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

January 29th, 1942

The turn started with Allied sub missing a bunch of sub shots.  I almost gave up hope on getting a hit until this:

Because the American torpedoes suck (I know, I've said that before) the Trout had to surface and go toe-to-toe with
this tanker.  Because of that the Trout took hits and will be heading back to Pearl for repairs.  The good news though,
is this is one of his tankers headed to refuel his carriers, I think.  He may stray into range of the TBD's and SBD's at Canton.
I might get a chance to finish him before he can replenish the carriers.

Then this little short range sub hits one of the remaining Frosty Carp transports.

I was unable to locate the rest of the Carp transports.  Either they were sunk or the crappy weather is preventing me from
seeing them.

The pre-invasion of Cairns begins:


He took a few losses but I expect this to be a pretty big force.

The Banshee's at Cairns say goodbye to the Geekenese invaders as they fly to Charters Towers.


Again, considering this is probably a large force, this is really nothing more than a scratch.  My best hope is to continue
hitting his transports and keep his repair yards tied up.  The Warhawks are of the Very Low Experience variety.  The Banshee's
aren't much better but do seem to do their fair share of damage.

A random Dutch sub hit a random Geek transport.

I have no idea where these guys were headed.  This took place in waters solidly controlled by Geek.

Geek's carrier groups struck again.

It was just a supply transport but he's straying further and further Southeast.  That's not good because that's the
route most of my convoys are trying to take.

That leads me into this dilemma:

The small surface task force at Canton consists of 3 DD's and the Indianapolis.  At Baker Is. is the CVL+CVE task force.  It's a super tempting target
for a nighttime surface engagement.  Recon shows only a DD and a couple of CL's as escort.  If I got lucky I might be able to hit a CV or 2 before getting
beat up later in the day by the remaining aircraft.  The problem is the other TF at Baker contains a few BB's and CA's.  That TF is supposed to be moving
East.  If it's still there when I get there I'll be cut to pieces. Do I take that risk?

The Geek ships at the bottom of the screen are the resupply ships.  I could quickly zip down there and try to engage and finish them off.  The downsides are:
a) I may miss the chance to hit those CVE's
b) His carriers may be coming back to meet the resupply convoy.  That would leave me vulnerable to his aircraft if I miss his ships.

I moved the SBD's that were at Palmyra to Canton.  I figure Palmyra is about reap what they've been sowing. All other ships are fleeing the area, including
all the ships that were bombarding Palmyra.  Unless he pulls his carriers back towards Canton or Baker, Palmyra will fall in the next couple of days.

Most of the units and ships participating in AM are at Dutch.  We are waiting on the BB New Mexico to arrive from the West Coast.  Once she gets
to Dutch Harbor we'll begin the reloading process.

JasonPratt

Is the theory there that the BB will need enough time to refuel and restock, that the transports would be loaded then?
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KyzBP

Quote from: JasonPratt on November 23, 2015, 06:53:59 PM
Is the theory there that the BB will need enough time to refuel and restock, that the transports would be loaded then?

The theory is: I'm too scatter brained/disorganized to remember everything I was sending on the Monkey folly. :idiot2:  This way I'll have everything in one place and I can then organize the assault wave and the follow up troops into nice little echelons.  I've already noticed I don't have a Base Force inbound to Dutch Harbor, so I've got to get one going there pronto except I'm out of troop transports.  I won't need them until the future airfield is opened up but I have to find one close to the next available troop transport.

KyzBP

January 30th, 1942

Things are picking up on all fronts.  Our turn exchange pace has also sped up.

I had spotted a large number of transports headed towards Horn Island, between Australia and New Guinea.  I sent a sub that
was in the area to intercept the transports.

The sub did it's part and managed to hit one of the transports.  What sucks is I also sent a CL and DD to intercept them as well.
I was fully expecting a good number of transports to be sunk.  That was not the case though as somehow the CL/DD missed the
TF completely.  There's not much room to get by Horn Island so I'm unsure what could've happened.

