RE: Headhunter - Lokasenna (A) vs. mind_messing (J)

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RE: Headhunter - Lokasenna (A) vs. mind_messing (J) - N... - 8/6/2014 10:33:22 PM

Lokasenna
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Gilbert Islands

"Aftermath" of Idunn's Apples. Due to my mistake in moving my CVE, I lost an old BB at Funafuti, but I also needed to cut off the eyeballs at Baker Island. The approach was painstakingly long, but I took the place with the 112th Cavalry Regiment. Sadly, I didn't bring along any AvSupp and so can't base any F-4 Lightnings at Baker to recon the rest of the Gilberts.

Tarawa is built to level 1/2, Makin had a naval guard garrison at last check. Nauru Island is built to level 2/2.

Mili, the southernmost Marshalls base, is built to level 1 Port/level 4 AF as well. It's the only Marshall Island with a stacking limit of 30,000 so I want it for myself. I have a lot of my USMC regiments prepped for Mili, Maloelap, Eniwetok, Roi-Namur, and Jaluit. I would like to take these bases in mid-late 1943, once I begin to get Essexes and CVLs, but such an op gives me the jitters. It's perfect KB bait.

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RE: Headhunter - Lokasenna (A) vs. mind_messing (J) - N... - 8/6/2014 10:37:48 PM

Lokasenna
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Fossilized Poop

Screenshot of Pearl repairs. Oklahoma's damage after the December 7 strike was 71+ System, 60+ Float, and 28(17) Engine. Unfortunately, right now the shipyard likes to repair the minor Engine damage while the Pier Side mode is working on the System, so I have decided to leave her in the yards to get those 4 points of minor Engine off before I go back to the routine of sitting at Pier Side until 80+% repair points are reached, then moving her into the Shipyard to knock off a point of Major Damage.

Only 18 more times into the yard and she'll be able to repair completely at pier side. I don't expect to actually be able to get all of that, as sometimes the repair points roll through 100% without me moving her into the yard (especially now that Sys is down to 31), but I think the repair process has moved along at a significantly increased rate. On Day 2, she would have had a 600 or 700 Day (or more) repair estimate in the shipyard alone. It's been 340 or so days, and she'd take 102 in the shipyard alone. So I've probably cut off 1/3 of the "actual" repair time...

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RE: Headhunter - Lokasenna (A) vs. mind_messing (J) - N... - 8/18/2014 6:06:49 PM

Richard III
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Great mini AAR on the HI strike Cliff. "Fortune favors the brave"( and careful planner ) always seems true in the game design

I know it`s still early, but any second thoughts on the "No Rules" rule ?
Rich

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Post #: 93

RE: Headhunter - Lokasenna (A) vs. mind_messing (J) - N... - 8/18/2014 6:10:36 PM

Lokasenna
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Richard III

Great mini AAR on the HI strike Cliff. "Fortune favors the brave"( and careful planner ) always seems true in the game design

I know it`s still early, but any second thoughts on the "No Rules" rule ?
Rich

Not really. I am finding resized air units to be a little tough to deal with in terms of local attrition (can only take 12 replacements once per week), but it's still 1942 and I just don't have the OOB yet to sweep day after day. On the other hand, using all those planes burns a lot more supply for him...

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RE: Headhunter - Lokasenna (A) vs. mind_messing (J) - N... - 8/27/2014 12:57:41 AM

Lokasenna
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Operation Rhinocerous Horn - December 12, 1942

I made up this image 9 game-days ago. It's currently December 21, and nothing appreciable has changed other than my recon of some areas...

Got a bit of an update about Rabaul, courtesy of USN PB4Y Liberator recon, in a post to follow.

Now that I've sent the December 22 turn off to MM, I can update with details here!

Broadly speaking, I've been looking at this area for my next steps. I know he's expecting me here, but due to some greater recon capabilities (3 units of 5x F-4 Lightnings, the Aussie RC unit of P-43As, B-17s actually keeping 9/10 DL on Moresby, etc.), I am thinking that I see some holes.

Green circles: places I want to take.

Horn Island has been comical. I retook the base in late November, and MM bombed me for days while also dropping some paratroops, and eventually a FT TF dropped off a naval guard unit. I lost about 20 VPs of poor Australian troops, which did suck...however, I've bombed his troops into dust on Horn Island. Literally. I've completely destroyed 2 naval guard units with nothing but airpower, as well as pieces of the 1st Raiding Regiment and most recently the 26th Air Flotilla. I'll let MM hold this little island for now, until I'm ready to move up with my invasion fleets.

