War and Peas - Hortlund (J) vs. Canoe (A)

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Lomri
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RE: War and Peas - Hortlund (J) vs. Canoe (A)

Post by Lomri »


Really surprised your transit went undetected. Even your SBDs spotting subs should be considered "detection". I imagine you'll be operating under the assumption that PH knows you have some CVs in theater, right?

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RE: War and Peas - Hortlund (J) vs. Canoe (A)

Post by Canoerebel »

I'll be operating on the assumption that Steve knows where Ent and York are, though I'll also keep in mind the possibility that he doesn't.

As mentioned earlier, having the American carriers present is good whether Steve knows of them or not.  If he does, he's got to be cautious, and that means he slows down here.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
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RE: War and Peas - Hortlund (J) vs. Canoe (A)

Post by Canoerebel »

Oops, duplicate post edited to unduplicate.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
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RE: War and Peas - Hortlund (J) vs. Canoe (A)

Post by Canoerebel »

12/20/41
 
Eastern DEI: The American carriers have been ordered to full power to try to impede or stop what appears to be the imminent invasion of Lautem and/or Dili.  The enemy ships are between those targets and Ambon, plus I got SigInt of troops aboard a Maru bound for Lautem.  Ent and York are pretty distant still, but should be able to close to within six to eight hexes.  In addition, Force Z, a cruiser TF led by Houston, and a CL TF will also make for the port.  i've also loaded up Koepang's airfield with low-quality Dutch (and one RAF) bombing unit.  Plenty of PBYs are patroling these seas from a variety of bases.
 
Why Now? Because enemy control of airfields on Timor will limit or eliminate the Allied ability to try to contest control of the DEI.  if Japan is no closer than Ambon, Allied combat ships and carriers should be able to hold off Japan until Steve brings in more carriers of his own.  My patrols report one Mini KB still near the Sulu Sea plus what seems to be all or most of the KB in the Gulf of Alaska.  There is a Mini KB in the Koepang area, but I don't think she can take on Ent plus Lex (plus Hermes, which will definately be within range in a separate TF to be poasted NE (true) of Koepang.  Even if I guess wrong and the carriers don't intercept, or don't do it effectively enough to stop Steve, I haven't really lost anything, for once Steve takes Lautem and/or Dili, I have to pull back.  So fight now to preserve the position or retire to a more distant postiion and concede control of the eastern DEI.
 
Torres Straits:  It's not definite that Steve knows the carriers are about to show up.  My ASW again jousted with his sub pickets here.   Steve may have full knowledge or he may suspect that American cruisers but nothing more have passed by or he may not even know that much.  If I didn't know the whereabouts of the KB, I'd be much more nervous.
 
Ground Attacks:  Allied attacks near Mersing and at Meiktila failed badly.  The Chinese attack near Chengchow was a high-end 1:1.  Another big Chinese corps arrived and the computer wants the rest of the units to attack again anyhow, so we'll try again tomorrow.  The Chinese have a shot at roughing up an isolated IJ division (I think it's 35th).
 
Evaluating Steve's Play:  Steve is aggressive and good and knowledgeable.  Does he have weaknesses?  Nothing I can point out yet, though I'm keeping my eyes on a couple of small things that I might be able to use.  I do think Steve has gotten general information about some of my tendencies.  He's either picked this up through reading my AARs or getting a few off-the-cuff tips from somebody like Nemo (or both).  He has positioned some of his forces at places I tend to employ.  This could be coincidental, but it could also mean he has some info that he's using.  I'll continue to monitor this also.
 
 
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
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RE: War and Peas - Hortlund (J) vs. Canoe (A)

Post by Canoerebel »

Here's how things look.

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"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
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RE: War and Peas - Hortlund (J) vs. Canoe (A)

Post by paullus99 »

I suspect, after reading your AAR with Chaz, that your opponent intends to push as hard as he can to prevent you from establishing a firm base of defense before he's ready. He is probably going to pull an invasion of Australia or India - almost a must in a game like this, so he needs those bases to start interdicting your supply lines to those areas & also attrit forces that could be used in their defense.

