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Help I've been taken hostage - 7/30/2003 4:41:12 AM   
Philwd

 

Posts: 285
Joined: 3/19/2002
From: Arizona
Status: offline 		That was the radio signal from Gen Hori as he vanished from the deck of the China Maru with his entire staff. As we found out later he had shown up on the USN ship APD Little. The bastard US even sent us a photo showing they had dastardly captured the entire HQ. An excerpt from the radio ransom demand;

"Oh yes, make sure the money is all used bills, and NO COPS!!! Or we'll mail the General home in little pieces!

Muahahahahahaaa!!"

Ransom photo is attached.

The ransom is to be paid and the General and his staff put ashore at Basilaki island.

Such is the fortunes of war

Quark

Attachment (1)

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Post #: 31
- 7/30/2003 12:29:17 PM   
Philwd

 

Posts: 285
Joined: 3/19/2002
From: Arizona
Status: offline 		8/30

The General has yet to be released :D . I do see the APD on its way though.

For the realm of the nearly unbelievable I just had 13 ships released today with my commit level low. I got the Hiyo, 1 CA, 4 CL and 8 DD!!!:D :D

My CVs sucked 50 fighters out of the pool today :( . Most had a surplus of pilots though so hopefuly the drain on the pool won't be too bad. All Vals in the pool are gone also. Kates I didn't need all that many of even after the debacle of the second day's attack at Noumea.

I tried to have my Betty's attack a nice fat 7 tranport TF just arriving at Wunpuko. With a BIG escort as I knew Condor would have CAP up.

Well what happened is yes indeed I attacked Wunpuko and sank 1 transport and only lost 1 Betty in return. However my Betties also attacked Noumea 3 times sinking 3 ships!!! :D No CAP up but I expect that to change next turn :) . So I expect Condor to have to split his fighters making my life a whole lot easier in coming days.

All in all a fantastic turn. Got ships released and gave Condor a bloody nose only losing 3 Betties total.

In the realm of what to do next Condor does seem awfully weak over Noumea way. My ships are all beat up though. I'm going to wait a couple days and see if I can get a few points repaired on the CVs. I have 8 CA under 10 SYS with several more CL. If I can get several CVs near 10 a leapfrog invasion of Luganville and then Noumea might be feasible.

Quark

(in reply to Philwd)
Post #: 32
- 8/4/2003 12:14:18 PM   
Philwd

 

Posts: 285
Joined: 3/19/2002
From: Arizona
Status: offline 		Up to 9/6 now. Been quiet. I finally picked up my wayward South Seas Detachment HQ.

Condor has been content to bomb PM and GG at night with dribbles of bombers. Although the largest raid has been only 10 planes he has succeeded in reducing GG's supplies from 75K to 54K. Condor sent his VIc's to PM and was rudely surprised by the 8 AA batteies there. 7 damaged 3 of which didn't make it back.

Since my pilot pool hit rock bottom when the CVs hit Rabaul I have been fairly passive in setting up night fighters. I need to preserve my pilots. I got 3 pilots sub 20 EXP. All are upper 20's now.

The only CV repairing at a good rate is Soryu. But she was already <10:( . Down to 3 now. I could really use those points against Akagi and Zuik. Looks like I will be laid up a while longer.

I am searching intensively. I can't afford to be surprised. My naval counterpunch ability is limited while my ships are all laid up.

Irau is getting a very large contingent of eng to build up the fort level quickly. Quick enough I hope to minimize the malarial effects.

Quark

(in reply to Philwd)
Post #: 33
- 8/4/2003 3:15:58 PM   
wobbly

 

Posts: 1095
Joined: 10/16/2002
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
Status: offline 		shoot me if I am wrong but I don't think it is fort levels that reduce malarial effects, i am pretty certain it is actually the building of the base itself that does that...

_____________________________




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Post #: 34
- 8/5/2003 1:48:47 PM   
Philwd

 

Posts: 285
Joined: 3/19/2002
From: Arizona
Status: offline 		Wobbly,
Oops. I wasn't clear enough. I only plan on building a lvl 1 port to help with unloading. I want to build fast so I can scoot with those valuable eng units before they all die from malaria.

Quark

(in reply to Philwd)
Post #: 35
- 8/5/2003 4:23:35 PM   
AmiralLaurent

 

Posts: 3351
Joined: 3/11/2003
From: Near Paris, France
Status: offline 		Hi, Quark, an old question you ask about enineer reducing fort before asault. Mogami is not the only one to do that, see my report

Ground combat at Port Moresby

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 35534 troops, 415 guns, 32 vehicles

Defending force 22472 troops, 120 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 4

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 4)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 3

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 392
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 103

I had two ENG units landing in PM, the 38th Div unit and another unit (of Combined fleet) with some combat value. 38th Div was fully deployed to this attack (HQ was here, for example, don't know if it matters for engineers reducing FORT) and coming from Truk with no disruption before boarding ships. Actually all troops came directly from Truk. I choose Deliberate attck for one INF unit then click on all to attack.

So it still works in V2.30.

(in reply to Philwd)
Post #: 36
- 8/7/2003 12:35:28 PM   
Philwd

 

Posts: 285
Joined: 3/19/2002
From: Arizona
Status: offline 		Thanks Amiral,
I also had my eng set to deliberate attack but still never got them to reduce fort levels. HQ were present. Had both 2nd div and 38th div there. Still not sure what I was doing wrong but I may get another chance this game to figure it out.

Game is now up to 9/8. Condor is trying more night attacks. I did set my fighters to night intercept but as I thought they didn't even fly.

2 TF full of eng will hit Irau in next 2 turns. 6 eng units total.

Question for folks out there? Have you noticed Rabaul as a size 9 port repairing ships faster than Truk? Right now I'm seeing a 2-3X faster repair across all ship types except BB(no BB at Rabaul) at Rabaul.