My early moves, saving Noumea at the expense of assault shipping, are hurting now. I don't have enough APs to haul my troops. I have enough AKs, and I'm beginning to receive LSTs. I'm 2 APs short of having a comfortable amphibious force to carry a USA ID to Port Moresby for the invasion. I have enough APs at Pearl to carry a USA ID to Tabiteuea, but not enough for the operation at Milne Bay - that one will need to either wait, or be done with xAPs/xAKs en masse.

I intend to move on Horn Island with a regiment and base forces (xAP/xAK en masse will suffice), while landing a regiment-plus at Terapo (currently undefended) at the same time as the main action at Moresby. I've demonstrated with my SCTF that he has minimal or no naval search in this area, and I think he expects me to come from the SE directly at the Solomons. I should be able to proceed under LRCAP all the way through D-Day Minus 1. I have CVEs currently at Noumea (though Copahee was sunk by an I-boat several days ago, outside Suva), but I think I will need to use them to cover landings at Tagula and Rossel.

I intend to land enough men and supplies to begin building bases under the IJAAF/IJNAF noses here, namely at Tagula/Tossel and Terapo/Merauke. He can't bomb them all, and I have ready-made fields at Moresby and Milne Bay. Hopefully this further focuses his attention on this area, and should spur a reaction from KB even though my full CVs will not have revealed themselves... leading to an operation against Tabiteuea, which is lightly defended considering its importance to the Gilberts theater.

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< Message edited by Lokasenna -- 8/27/2014 2:24:54 AM >

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RE: Headhunter - Lokasenna (A) vs. mind_messing (J) - N... - 8/27/2014 1:44:18 AM

Lokasenna
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A paper tiger? Is he unwilling to actually commit here, after building up all these bases? Or does he simply trust that he can bring in enough reinforcements in just a couple of days? I think that if I thrust quickly here, he'll crumple. I have sig int that he's reinforcing places like Tinian, Guam, and Ponape but why do that while leaving important forward bases empty? With Rabaul at this strength, I could simply delay my moves on Moresby and the surrounding area so as not to tip him off...and then move as previously planned while also having a followup prepared for the Shortlands, Torokina (kindly built up by MM to Port 1/AF 4), and Rabaul - enough airfields in a small enough area that, if I bring enough aviation support, I can hop plenty of fighters in and establish aerial dominance. And then what's he going to do?

I guess he can try evacuating the Guadalcanal area, where there are ~200 fighters and about 2 divisions on Guadalcanal, and I may not be able to stop him while replenishing my ships and planes from the thrust to cut them off...

But Rabaul would be a gift if he leaves it as it currently stands. In a couple of months, I'll have a dozen LSTs to follow the APs/AKs, and if things continue as they are now I'll just hold off and hold off...and forget about the simultaneous Tabiteuea invasion. KB could show up, but I'll flood the area with subs (with 40% working torpedoes!!!) and so should have advance notice, and I can just melt away. I'm not pressed for time just yet.

Right? Pretty much thinking out loud here.

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RE: Headhunter - Lokasenna (A) vs. mind_messing (J) - N... - 8/27/2014 1:57:53 AM

Lokasenna
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Operation Bard

Because the question is "To be, or not to be..."

Given the developments in SW Pac, I don't know if I want to follow through on this.

Tabiteuea appears to be lightly defended. Only a couple dozen aircraft, known Zero/Betty base, but never more than a few have flown. It probably has the capability to support the sustained operation of about 100 aircraft (I suspect an Air HQ is present). 5 units sighted on the island, with about 10k troops, over several weeks of recon. Middling numbers of guns, and no AFVs. Definitely bite-sized for the USN at this point, assuming the KB doesn't show up - hence my inclination towards provoking them in the SW Pac area. Still close to the Gilberts in terms of the whole map, but far enough away that they can't show up once my invasion fleet for Tabiteuea is detected 2 or 4 days out from landing.

As you can see from the screenshot, almost all of the forces are sitting at Noumea. This is less than ideal as a departure point, given that I would prefer to approach Tabiteuea from the east with the operation I have in mind. Still, I don't want to send them all back to Pearl and load up. I'll sit pretty at Noumea and Luganville for now.

I am also keeping my eyes on Nauru and Ocean Islands periodically. I'd like these bases, but I can't defend them until mid-43, I think.

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< Message edited by Lokasenna -- 8/27/2014 3:00:06 AM >

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RE: Headhunter - Lokasenna (A) vs. mind_messing (J) - N... - 8/27/2014 2:02:24 AM

Lokasenna
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Question about USMC 43 Squads...

