An Idiots Guide To Losing Your CV's Before 1942: WiTP:AE KyzBP vs UCG

[KyzBP]

February 21st, 1942 continued...

The AVG decided to try their hand at Ship Strafing:

Not bad results.  They probably scratched the paint but I doubt the did any noticeable damage.  It may scare these
ships away though.  Geek may fear me bringing something bigger than spitballs next time.

Sub sunk off Christmas Island.

Geek moved his subs that were terrorizing innocent cruise ships in Hawaiian waters to the waters near Christmas Island.  We had
a welcoming party waiting for them.  Having planes that would otherwise be idle set to ASW really help in keeping track of Geek's
sub fleet. 

With the Cat away, the mice are back to playing.

Since AM forced Geek to move his carriers out of the area I'm now able to resume bombarding Palmyra and Baker Island.  I'll do my
to deny Geek the use of these islands as forward bases.  There's a convoy of transports just west of Palmyra and they're headed East.
I have my BB+DD group standing by at Palmyra and a group of CA's and CL's trying to trap them in to the west.  Hopefully I can return
the favor for all the troops he eliminated off Sumatra.  I'm also sending the 2 CV's that are loaded with bombers from Pearl as soon as their
escorts return to service tomorrow. 

And what's a turn without me losing some random Chinese city.

Does it make sense that I don't blink an eye when I lose 17k+ troops in China but get bent out of shape when I lose 2000 in Sumatra?

AM is still going according to plan.  The troops are still off loading and I'm sending back any ship that is empty.  I'm starting to get antsy though.
I feel like we've been here too long.  I'll wait 2 more days and then we're out of here.  I'll leave behind a squadron of Wildcats to cover any of the
slower ships that begin to straggle.  Geek sent a few fighter sweeps but they were turned back.  No bombers today.  He may be running low.  If I were
Geek, I would have brought the bombers over that are bombing the crap out of Manila.  Geek's not dumb.  I'm sure he's got some kind of reaction planned.
I just need to be long gone when he initiates it.

[KyzBP]

Thanks so much for this AAR KyzBP!.. I know the game itself is a lot of work, never mind doing an AAR as well! But you're making it a little more tempting to try a full campaign game some day. Checking for updates every day!  O0

Thanks a lot Tuna!  The full campaign really isn't that bad once you get into a rhythm.  Early on it gets easier for the Allies because the Japanese kill most of your units and take most of your bases, decreasing the amount of time you need to put into a turn.  Losing has it's advantages.

LOL! I wonder in Jason feels the same in our DC3 campaign... I seem to be killing lots of his units.... although... more seem to come outta the woodwork fairly regularly...

It seems like you're swimming upstream against Jason.  It's fun to watch though.   O0

[JasonPratt]

The full campaign really isn't that bad once you get into a rhythm.  Early on it gets easier for the Allies because the Japanese kill most of your units and take most of your bases, decreasing the amount of time you need to put into a turn.  Losing has it's advantages.

LOL! I wonder in Jason feels the same in our DC3 campaign... I seem to be killing lots of his units.... although... more seem to come outta the woodwork fairly regularly...

All part of my master plan to trap you in the Ural foothills and the Persian border mountains when mud arrives in September.

:'(  :'(

[Tuna]

Thanks so much for this AAR KyzBP!.. I know the game itself is a lot of work, never mind doing an AAR as well! But you're making it a little more tempting to try a full campaign game some day. Checking for updates every day!  O0

Thanks a lot Tuna!  The full campaign really isn't that bad once you get into a rhythm.  Early on it gets easier for the Allies because the Japanese kill most of your units and take most of your bases, decreasing the amount of time you need to put into a turn.  Losing has it's advantages.

I think it's the idea of setting up and maintaining all the logistics that really scares me off! 

[Sir Slash]

Great work KyzBP. Sweet revenge on that sub I'll bet. I was wondering when the AVG will be able to get better planes? And do you have an option to move them elsewhere, like India or China if Geek threatens Burma?

[KyzBP]

Great work KyzBP. Sweet revenge on that sub I'll bet. I was wondering when the AVG will be able to get better planes? And do you have an option to move them elsewhere, like India or China if Geek threatens Burma?

The next scheduled upgrade for the AVG is P-40E's.  The AVG is originally based in China.  I thought bringing them to Rangoon get them more action and thwart any attacks in the area.  So far they haven't met my expectations but they are getting better.  Once I have enough Brit fighters in the area I may move them back to China.  Geek seems to be getting pretty feisty there.

[KyzBP]

February 22nd, 1942

Geek's troops at Palmyra requested an early wake up today so they could clean up the house for their expected guests.

Geek's transport convoy is only a day away.  They'll have to work their way through my sub gauntlet and then past TF Mississippi.
If they chicken out and head back I have the CA-CL TF waiting for them.  Let's hope my little trap isn't really a trap for me.

The Royal Sovereign and Ceres take more hits.

They're still afloat but not long for this world.  They'll be split with hopes of the Sovereign getting away.  Very little chance.

Same with these guys.