Quark

(in reply to Philwd)
Post #: 37
- 8/7/2003 1:59:43 PM   
Veer


Posts: 2231
Joined: 6/25/2002
From: Excuse me
Status: offline 		[QUOTE]Originally posted by Quark
[B]Question for folks out there? Have you noticed Rabaul as a size 9 port repairing ships faster than Truk? Right now I'm seeing a 2-3X faster repair across all ship types except BB(no BB at Rabaul) at Rabaul.
[/B][/QUOTE]

I noticed the opposite, esp for larger ships. In my latest scen, I had the Shok at Rabaul with 20 sys damage and the Nagato with 28 sys. Both stayed their for 2 weeks, Shok came down to 18 and Nagato didn't change. I then sent both to Turk - Shok gained 1 sys on the trip. It's now been 3 weeks. Shok is at 11 and Nagato is at 25.

Both bases are at level 9 port and 9 air. Rabaul actually has more Eng units. I even moved the Combined fleet HQ to Rabaul to see if it makes a diff.
Essentially I think repairs are just random.

Continue with the AAR guys - nice reading!

_____________________________

In time of war the first casualty is truth. - Boake Carter

(in reply to Philwd)
Post #: 38
- 8/11/2003 6:39:38 AM   
Philwd

 

Posts: 285
Joined: 3/19/2002
From: Arizona
Status: offline 		Looks like I've missed a few days. Up to 9/15 now.

Condor ran a BB force of [I]North Carolina and Washington[/I] to bombard Irau. He sunk two PC in harbor and shelled the non-existant airfield causing absolutely no damage or casualties!! :) The PCs I must have forgotten to tell them to run. I had moved out all ships and even ran a FT out with most of the eng. Condor also had 2 CV TF in the area so I bugged out with everything I could.

Condor ran 2 DMS in with the BB. They swept I think 6 mine fields on a fast approach with only 2 DMS. Ok Ok I know this mine warfare is not realistic. I laid too many mines and he swept too many but an Admiral has to vent. One DD hit a mine.

Of course my mighty air warriors on Lunga when faced by single CV task forces simply yawn and don't fly. Even with 100+ Zero escort. Condor has been bombing at night but only causing superficial damage. So the airfield damage should not be keeping me from flying. Must be the LBA flying into CAP thing again.

Condor also ran a BB force of a single destroyer into Rossel. I again saw him coming and had the air on Woodlark set to attack but they failed to even come out of the mess hall. The AAR said he hit the AV with a shell but FOW strikes again as no damage whatsoever. The AGs at Rossel had 2 of thier number sunk but the other 2 now have night experience of >60 :D . I think they just became my new ASW hunter killer force.

The whole 35th brigade is now at Lunga. I need to send a full regiment to Irau, just deciding which one. 6th div arrives in 30 days. Can I wait that long??

38th div arrived at Truk for extended R&R.

My CVs all of a sudden are reparing at up to 2 points/day at Rabaul. Junyo down 5 points in 3 days. If this keeps up soon I can contemplate an operation against Luganville.

Condor is using ALL his air search assets on recon. So I may be able to sneak a force close without him seeing.

Quark

(in reply to Philwd)
Post #: 39
- 8/14/2003 1:13:49 PM   
Philwd

 

Posts: 285
Joined: 3/19/2002
From: Arizona
Status: offline 		kind of quiet the next two days. I build a lvl 1 airfield on Dobadura. 4 eng units there will build up to a lvl 3 then go to GG to finish forts there.

Condor's CVs retire enough so I can get my transports into Irau. lvl 1 airfield finished. 2 fort lvl complete. 6 eng units total plus 4 inf present. have completed 2 mine runs to replenish mines swept in recent BB attack.

9/18 I have 3 transport TF at Irau. I think Condor will rise to the bait and try another raid. I've decided to set a trap. My response to his last raids was decidedly understated for a reason. I wanted him to come back when I was better prepared for him. I've created Battle Group Soryu with 2 other low damamge CVs. It will move to the triangle formed by Rossel, Lunga and Irau. As Condor still is only using 1 sqn of B-17s for search I think I can get into position undetected.

9/19 T-storms. Not much happening. Battle group Soryu in place undetected. Hiyo gets 2 sys in one day. I continue to miss his subs with air attacks. I send a sub into Noumea to try for Sara just returning. I got whacked instead. 65 flot. May not make it to Lunga.

9/20 I see a single CV task force moving back to Irau!!!! Heavy CA/CLAA protection. T-storms again so he hasn't seen me. T-storms predicted for tomorrow. I am moving 5 hexes south to be in perfect range if he moves at cruise speed. 100 fighters set to protect Irau if he attacks there instead.

One freighter at Irau torp'd but was already empty. My DD actually fires back but misses.

I see a new turn has arrived. I'm so anxious to see the combat report I'm shaking.

to be cont....

Quark

(in reply to Philwd)
Post #: 40
- 8/14/2003 1:26:02 PM   
Philwd

 

Posts: 285
Joined: 3/19/2002
From: Arizona
Status: offline 		9/21 I had him I had him I had him :( :( :( .

I set up and he moved perfectly into range 6 hexes away. A B-17 saw a CA but nothing else. A Val finds his CV. But I get socked in by storms. :( No attacks by either side. I'm sure he will run now as he has to know my CVs are in the area.

One thing is even though Condor never saw me his CV TF reacted. A dangerous bug. But then again I usually don't have react on.

My CVs will retire a little north to cover Irau a couple turns.

Quark

(in reply to Philwd)
Post #: 41
- 8/16/2003 11:39:26 AM   
Philwd

 

Posts: 285
Joined: 3/19/2002
From: Arizona
Status: offline 		9/22 Woo Hoo :D . I finally hit a sub with a Val. I hit S-44 at Irau. Getting a 250kg bomb down her periscope had to ruin her day.

I'm glad I retired the CVs north. A BB came a calling. Of course my planes are socked in again and don't fly. His CV ran south. Another leaves Noumea. Time to leave town fast.

9/23

Oh oh. Condor gets revenge. S-46 sneaks in at Dobadura and hits with 5/8 torps sinking 2 empty 1000 tonners. They were there to pick up the eng after the airfield hits lvl 3 next turn. I sure hope S-44 is meeting a watery grave.