I notice that I'm beginning to get them into my pools, as of 12/42. However, none of my USMC regiments have a scheduled TOE upgrade if I click "Show soft" in the LCU List screen - it shows a "-" for that column, and looking at the TOE of the units shows that USMC 42 Squads are in the TOE at present. Do I need to combine the USMC units into USMC Divisions in order to get the upgraded squads in my TOE? That would be a shame, as I like the regiment-sized invasions for targets such as Maloelap, Jaluit, etc... and I'd like to move on those once I have Essexes, etc.

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RE: Headhunter - Lokasenna (A) vs. mind_messing (J) - N... - 8/27/2014 2:29:38 AM

Quixote
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

Question about USMC 43 Squads...

I notice that I'm beginning to get them into my pools, as of 12/42. However, none of my USMC regiments have a scheduled TOE upgrade if I click "Show soft" in the LCU List screen - it shows a "-" for that column, and looking at the TOE of the units shows that USMC 42 Squads are in the TOE at present. Do I need to combine the USMC units into USMC Divisions in order to get the upgraded squads in my TOE? That would be a shame, as I like the regiment-sized invasions for targets such as Maloelap, Jaluit, etc... and I'd like to move on those once I have Essexes, etc.

You don't need to combine units to get the upgrade. I upgraded a regiment-sized unit in San Fran to USMC 43 squads very recently (within the last two or three weeks) with no problems.

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RE: Headhunter - Lokasenna (A) vs. mind_messing (J) - N... - 8/27/2014 2:33:16 AM

Lokasenna
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Operation Future Op

What's going on here? Why hasn't he built this up more? I really want to raid here, destroy some Oil points now that it's not worth it for him to repair them, but I also don't want to make him realize that it's weak and leave me without a point to thrust into the DEI if I want to. He's been fortifying Sumatra's west coast and its northern tip, as well as the Andamans, but he hasn't done much here beyond build up Soerabaja and Batavia a little bit. He expanded Soerabaja's refinery by 20. He may have also expanded some industry here. He expanded the repair yard by at least 1 point, but probably 4...

He has built up the Timor area, but that's it. No strong show of airpower on his part here - his Bettys seem to be committed in SOPAC/SEPAC. I've also sighted them on Nav Search/ASW near New Britain and in the Kuriles. I know a big unit of Nells is based at Port Blair, and a big unit of Bettys is based at Hansa Bay, for strike purposes.

He has struck with Helens against my forces in the Darwin area, as I retook those bases. I've since moved back. He's welcome to land here again if he wants to, and waste his fuel. I have no idea why he didn't defend at least the coastal bases, where he could easily withdraw via xAK at worst. No point in letting me take all of those VPs away from him at literally no cost to myself. Granted, I can't use these bases for quite some time due to supply flow issues, but still.

I could tangle with MKB here, but again, that would alert him to weaknesses in the area if I actually get close.

Something that occurred to me as I just typed this up... I could send out an invasion fleet for Cocos Islands. Last time he responded with the MKB and the surface forces in the area. The USN CVs are currently transiting SOPAC, well to the south of his known submarine patrol zones near Noumea/Suva. I intend to take them to Melbourne. I could feasibly have them off Cocos, waiting for his MKB, around mid-January.

However, would this "accomplish" the same thing, and warn him of a threat to his SW flank?

Regardless of all of this labeling of base sizes that I'm doing, I've noticed that he's been building airfields everywhere. Just everywhere. It gives the appearance that he's strong in all places, but that's just not possible. The Rabaul pic above may illustrate that...

He's been spotting my CVEs in transit near Suva. Hopefully he thinks something is up in this theater, which would make a hit near Java even more surprising to him, I think.

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< Message edited by Lokasenna -- 8/27/2014 3:35:40 AM >

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RE: Headhunter - Lokasenna (A) vs. mind_messing (J) - N... - 8/27/2014 2:41:08 AM

Lokasenna
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Quixote

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

Question about USMC 43 Squads...

I notice that I'm beginning to get them into my pools, as of 12/42. However, none of my USMC regiments have a scheduled TOE upgrade if I click "Show soft" in the LCU List screen - it shows a "-" for that column, and looking at the TOE of the units shows that USMC 42 Squads are in the TOE at present. Do I need to combine the USMC units into USMC Divisions in order to get the upgraded squads in my TOE? That would be a shame, as I like the regiment-sized invasions for targets such as Maloelap, Jaluit, etc... and I'd like to move on those once I have Essexes, etc.

You don't need to combine units to get the upgrade. I upgraded a regiment-sized unit in San Fran to USMC 43 squads very recently (within the last two or three weeks) with no problems.

Hrm, that's good to know. I'll check it out as I get more squads in the pools. Thus far, I've used 218 squads (base forces and the like, I assume), with 44 in the pools - despite a build rate of 54 and only 23 days of availability. Perhaps the 218 have occurred from upgrades to base forces.

