, an attack tomorrow will be pre-empted by a naval bombardment by a pair of Japanese battleships and air bombardment from Betty units in Kendrai and Ambon.

Dot base clean up carries on.

Western DEI

More fighters squeezed in to Southern Sumatra. Allied bombers come back again at Palambang. More fires; more damage, nearly 200 damaged refineries.

The upside is that more Allied planes are damaged and a few reported lost! More engineers and air support is two days out, and the airbase nearly fully operational. Hopefully the damage is done and the reduction of Java can progress.

Lesson learned: if you invade Palambang, have significant numbers of flak guns in the first wave!

Malaya

A attack on Singapore goes in tomorrow. With 3k AV against less than 900 Allied AV, it looks likely that the Empire will gain another posession.

Phillipines

Cagayan falls after a lengthy seige. Ships are already en route to remove everything bar a caretaker garrison, and the bulk of these now free units will be sent to man the defences of the Empire. One regiment is marked for Milne Bay, and another will be sent to Malaya to recombine with its parent division.

< Message edited by mind_messing -- 9/25/2014 5:43:04 PM >

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Post #: 17

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 2/10/2014 6:05:33 PM

mind_messing

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Jan 26th, 1942

North Pacific

Mini-KB is spotted. The operation will carry on regardless, with the KB cutting directly to Dutch Harbour to destroy the American ships in the region. A base adjacent to Dutch Harbour recently made level 1 airstrip, which means there's like to be some opposition.

We'll hit Dutch Harbour by the 28th, and then withdraw to the North-East to hide behind land-based search aircraft. The 80th Regiment is loaded, and we're hoping for a landing on Adak by the 8th of next month. An oiler has been deployed to Attu to refuel the Mini-KB to enable such sustained operations, and a keen watch will be kept for USN carriers.

Central Pacific

One of our AMC raiders should intercept an small convoy tomorrow. It's small and fast, and screams "Air Transport" to me.

South-West Pacific

We change the plan here. The KB will return to Truk, there's not a target worthy of revealing it's location just yet.

The 4th Division is also going to be fully deployed to Port Moresby and act as the principle garrison unit of that base. Another unit will be marked for the reaction force for this theater.

The SNFL Company on Ndeni capture the base. An AV is en-route to push our search range forward to encompass Fiji. We get another SigInt hit on Fiji, and the base shows five LCU's. The Glen equipped sub outside the harbour hasn't spotted anything worthwhile, however.

Eastern DEI

The British make a carrier strike!

The Keopang invasion force nearly loses a big xAP to a Dutch sub (still in danger with 57 flot damage), but destroy the Dutch sub in return. Not to be outdone in failure, the British send twelve Swordfishes (almost certainly from the Hermes against the invasion force, but get only a single torpedo hit to show for their efforts.

Imperial General Headquaters is of the opinion that this invasion has been blessed, as had the battleship force not bombarded, those torpedos could have struck a ship of major importance!

With plenty of supply and the entirety of the 65th Brigade ashore, the invasion force can comfortably withdraw. A small escort task force is created with the two damaged xAP's are left to the wolves, while Zero's perform the "transfer dance" to provide LRCAP for the bulk of the withdrawing ships, as well as escort the Betties in case the British are desious of better results tomorrow and venture within the attack envelope of two Air HQ's.

To top things off, the 65th Brigade knocks the forts down to one at Koepang itself.

Western DEI

Bombing attacks against Palambang cease, and more air support and engineers are a day out. IJA units start progressing to seize all of Southern Sumatra, while a IJN paratrooper unit has taken Sabang and will push south to start clearing out Northern Sumatra.

Malaya

Singapore's forts are dropped to zero. A day of rest, then another attack. Hopefully the last push, and will put is well-ahead in schedual. At this rate, Imperial General Headquarters is looking at a landing in Java for mid-Febuary.

Misc. Items

Saipan makes level 4 airstrip, so construction will shift over to fortifications. We'll be wanting the bases in this region to be as heavily fortified as pratically possible.

Pilot training is progressing well, helped by the two IJA units in the Phillipines that have been switched over to training to help squeeze out combat ready pilots a bit quicker. They've graduated to escorting the milk runs on Clark, while will hopefully drive EXP up.

< Message edited by mind_messing -- 9/25/2014 5:43:11 PM >

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Post #: 18

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 2/10/2014 6:22:16 PM

obvert

Posts: 14050
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Interesting strike on Palembang. Fires can do a lot, let me tell you!!

