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

Started by KyzBP, June 22, 2015, 04:02:39 PM

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KyzBP

March 17th, 1942

I can't believe it's only mid March and we're this far along in the game.  If you've never read any other AAR's go to Matrix and you'll see how intense/advanced this game of our is.

The sub war continues to ramp up.

A bunch of my subs have moved into position around Japan.  I'm going to try to interdict any troops heading from the Philippines to Japan or AM.
I may even hit a random tanker or supply loaded AK if I'm lucky.  The problem is Geek has a bunch of ASW capable ships just itching for something to do.
I'll have to keep my subs moving so he can't pin me down.

Geek has subs too.

And his subs aren't afraid to take on the sub chasers.  His subs have been particularly aggressive at AM.


Our ASW doesn't take kindly to his brethren being attacked.

More and more ASW assets are showing up so we should have this under control soon.

We return the favor.

His transports seemed to be armed though, and inflict damage on my undersea fishing vessel.

The Sealion found one that wasn't armed.

I'm telling you, the sub war is pretty intense right now.

Carrier planes ambush some unescorted bombers.

I was able to sneak the carriers in to take advantage of the naked bombers but there are still a ton of them.

He didn't make that same mistake twice.

This time he brought some Oscars to the party.  We managed to inflict a little damage but most of the bombers got through.

Our fighter twins at Darwin are overpowered.

They survived this raid by running away.  The bombers came in alone and didn't waste their opportunity to hit a couple of the few
ships I have left up here.  I can picture a big TF full of combat hardened Geek infantry steaming towards Darwin as I type.  There's
very little hope of stopping him here.

Geek begins the day at Brisbane by launching a major bombardment.

He pays the price for it.  I still don't understand this mechanic but I'm not complaining.

We bombarded here too.

First with the RAN then the Army.

Our results turned out much better than Geek's.  I know I keep saying it but I just have to delay/hold him here.  Help
is on the way.

I hit Palmyra again.

I can't imagine his supply situation here is good.  I have no intention of letting him resupply either.  Rumor has it
that a couple of transports have loaded up with Marines (the good kind) and are making their way here. It may be a side show but
this needs to be taken back and shouldn't be too hard if I soften it up.

Geek's big carrier TF (KB) is still MIA.  That's not good but I at least have an idea where it is.  I have that big blind spot around Truk and
more than likely that's where it is.  I still have decent PBY coverage in most places so I should see him once he pops out of there.  Geek not going after
my BPY bases has been a godsend.  It keeps my carriers safe for the time being.

Sir Slash

"Take a look at that". Sgt. Wilkerson-- CMBN. His last words after spotting a German tank on the other side of a hedgerow.

KyzBP

Quote from: Sir Slash on February 23, 2016, 07:51:26 PM
What do you estimate his strength at Palmyra is?

I'm going to guess a base force and maybe a battalion of infantry at most.  I'll send a cruiser in close and use it's float plane to scout or maybe the PBY's from Johnston Island.  The hypothetical Marines would hypothetically still be at San Diego.  I'll continue to bombard Palmyra to keep reducing his supply.

KyzBP

March 18th, 1942

As usual we start with the sub warfare.

Geek hits yet another AK at AM.

I can't get rid of these subs soon enough.

Then he hit a loaded transport(AP).

The AP held up and is still offloading. 

We tried to get a little revenge.

I doubt it did much but maybe next turn we can sink him.

Even his sub at Darwin joined in.

It took a lot of work to sneak in this supply ship only to have it sunk before it could get her supplies ashore.

Padang is still getting pounded.

I wish there was something I could do here.  These guys are receiving multiple raids each day which is beginning to take
it's toll.  I'm not sure how strong Geek is on Sumatra but if her comes for Padang I doubt I'll be able to stop him unless
I reroute the transports headed for Australia.  I think Oz will get the priority.

Geekanese troops shell Brisbane.

Pretty much the same result as yesterday.  I think he'll stop bombarding soon.  I see no reason for us to stop though.

Not much but it may be disrupting him.

Some of my Hudsons got through.

Not a bad result there.  I just have to keep the pressure up and it doesn't matter where it comes from.

AVG escorts bombers over Moulmein.

Not only am I having no luck at hitting any of his ships but the AVG is getting chewed up.  I think I'm going give them a
break as soon as I can get a few squadrons to replace them.  They're down to less than 20 total aircraft.

That was kind of it for today.  Tomorrow I should be bombarding Palmyra to soften it up for a hypothetical invasion.  I should have
3 full squadrons of Marauders on line so we can begin to hunt shipping in the area and maybe an airfield bombing.  A smarter commander
would set them all to ASW until that problem is taken care of.