Maybe it's that the standard "USMC Rife Squad" builds through 12/42? I don't know. All of my USMC regiments look like this:

I haven't turned them to upgrade allowed because the LCU List screen doesn't indicate to me that the TOE is due to be upgraded.

Also noticed that the 1942 Combat Engineers just began arriving in pools, with the same situation as the USMC 43 squads. Do they auto-convert to the new device like rifle squads do as I upgrade units?

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< Message edited by Lokasenna -- 8/27/2014 3:43:15 AM >

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RE: Headhunter - Lokasenna (A) vs. mind_messing (J) - N... - 8/27/2014 2:50:41 AM

witpqs
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quote:

What's going on here? Why hasn't he built this up more?

Can't say for sure without asking him -

- but IJ players are faced with far less engineering resources than Allied players. Might be he's just got those scarce resources at work someplace else, especially at this early date.

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RE: Headhunter - Lokasenna (A) vs. mind_messing (J) - N... - 8/27/2014 2:56:11 AM

Lokasenna
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quote:

ORIGINAL: witpqs

quote:

What's going on here? Why hasn't he built this up more?

Can't say for sure without asking him - - but IJ players are faced with far less engineering resources than Allied players. Might be he's just got those scarce resources at work someplace else, especially at this early date.

That's exactly what confuses me. He's been building like crazy everywhere else on the map. But not here. The Solomons are at their SPS or higher, for the most part. The Gilberts and Marshalls are built up a bit. The Kuriles are well-built. He's been building on Sumatra, Luzon, Mindanao, the Celebes, Timor... why is Java so sparse?

He can't have forgotten about it, can he? Or think that it's currently unreachable for me?

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RE: Headhunter - Lokasenna (A) vs. mind_messing (J) - N... - 8/27/2014 3:04:24 AM

witpqs
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

quote:

ORIGINAL: witpqs

quote:

What's going on here? Why hasn't he built this up more?

Can't say for sure without asking him - - but IJ players are faced with far less engineering resources than Allied players. Might be he's just got those scarce resources at work someplace else, especially at this early date.

That's exactly what confuses me. He's been building like crazy everywhere else on the map. But not here. The Solomons are at their SPS or higher, for the most part. The Gilberts and Marshalls are built up a bit. The Kuriles are well-built. He's been building on Sumatra, Luzon, Mindanao, the Celebes, Timor... why is Java so sparse?

He can't have forgotten about it, can he? Or think that it's currently unreachable for me?

I was unclear - my point is that he is not building there because he is building in all those other places. He is using all of his engineers and has no more. I presume that what little building that has taken place on Java is due to whatever base forces that are there (just a few built-in engineer squads).

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RE: Headhunter - Lokasenna (A) vs. mind_messing (J) - N... - 8/27/2014 3:14:59 AM

Lokasenna
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quote:

ORIGINAL: witpqs

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

quote:

ORIGINAL: witpqs

quote:

What's going on here? Why hasn't he built this up more?

Can't say for sure without asking him - - but IJ players are faced with far less engineering resources than Allied players. Might be he's just got those scarce resources at work someplace else, especially at this early date.

That's exactly what confuses me. He's been building like crazy everywhere else on the map. But not here. The Solomons are at their SPS or higher, for the most part. The Gilberts and Marshalls are built up a bit. The Kuriles are well-built. He's been building on Sumatra, Luzon, Mindanao, the Celebes, Timor... why is Java so sparse?

He can't have forgotten about it, can he? Or think that it's currently unreachable for me?

I was unclear - my point is that he is not building there because he is building in all those other places. He is using all of his engineers and has no more. I presume that what little building that has taken place on Java is due to whatever base forces that are there (just a few built-in engineer squads).

Yeah, I got it

. I'm just wondering why he's made that decision.

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RE: Headhunter - Lokasenna (A) vs. mind_messing (J) - N... - 8/27/2014 8:41:10 PM

Lokasenna
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Question about air unit logistics...

My opponent is doing a lot of air group resizing. Obviously, taking replacements and upgrading units consumes supply. I can't find anywhere in the manual that details exactly how much supply. Does anybody know how that is determined? Is it based on any or all of the following?

- Plane type: F, FB, DB, MB, etc.
- Number of engines: 1, 2, 4?
- Maximum load of the plane
- Plane durability? Some other attribute?

Which is it?

Basically, I know he has multiple 81-plane IJNAF fighter units. If those were normally 27-plane Sentai, or even 42-planes, and he's running 70% or 80% CAP on them every day for 2.5 years, he's looking at 4K-5K extra supply burned just on CAP duty for those planes over those 2.5 years. Not that much, really, but it adds up - especially if he has 10 units doing so. I suspect the real supply cost would be in taking replacements for these units, and upgrading them. I suspect it's around 10 supply per plane, but can't confirm. Does anybody know?