If it's just the refineries that is great. You have enough of those. The oil points I'd fix though. Make sure to turn off repairs to Manpower and refineries globally in case of more strikes.

_____________________________

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill

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Post #: 19

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 2/10/2014 6:40:38 PM

Miller

Posts: 2226
Joined: 9/14/2004
From: Ashington, England.
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quote:

ORIGINAL: obvert

Interesting strike on Palembang. Fires can do a lot, let me tell you!!

If it's just the refineries that is great. You have enough of those. The oil points I'd fix though. Make sure to turn off repairs to Manpower and refineries globally in case of more strikes.

I know this is a no HR game, but strat bombing of Palambang this early in the game is not really an ideal scenario for either side. The Allies can mass 100+ 2E and 4E bombers in northern Java by Jan 42...and give them enough escorts and they will get through and can inflict mortal damage to the oil and refineries and pretty much ruin the game longterm. That's why I didn't try that in my game against MM.

< Message edited by Miller -- 2/10/2014 7:57:34 PM >

(in reply to obvert)

Post #: 20

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 2/10/2014 6:57:35 PM

mind_messing

Posts: 3393
Joined: 10/28/2013
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quote:

ORIGINAL: obvert

Interesting strike on Palembang. Fires can do a lot, let me tell you!!

If it's just the refineries that is great. You have enough of those. The oil points I'd fix though. Make sure to turn off repairs to Manpower and refineries globally in case of more strikes.

Tell me about it! A dozen planes at 1000 feet causing chaos. The refineires were damaged to the tune of 200 points, the oil at about 140. Significant, but not critical. I whined a little to Lokasenna about the image of poor urban planning in that the population must live next to the oil wells and refineries, but he gave a fair explaination about the resulting damage to infrastructure instead, which seems fair enough.

There have been no repairs in the forward areas, excepting a couple of points damage to Tarakan and Balikipan. Miri's oil is being repaired, as is Brunei, but the focus at present is getting the fuel out of those bases. The trickle of fuel that there is flowing is earmarked for fleet operations, though a steady drip is being pushed through Cam Rhan Bay.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Miller

quote:

ORIGINAL: obvert

Interesting strike on Palembang. Fires can do a lot, let me tell you!!

If it's just the refineries that is great. You have enough of those. The oil points I'd fix though. Make sure to turn off repairs to Manpower and refineries globally in case of more strikes.

I know this is a no HR game, but strat bombing of Palambang this early in the game is not really an ideal scenario for either side. The Allies can mass 100+ 2E and 4E bombers in northern Java by Jan 42...and give them enough escorts and they will get through and can inflict mortal damage to the oil and refineries. That's why I didn't do that in my game against MM.

My mantra for this game has been "I'm going to do X. What would Miller do to make things impossibly difficult?", so it's fairly safe to say the psychological impact hasn't been totally detrimental! I've been a great deal more methodical.

To be fair, I made some key mistakes invading Palambang.

1 - Too early. Singkawang is a good springboard, but it's just too far away for decent LRCAP and I only got away clean because Lokasenna was building his redoubt at Koepang. If he'd instead sent those units to Palambang, I'd have been bloodied rather severely.

2 - Too little. I'd had the foresight to add AA to the invasion force, but not nearly enough to make it a true deterent. In future, the first wave will have as much AA units attached as is pratically possible. Ditto with engineers, which brings me to my next point...

3 - Don't hinge your air defence of Palambang on the same airstrip you've been bombing for the past two weeks. Pretty self-explaintory. If I'd acutally thought this one out, I'd have realized that I'd just wrecked the base that I was going to need. Bomb the ports next time to keep the forts down. Drop bombs on the airstrip by all means, but don't utterly wreck it.

Good to have you following, Miller! Perhaps some sorely needed evidence that I can actually reach beyond the first couple of months!

< Message edited by mind_messing -- 2/10/2014 7:58:40 PM >

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Post #: 21

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 2/10/2014 7:11:48 PM

obvert

Posts: 14050
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My opponent in my 2nd game bombed Palembang with all of the Dutch, but because I was able to bring in AS and big fighter groups right away, it was stopped. I think the Japanese player simply needs to be ready for it. If they aren't, well, it's a fair play.