His now 2 CV force off Luganville. I have nothing in the area to be threatened. T-storms again next turn so my planes are grounded.

Quark

(in reply to Philwd)
Post #: 42
RE: - 2/6/2004 7:53:04 AM   
Philwd

 

Posts: 285
Joined: 3/19/2002
From: Arizona
Status: offline 		Well so much has happened since my last post.

Some background to bring everyone back up to speed.

I am playing Attack Condor in our 2nd game. Condor is Allies, I am IJN. We both have our own threads to post thoughts, strategies, etc and promise not to read each others thread.

Condor has lost 4 CV and a CVE. Hornet and Big E badly damaged during a surprise raid on Noumea. I expect both back very shortly although Condor claims he only has 3 CVE right now. But the defining statement of the game so far is...

I got my butt kicked trying for an autovictory at Townsville. That about sums it up.

We are now starting early Feb '43. I know Condor will get Corsairs soon. As if his P-38s aren't enough.

Let me update current happenings by area.

Solomons:
Condor took Irau without much of a fight from me as my troops were all being evacuated from TV. My mines have taken their toll. Condor sweeps every turn. Sweeping 10 turns now and all the mines still aren't swept.

His planes at Irau are being a real pain. SBDs hit an AV at Russell 2 turns ago. Not sunk but very badly damaged. I have seen 6 sqdns total at the size 2 field there. Although Condor may be rotating. I haven't seen the Wildcats for several turns.

Lunga has only been closed for 1 turn. My 3 Oscar sqdns are doing remarkably well. 31 kills for 7 losses. No 4E bomber attacks for 5 days. Last attack I shot down or damaged 67% of his attackers. Still I would have expected something. I wonder if he has moved them??

Two div equivalent at Lunga. Re-supply convoy 4 turns out.

Munda now a size 2 air. Two Zero sqdns stationed there.

New Guinea:
Been very quiet. I have sent 4 mining runs to PM and GG in last couple turns. Heading back to Truk for re-supply. Hudsons attacked GG at night from 20000 ft. He has learned my flak is deadly at 6000 ft.

ASW front:
Sank Sargo at Rabaul 3 turns ago. 9 total USN subs sunk vs 11 of mine. Not too bad really. Although I only have 1 combat worthy sub left. I saw Argonaut at Lunga a few turns ago and have the mines almost swept.

The troops:
Most troops evacuated have arrived at Truk. Surprisingly most formations are already at 0 disruption and 5 fatigue. I may be able to move much earlier than I thought. I got 78000 troops out of a max 97000 evacuated from Oz. But the cost was heavy...

The Fleet:
I have 2 BB, 6 CA, 5 CL, >30 DD, 6 CV and 2 CVL in theatre. Many need another 2-3 weeks to get SYS below 10. Commit lvl is low even after sending back 4 BB, 2 CV, 5 CA and 16 DD. I lost a CVL, CS, 4 CL, 2 CA and a host of DD in the evacuation. I believe I gave almost as good as I got. But an even exchange favors the USN.

Plans:
Get the troops and fleet back into fighting trim. Re-supply fwd bases. Counter punch when I see Condor's move. Continue to build support bases. Maybe re-take Irau to safeguard Lunga a little longer. Condor still only has 2 inf units there; one is small. I anticipate needing another 2-3 weeks realistically to be ready. Will Condor wait that long???

That's all for now. I'll post a more up to date loss picture soon.

Quark

(in reply to Philwd)
Post #: 43
RE: RE: - 2/10/2004 7:22:17 AM   
Philwd

 

Posts: 285
Joined: 3/19/2002
From: Arizona
Status: offline 		Oh boy.

My recon shows 4 BB at RH and a CVE approaching.
No 4E attacks on Lunga for 8 days now.
No troops at Kourapotous. Reconning again to make sure.
About 30 Aks at Irau. Too bad I can't count on my naval attack planes to actually attack there or his 3 fighter sqdns wouldn't be enough.
MSW swept at Taivu last turn then ran back to Irau.
Condor is also targeting my scout bases. He's sunk two AVs in past 3 turns.
My recon shows lots of AKs in and around Irau but almost none in Oz RH and north.

Taken together what does this mean???

Condor was attacking Lunga every single turn he could then suddenly stopped.

He's strippping troops it appears.

He doesn't want me to see him coming; especially near NG.

Irau is building up but no new increases in field size. With 2 or 3 eng units it must mean he's digging in.

Even with my debacle at TV I don't think Condor is strong enough to invade more than one area. He still claims to not have fleet CVs. If true an attack against NG would seem suicidal with my CVs hovering just north. I know Condor remembers the first invasion of Lunga. I also have ~300 Betties and Nells to supplement the CVs plus ~400 Zeros. They are well dispersed now.

So my first response is my reaction force is loading at truk. Full 41st div. Armored reg will load in a couple days. Together they should blunt any invasion. All bases at lvl 9 forts and should be enough to hold out for reaction force to arrive. Eng and AA heading to PM. I had pulled them out earlier.

I will have another 5 full strength regiments in another 3 weeks. While I don't have the lift to keep them also as a floating reserve they will fill in nicely some very underdefended areas.

So that all means an early invasion of Irau is out of the question. Another suicide recon may be in order.

I have almost completed garrisoning all the new small bases Condor could airlift into. Whew. One nightmare gone.

Looking at all available data it sure looks like Condor is feverishly building Irau up enough I can't attack without using everything I have left. Plus it looks like all his major fleet assets have moved or are moving to Oz. I am leaning towards Condor coming to PM. I can't believe he would stop his bombing if he really meant to come to Lunga. Feint and counter feint. Maybe.....

So while I won't move anything out of Lunga nothing more goes in. 2 div will have to suffice. If he wants to attack there without major fleet units it will be like shooting ducks in a pond. Recon of all bases will continue.

Oh and I almost forgot to mention I got another CVL released with 11 escorts. Its now at Truk and will arrive Rabaul in ~ 3 days.