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Post #: 106

RE: Headhunter - Lokasenna (A) vs. mind_messing (J) - N... - 8/27/2014 9:43:03 PM

Lokasenna
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

Question about air unit logistics...

My opponent is doing a lot of air group resizing. Obviously, taking replacements and upgrading units consumes supply. I can't find anywhere in the manual that details exactly how much supply. Does anybody know how that is determined? Is it based on any or all of the following?

- Plane type: F, FB, DB, MB, etc.
- Number of engines: 1, 2, 4?
- Maximum load of the plane
- Plane durability? Some other attribute?

Which is it?

Basically, I know he has multiple 81-plane IJNAF fighter units. If those were normally 27-plane Sentai, or even 42-planes, and he's running 70% or 80% CAP on them every day for 2.5 years, he's looking at 4K-5K extra supply burned just on CAP duty for those planes over those 2.5 years. Not that much, really, but it adds up - especially if he has 10 units doing so. I suspect the real supply cost would be in taking replacements for these units, and upgrading them. I suspect it's around 10 supply per plane, but can't confirm. Does anybody know?

Just did some tests. Interestingly, I could not get any Supply numbers to budge when I took Patrol Plane replacements. Pulling planes into group reserves takes the same amount of supply as taking replacements. But PA-type squadrons did not use supply when taking either reserves or replacements, that I could see. I looked at all bases within a 15-hex radius, and nothing, nada, zilch - none of them moved whenever I clicked the arrows.

Here are the costs for the rest and the airframes I tested it with:

12 supply
Fighters (A5M4, Ki-27b)
Fighter-bombers (Ki-45) interesting that this only takes 12 supply...

15 supply
Torpedo planes (B5N1, B5N2)
Dive bombers (D3A1)
Float planes of all types (A6M2-N, E13A1, E7K2)

18 supply
Recon (C5M, Ki-46)

30 supply
Transports (Ki-56, Ki-57, H6K2-L) so patrol plane transports aren't buggy...
Level bombers (G4M1, Ki-51) interesting that a Sonia costs as much supply as a Betty

0 supply?
Patrol plane replacements?

Obviously I didn't test on all types, but I suspect that it's by plane type rather than any other value, and that it would hold true across all services/nations.

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Post #: 107

RE: Headhunter - Lokasenna (A) vs. mind_messing (J) - N... - 8/27/2014 10:39:06 PM

Lowpe
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You are simply looking for something to fill your time until you get brave and go after the lower Gilberts again. You can take it, and defend it better than most places in the centpac.

You are incorrect I think, Ailinglaplap in the Marshalls is also 30K stack - depending upon you mod.

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RE: Headhunter - Lokasenna (A) vs. mind_messing (J) - N... - 8/27/2014 11:25:34 PM

Crackaces
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

Question about air unit logistics...

My opponent is doing a lot of air group resizing. Obviously, taking replacements and upgrading units consumes supply. I can't find anywhere in the manual that details exactly how much supply. Does anybody know how that is determined? Is it based on any or all of the following?

- Plane type: F, FB, DB, MB, etc.
- Number of engines: 1, 2, 4?
- Maximum load of the plane
- Plane durability? Some other attribute?

Which is it?

Basically, I know he has multiple 81-plane IJNAF fighter units. If those were normally 27-plane Sentai, or even 42-planes, and he's running 70% or 80% CAP on them every day for 2.5 years, he's looking at 4K-5K extra supply burned just on CAP duty for those planes over those 2.5 years. Not that much, really, but it adds up - especially if he has 10 units doing so. I suspect the real supply cost would be in taking replacements for these units, and upgrading them. I suspect it's around 10 supply per plane, but can't confirm. Does anybody know?

Just did some tests. Interestingly, I could not get any Supply numbers to budge when I took Patrol Plane replacements. Pulling planes into group reserves takes the same amount of supply as taking replacements. But PA-type squadrons did not use supply when taking either reserves or replacements, that I could see. I looked at all bases within a 15-hex radius, and nothing, nada, zilch - none of them moved whenever I clicked the arrows.

Here are the costs for the rest and the airframes I tested it with:

12 supply
Fighters (A5M4, Ki-27b)
Fighter-bombers (Ki-45) interesting that this only takes 12 supply...