JasonPratt

Ouch for the heroic Silverbeech, so close and yet so close.  :'(
ICEBREAKER THESIS CHRONOLOGY! -- Victor Suvorov's Stalin Grand Strategy theory, in lots and lots of chronological order...
Dawn of Armageddon -- narrative AAR for Dawn of War: Soulstorm: Ultimate Apocalypse
Survive Harder! -- Two season narrative AAR, an Amazon Blood Bowl career.
PanzOrc Corpz Generals -- Fantasy Wars narrative AAR, half a combined campaign.
Khazâd du-bekâr! -- narrative dwarf AAR for LotR BfME2 RotWK campaign.
RobO Q Campaign Generator -- archived classic CMBB/CMAK tool!

KyzBP

Quote from: JasonPratt on February 24, 2016, 10:19:19 PM
Ouch for the heroic Silverbeech, so close and yet so close.  :'(
Yeah, that was a bummer.  I have quite the quandary at Darwin.  Darwin needs supplies and Katherine (located South of Darwin) is desperately low.  I can keep trying to bring supplies in by ship but Geek has subs posted nearby.  If I sortie out the few ASW assets I have at Darwin then they'll be bombed from above since i have only 2-3 functioning fighters to provide CAP.  In order to get more fighters in the air, I need more supplies.

KyzBP

March 19th, 1942

I know I keep showing Sub stuff, and it's probably getting boring but there's so much sub activity it's hard to ignore it.

(SS) Shark attack.


A "Twofer" for the Shark.  We continue to play a game of Cat and Angry Mouse.  Hit and Run (or just Run) tactics are being
fully employed here.  I mentioned it earlier but he has tons of ASW assets in the Home waters.  I just have to keep moving.

ASW at AM makes it's presence known.

Geek's subs got a few more attacks in but his torps either missed or were duds.  I'd like to think this guy is headed home.  A
small victory considering Geek has probably 20 more subs headed this way.  If so, it makes the South Pacific that much safer.

The softening of Palmyra.

Not a significant amount of damage but we did kill a few troops and destroy a few of his supplies.  We'll try to keep this up for
a bit.

But we'll have to do it with out the CL Honolulu.

She'll make it back to Pearl but it will weaken the bombardment TF by a CL and DD.  I'll have to deal with that sub(s) before the
hypothetical amphibious TF's arrive.

The AVG underwhelms yet again.

I really am disappointed in these guys.  Maybe Geek is using his best Oscar squadrons here but the AVG continues to
get torn up.  I will pull them out.  I'm also going to cease offensive actions here for a little while.  During the downtime I'll
move some Hurricane squadrons from Colombo to Rangoon and try to increase the number of bomber squadrons that can
reach Moulmein.  I have a surface combat TF at Point Blair that can almost go toe to toe with the TF Geek has at Moulmein but
I'd like to weaken him a little first.  A fair fight shows poor planning.

Geek makes his first attempt at Brisbane.

The Aussies are taking this serious now.  The attacker/defender ratio is barely 2/1, maybe a bit less now.  I'll keep up
the pressure and keep him as disorganized as possible.  I've even turned around may walking wounded TF and put them
on bombardment duty.

This is it, all or nothing.  Total War Australia (Rumored to be better than Rome 2).

That is it for today.


JasonPratt

Radio intercepts suggest the attack on Brisbane happened due to an officer being subsequently named "fat fingers". Possibly this is a euphamism.
ICEBREAKER THESIS CHRONOLOGY! -- Victor Suvorov's Stalin Grand Strategy theory, in lots and lots of chronological order...
Dawn of Armageddon -- narrative AAR for Dawn of War: Soulstorm: Ultimate Apocalypse
Survive Harder! -- Two season narrative AAR, an Amazon Blood Bowl career.
PanzOrc Corpz Generals -- Fantasy Wars narrative AAR, half a combined campaign.
Khazâd du-bekâr! -- narrative dwarf AAR for LotR BfME2 RotWK campaign.
RobO Q Campaign Generator -- archived classic CMBB/CMAK tool!

KyzBP

March 20th, 1942

Just when I think I may be getting a handle on the sub problem at AM...

She's a hearty Queen so maybe she'll stay afloat long enough to get the troops off her.  Truth be told, she didn't take much
damage and she's due out of theater in a week so I'm going to lose her one way or another.

Here's how AM looks right now:

Geek has a large sub contingent in the area but ASW is arriving daily.  I've decided to place all but 1 squadron of Marauders on full
ASW duty.  The Dauntlesses as well.  I'll leave one group on Naval Attack.  What started as a diversion may turn into a full time operation.
Etorofu will be next once Slash Field is up and running on Urrupu.  Once the P-38's come on line I may have the range to escort bombers
over Tokyo.  I still have to keep an eye out for his KB.  I haven't seen them in awhile so they may be slinking their way here.

Bombardment continues at Brisbane.

I'm throw spoons and forks at Geek now.  My surface combat TF's desperately need to make port and repair but I can't give Geek a break.
I've met no resistance while bombarding Brisbane.  I fully expected Geek to protect his troops here and take the opportunity to sink my ships
but his ships never showed.  I just found out why.

It looks like he may be getting ready to invade Luganville.  This may work perfectly into the hands of my super secret carrier mission.  I'll let you guys in
on more over the next couple of days.