I'll try and post a rundown of losses and available forces in next couple days.

Quark

(in reply to Philwd)
Post #: 44
RE: RE: - 2/12/2004 6:39:20 AM   
Philwd

 

Posts: 285
Joined: 3/19/2002
From: Arizona
Status: offline 		Its now 2/10.

The Shadow has started up his air attacks on Lunga again. However it is with only ~25 bombers. I am not impressed. What happened to the other 60?? I really believe he has moved them.

In the what goes around comes around category my Vals finally after about 7 turns set to naval attack finally decide to fly. I damage 5 AKs. According to the Shadow 1 might actually sink. As a side note I lost 16 Oscars to his 17 fighters. I now have 48 victories vs 21 losses. I believe my success so far is due to better use of altitude. One Oscar pilot is almost an ace!!!

Condor recons almost every base last turn. Including Buna. I guess he noticed the 3 sqdns. I am considering moving them back to Lea and grouping with 3 Betties. That would give me a nice concentrated punch.

Floating reserve is off and will sit right on the big S in Solomons waiting for a clue where to react.

Condor is getting real brave with his MSWs. He sends 6 to sweep Taivu. Getting a bit cheeky I would say. I am thinking of a nice welcoming committee for next time.

My recon of Kourapotous confirms my previous intel. He has pulled out his troops. As Irau now sports at least 6 regiments and an armored unit I think I can guess where they went.

I see not only BBs and a CVE at or near RH I also see a DMS. That really has me worried. They are always where the Shadow plans a major push. No reason for them to be hiding there if he really wants to sweep off Lunga prior to an invasion. I count 11 APs near Oz. I can't recon Brissy so there may be still more.

As an added bonus my recon of RH shows 2 full div on the march north from RH. That had me confused. Why march? Either he doesn't have the lift or it is busy. Busy perhaps loading something at TV that needs to be replaced?? No my recon didn't show any big TF there. So my guess right now is he just doesn't have the lift to move every unit he wants to. Now why move them at all?? Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out.

My fleet in theater:
2-BB I sent 4 BB back to Tokyo to get Ryujo released. I kept Hiei and Haruna for CV escort.

6-CV and 2 CVL. Not counting Junyo which is at Truk. Zuiho and Shok in Toyko.
5-CA
5-CL
41-DD
17-AO/TK
16-PG/PC
3-SS Ouch. USN ASW is just too good.
11-MSW
8-ML Worth their weight in gold.
5-CS/AV
63-AP Looks good until you see how many I've lost. I'll post that later.

So overall I feel I have more than enough force to give Condor a big bloody nose. Air is in pretty good shape. All naval sqdns full strength. Betties average ~20 planes/sqdn. Nells ~16/sqdn. All Zeros full strength.

My worse area as noted before is my ground troops. Do I have enough time? Anything I can do to delay Condor I will consider. Even another CV raid into Oz. I hope the 5 AKs damaged at Irau help in that regard.

Next post will have losses to date.

Quark

(in reply to Philwd)
Post #: 45
My poor fleet - 2/12/2004 6:50:36 AM   
Philwd

 

Posts: 285
Joined: 3/19/2002
From: Arizona
Status: offline 		Well when I added up the losses for this post I got a real shock. Some of the numbers I really didn't expect.
USN IJN
CV 4 0
CVL/CVE 1 1
BB 1 1
CA 5 5
CL 5 9
DD 46 56 First surprise. Both in USN losses and my own.
APD 1 6
DMS 1
DM 3
MSW 5 2
AO/TK 7 4
SS 9 10 Far more even than I could ever hope.
AP/AK 46 88 With 63 left I never imagined I lost this much.

As you can see the losses are mostly even except in 3 categories; CVs, DDs and APs. As I am not invading any longer the APs don't hurt me as much. I still have almost all my 3000 tonners. Most of the losses arte the smaller ones. As a testament to Condor's subs 41 of the lost transports were due to sub torpedoes. But even losses greatly favor the USN.

I am under no illusions. When Condor gets his CVs back(just a matter if time if not back already) any advantage I have evaporates. I just need to shatter one invasion. Just one...

Quark

(in reply to Philwd)
Post #: 46
RE: My poor fleet - 2/16/2004 10:04:30 PM   
Philwd

 

Posts: 285
Joined: 3/19/2002
From: Arizona
Status: offline 		2/16 now.

2 turns of t-storms and rain. I have stood down all my air except search. Oscars at Lunga especially burnt out.

Irau
I hit Condor with another bombing attack. Hit an Ak and a DD; badly damaging both. Probably just a pinprick to Condor but any lessening of his lift capability is worth it.

Interesting thing was his near 100 plane attack on Tulagi by P-39s. Then no CAP over Irau. Interesting. Condor seems to be rotating sqdns in and out almost daily. Must be nice to be able to move planes so freely without losing 10% each time.

Lunga
Nuisance raids continue. They have little effect. Re-supply convoy unloads and leaves unscathed. Lots of recon over Tulagi and Russels. Russels is due for a troop rotation. Base is built up as much as I want. So eng unit is loading up and a SNLF unit rotating in. Well Condor crashed my party and sank a barge with a sub. No troops on barge. Got lucky there. I've been wondering where his subs went to and now I see they are back. But if he wants to go after barges I'll let him. I'm using barges as my transports are behaving wierdly again. I'll explain more below.

5 mine fields laid at Taivu to replace those swept. I was hoping for his MSW to show back up as I had my 2 big ML there. No such luck.

New Guinea area
Recon not showing a whole lot of change. Cairns and TV overflown this turn. Cairns now sporting planes and 2 eng units. Condor is getting serious now. I was wondering why Cooktown didn't have all his B 26s. One thing that bothers me about recon. I can see down to the last man what a ground unit has but I can't tell if an airbase has B-17/24s.

So do I compromise my rebuilt Betty force to attack Cairns before he attacks me or do I hold them for naval strikes?? I have ~140 at Woodlark. Decisions, decisions. I'll probably lose 15 planes to op losses even if there is no fighter opposition.