15 supply
Torpedo planes (B5N1, B5N2)
Dive bombers (D3A1)
Float planes of all types (A6M2-N, E13A1, E7K2)

18 supply
Recon (C5M, Ki-46)

30 supply
Transports (Ki-56, Ki-57, H6K2-L) so patrol plane transports aren't buggy...
Level bombers (G4M1, Ki-51) interesting that a Sonia costs as much supply as a Betty

0 supply?
Patrol plane replacements?

Obviously I didn't test on all types, but I suspect that it's by plane type rather than any other value, and that it would hold true across all services/nations.

That is very interesting. I have found that the IJ can build as many planes they want but that the 25,000 supply at the base, and the supply required to replace platforms limits the IJ.
Bombing and bombard takes it toll on supplies as does the rare torp hit in 1942-1943 on xAK's moving supplies. Moving this kind of supply out to the outlying LOC takes it toll too
that in 1945 I believe it is supply that limits the IJ and not oil or HI ..

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Post #: 109

RE: Headhunter - Lokasenna (A) vs. mind_messing (J) - N... - 8/28/2014 7:19:31 AM

Lokasenna
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What really gets me is the relatively huge cost of the level bomber replacements. 30, compared to 12 for the Nick. And the Nick is a better bomber than the Sonia, or even the Lily in some cases! Really weird.

I really think that Patrol units are bugged, and not using up supply when replacements are taken.

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Post #: 110

RE: Headhunter - Lokasenna (A) vs. mind_messing (J) - N... - 8/28/2014 7:23:34 AM

Lokasenna
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

You are simply looking for something to fill your time until you get brave and go after the lower Gilberts again. You can take it, and defend it better than most places in the centpac.

You are incorrect I think, Ailinglaplap in the Marshalls is also 30K stack - depending upon you mod.

I admit that I feel I am probably a bit timid in regards to reactions by KB. I don't think I can set up my stuff in the proper way to react to such a thing, and I read that white paper that was posted a while back about the inner workings of the USN in regards to CV operations - namely, in regard to CVs being tied to amphibious landings. It really does cut to the heart of the matter. If your VF squadrons are pulling triple duty (CAP, LRCAP, and escort) it just doesn't work. You need to cut at least one of those out. CVEs fill that hole. I don't feel I have enough of them just yet.

Part of it is that I lost a fair number of APs and AKs early on, defending SOPAC against early IJN advances. I believe that it saved Noumea for me, but it cost me about a dozen commissioned assault ships. Ouch.

I know KB is based at Truk. I got intel, via sub attack, in mid-December that Hiryu (at least) was transiting to/from the HI. I just don't know whether it was to or from. The timing is right for it to be rejoining KB at Truk. Another week and I have 40% working torpedoes. Then I'll be much more comfortable using my subs as an advance cordon. Launch 6, 2 "hit" and 1 duds. Still 1 does damage. Better than launch 6, 2-3 hit, and none do damage...

The trouble is that MM is using Nells extensively for Nav Search, and my TFs routinely get detected in a 90-120' arc from NE to SW of Tabiteuea, within 15 or 20 hexes. It's a critical base if I want to take Cent Pac as a route of advancement, right? I guess I could try to skip it and go straight for Mili, but all those seem to be similarly defended. Maybe I could try a CV raid to probe the defenses? I debated sending my CVs at Kwajalein, but instead I sent them to New Zealand en route to the Indian Ocean...

Or am I totally wrong? It's not that Tabiteuea itself presents a tough nut to crack. It's that I don't think I can get within 2 days of it without KB meeting me there. And that I certainly can't take right now. The CVs might live, but it would be at the cost of CVEs and amphibs. Losing such ships (and their VPs) would be my one allowable error, leaving me none to give in all of 1943, I think. Idunno.

Present VPs for reference:

My gains are largely from retaking NW Australia, or base building. Somewhat from bombing LCUs at Horn Island, or from air losses. But I'm close to the 3:1 ratio. I need to be trading far better than that if I want the 2:1 during 1945. I need a 1:1 or better, IMO, from 1943 onwards...

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Lokasenna -- 8/28/2014 8:25:08 AM >

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Post #: 111

RE: Headhunter - Lokasenna (A) vs. mind_messing (J) - N... - 8/28/2014 10:24:22 AM

JocMeister
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I think your assessment of Tabi is correct. You will need it to advance up that route. Level 6 AF and you can stage 4Es with full bombload...that will make it tough for him to defend the rest.

It might be possible to island hop all the way up from Ellice islands though? Can his search reach that far down? You would need Nanumea. After that its just a 4 hex jump that can be done under LBA. He could still intervene but it would be a smaller commitment risking less assets for now.