The Allied subs continued to harass his transports.

I'm sure that was more of an irritant than any real tactical victory but it is showing both of us that the Allied subs in the area can hit
things.  If he wants to keep supply and troop convoys safe, while ferrying back and forth to Oz, he'll need to escort them.  That's fewer
ships to participate elsewhere.

Speaking of the Great Oz...

The last of the Royal Australian Navy gets their licks in on the Cairns landing force.


The RAN didn't do as much damage as I had hoped.  The landing force was able to land with comparatively few casualties.
They'll try to hit them again but it won't matter much....
...because Cairns fell. :'(

No one surrendered so what's left of the defenders is moving to Townsville with the exception of a base force which is
moving to Charters Tower to assist with the sudden bonanza of aircraft there.  I have to be careful not to rush a bunch of
units up there and leave my underside exposed.  The Aussies will have to make do with what they have up there.

So Geek is in Oz. :knuppel2:

As usual, Geek's carriers went to town on the unprotected shipping in the South Pacific.
First he hit the ships that were hiding at Christmas Island.

The inexperienced P-40 pilots were no match for his seasoned Zero drivers.  The farther East and South he goes, the more
time my subs have to get in the area.  I'm not going to be able to stop him by air or on the surface of the sea but maybe
under the sea lies my best hope.

The smaller carrier TF of his appeared to be moving out of the area.  They didn't leave without saying goodbye though.

The only good news is that these were empty transports headed back to the West Coast.  I may start holding the empty
ships until the coast is clear.

The dilemma I had about where to send those surface raiders from Canton didn't end up mattering.  I sent them towards the resupply
convoy but they whiffed. I sent them back to Canton to wait for another chance to jump something.  We haven't hit Baker in awhile...

Geek troops continue to bombard Clark Field.  In the process they lose a few troops.  Clark decides to show them how its done.

I've definitely gotten the better end of the stick at Clark.  In the meantime though, he continues to bomb the crap out of Manila.  That
place is going to look like the moon when he moves in.

Just when Geek was probably counting all of the troops he will free up when he takes China the Chinese fight back.

Geek lost about 7000 troops there to my 3100.  I'm already looking for places I can condense my forces and then hit
a few more cities.  I've got to prevent him from freeing up troops and this seems like the best way.

Geek is still dominating the game but I'm starting to see glimmers of hope.  The Aussies probably won't agree with me.

jomni

Wouldn't and invasion of Oz trigger some reserves or something?

KyzBP

Quote from: jomni on November 24, 2015, 10:13:07 PM
Wouldn't and invasion of Oz trigger some reserves or something?
From what I've read it looks like the reserves get triggered if the Japanese take territory further south, near Brisbane or there about.  I don't know for sure though.

KyzBP

January 31, 1942

A few big developments this turn but not really much content.  This should be fairly quick.

The Royal Australian Navy takes another shot at the landing force.

Again, we didn't hit anything real important.  I wanted to keep Geek from getting a toehold here but it's not looking good.

The landings in the North of Oz are underway.

I'm going to try to hold Darwin but considering the amount of troops he has available after sacking Java I am preparing Katherine as my fallback base.

The sun comes out an Geek's Navy goes hunting.  Unfortunately they manage to bag the RAN.

That should just about spell the end for the Australian Navy. :'(  Everything is either in drydock or the bottom of the sea.  I believe I'll get some ships later but
they may not have a port to launch from.

The Brit CV pilots continue to harass the 1st SNLF.

This seems to be working.  The guys that the 1st are pursuing are starting to gain distance on them.  The should make it to Padang without further incident.
We'll hit them one more time and then start heading home.  We may have overstayed our welcome.

The Dutch Boys at Tarakan continue to give Geek his money's worth.

The coastal guns continue to pound anything in range.  I know these guys can't hang on forever but they've done a lot better than other units.  I'm still talking to you Singapore.

Geek hits Moulmein again.

He takes some losses in doing so.  I can't seem to get my aircraft to help out much here.  I'm going to make some tweaks and see if I can get better results.