I see Condor's 2 div almost to TV. BB still sighted in TV harbor along with APD and DMS. Next turn RH.

GG is too vulnerable so I have rotated 2 BF out and moved Kate and Vals to Buna. Betties will move to Lea as mentioned a couple posts ago. I have 7 bomber sqdns at Woodlark. They will be the basis for my anti-naval strike force. Buna has naval strike sqdns with 2 Zeros right now. I will move a Tony sqnd in and move Zeros to Lea.

I have laid 7 more minefields at PM and GG. With DMS around probably not enough so another round of mine laying is ordered.

41st div 6 days from mid-ocean staging area. Gawd it takes forever to get from Truk!! I decided to shade closer to NG by ~180 mi because Lunga is much better defended than PM or GG. I have >700 assault point at Lunga with a lvl 9 fort. Condor would need almost 5 puny US div to get a 2:1.

Munda will get a CA and DD react force. Need to get port to lvl 3. Woodlark will also get a react force. I was considering GG but the same reason I am moving the air out convinced me not to base the naval sqdn there. Too exposed. If I get enough warning I may base at GG for 1 or 2 turns to be closer.

What has occupied my thinking is what should trigger my CVs to surge? Condor will surely ring Rabaul with subs and also line them up either at GG or near Lunga, depending on the target. I could use a few more sys points repaired but I really don't want to run a sub gauntlet. Looking at distances from TV or LV I would have to put to sea immediately upon sighting a TF to have any chance of intercepting before troops land. This opens me up to a feint or ambush. If I put to sea early I burn fuel and run up SYS damage but could afford to take a day or so to ascertain real threat axis. And hopefully miss his sub gauntlet.

Condor said in an email events are now in motion. He usually is not given to hyperbole in his emails. So I believe the hammer is about to fall. But where? I don't see anything moving!!

He also said retribution is near and there's nothing I can do to stop it. Well we'll see about that.

On wierdness
My transports have adopted a habit of loading phantoms. Phantom unit fragments to be precise. What happens is I form a TF. I pick destination then pick load only troops. First ship in TF(usually but not always just first ship) loads a unit fragment that was evacuated from TV but is not present at the base. When I look at the ship and click on unit the unit disappears but ship cannot go and load anything else. If I disband and reform TF same thing happens. Usually next turn it goes away. It also happens to FT. Sometimes the AI will add a ship to the TF to be able to load the phantom. But this is costing me many turns in getting my forces in place. It only started after I had lots of fragments from the TV evacuation. Frustrating.

Quark

(in reply to Philwd)
Post #: 47
RE: My poor fleet - 2/18/2004 12:16:28 AM   
Philwd

 

Posts: 285
Joined: 3/19/2002
From: Arizona
Status: offline 		2/17

Hmmm.

Hmmm.

A full US marine battalion lands at Russel. Caught me in the middle of a troop rotation.

Kingfishers scout both Rennel and GG.

What ship carries Kingfishers? USN battlewagons are coming a calling. Looking to be headed for GG although I can't see them!!! Darn overcast weather.

Condor claims raiders are recon in force. He also claims BBs are a feint. Yeah right. Leaving port under T-storms and rain and then expecting me to see them.

Now I know why the sub was at Russell last turn. Clearing the way for his FT force to drop the raiders. I didn't see the FT but as I also didn't see the BBs its understandable. Condor also kidded me that I can't see his transports attacking my rear bases. How did he know I didn't see him??? I got the SNLF ashore but its only half the unit. No support in first wave. Eng unit all loaded and away. Raiders have an assault of ~25 same as my SNLF. So I order every bomber in the Solomons to ground attack with heavy escort and order the SNLF to shock attack. Condor claimed air support for the Marines was coming this turn. Should be interesting.

I have been very worried that FT runs from Irau can get to almost any Solomons base. Looks like my fear was justified. I am just getting my rested naval garrisons back from Truk. I will double and triple up garrisons where I can. I also plan on mining some areas but I have more urgent priorities right now.

At GG my only response is to set all my air in NG to naval attack. I had moved Kates to Buna and Betties to Lae. Vals still at GG. Woodlark's Betties also set to naval attack(hope they don't fly to Brisbane). I have minimal exposure at GG now. A single Zero sqdn, 1 Val and 2 recon. 1 BF unit so I am short support(will take forever to repair damage too). I have moved BF to Buna and Lae. I also need to move the air HQ. Basilaki just east of GG and GG itself are heavily mined. Hopefully get a few hits. The real hope for my air is to pick off any cripples from mines. I halted almost all ship traffic into GG and emptied the harbor(1 ship). I send couple barges to Basilaki and couple stay at GG to tie up the bombardment force.

Condor made my decision about the CVs easy. I surge all 8 with heavy escort. For right now they are headed to a point SW of Woodlark. Out of the main shipping lane to Rabaul and hopefully out of any subs. 2 SC TF also head to react points at GG and Woodlark. Recon at Cairns and TV again this turn.

Elsewhere the attack on Russell makes me accelerate garrisoning the last couple bases. Dobadura gets a SNLF next turn leaving Gasmata as the only ungarrisoned base.

More wierdness. This turn a single transport TF was formed to take a naval garrison to Woodlark for troop rotation. Well the transport loaded up an artillery instead! Makes me spend couple turns unloading before I can use the ship again. GGRR!

Quark

(in reply to Philwd)
Post #: 48
RE: My poor fleet - 2/18/2004 6:36:54 AM   
Philwd

 

Posts: 285
Joined: 3/19/2002
From: Arizona
Status: offline 		2/18

WOOHOO!!!!!

Yukaze sinks USS Saury at Rabaul harbor. A Val hits Greenling at Woodlark. Sink you sucker.

My Betties do in fact not attack the BBs but hit Irau instead which has no CAP!?! Two MSW sunk. Oh yeah. Oh yeah.

We trade ground attacks at Russels. Condor loses 9 more men and I still own the base. I still see a sub there. No Us air showed up.