_____________________________

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill

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Post #: 22

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 2/10/2014 7:14:16 PM

Miller

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From: Ashington, England.
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If he is hell bent on destroying Palembang's industry so early in the game there is very little you can do to stop it. Even if you send all your Zero sqds there, if he has enough escorts in tow with his bombers then they will get through and kill off the vast majority of your oil by the end of January. AA is too weak to do much damage unless he flies at very low altitude. The oil you capture elsewhere will be enough to keep your industry going to perhaps early/mid 43, but after that you are going to have to start shutting things down in the home islands.

And its never too early to capture Palembang, in fact if you leave it too long and the Allies get some sizeable ground units in place in becomes almost impossible to capture in a stock game due to the fact in produces tons of supply (Search the site for references to "Fortress Palembang"). Of course taking it asap leads to the problem you are having now, hence why most games have a HR prohibiting strat bombing of it, at least until after a certain time. Lets see what happens in your game....

(in reply to mind_messing)

Post #: 23

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 2/10/2014 7:57:42 PM

Bullwinkle58

Posts: 11302
Joined: 2/24/2009
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Miller

quote:

ORIGINAL: obvert

Interesting strike on Palembang. Fires can do a lot, let me tell you!!

If it's just the refineries that is great. You have enough of those. The oil points I'd fix though. Make sure to turn off repairs to Manpower and refineries globally in case of more strikes.

I know this is a no HR game, but strat bombing of Palambang this early in the game is not really an ideal scenario for either side. The Allies can mass 100+ 2E and 4E bombers in northern Java by Jan 42...and give them enough escorts and they will get through and can inflict mortal damage to the oil and refineries and pretty much ruin the game longterm. That's why I didn't try that in my game against MM.

Then it would seem to behoove Japan to not let the Allies have northern Java, no? Taking PBang early is a choice, not a mandatory. It's also VERY hard to get 100 bombers anywhere in January 1942. A lot of what you might gather are Dutch Hefalumps. They're no B-17.

I've done oil bombing in the early war probably as much as anybody. With 30 "real" 4Es down low I have gotten 15-20 pure Oil hits. Firebombing is a crapshoot. You might kill refineries, you might not. And regardless of the ability of Japan to get fighters in on Day One they for sure can get AA in there that day. Firebombing from 10k or higher is much less effective in January 1942. A lot of those pilots are lucky to have 50 G. Bombing skill.

_____________________________

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Post #: 24

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 2/10/2014 8:02:24 PM

mind_messing

Posts: 3393
Joined: 10/28/2013
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quote:

ORIGINAL: obvert

My opponent in my 2nd game bombed Palembang with all of the Dutch, but because I was able to bring in AS and big fighter groups right away, it was stopped. I think the Japanese player simply needs to be ready for it. If they aren't, well, it's a fair play.

In this case, I was semi-prepared, it could have been much worse.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Miller
And its never too early to capture Palembang, in fact if you leave it too long and the Allies get some sizeable ground units in place in becomes almost impossible to capture in a stock game due to the fact in produces tons of supply (Search the site for references to "Fortress Palembang"). Of course taking it asap leads to the problem you are having now, hence why most games have a HR prohibiting strat bombing of it, at least until after a certain time. Lets see what happens in your game....

It does seem a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" type problem. Only way around it that I can see is securing the island directly east of Palambang (Billington? something like that) and build those bases up to support the base.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

quote:

ORIGINAL: Miller

quote:

ORIGINAL: obvert

Interesting strike on Palembang. Fires can do a lot, let me tell you!!

If it's just the refineries that is great. You have enough of those. The oil points I'd fix though. Make sure to turn off repairs to Manpower and refineries globally in case of more strikes.

I know this is a no HR game, but strat bombing of Palambang this early in the game is not really an ideal scenario for either side. The Allies can mass 100+ 2E and 4E bombers in northern Java by Jan 42...and give them enough escorts and they will get through and can inflict mortal damage to the oil and refineries and pretty much ruin the game longterm. That's why I didn't try that in my game against MM.

Then it would seem to behoove Japan to not let the Allies have northern Java, no? Taking PBang early is a choice, not a mandatory. It's also VERY hard to get 100 bombers anywhere in January 1942. A lot of what you might gather are Dutch Hefalumps. They're no B-17.

I've done oil bombing in the early war probably as much as anybody. With 30 "real" 4Es down low I have gotten 15-20 pure Oil hits. Firebombing is a crapshoot. You might kill refineries, you might not. And regardless of the ability of Japan to get fighters in on Day One they for sure can get AA in there that day. Firebombing from 10k or higher is much less effective in January 1942. A lot of those pilots are lucky to have 50 G. Bombing skill.