That was really it except for the usual stuff.  Geek's planes fly everywhere almost unopposed.  AM is still staging.  The last few ships are arriving so I'll start organizing
the loading priority.  Before AM officially leaves port I'll give you guys a breakdown on how I envision the battle taking place.  It'll help me make sure I've accounted for
everything as well.
   

KyzBP

February 1, 1942

If you thought the last update was short this one will really amaze you.

The SBD squadron on Canton decided to forego fighter escort and attack the CVL/E group that was transiting past Baker Is.

The Geek Zeroes cut them up pretty bad.  We didn't damage neither ship nor plane.  It was a waste of 8 perfectly good planes and pilots.
That group will be grounded for a bit.

I knew the Brit CV's had stayed longer than they should have.

We got lucky that none of the ships were hit.  We lost a fighter but it can be quickly replaced.  Brit carriers are a little more difficult.
I've sent the CV TF off to the West at full speed in hopes of getting out of range.  The Geek Land Based Bombers have some long legs, and since
I don't know where they came from, I figure it's time to adios.

The U.S. subs are starting to make some noise.

I know I keep saying it's not much but everyone of these will be missed later.

Unfortunately a few more of my bases fell:
-Tarakan  :'(
-Cooktown
-Derby
-Moulmein.  The units are "retreating" to Pegu.  I'm really counting on Pegu sapping some of Geeks strength before it falls. 
                  I've got Engineers building it up and it also has a river that Geek will have to cross.  I'll also try to get some of the
                  local air units to start hitting his troops while they move towards Pegu.

It looks like Geek isn't going to give up on Attu afterall.

There's at least 9 ships headed that way and my DD's and CL are all the way over at Dutch.  I'm going to send them to Attu at
full speed.  They may not get there before the landings start though.  I do have a secret weapon at Attu though...The Penguin!

JasonPratt

"Waaagh! WAAAAGGHHH! Avast, my fine finny finks!" -- The Penguin

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

February 2nd, 1942

Attu continues to attract attention.

This was one of my short range subs.  If I ever get AM underway, which will be delayed if Geek can take Attu, then these guys can finally move out of Alaskan waters.
Whichever island I take it'll have to be a sub base as well.  These guys apparently don't carry much in the way of ammo though.

Shark Attack!

The SS Shark takes down a tanker.  The subs in this area are becoming more active.  The problem is Manila is out of torpedoes so my subs will have to go to
Midway or Darwin to rearm.

In the Air War:

Over the skies of Darwin 25 Warhawks went toe to toe with 16 Zeroes.

They were soundly beaten.  We eventually lost 9 planes to his none courtesy of a second sweep .  That doesn't bode well should Geek come for Darwin. 
I can't just give up the skies but I don't think I'll be able to keep them either.

The Cats finish off the wounded Maru near Attu.

That only leaves 8(?) more AK's to go.  I don't think my CL/DD TF will make it to Attu in time.  I'll have to use some of the AM units to retake
Attu if he's able to capture it.  He'll have all kinds of advanced warning if I leave him there.

Here's how Northtern Australia looks:

Derby is already in Geek's greedy mitts with Wyndham soon to follow.  I'd say Darwin is the next logical stop.  This games isn't
looking too good for me at this point.

Here my subs are moving into place.

With Monkey in jeopardy, I need to find a plan B to get his carriers out of the area.  I'm going to begin diverting all subs to
this area in hopes of taking a few shots at his carriers.  They don't have to hit, they just need to make him uncomfortable.  I
have a bunch of ships, filled with planes and supplies, on the way to the South Pacific.  These carriers have to move North or I'm
going to have a lot of vulnerable boats sitting just East of Christmas Island.

     

JasonPratt

You're barely almost two months into the war. If it does look good for you at this point, Geek would be doing many somethings horribly wrong and/or the campaign would be busted at any or all of several levels.  O:-)

Granted, he's on Australia. (....in February 42...) But that might translate later to him having stretched too far early in the game, giving him more trouble later.