Condor's battlewagons do not seem to have moved. Vals from GG hit them and score a single bomb hit on Colorado. She must repair fast. I hit her with 5 torps at TV. I lose 12 Vals to flak. OUCH!

BUT.. as Condor didn't move my CVs are now in position to hit them as they retire next turn. They have not been spotted. Also I see a CA force with 2 DMS just behind the BB. That's the force I really want to hit with the CVs. My only hesitation is the losses I will take from the flak. Is it worth it when US CVs may be around? The chance to take out DMS tilts the decision to a yes. I do have several orphaned sqdns I can use to replace ones that lose lots of planes. And there is a good chance the ships will have hit mines at GG so they might not put up as much of a fight.

In other news P-70 night fighters show up over Lunga and get hammered by my flak. Come on back now you hear.

Recon over TV now shows 3 CVE present in a TF with AP. Not good. I also see another small TF of AK. His 2 div will reach TV next turn.

A small group of 3 Betties decided to attack 6 APDs at Cooktown. To my surprise 20 P-40s rise to meet them. Seems a BF has unloaded. Very bad news. If Condor puts 2E's there all of southern NG is toast.

Undamaged USN subs present at Russell, GG and Munda. I am sending the newly blooded Yukaze TF to Munda to see if they can get rid of pesky S-38.

Here's to hoping next turn is as much fun. Its like golf. Bad swing, bad swing. I hate this game. Good swing. I love this game.

Quark

(in reply to Philwd)
Post #: 49
RE: My poor fleet - 2/21/2004 1:15:36 AM   
Philwd

 

Posts: 285
Joined: 3/19/2002
From: Arizona
Status: offline 		It starts...

Transports sighted hugging the Barrier reef 120 mi NORTH of Cooktown. Oh SMURF!!! How did he get so far undetected? Depending on speed 2-3 turns from PM.

CVE TF sighted 150 mi SE of transports. Obviously providing LRCAP.

Buna hit by B-17s. Minor damage.

Kates from Buna sight and sink a DM 30 mi off PM. Can't tell if mines were laid so MSW hastily scrambled from Shortlands to escort 41st div in.

CVs sitting 30 mi SW of Woodlark(not spotted yet). I will be in range of transports next turn if they run straight north to PM. Lae now has 3 BF supporting 54 Zeros and ~60 Betties/nells. I hope they fly. Buna has naval attack sqdns plus 54 Zeros. Probably transports will still be out of range of Buna next turn. GG has Vals plus 1sqdn of Zeros. And Woodlark has most of the Betties/Nells but things didn't go quite according to plan last turn. I had put them on naval attack again hoping they would go after the BBs just sitting there but with no escort to discourage going into CAP. No such luck. They flew to Irau running into Corsairs and to TV running into P40s. But at TV they put torps into 2 BBs plus a DD(BBs apparently retired to TV. I see another BB TF just outside TV). Hopefully Condor was counting on them and this disrupts his plans a little. This foray costs me 20 bombers. Still they stay on naval attack this turn with escort.

My SC TFs with the BBs and cruisers sit at Woodlark. They will escort the 41st in also. 41st 5-6 turns from PM.

Next 2 turns will probably decide the battle. I need to maul or delay the transports before they hit the beach. Maybe if the carriers get sighted the transports will do the "CV shuffle". I will not risk the carriers too close to Cooktown.

Into the breach...

Quark

(in reply to Philwd)
Post #: 50
Disappearing unit bug back - 2/23/2004 6:25:26 AM   
Philwd

 

Posts: 285
Joined: 3/19/2002
From: Arizona
Status: offline 		We're going to a turn re-wind back to 2/5.

I discovered this turn when looking for several units that should have been recuperating at Truk that they were all missing!! What I discovered was the disapperaring unit bug that hit me earlier has returned. Units disappear immediately upon unloading. This happened to units on random ships in 2 separate Tf that arrived 3 days apart. What's worse is if a fragment of a unit was already at Truk then not just the newly unloaded fragment but both old and new would disappear. I lost 10 units total; 7 regiments, an armored unit and 2 recon units. Because of the crippling nature of losing almost 3 div Condor agreed to rewind the game.
I should have seen it earlier but I wasn't checking unloaded units I was hurrying to get units loaded and headed south.

But this puts a whole new light on the game as both sides now have a chance to review what went wrong and adjust strategies.

When I reported this last time U2 verified the bug. The only fix was to rewind then change the conditions of the ships unloading.

Quark

(in reply to Philwd)
Post #: 51
RE: Disappearing unit bug back - 2/26/2004 7:23:00 AM   
Philwd

 

Posts: 285
Joined: 3/19/2002
From: Arizona
Status: offline 		We had to rewind one more time. My units again disappeared after unloading. Plus my barges at Lunga while trying to load the SNLF instead loaded the Yazawa regiment( which was at that time unloading at Rabaul) and as an added bonus loaded a Seabee unit of Condor's!! It was quite humorous to see a load of 1200 on the ship screen next to a capacity of 70.

This time around I am sending the transports back to Kavieng and Rabaul to unload. Last tiem this bug hit unloading at Kavieng worked. In 2 more turns I'll know if it worked.
This is costing me so much time. But I really need those 10 units.

Both sides have kept tempo low trying to sort this out.

Quark

(in reply to Philwd)
Post #: 52
RE: Disappearing unit bug back - 3/9/2004 7:37:27 AM   
Philwd

 

Posts: 285
Joined: 3/19/2002
From: Arizona
Status: offline 		2/18 now. My troop problems originally seemed to have sorted themselves out. I discovered by unloading on undeveloped beaches my units would not instantaneously disappear. HOWEVER I found 4 that disappeared the turn after they finished unloading. I was royally upset until I discovered they had "beamed" over to Truk!! The other wierd thing here is the composition of the units is not the same as before teleporting. In general they are slightly stronger(hey I'm not complaining) but the support is off. If you look at the left column at the support and support needed lines the number of support present matches what the unit had before "beaming". However the unit strength only shows ~25 support. The next turn however the support showed the new amount. SMURF!