I think your move with the carriers is the right call here - if you can give him a bloody nose & perhaps make him think twice - it will buy you more time to reinforce key areas for a most extended and expanded defense.
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RE: War and Peas - Hortlund (J) vs. Canoe (A)

Post by Cribtop »

Dan,

I think you are employing a good aggressive move here that could well give a serious bloody nose to Steve. It will create delay, preserve the opportunity to do more work on Fortress Koepang (if you so choose) and generally show the enemy that you are playing aggressively but in a different direction than the Chez game. This will have far reaching effects.

I'm not saying these effects will be decisive. PH is too good to get thrown completely off balance. However, it will allow you to dictate events in this key theater over the short to medium term and probably force PH to commit KB to these rather dangerous waters.

IMHO the Allies need to show their CVs early at least once, even if the overall strategy is to keep them hidden. The early strike emphasizes your willingness to use them and reinforces the need for the Japanese player to account for them in every Op.

Your ability to play a different game in each AAR is a fast developing player strength as well. Kudos. [&o]
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RE: War and Peas - Hortlund (J) vs. Canoe (A)

Post by JeffroK »

Maybe too late, but a raid by Saratoga on some really safe target might keep him wondering where your CV are?

Re your latest comments, you have a reputation that is widely talked about, it shouldnt have been hard to block your known preferences.

But that sees KB up north where its doing little except chewing OIL, use either your rep, or threats of following your rep, to get PH out of place and off balance.
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RE: War and Peas - Hortlund (J) vs. Canoe (A)

Post by Canoerebel »

Saratoga is moving south of San Fran, well off the coast, and will refuel somewhere in the vicinity of Christmas Island.  From there she'll try to lend a hand with the defense of the SoPac islands, though always avoiding any contact that smacks of the KB or a division thereof.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
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RE: War and Peas - Hortlund (J) vs. Canoe (A)

Post by Keifer »

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

I do think Steve has gotten general information about some of my tendencies.  He's either picked this up through reading my AARs or getting a few off-the-cuff tips from somebody like Nemo (or both).  He has positioned some of his forces at places I tend to employ.  This could be coincidental, but it could also mean he has some info that he's using.  I'll continue to monitor this also.


IMO - He's read your AAR's. Everything he's done, I would do playing against you based on your previous AAR's.

Also, I was part of the Peanut Gallery recommending against a move on Ambon. But I reverse that thought regarding Timor. With 2CV's and Force Z you could stop them before they get ashore and inflict some real damage. ATTACK-Repeat-ATTACK
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RE: War and Peas - Hortlund (J) vs. Canoe (A)

Post by BBfanboy »

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Here's how things look.

Image
The map shows your planned movement for only one phase worth of your full speed movement.
I think it would be good to go a little further west - say south of Koepang- to have an escape route with a wider opening than Torres Strait. If KB has been split and part comes in via Torres strait you will want to be able to break for a trip around Aus or off to the IO.
I'm sure fuel is an issue in N. Aus so you can't hang around long to oppose a heavy surface TF threat if he decides to throw several at you from both ends of the Timor Sea. Better to keep next to your open left flank.
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RE: War and Peas - Hortlund (J) vs. Canoe (A)

Post by Cribtop »

ORIGINAL: Keifer

ATTACK-Repeat-ATTACK

Frankly, Keifer said it more concisely than I did. I give his advice a big Texas +1.
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RE: War and Peas - Hortlund (J) vs. Canoe (A)

Post by Canoerebel »

12/21/41
 
Timor:  A modest Japanese invasion fleet escorted by CA Nachi arrives at Timor, encounters the Aliled combat TFs, and promptly retires without landing any troops.  Kates from Ambon sortie and put some 250 kilo hits on PoW and Repulse doing minor damage.  No carrier strikes are launched and, as best I can tell, none of the Allied carriers are sighted (more about this in a moment).  With a major concentration of Allied capital ships in place now, the Allies should be able to handle the defense of Timor for quite some time.
 
