Allied War Council

[Sundowners]

Please ACK if witpae STRAT MAP seen.

[RogerJNeilson]

Yes see it clearly

Roger

[Sundowners]

Thank you Sir. In my first PBEM, Scenario 1, the JAP has scored major victory after and the Allied situation is grave. We are now at 6 months into our match.

I sent the following to my opponent:
26AUG2017 0713:
"We are now 6 months into our match and I will tip my hat to you on your current
sucesses. The situation in the Allied Camp is dire, but I beleive I can keep
you from Auto Victory. If you do win an AV I will resign from our game, but not
allowing you an AV is my goal. Since I have not performed well in our match, I
intend to start an Allied War Council AAR to ask for assistance from other allied
players. I would ask that you not view my AAR, as I will be showing all my forces
in the AAR. Also I will be taking a very close look at all my units and will need
time to do the AAR and give orders. So I am asking for 1 week to complete my next
turn. At our current pace it will take about 2.5 years for us to complete our
match if we make it to the end. What do you think ?"

The JAP Commander replied:

"26.8.17 14:09 I agree, Allies are on the ropes right now and I'm just about to
start one of my final offensives to execute coupe de grace and, truth be told, I
have plenty of options right now. I suggest you read one of AARs (if you have
time) where Mr Kane is Japanese just to see how bad can situation really go for
Allies in this game only to be completely reversed starting with 1944 - and I'm
not by far as good player as Mr Kane is...
Thus far I'm enjoying our game immensely due to breakneck speed and action it has
and I'm looking forward to continue it as soon as you feel ready.
I wish you good luck in your attempt to stop my Evil Empire in its march across
Pacific "

My reply:
"26.8.17 0853 - Thank you sir! Looking forward to putting a sound thrashing upon
the Imperial Japanese. I expect to have turn ready by Friday next, Saturday at
the latest."


More to follow..........

[Canoerebel]

You'll get a lot of feedback fast, but.....

....that map does not suggest some kind of "dire situation" for the Allies in June 1942.

In fact, the real message should be to the Japanese player: "I am enjoying our game. You took Midway and that bothers me. Midway is a nice place for the Allies though by no means critical. You've also taken NW Oz, which every Japanese player takes. But you are behind schedule and have to get cracking to take Port Moresby (and Milne Bay?), which every Japanese player takes. And Luganville, New Caledonia, and Fiji are still well inside the Allied perimeter, which is pretty rare."

Most of your readers have seen far, far worse maps than this one. Typically, Japan invades India or Australia. Almost always, the Japanese player takes at least to Luganville. In probably 50% of the game, he'll take New Caledonia and/or Fiji.

If your opponent's next big move is to take New Caledonia, don't sweat it. Have fun countering it, but don't sweat it.

Now, if he lands 20 divisions in India or at Townsville, you've got something that'll require some sweat on your part (assuming, that is, that he's a good player with experience who knows what he's doing and your fairly new at all this).

[Sundowners]

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

DTG: ALL BALLS ZULU 05JUN1942

FM: ALLIED HQ
TO: ALL ALLIED FORCES

SUBJ: ALLIED SITREP

1. SEE ATTACHED STRAT MAP FOR GENERAL STATUS AND LOCATIONS ALLIED FORCES. JAP POSITION, STRENGTH ESTIMATES AND INTENTIONS LOW CONFIDENCE.

2. ONLY 2 BRIT CV IN PERTH. CVE AT BALBOA. WASP DUE 6 DAYS.

3. NEAR TERM OBJECTIVES: HOLD SEA LINES OF COMMUNICATIONS (SLOCS) FROM PH-CAN-SUVA-NOU-BRIS. HOLD SLOCS COLOMBO-PERTH. HOLD CHIT-IMPHAL LINE.

4. REQUEST ALL ASSESS GENERAL SITUATION AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER OPS.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

[Canoerebel]

Your ship losses are heavy, as you know better than anyone. That makes you feel like you've been whacked and good and that there's nothing to stop your opponent from advancing.

Most of us have been right there. I have. I lost nearly all fleet carriers in my first game against John III and he had all of Australia except Sydney and Melbourne. Many other Allied players can tell of similar experiences. It's a hard and daunting position to be in. Some kudos to you for facing up to it, opening an AAR, and expressing a willingness to figure it out and fight it out. You're like England in June '40. It's you against the enemy now and he seems mighty and threatening.

The first thing you want to do is to abandon any notion of using your carriers. You don't want to lose another, especially Wasp and the Brit hardtops. (There may be exceptions, but just avoid like heck using your carriers.) You'll have to be very cautious in using your combat ships since they've been lost too. You don't want to go head to head against his schwerpunkt, but you want to look for chances to nibble at his flanks, where you might be able to commit four DDs against a supply TF etc.