Reality is they are all probably goners.

Geek made another assault on Clark.

The losses were almost even which is bad news for me.  Geek has about 170k troops to my 23k.  Even using Common Core math I
think he's going to take Clark soon.  Again, I really hope these guys retreat towards Manila and not Bataan.  Murphy's Law will no doubt
dictate the direction of retreat.

Geek made his first assault on Pegu.

I don't think he'll be back for awhile.  Pegu is about 14k troops strong while Geek only brought about half of that for the attack.  It took
everything I had to fight the urge to counter attack.  I learned my lesson at Sabang.  I'll just let him bounce off me for awhile.

Another day of light fighter sweeps over AM.  Neither of our pilots seemed too motivated.  We shot down 4 Zeroes and lost a Wildcat and a Buffalo.
I blame the weather.  The PBY's at Ketoi haven't seen any large TF's yet.  We should leave tomorrow.  AM accomplished exactly what I needed it to.
I'll have free roam of the Central/South Pacific for another week, maybe more if he gives chase to my CV's.  There are Combat Engineers landing at
a few of my undeveloped bases within the week.  They are closely followed by aircraft and support.  A few of the AP's that were sent from Australia
are loaded and about to make their journey back to Oz with reinforcements.  Today we see light at the end of the tunnel, tomorrow we see the train.

[jomni]

Great work KyzBP. Sweet revenge on that sub I'll bet. I was wondering when the AVG will be able to get better planes? And do you have an option to move them elsewhere, like India or China if Geek threatens Burma?

The next scheduled upgrade for the AVG is P-40E's.  The AVG is originally based in China.  I thought bringing them to Rangoon get them more action and thwart any attacks in the area.  So far they haven't met my expectations but they are getting better.  Once I have enough Brit fighters in the area I may move them back to China.  Geek seems to be getting pretty feisty there.

So AVG's legendary status was due to facing poorer pilots and aircraft in china?

[KyzBP]

Great work KyzBP. Sweet revenge on that sub I'll bet. I was wondering when the AVG will be able to get better planes? And do you have an option to move them elsewhere, like India or China if Geek threatens Burma?

The next scheduled upgrade for the AVG is P-40E's.  The AVG is originally based in China.  I thought bringing them to Rangoon get them more action and thwart any attacks in the area.  So far they haven't met my expectations but they are getting better.  Once I have enough Brit fighters in the area I may move them back to China.  Geek seems to be getting pretty feisty there.

So AVG's legendary status was due to facing poorer pilots and aircraft in china?

I learn something new, literally, every day I update this AAR.  I was always under the impression they fought in China with only minor forays into Burma.  After some reading it looks like, so far, I've followed the historical path of the AVG.  Here's what I learned:

The first squadron had flown up to Kunming to defend the terminus of the Burma Road and saw some combat action on 20 December 1941 while defending Rangoon from Japanese bombers, taking down four of them and disrupting their attack on Burma Road.

At this time, the focus of Japan's offensive efforts in the AVG's coverage area was southern Burma. The 3rd Squadron – 18 aircraft strong – defended Rangoon from 23–25 December. On 23 December, Mitsubishi Ki-21 "Sally" heavy bombers of the 60th, 62nd and 98th Sentais, along with single-engined Mitsubishi Ki-30 "Ann" attack bombers of the 31st Sentai, sortied against Rangoon. They were escorted by Nakajima Ki-27 "Nate" fighters of 77th Sentai. The Imperial Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF) formation was intercepted by the AVG and RAF Brewster Buffalos of 67 Squadron. Eight Ki-21s were shot down for the loss of three AVG P-40s. The 60th Sentai was particularly hard hit – it lost five out of the 15 bombers it had dispatched. Nevertheless, Rangoon and Mingaladon airfield were successfully bombed, with the city suffering more than 1,000 dead. Two Buffalos and two P-40s were destroyed on the ground, and one P-40 crashed when it attempted to land on a bomb-damaged runway.

On 25 December, the JAAF returned, reinforced by Ki-21s of 12th Sentai and Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa (Oscars) of the 64th Sentai (Colonel Tateo Katō's Flying Squadron). A total of 63 bombers escorted by 25 fighters were committed. These were intercepted by 14 P-40s of the AVG's 3rd Squadron and 15 Buffalos of 67 Squadron. In the two encounters, 35 Japanese bombers and fighters were shot down. The Allies lost two pilots and five P-40s. Mingaladon airfield was once again damaged, and eight Buffalos were destroyed on the ground.

They were credited with almost 300 kills while only losing 14 pilots before being disbanded in July of 42.

Some further reading I did doesn't sound like they faced any lesser quality of pilot later in China than they did in Burma.  I'm probably not using them properly and am getting diminished results because of that.

[jomni]

Thanks for the research.

[KyzBP]

February 23rd, 1942

Since Photobucket and I are "taking a break" (Its idea, not mine), this update will be a little light on screenshots but heavy on attempted humor and self depreciation.