Geek sent unescorted bombers over Padang.

The few Canes and Buff's I still have were able to take a few down.  However, Geek's bombers were able to drop their loads and fly off into the sunrise.
My ground forces then reconnoitered by bombardment.

If this is what I'm facing then I really have no hope of hold Padang.  Quite a shame.  It could've been fun.

Here's what guards Moulmein:

It sure would be fun to get some shots at those BB's but I can't trust the AVG to take my bombers in.  Once the exchange takes place I'll try to hit
Moulmein with land and carrier based aircraft and then turn loose the Surface Combat TF I'm building at Port Blair.



KyzBP

Quote from: JasonPratt on February 25, 2016, 10:11:42 AM
Radio intercepts suggest the attack on Brisbane happened due to an officer being subsequently named "fat fingers". Possibly this is a euphamism.

I intend to bring as much shame to Gen. Fat Fingers-son as I possibly can. :knuppel2:  His grandchildren will suffer the humility of their grandfather.

Sir Slash

"Slash Field". I'm honored. Unless it's just a couple of latrines and a PX selling condums. That's a hell of a lot of BB's at Moulmein. Any idea what class they are?
"Take a look at that". Sgt. Wilkerson-- CMBN. His last words after spotting a German tank on the other side of a hedgerow.

KyzBP

Quote from: Sir Slash on February 25, 2016, 11:34:29 AM
"Slash Field". I'm honored. Unless it's just a couple of latrines and a PX selling condums. That's a hell of a lot of BB's at Moulmein. Any idea what class they are?

A small token of "Thanks" for contributing to this AAR.  I hope to get everyone a field.  I wish it let me name ships.

No idea on the class without engaging them in some way.  It looks like he just got tired of my shenanigans at Moulmein.

KyzBP

March 21st, 1942

Luganville seems to be the target.


I had a couple of DD's run picket but they were quickly chased away.  I'm not sure if this is an invasion or just harassment
at this point.  I guess time will tell but I don't see any troop carriers just yet.

The sub battles continue.



I think Geek won this round.  The QE took another torpedo but seems to be holding up ok.  She should have all her troops off
tomorrow and then it's just the supplies we need to unload.  I may get her out of here as soon as the troops are gone.  I
imagine she holds some pretty high Victory Points.

Geek also caught some AK's and AP's at Cinnabon.

Of course they were loaded with troops and supplies.  It seems like my reconquest of Sumatra is coming to a close before it ever
really opened.

Unescorted bombers appeared over Padang.

The daily bombing continue.  We were able to take a couple down but I'm sure Geek didn't even notice.  It would have been sweet
if we could've gotten the fighter squadrons fully operational before the bombing started but we'll never get more than a few planes up
at this rate.

Geek's troops at Brisbane receive another care package.

Everything that can fly and carry a bomb is hitting Brisbane right now.  It's nice to see the 4E's doing some damage.  All the bombers
have to go in unescorted.  I've unloaded some p-39's at Sydney.  I'll try to move them to Brisbane and see if they can give the bombers
a chance.

Most of the squadrons arrive at Tjilatjap.

I was expecting a bit more.  Almost none of the squadrons had pilots assigned so they were all handpicked by me from the veteran pilots pool.
More supply is inbound so we should be up and running within a week...and out of business in two.

Now for the secret plan.  It's cancelled.  Here's why:

I believe this to be the KB.  It is not where I thought it would be.  Here was the plan:

I was going to run my bomber heavy carriers up towards Rabaul in an attempt sink a few ships and get Geek's attention.
I would then pull my carriers back towards Efate.  Between the two bases at Efate and Luganville there are 150 fighters.  There are also 40 fighters
on the carriers.  ALL fighters would be set to provide CAP for the carriers.  Geek has about 150 fighters in his TF.  I would gamble that he would send
half as an escort for his bombers (about 270 of them :o).  He'd have to get through my almost 200 fighters to get to the carriers.  My carrier TF has all
my best AA ships as escort, he'd have to get through that too. I would hope to destroy many of his planes and pilots on his first wave.

I would have the carrier bombers off the carriers and on the fields.  I would then act as if I was retreating South, hopefully bringing him South with me.
If phase one worked and I atritted his fighters I would then launch the bombers from the island fields using ALL the fighters as Escort this time since the
carriers would be moving away from the action.  If I needed to I could've headed for Suva where I have about 120 fighters I could use for CAP.

It was a very risky plan but this isn't your grandpa's war.

Now I'm just going to try to catch these ships hovering at Luganville.  I don't think he'll have any air cover so the should be a massacre.




FarAway Sooner

Quote from: Sir Slash on February 25, 2016, 11:34:29 AM
"Slash Field". I'm honored. Unless it's just a couple of latrines and a PX selling condums. That's a hell of a lot of BB's at Moulmein. Any idea what class they are?

Slash, you don't need to use condoms if the only thing to mate with on the island is a seal...

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