NoPac:  The KB is near Kodiak Island.  I love where she is and I love knowing where she is.  Japanese land on Umnak.
 
CenPac:  A sub gets a big xAP that was fleeing the Philippines for Pearl.  It seems unfair to succeed in escaping the trap only to wander across the path of a sub.
 
SoPac:  The Japanese take Ocean Island.
 
Malaya:  I suspect Steve will land troops at Mersing and then march them due south to Johore Bahru in an attempt to isolate the Allied army to the west.  The Allies will shift troops around a bit to counter this.
 
Burma:  A hodge-podge of Allied troops will shock attack at Meiktila tomorrow.  The army is weak, poor quality, and just doesn't ooze confidence, so I don't either.  If this attack doesn't succeed, the Allies may not be able to reclaim this base form the IJ paratroopers.
 
China:  The Chinese get the best of 35th Div. near Chengchow - the first successful blow struck in this area.  Steve is trying some maneuvers in this part of the theater, but at this point I don't think he's going to succeed.  His having one division beat up isn't going to help him.
 
How to Spin Things:  Me thinks that Steve's move on Timor was mainly trying to feel things out, risking little to either take Lautem or get good intel on how strong the Allies are in the area.  Judging by his email comments, he suspects Allied carriers are present (he claims to have a sighting, but this could be a bluff).  He can rightfully claim that his little expedition risked little, lost nothing, and gained some valuable intel.  He might be right, but here's the thing:  the Allies got much more. One more day and Japan might have taken Lautem on the cheap.  Getting an airbase that far forward would have forced the Allies to pull back and probably give up on the defense of Timor and the eastern DEI.  Instead, the Allies hold Timor and many other islands and Japan can't come forward now without risking an engagement with two USN fleet carriers.  Moreover, my SBDs didn't waste sorties (and giving away further intel) by attacking a weak IJN amphibious force.  So I think the Allies win this interesting little "non event."
 
Air Wars:  In pressing hard, Steve has committed his airforce pretty far forward and often against decent fighter opposition.  Two AVG squadrons in Burma have already scored big, as have a couple of P-40 squadrons in the Philippines.  Not a big deal, but its nice to get a cadre of high-quality fighter pilots.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
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RE: War and Peas - Hortlund (J) vs. Canoe (A)

Post by Canoerebel »

12/22/41 and 12/23/41
 
My family and I are getting ready for a long camping trip out west.  This, in turn, has pushed me at work to be fully prepared, leaving not enough time to play and report.  But the big push is past now, so the interim before we leave (late next week) should be a bit more relaxed:
 
NoPac and IJN Carriers:  The KB is up at Kodiak Island in the presence of a big combat TF.  Target could be a raid on Anchorage.  Steve has an open opporunity up here, but I'm telling you it's worth it from my perspective.  At the moment I think I know the location of all of the Japanese carriers.  The main group is in the Gulf of Alaska; two fleet carriers (part of the KB that shot for Enterprise at the start of the war) may be detatched; one Mini KB is north of Ambon; and one Mini KB is south of Davoa.  Having such detailed information for so long really helps me in handling my ships.
 
SwPac:  144th Regiment is coming for Rabaul.  My CA Australia TF is likely to contest the move on the belief that there are no IJ carriers present.  Steve may well employ a powerful combat TF.
 
Eastern DEI:  Ent and Lex are on station south (true) of Koepang.  Force Z just re-fueled at Darwin.  Steve has taken Kendari, so the he's made some inroads, but he can't come any further without facing carriers...and his Mini KBs aren't strong enough to take my carriers on, in all likelihood.  Koepang's garrison is up to 140 AV.  I probably won't get much more in place.  Maybe I can get it up to 200.
 
Western DEI:  Steve has taken Oosthaven and Merak.  The first of the Dutch garrison has arrived at Cocos Island.  This buys me some much-needed piece of mind as this helps guard against a blitz move on India (this along with the Allied garrisons at Port Blair and Diego Garcia).
 