Mostly, you'll have to suck it up now and let him advance. If it's June '42 he has three or four more months in which he'll be very strong compared to you. You'll need to trade space for time, willingly giving up most of Oz or SoPac or whatever while you watch the calendar flip.

What can you do proactively? Use your subs. Use small, affordable combat TFs to nibble deep. Send two, two-DD TFs towards the Kuriles to raid - see what you can find (and post a couple of xAKs in NoPac to handle refueling (don't use valuable AOs). Or try something similar from the Indian Ocean towards Java.

More than anything, begin to look far into the future to think where you want to be in a year and a year and a half. And then start prepping units and gathering all the merchantmen and supply that will be needed to support such an operation.

For instance, if your plan is to one day invade Sumatra or Malaya in force, you'll want to start stockpiling immense supply and fuel in India towards that day (by October '42, if it's clear your opponent doesn't plan to invade Ceylon, you can begin stockpiling there). You can begin building up Diego Garcia and other bases that can take supply and fuel. And while you're doing that, pick some random set of islands on the far side of the map and begin to build them up, doing the same thing, so that your opponent begins to wonder if that's where you're coming from.

If you want to move on New Guinea or the Solomons next, begin by building New Zealand (when you're sure your opponent isn't coming for it, say by Sept. '42). Build Tahiti and Pago Pago and Christmas Island etc. a bit later, as you become sure they aren't threatened.

If your hope is CenPac, make sure you build out your Hawaii bases and stock them with fuel. Send lots of supply. Begin to work on Johnston, Christmas, Palmyra.

If your hope is NoPac, build up Prince Rupert and your upper Aleutians islands (once you know your opponent isn't coming for them). Stockpile fuel at Kodiak, etc.

Right now, your emphasis is on preparing for the future while looking for chances to sting your opponent in small ways while trading the ground he takes for the time you need.

And for goodness sakes don't lose any more carriers! So just forget you have any until around late 1943 or 1944.

That's a lot of generalities meant to show you that you can be working towards the future even while things are dark. As time goes on, circumstances will quickly change so that some of the generalities I've written no longer apply and new ones do apply. So keep reading other AARs and keep asking questions here. Mostly, though, know that if you play it right, by mid 1944 you may be reveling in power and strength and feel then just how your opponent feels today - that the map is wide open to you and you can go almost anywhere.

[Sundowners]

Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts. Heavy losses can really be attributed to being overly aggressive in trying to stem the red tide. Failing back and digging in for a year or so seems to be best option. Waiting for his next move.......

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Sundowners

Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts. Heavy losses can really be attributed to being overly aggressive in trying to stem the red tide. Failing back and digging in for a year or so seems to be best option. Waiting for his next move.......

With experience you will come to know when to duck and when to sneak in a strike. The Japanese cannot be everywhere so you must look for weak spots that you can hit and run from with little chance of major losses. Your forces do need to get battle experience before they confront the main Japanese force.

[Bif1961]

If he uses his KB and mini-KB, go where they ain't the best thing the Japanese can do is only use the mini-KB and leave the KB in the veil of mystery. Prep ground units now for what you plan for in the future and your future looks like 1944. Move troops and supplies using the edge of the map, like baseball hit them where they ain't.

[Sundowners]

Allied SITREP ALL BALLS ZULU 09JUN1942

Allies repel major JAP amphib effort targeting the OZ Western Coast.

3 DD sortied out of Geraldton to oppose a sighted small AMPHIB TF, and sunk less 1 E.
2 BRIT flattops and escorts sortied out of Perth SW of Geraldton out of harms way.

Second JAP AMPHIB TF sighted and SCTF formed out of CVTF and made high speed to intercept and
sunk all 11 transports and 1500 squads, 31K total JAP troops lost.

[MakeeLearn]

sunk all 11 transports and 1500 squads, 31K total JAP troops lost.

Sinkzai!

[Sundowners]

A hopeful, future, prediction.....

[dave sindel]

ORIGINAL: Sundowners

Allied SITREP ALL BALLS ZULU 09JUN1942

Allies repel major JAP amphib effort targeting the OZ Western Coast.

3 DD sortied out of Geraldton to oppose a sighted small AMPHIB TF, and sunk less 1 E.
2 BRIT flattops and escorts sortied out of Perth SW of Geraldton out of harms way.

Second JAP AMPHIB TF sighted and SCTF formed out of CVTF and made high speed to intercept and
sunk all 11 transports and 1500 squads, 31K total JAP troops lost.

This had to do wonders for Allied morale ! Excellent results

[Lovejoy]

It would seem that you've given your enemy a darned good British-style thrashing. Well done!

Losing that many squads is hopefully going to arrest his movement towards whatever target he was going for. Do you have any intel on what he was trying to cover the amphibious force with?

[Sundowners]

Turn prior to first engagement, JAP SCTF bombarded Brooke, then headed towards Carnarvon. UN-located since. Pulling back to Perth, sleeping a little easier.