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Post #: 112

RE: Headhunter - Lokasenna (A) vs. mind_messing (J) - N... - 8/28/2014 5:53:56 PM

Lokasenna
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I've thought about it, but I think it might be better to just rush in and grab Tabiteuea. If I ****foot around just south of there, he'll reinforce and he'll really know something is coming. That said, I've taken long, slow advances in the New Hebrides area so far, and if anything it's seemed to make my next move unpredictable to him - the when, at least, though not what I was doing next.

The trouble with Nanumea is that it's SPS 0/0. Arorae does have SPS 2 for the AF, but none for the port. I suppose I could throw up some airfields on the Ellice islands themselves - they're closer to Canton. With 2-3 air groups on CAP there I could provide a relatively safe staging area? But the more I think about that, the more I wonder why would I even bother?

I wish I could get some solid sig int on what's on the island. A while ago I got hits on an Ind. Mixed Brigade or an Infantry Group on the island, which is easily handled by an Allied division or some USMC regiments plus armor... My concern is that if I grab Tabit too soon, he'll be able to simply suppress it forever unless I stick around with CVEs or CVs that KB can come slaughter. He has level 2 AFs on Tarawa, Makin, and Nauru. I suppose Ndeni is now AF 5 and is only 15 hexes from Nauru. I can make that island untenable for him at least.

CVs currently just east of New Zealand. I'm still going to try a raid in the Java area, I think. I'll hold the CVs at Melbourne until I decide. He's got subs outside of Sydney and I don't want him seeing where my guys are.

(in reply to JocMeister)

Post #: 113

RE: Headhunter - Lokasenna (A) vs. mind_messing (J) - N... - 9/3/2014 12:21:32 AM

Lokasenna
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Went over my stockpiled sig int tonight. Game currently stands at 1/4/43 - I finally have 40% working torpedoes!

Gleanings from the sig int, confirming aerial recon of a few bases: the Gilberts and Marshalls are very lightly held on his part. Significant troop investments in the Solomons, as well as seemingly in the southern DEI (without the airfields or air forces to match). In order from west to east -

Nauru: 4 units. 2 JNAF units, though one may have been cycled out (doubtful)
Ocean Island: 2 units. 1 JNAF, the other a construction company (old intel - last aerial recon showed 2 units and about 15-18 auxiliary aircraft [Jakes])

Tabiteuea: 5 units. 24th Air Flotilla, 3rd Ind. Mixed Brigade, 48th Naval Guard, 2 Const Co (probably moved out), 1 AA Bn, 1 FA Rgt
Tarawa: 2 JNAF units. Unknown total number of units.
Makin: Unknown
Jaluit: 1 JNAF unit, 1 JNAF Coy, 1 Naval Guard (can't fit much more than that for stacking)
Mili: 3rd Garrison Unit, 1 JNAF unit. [Starting naval fortress.]
Majuro: No intel...
Maloelap: 11th Air Fleet (interesting), Naval Fortress. [Likely also has naval guard or something here]
Wotje: Wotje Base Force, 1 Naval Guard, 1 JAAF AF Bn. Small stacking limit here. [Also comes with 14x 4" and 6x 5" CD guns...]

I'm wondering if a massive, simultaneous landing (even using xAP and xAK) could take them all. Complicated plan, and I'm sure some efforts would fail or need to beat feet back to Hawaii or Canton, but...he's leaving them really lightly defended. His aircraft focus seems to be on the Coral Sea area. I have units 100% prepped for all of the above targets, and they should be enough to overwhelm what sig int and aerial recon have shown to be there, particularly in the case of Nauru, Ocean, and Tabiteuea. Tarawa, Makin, and Mili are more dicey, while Maloelap could be interesting due to the naval fortress and small stacking limit.

In New Guinea and the Coral Sea...

Milne Bay: 2nd Garrison unit, 13th JAAF Base Force
Port Moresby: Guards Mixed Brigade. Known 4 units here.
Merauke: 2nd JNAF Coy, possibly nothing else.
Shortlands: 1 Naval Guard, 1 Const Bn
Munda: Empty? Not built up.
Tagula Island: Indpt SNLF Coy, but 4 units sighted
Kiriwina: 2 Const Bn, 1 JAAF Bn. 4 units sighted - other probably a Naval Guard?

Some of the sig int in both of these theaters is several months old, however I have no reason to believe that much has changed for most or all of these places, given stacking limits on the atolls or aerial recon from the past few weeks.

(in reply to Lokasenna)

Post #: 114

RE: Headhunter - Lokasenna (A) vs. mind_messing (J) - N... - 9/3/2014 12:27:20 AM

Lokasenna
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Also of strategic import - MM has commented several times now on resizing units to size 81 for sweeps/escorting. This could make things messy for me by exacerbating the problem that many Allied players have with aerial battles of attrition. I've done the math and the flip side for him (much more supply consumption) is simply not enough to break him. A couple thousand per unit, maybe, over the course of the war. Plus the cost of upgrades, around 1000 every time he upgrades to a new model.