Secondly even at the beaches if it took 2 turns to unload 75% of the time the first turn's unloading would disappear on turn 2. The other 25% turned out to be the units that beamed to Truk. When I discovered this happening I moved all the rest of the transports on turn 2 of unloading at new beaches to save what had been unloaded.

Fast transport pickup of beached units is working 75% of the time. Have had 1 incident of disappearing FT load upon unloading.

Only about 1/3 of the units have unloaded correctly on their beaches and will be picked up. Isn't it a bit sick I have to go to such extremes to simply unload units??

I guess sending back all those BBs really did help. Although my commit level never went above low I got Ryujo and 11 escorts that have now arrived at Rabaul plus Tokyo has now released 6 transports and all the rest of the ML. Woohoo! If Condor was upset about the mines at Irau guess what awaits him everywhere else now.

The game is taking a decidedly different tack this time. No transports sitting at Irau for me to sink. He isn't forgetting to put CAP over Irau. No subs at Rabaul to sink. No BBs at TV waiting to be torp'd. No night fighters getting torn up over Lunga. No DM getting sunk trying to lay mines at PM. Sigh. What's a Quark to do?

One thing I am doing differently is only putting AVs at lvl 3 ports to protect from subs. So I moved from Rossell, Munda and Kiriwina for now until those ports reach lvl 3. Munda is now very close.

Weather is also very different as is my ship repair rate. My ships are hardly repairing at all this time around.

Condor just started his attacks again this turn. 80 B-17s hit PM. Supplies went from 43K to 13K in one turn!! They are based at Cairns; well within my reach. I've decided to send the SC TF to Woodlark to use as a base for a BB run to Cairns. Will use 2 TF comprised of 2BB, 5CA, 5Cl and 9 DDs. I will time a night 150 plane raid from Woodlark to coincide with the bombardment. This also means few if any 4E's left in the east to hit Lunga.

Cooktown so far this time around is empty. Where are all those 2E's??

I have seen several subs around NG, Woodlark area. Unless they are moving around lots every turn I've seen 6 different subs. Another was sitting at Munda. So I've taken to big DD escorts for TF headed into that region. Also the game hiccup'd a few turns back. Up to now Condor has done almost no sub mine laying. A few turns ago when viewing the very start of the turn a message popped up saying so and so is loading mines. This happened 2 turns in a row. I told Condor and in deference to how I found out have done nothing about using the intel. However since this time last game was also when Argonaut reared her ugly head and laid mines at Russell, I now am also putting MSW in all TF.

For the next few turns my priority is getting all my scattered units back to Truk for refit and some flak to fwd bases(poor PM!!). This puts me way behind the 8 ball compared to last time around. No lift avail for a floating reserve yet. CVs not repaired. Resupply of bases not done etc. I see many opportunities that I just can't take advantage of. For example Irau is very weak this time around. Only 1 reinforced div present.


Quark

(in reply to Philwd)
Post #: 53
RE: Disappearing unit bug back - 3/11/2004 6:44:13 AM   
Philwd

 

Posts: 285
Joined: 3/19/2002
From: Arizona
Status: offline 		2/20 Tarpon got greedy and met her match. 8 hits from a barge encounter and Tarpon will bully nobody any longer.

Only 45 bombers hit PM this time. Supplies cut in half to 7000.

Amazingly the bombardment forces are in place for their night runs to Cairns without being seen. Condor has several PBY sqdns on recon and only 1 on search. I also see 1 small transport TF in port at Cairns and another 10 ship TF on its way. I hope it reaches. I hope it reaches. I hope it reaches.

140 plane night LBA raid set up in support of the bombardment forces. After this I wouldn't be surprised if Condor switched from hitting PM to Woodlark.

All for now.

Quark

(in reply to Philwd)
Post #: 54
RE: Disappearing unit bug back - 3/13/2004 1:22:56 AM   
Philwd

 

Posts: 285
Joined: 3/19/2002
From: Arizona
Status: offline 		2/21 Well I didn't quite hit the home run at Cairns I had hoped for. I'd call it more like a double. Betties went in at 2000 ft and plastered the airfield. Some P-70s destroyed and damaged.(have to watch out for those night fighters in the future!!!) Only half the bombers flew; probably due to supply level at Woodlark. My losses 3 bombers. Both bombardment TF went in and got around another 48 hits apiece. But the TF in port had left and the other ended up 30 mi out. SMURF! Total runway hits ~150 and total structure hits ~50. That should slow Condor down a little. No 4E bombers hit at all. When Condor hits me with 50 airbase hits I lose 10-15 planes on the ground. Oh well. It was worth the try. Thinking more it maybe was a good thing only half the bombers at Woodlark flew. It may deceive Condor into thinking most of my planes are elsewhere.

Further recon of Irau has convinced me I need to lance that boil before it gets too much bigger. My transports start arriving at Truk over next couple turns. I ran a little experiment north of San Cristobal. I ran a TF east for a while on its way back to Truk from Lunga to see if it would be detected. Condor has moved a PBY sqdn into Irau. No detection. Thinking back Condor has never detected a TF coming from the north. That has given me the idea of loading up my 3 div worth of combat ready troops and come in from the north side of San Cristobal. I have a good chance of getting within a turn before he sees me. My troops will be fresh while his will be fatigued from malaria. My combat eng will be fresh and able to take down any fort lvls. The goal will be get in, 2 turns max of attack, then get back out. Hopefully I can ground his air at the same time but as I have never been able to do that they might escape. CVs will cover and the bombardment TF will go in first. CAP provided from Lunga and Munda. Who knows. If all goes well maybe I'll try and pick off the isolated div on Kourapotous also. Every one I can pick off now is one less he has to hit me with later.

Timeframe looks to be around 9 days from now.

As a diversion I will send 2 CVL to Woodlark so Condor thinks I am set up to defend NG. After they are spotted they will run fast east to join up with main CV force.

Am I crazy??