Lokasenna's results were from bombers at 1k, so enough AA would have made that unsustainable for more than two or three turns.

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Post #: 25

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 2/10/2014 8:19:03 PM

Bullwinkle58

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quote:

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

Lokasenna's results were from bombers at 1k, so enough AA would have made that unsustainable for more than two or three turns.

I'm playing him in my second game. He's Japan, Scen 2, no HRs.

Scen 2 gives Japan some time for sure, but PBang has to be taken. We are in the first week of May and it is the last major base he doesn't have. He very carefully isolated it from my 4Es in a systematic way. I did a modified Fortress PBang with not enough Singers refugees, but I did get Forts up to 5.5 before he came up the river. As soon as LCUs are in the hex primary production stops and you have some time to work on the fort's supply levels.

PBang can get air cover from multiple directions. Padang can be the route in and fighters can easily LRCAP from there. Oosthaven is a good fighter base easily supplied. Padang-to-Lahat works. Or a para drop on Djambi and AV air-transported in. It can be done so PBang has fighters overhead the instant it falls. It takes more than a week, but not three months.

The damage numbers you cite along with the number of aircraft is stunning to me. I am Oil bombing in Borneo now (Tarakan has a shred of a garrison yet) with 6-9 2Es against light CAP and I'm lucky to get 2-3 Oil points of damage per strike. Mostly I get none. At 1000-4000 feet in daylight. Damage clearly is higher in dense industrial areas, and PBang is the densest there is, but Balikpapan is no slouch either. These are all Dutch 2Es.

He has been firebombing Chungking for three weeks with hundreds of IJA 1- and 2-E bombers. In that time, with bomber sorties well into the thousands, he's destroyed about 120 HI, about 80 LI, and about 60 Resources. Fire levels have been over 40,000 and burn for about 3 days after a raid day.

If you lost hundreds of petroleum points to a small, low strike you got some bad rolls there. As an Allied player I certainly wouldn't plan for those kinds of results.

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Post #: 26

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 2/10/2014 8:43:04 PM

mind_messing

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quote:

The damage numbers you cite along with the number of aircraft is stunning to me. I am Oil bombing in Borneo now (Tarakan has a shred of a garrison yet) with 6-9 2Es against light CAP and I'm lucky to get 2-3 Oil points of damage per strike. Mostly I get none. At 1000-4000 feet in daylight. Damage clearly is higher in dense industrial areas, and PBang is the densest there is, but Balikpapan is no slouch either. These are all Dutch 2Es.

He has been firebombing Chungking for three weeks with hundreds of IJA 1- and 2-E bombers. In that time, with bomber sorties well into the thousands, he's destroyed about 120 HI, about 80 LI, and about 60 Resources. Fire levels have been over 40,000 and burn for about 3 days after a raid day.

If you lost hundreds of petroleum points to a small, low strike you got some bad rolls there. As an Allied player I certainly wouldn't plan for those kinds of results.

A half-dozen B-17s and about the same number of Blenheims. Pretty impressive, but very likely bad luck on the die roles. Fires never got more than 2000.

It seems to me if you want to destroy industry, fires are the way to go. Don't bomb the oil directly, bomb the manpower on it.

(in reply to Bullwinkle58)

Post #: 27

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 2/10/2014 9:26:09 PM

Bullwinkle58

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quote:

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

It seems to me if you want to destroy industry, fires are the way to go. Don't bomb the oil directly, bomb the manpower on it.

I have always bombed Oil directly since many of those bases also have Resources and I don't want to waste Fire effort on that. Japan is floating in Resources. But your results will make me re-look at Borneo. I don't think Miri has any Manpower, but I don't recall the others.

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RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 2/10/2014 10:48:59 PM

Miller

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Yep, bombing manpower is usually the way to go and let the fires do the rest. The fact that Lokasana has made sure to capture all bases in bombing range of Palembang just goes to show he is well aware of the risks of Allied strat attacks and their potential effect.

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Post #: 29

RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 2/10/2014 11:10:20 PM

Bullwinkle58

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Miller

Yep, bombing manpower is usually the way to go and let the fires do the rest. The fact that Lokasana has made sure to capture all bases in bombing range of Palembang just goes to show he is well aware of the risks of Allied strat attacks and their potential effect.

Thus, there is a defense against having PBang destroyed, and without HRs. It's just harder than an HR.

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