So I've decided that I should probably fight somewhere where he'll have to contend with airfield stacking limits. This means that I should be focusing on the Gilberts/Marshalls first, I think. I intend to also move on the SE tip of New Guinea since he doesn't have large airfields built up there (size 4 at most), and 200 aircraft can be dealt with. So the near term plan stands as stated in my previous updates, though perhaps getting a bit more ambitious.

The raid on Java or Sumatra may still be on. It will force me to be patient with the moves on the Gilberts/Marshalls, which can only be a good thing as I wait for more LSTs to arrive (about a dozen over the next 2 months). Benkoelen is AF 4, Palembang is 5. Unknown numbers of aircraft based in the area. Noticed while scrolling about the map that he has repaired the Oil at Palembang, though not at Samarinda, Mili, or Tarakan. Crunching his Oil and Supply numbers are going to be my strategic focus this game. I seem to be down militarily, particularly on the ground, and I haven't taken out any CVs yet...but from an earlier email I know his Oil totals are much lower than mine are in my game against Bullwinkle.

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Post #: 115

RE: Headhunter - Lokasenna (A) vs. mind_messing (J) - N... - 9/3/2014 3:42:22 AM

JocMeister
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Not a fan of that resizing stuff. But you can do it too although you have to wait until early 44 I think. Thats when the USMC FS get their last resize. Some USN squadrons can be resized even earlier if I remember correctly.

I did some resizing but only for training purposes and it turned out I didn´t need to in the end.

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Post #: 116

RE: Headhunter - Lokasenna (A) vs. mind_messing (J) - N... - 9/3/2014 5:45:50 AM

Lokasenna
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quote:

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Not a fan of that resizing stuff. But you can do it too although you have to wait until early 44 I think. Thats when the USMC FS get their last resize. Some USN squadrons can be resized even earlier if I remember correctly.

I did some resizing but only for training purposes and it turned out I didn´t need to in the end.

I can resize now if I want to...some squadrons. The pools don't really support it.

I don't care much if he resizes, it just makes me consider that he probably has 5-7 IJN squadrons of 81. I haven't counted them up yet (many squadrons don't have their final resize until 1944 or 1945), but Rufe squadrons that later upgrade to A6M5 can then resize to 81 as well... I'll count them up now while I watch The Strain, heh.

In any case, if I destroy a lot of the aircraft in the unit, it just takes him 5 weeks to rebuild or else burn ~1000 supply to "de-upgrade" and then another 1000 to upgrade: double the expenditure. He's also going to run out of aviation support, especially if I refuse to meet him near level 8-9 AFs as often as possible. I have many axes of possible advance. The only one that's really been neglected has been the one that uses NW Australia as a springboard to Java as I'm not really interested in a slugfest through the DEI.

EDIT: Apparently you can't look up resizes in Tracker, or else I just don't know how. I'll have to try and remember next time I do a Japanese turn.

< Message edited by Lokasenna -- 9/3/2014 6:55:19 AM >

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Post #: 117

RE: Headhunter - Lokasenna (A) vs. mind_messing (J) - N... - 9/3/2014 6:46:50 AM

JocMeister
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Might be viable to resize when the Hellcats comes online though. You will end up witgh thousands of Wildkittens in the pool. I never found a use for them as they are crazy outdated and even the FM-2 version can only do 330MPH when it comes available in 44.

But they might work well for ablative escort. Obviously range will be an issue though...

Playing with PDU OFF means I will have to use them on the CVEs this time around though. At least the VRF squadrons upgrade to Hellcats...

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Post #: 118

RE: Headhunter - Lokasenna (A) vs. mind_messing (J) - N... - 9/3/2014 11:29:51 AM

Lowpe
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I guess I don't see why you would want to attack everywhere at once in the Marshalls, Gilberts, etc. Seems very risky and harder to protect.

You have plenty of time, no reason for you not to go slow and methodical and safe. imho.

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Post #: 119

RE: Headhunter - Lokasenna (A) vs. mind_messing (J) - N... - 9/3/2014 1:15:24 PM

ny59giants
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IMO, its gamey to re-size air groups to 81 as Japan. I don't care what it is used for. My rule of thumb is no re-sizing above what is already in play. If Japan has a size 42 IJN fighter group, then that is the largest a re-sizing can go.

Regardless of what Japan has on an island, a bombardment TF will hit it hard enough to disrupt the troops. That is why those old BBs are kept around.

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Post #: 120

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