Other plans. PM badly needs reinforcing and re-supply. I have a smaller TF that is committed to bring in 2 AA, a new eng unit and the 8th naval garrison. Since it is all slower ships about 2 weeks away. Mining activities continue. Sub attack on ML Saishu last turn but I got away.

Every other transport not needed for Irau or PM expeditions will resupply Rabaul. Six new transports arrive at Truk in 6 days.

Quark

(in reply to Philwd)
Post #: 55
RE: Disappearing unit bug back - 3/14/2004 9:12:38 PM   
wobbly

 

Posts: 1095
Joined: 10/16/2002
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
Status: offline 		Definately not crazy. Once Condor gets strongly based in the Solomons (namely irau) he can make life very difficult for you all the way up the rest of the chain. Life in Lunga, munda and shortlands even (and all bases in between) will be about dodging bombs.
If you can organise a good offense - as often quoted - it should be the best defense.

_____________________________




(in reply to Philwd)
Post #: 56
RE: Disappearing unit bug back - 3/15/2004 12:23:41 AM   
Philwd

 

Posts: 285
Joined: 3/19/2002
From: Arizona
Status: offline 		Thanks Wobbly. I agree and don't think I really have much choice. just after the success I've had with invasions lately...

Condor asked in an email why didn't I follow up the Cairns attack last turn. Well with a night fighter sqdn there it didn't seem to be in my best interests. I had thought with only destroying 3 planes he would have 12 or so flying next night. Well then Condor tells me he only had 3 or 4 left and had pulled them back to Brisbane. Oh DUH! So I still don't attack again. Why? Because the supply situation at Woodlark won't let me. I need to conserve supplies.

Last transports I need for the Irau attack arrive at Truk next turn.

Forces chosen for the attack. 41st div, 20th div, 35th brigade and the Yazawa regiment. 9 full strength rested IJA regiments. 2 Eng battalions and the HQs of course. I am also bringing along the recon battalions for garrisoning purposes.

Other than that the supply situation is getting the most attention. Earlier in the game I had seeded ~5000 supplies at several small bases just in case. Well that "in case" has arrived and I am sending small Tf left and right collecting that supply for Lae and Woodlark; both of which are <15000 supplies. Barges are being redeployed to Lae for that purpose.

Quark

(in reply to wobbly)
Post #: 57
RE: Disappearing unit bug back - 3/15/2004 8:04:42 AM   
PzB74


Posts: 5076
Joined: 10/3/2000
From: No(r)way
Status: offline 		Surprises me that you havn't counterattacked Irau already.... As you might have read in my AAR, I was able to
recapture it and 3 months later there's still a fierce struggle going on.

Don't forget to put troops on KiraKira - I've messed up a couple of times there.

There will be hell to catch when you go in, so you can't take lightly upon it. Go in with strength and have
a backup prepared, you're going to need it. It's much better to kill time over Irau than Lunga, Munda and Shortland.

_____________________________



"The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without"
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

(in reply to Philwd)
Post #: 58
RE: Disappearing unit bug back - 3/15/2004 4:40:40 PM   
Philwd

 

Posts: 285
Joined: 3/19/2002
From: Arizona
Status: offline 		Hi Pzb,
I actually could not have attacked before now. With the unloading bug my transports were all stuck doing unloading over beaches to preserve my unit fragments. They are just now reaching Truk. That's where almost all the fresh troops are. I had nothing else to move the troops. Even as it is I barely have enough lift for the 3 div worth of troops.

I know I gave up Irau way too easily but I had put my eggs in the TV basket knowing I could not defend the Solomons at the same time. This time at Irau his troops will be the fatigued ones not mine. Makes a huge difference. My airstrips are closer except for Irau itself. Irau can hold only so many planes. There is no Charter town equivalent to back him up. So we'll see. Much will depend on if he moves another div over in the next week.

Thanks, Quark

(in reply to PzB74)
Post #: 59
Turn 300 - 3/17/2004 6:56:24 AM   
Philwd

 

Posts: 285
Joined: 3/19/2002
From: Arizona
Status: offline 		Well we hit turn 300.

Condor's subs manage to sink half the 4th naval garrison headed to GG. Those subs are really getting too good. These aren't S-boats hitting me with impunity. Its the fleet subs.

Condor made a comment in an email about if he had known my flak was so weak over Lunga he would have attacked a lot sooner. I gave the appropriate reply and then looked at my flak. Lo and behold 4 AA units have had their ENTIRE complement of 75mm and 40mm guns destroyed!! OUCH!! Several AA units are now included on the resupply run south.

Condor sends 2 sqdns of Hudsons over Lunga. I down 5 and damage several others. I also lose 5 Oscars but Condor loses 5 P-40s plus another 8 fighters damaged. I think my Oscars are acquiting themselves very well. Only negative here is my near ace with 4 victories falls victim to a P-38.

The Irau invasion forces start to load up. But and a big but my recon of Kourapotous gave disturbing information. 6 turns ago there were 5 inf there. Now I see none! And I see ~10 transport ships. Irau has not gotten any new inf as far as I can tell. So I can only assume the inf are on the ships. Now where would they go? Last time around they headed to Irau. So in the absence of contrary data past behavior indicates future performance. I cannot allow another div on Irau. So I sortie the CVs and head to the north of San Cristobal. If I counted hexes right he should be a hex or 2 out of Irau when I get in range.

Now I know this gives the northern approach away but I really can't allow any more troops on Irau. So we go for it. And another factor. Condor let on he got a CV released. But in the same breath said he sent the CVEs home. Ha! So in about 16 turns my fleet air advantage gets cut in half. If I am going to do something it has to be now.

Question for the audience. I have 85 pilots listed as MIA. Do I have any chance to get them back? They are almost all EXP>80 so you can imagine they would come in handy.

Second question. Anyone know how many mines MSW sweep each turn? I can't find any reference. 2 MSW sweeping 2 turns haven't cleared 1 Argonaut minefield(~30 mines).

Thanks,
Quark

(in reply to Philwd)
Post #: 60
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