Here is where you would've marveled at another bombardment of Baker Island.  I'll tell you that we continued beating up the port and airbase.  A few of his Mavis seaplanes were damaged.  I haven't brought big enough guns yet to get through to his troops but that may happen in a month or so.

In the waters near Palmyra the trap was sprung.


It was the smaller blocking force that made contact with his task force.  We hit a good number of his transports and his escorts but there are still plenty afloat.  I'm not 100%
sure where he's headed.  I'm guessing Christmas Island.  The BB task force is headed down to greet any transports that make it that far.  There is also a squadron of Dauntless
Dive Bombers on Christmas for just such an occasion.  My goal is for none of his ships to return to Japan.  Two things have made this possible: AM and PBY's.  AM forced his
carriers north which allowed me to return to the area and the PBY's have been priceless.  They've been able to keep tabs on everything so I at least get a warning when Geek's
ships about.
Here's the current situation:

I think I have all my bases covered.

The Royal Sovereign is just about done.

I wish I could have a do over with her.  I think I wasted her without ever really using her.  I'm wondering If Geek is going to make a run at Colombo.  If he does, I have
3 squadrons worth of Spit's and Cane's waiting.  A successful Port Attack at Colombo though would be devastating.  All my warships for this theater are there now. 

Clark Field was captured.  We lost around 6000 troops while Geek lost around 3500.  If there's any good news here it's that all retreating units retreated to Manila.  Manila is getting low on supplies and having a bunch of extra mouths to feed won't help the situation.  I doubt they'll last more than a week.  It's too bad because these guys were tying up a lot of
troops that will now be free to send into the Central/South Pacific or Australia.

Intel reports that a few Geek transports are loading up and heading to Rockhampton.  I'm going to race everything I can to Rockhampton and try to make a stand.  I've sortied out a couple of Minelayers and the rest of the Aussie Navy is on standby.  The surviving B-17's at Sydney will try bombing any ships that show.  Unfortunately their escort will be P-40's flown by pilots with an experience level of about 35.  I really have my doubts of being able to hold Australia.

[KyzBP]

The skies were quiet at AM.  There were no flights by Geek's fighters.  It may have been the weather.  Tomorrow is the day I should pack up and leave.  The PBY's haven't seen anything yet.  I'm tempted to stay one more day.  That might allow all the supplies to be off loaded.  These supplies may be the only supplies these guys get.  I'll have to see how everything looks tomorrow.  AM would be a loss if I lose a carrier.

[JasonPratt]

Man, you're going to have to weigh potential disasters there. You don't know what future supply situations will be, but you can make a near-term guess about what he's likely to throw at you. (And I'm saying this in complete neutrality of anything I do or don't know about that.)

Subs can supply small outposts -- I feel about 80% sure I've seen that in the game -- and you've got plenty of subs in the area anyway. Keep an underwater trainpack running; send a larger task force when you feel safe trying. But even then, assume he'll find out you've got your TF in port and be gone by the time he sends any surface fleets to mess with you.

Of course, he could chess you and send a fleet large enough to cause bombardment (and maybe counter-invasion) trouble, trying to draw out a rescue response; then thwap you with a larger surface-to-surface battle once he draws you out.

[BanzaiCat]

I've followed both of your threads, but don't worry, I'm not going to release any spoilers. I don't remember what Geeksan's reaction was to your incursion anyway so it's all good.

I will say from my point of view, were I the Japanese, I'd be worrying about your AM venture insofar as thinking this is the prelude to an occupation of all those islands north of Hokkaido. I'd think you might get encouraged by a lack of response and maybe even go after Hokkaido.

Then again...I'd also know you don't have a lot of carrier strength, and if I need to push my luck as the Japanese, it would be now, before your big Essex-class carriers and slew of trained pilots come online. I'd keep pressing in Aussieland and keep trying to tighten the noose on the South Pacific. However, I'd keep an eye on what you're doing in AM up there. Sooner or later I'd have to do something about it, if anything to gain the initiative in that theater again.

He has a large navy that hasn't really taken a big hit yet, but then again, he has a LOT of territory to cover now. He can't be everywhere at once. I'd stick around if I felt I had the strength to hold off any recon attempts.

[KyzBP]

Thank you both for the input.  :)

I have the next turn in hand but can't get to it until tomorrow morning.  So, here's what I'm thinking: I will stay until the PBY's pick up his carriers or my transports are empty, whichever comes first.  If his carriers show up I can sprint to the Northeast and into the Bering Sea, all the way to Nome if I have to, rather than head East.  I should be able to out run him as I'll have about a 15-20 hex head start.  The big variable is weather.  If he happens to get into the AOR during one of the frequent storms and my planes don't launch then things could get ugly.  I don't plan on pushing my luck too much, 3 turns is the max, 2 should do it though.

In 2 weeks the Hornet comes online.  If he hasn't removed me from AM by then, then I may consider grabbing another island and trying to make this more permanent.  The reality is: He is about to free up about 100k+ in troops from the Philippines.  There's no way I could withstand that kind of onslaught.  AM did what it was supposed to, now I'll try to keep his interest up here long enough to relieve Australia.