His side of the game is setting up in such a way that you give up early, or if he can't manage that then being able to defend the coming counter-attack better than historically.

Your side of the game is to preserve and set up for the coming counter-attack, and to fight off the temptation to give up early.
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 December 05, 2015, 11:08:52 AM
You're barely almost two months into the war. If it does look good for you at this point, Geek would be doing many somethings horribly wrong and/or the campaign would be busted at any or all of several levels.  O:-)

Granted, he's on Australia. (....in February 42...) But that might translate later to him having stretched too far early in the game, giving him more trouble later.

His side of the game is setting up in such a way that you give up early, or if he can't manage that then being able to defend the coming counter-attack better than historically.

Your side of the game is to preserve and set up for the coming counter-attack, and to fight off the temptation to give up early.

Very good points Jason.  He's done a great job of keeping me on my heels.  Just as I cock back to throw a punch he jabs me in the nose though.
We'll have to see how Attu plays out.  If I can keep him from taking Attu without showing my hand then AM should succeed.  If he takes Attu then
I'm going to be forced into an "AM Rehearsal" there.  I just need to keep the big boys hidden for awhile.

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 December 05, 2015, 11:48:13 AM
Attu is the new Midway. But for which side?

It might be for me. :-\

I know where his carriers are, at least I think I do so I don't have to worry about them.  I can always escalate and end this by using the troops and ships designated for AM but I'll lose any element of surprise I may have had.  No matter what I don't think I can launch AM if he takes Attu. 

KyzBP

February 3rd, 1942

Attu continues to be the center of my attention.

The DD/CL Group make it to Attu just in time.

The DD/CL group had to sprint to get to Attu in time.  Unfortunately, they're now all carrying large amounts of damage/wear and tear.
They'll head back to Dutch to fix what can be fixed there and then they'll make their way to Vancouver and Seattle to fix the rest.
I'm sending a duplicate group from Dutch to replace them.  I'm hoping Geek will believe they are the same TF and not figure out
that the bulk of the U.S. Navy is wintering in Alaska.

It looks like he's fleeing Attu though.

I'll try to pick off some of the stragglers and then head back to Dutch.

Another "Short Boat" takes down an AK

There's really no other use for these shortlegged subs.  To their credit they seem to be hitting the AK's at a good rate.

In a big "Where the F did this come from?" moment, Geek takes Male. (Use that title as needed) ;)

I had zero idea this was coming.  No warning from anyone anywhere.  I suspect Star Trek technology to be in play.
My Brit carriers are on their way to Colombo so they'll stop by and say hi.  I also have a BB on it's way to Colombo.  This
little move should end in failure but he did show me I have some serious gaps in my coverage.

Do you want to know what the AVG is not good at?

Ground Attack!  All remaining AVG pilots/planes will be assigned to Escort/Cap only.  I just wasted a lot of good planes
and pilots.  I'd like to try and Bombard Moulmein and take out his airfield.  I'll have to take care of Male first. When the Battle for Rangoon begins I don't
want his planes to be so close.

Along the beleaguered coast of Eastern Australia, A-24 Banshees continue to do anything they can to stem the flow of Geek troops.

These low experience A-24 squadrons continue to punch above their weight.  I didn't expect much from them but they serviceable, at
the very least, in whatever role I put them in.  They haven't been tested yet in an Escort role yet.  Maybe they'll fare better than the P-40's.
They can't be worse.

The stalwart defense of Changsha continues.

10,000 plus troops lost is nothing to sneeze unless you have another 300k waiting in the wings.  I'm very short of supply here so
Changsha should fall anytime.  There's no good fall back position either.  We'll hold on as long as we can.

Our Intel Report gave us a hint that Geek may be sending troops to Normanton. 

Normanton is on Australia's Northeast coast.  I have a few DD's and CL's left at Darwin. 
I'm going to gamble and leave Darwin unguarded to see if I can catch these transports before they can land troops.  I don't expect
them to be heavily escorted.  He can't think I have much left and, well, I don't.  :(