[Bif1961]

Balls zulu is also know as quad zulu.

[Lovejoy]

ORIGINAL: Sundowners

Turn prior to first engagement, JAP SCTF bombarded Brooke, then headed towards Carnarvon. UN-located since. Pulling back to Perth, sleeping a little easier.

Any intel on where the KB was? Considering that you are short are carriers, he may have felt that he did not need to use it to screen the invasion. Still, sending that large an invasion force without a bit of extra protection seems a bit odd.

[Sundowners]

Hot Wash Up: Congratulations to my opponent and new friend, Tomamars. He handily defeated my Allies in stock Scenario 1 with an Auto Victory on 01JAN1943.

After the match, he discussed with me his view point on how he thought my Allies could have averted disaster while hitting back where back possible. His thoughts:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"10.01.18 21:00 - Here's my cents tha I will use when playing Alies that I learned from this game:
1. NEVER fight KB on equal terms in first 15 months of the war - Japan has better aircraft and pilots while US has better carriers. US must use LBA to help equal the odds, like they did at battle of Midway and stay close to friendly base to run to after the battle.
2. Don't use BBs in first 15 months. In those first months they are just giant torpedo magnets, later they have their use as mobile artilery and AA defence
3. Use B17s in hit and run tactics, preferably against oil in DEI or ship packed ports in 1942. They are your most important ofensive asset early
4. Dug in and wait. Every casuality you inflict to Japanese in 1942 costs supply and time - specially in China. Avoid open spaces and ambush Sonias with AVG. Concentrate your airforce on Pacific so IJN needs to commit it's assets. Every naval pilot lost is worth 3 army pilots, every TB pilot is worth 3 fighter pilots.
5. Avoid direct confrontation with IJN, use those cruisers to raid Japan's rear shipping lines, maybe you'll catch TKs or unprotected division in AKs...
6. Mine your ports defensively, mine main Japanese oil centers offensively. Mines are your best weapons against Japanese subs in 1942
7. Use destroyers in ASW role and as port defense. So many times in this game have Japanese DDs raided unprotected ports and killed countles AMs and other little ships, leaving ports with no ASW defense. An CL and few distroyers would change that idea rather quickly...
8. Support China as much as possible. It holds over 30 Japanese divisions and you don't want those guys somwhere else in 1943...
9. Fight for cities with industry, specially thise with oil. Pack them with engineers. Let them destroy all those assets rather than let them fall into Japanese hands...

You can be agressive as Allies in 1942 only not against main Japanese force. Rather, you should focus on attacking logistics such as shipping, oil, industry and attrition of Japanese troops. If you do this well, eventually Japan will loose it's steam and then you can begin to grind him down with you supperior 1943-44 numbers and technology.

10.01.18 23:00 - Few more things:
1. You should invest more into naval search, Allies have tons of Catalinas but also other long ranged aircraft so Japan really shouldn't be able to sneak behind Allied lines and cause havoc like it did. Search should also be complemented by patrol boats, like it was in RL.
2. CV fleet can't compete with KB in first year and a half so it should taunt KB but not engage. Have it as fleet in being. Appear at one spot, cause trouble and run away. KB will have to react and when it does you can activate those CAs and CLs to strike at the rear. HAve several fleets ready and move CVs between them. KB can't be everywhere at the same time and as you not where it is, activate units furtherest away from it.
3. Repair of one point of industry costs Japan 1000 suplly points. Japan can't survive prolonged bombing campaing since it has no reserves. Hitting oil in 42 can win you the war in 43."

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Though I was definitely taken to the wood shed, much was learned and fun had by all.

-Mark

[tomamars]

OK, few words here. This game was not at all so one-sided as final result might let you believe. Lady luck was definitely on Japan's side in few crucial situations, mostly in our first carrier battle when Allied CVs were fighting in the clear, sunny day while KB was covered by thunderstorms only 100 miles away. Fact that you lost both of your carriers on that day in 1941, while mine did not even get their paint scratched and STILL you went on against all odds serves you juge credit in my eyes. I really hope you had fun in this game (I know I did) and I'm open for a rematch anytime. Even as Allies [:)]
If you had enough of me, I hope you'll give hell to next Japanese who dares to challenge you for a duel [:)] I know my evil empire will do just that to next Allied player with all lessons we learned in this game [;)]

Anyways, people if you get a privilege to play with Mark here, get ready for a wild ride that will not end with few setbacks from his part. He'll bring it to a conclusion, good or bad for his cause and so should every other player out there.
Cheers Mark!

[Sundowners]

I could not ask for a more reliable and HONEST opponent than Tomamars. During our match we averaged 1.37 turns/day. That includes through RL issues such as: Child Births, Hurricanes, Auto Accidents (everyone is OK now) work overtime, and unexpected house guests to mention a few.
So if your looking for a solid and reliable opponent Tomamars is your guy!