Malaya:  Steve has moved to pin part of Singapore's defenders west of Mersing.  I'm okay if my guys choose to retreat after battle towards rather than away from Singers, but that's no sure thing.
 
Burma:  Burma army got a 1:1 at Meiktila.  There's a chance the Allies can retake this base.
 
China:  Some Chinese units have been getting caught and roughed up as they were retiring to my various MLRs.  Nothing major has taken place that would seriously undermine either side in China.  But Steve is moving fairly aggressively, which may create some opportunities to attack enemy elements exposed in detail.
 
Philippines:  Steve moved a big army to Manila, where I had a small rear-guard defense of about 250 AV.  These units might retreat the wrong way when Steve's army succeeds in pushing them out (his shock attack failed today).  My units are retiring to Clark, but I don't know if they have time to make it before Steve attacks again.
 
Strategic Sitaution:  As usual, India and Oz are the two biggest concerns for the Allies early in the war.  Still no indications of which, or whether, Steve will target one.  27th USA Div. just arrived at March Field and will report to Los Angelese for shipment to Oz (Queen Elizabeth will help in this move).  I need another 10 to 15 days to accumulate the PP to buy this unit, but it's a very high priority.  Getting her to Melbourne will give that base about 500 AV.  Sydney has about 750 AV.  Other bases have much smaller garrisons designed primarily to prevent "smash and grabs" by Japan.  As far as India is concerned, two Brit brigades that start at Capetown are bound for Bombay.  Several USA units that start on West Coast just reach East Coast and are on the way to Capetown and ultimately Bombay.  This includes some infantry, HQ, and engineers.  A Marine CD unit will go to Socotra. 
 
It's too early in the game for me to detect any major problems at this point. Steve is moving fast, but thus far he hasn't gotten in any good licks on the Allied fleet, meaning I'm still able to pick and choose places to oppose him.  
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
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RE: War and Peas - Hortlund (J) vs. Canoe (A)

Post by AcePylut »

In my PBEM with PH, he went for the Aleuts pretty early, covered by a couple of light carriers (Zuiho and Taiyo iirc) and ran smack dab into a pair of US CV's. Needless to say, the IJN CV's were turned into artificial reefs and the invasion was turned back. I was able to reinforce Adak up to Attu before he had a chance to get back. Couple that with Canoe's love of the Northern Route, and it's no surprise to me to see PH bringing more CV support to this theater.
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RE: War and Peas - Hortlund (J) vs. Canoe (A)

Post by crsutton »

Sort of mystified that he has a large carrier force in Alaskian waters at this point. There is nothing of value there that cannot be taken at a later date. I think it is a waste of assets and time. Perhaps he is influenced by your past history of taking the Northern Route.
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RE: War and Peas - Hortlund (J) vs. Canoe (A)

Post by JeffroK »

ORIGINAL: crsutton

Sort of mystified that he has a large carrier force in Alaskian waters at this point. There is nothing of value there that cannot be taken at a later date. I think it is a waste of assets and time. Perhaps he is influenced by your past history of taking the Northern Route.
As mentioned, use this to your advantage, get him worried about little things and he will then find himself well out of position.

What would be his refueling bases for this sortie, maybe your subs can get across his line of retreat and give those torps a try?
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RE: War and Peas - Hortlund (J) vs. Canoe (A)

Post by AcePylut9 »

This is pretty interesting - usually someone who does aar's is at a disadvantage because the other guy knows your tendencies. But I never really thought of using "what they know" against them, in this manner.
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RE: War and Peas - Hortlund (J) vs. Canoe (A)

Post by Captain Cruft »

I don't know what PH is thinking, but one thing I do know is that as Japan you absolutely do not need your CVs to take the DEI. A single land-based torpedo-equipped air flotilla can put paid to any Allied CV effort in the area.

Most players are far too obsessed with the SRA in general. The way the game works, Japan almost doesn't even need the place. It's not very realistic but there you go.
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RE: War and Peas - Hortlund (J) vs. Canoe (A)

Post by JeffroK »

ORIGINAL: AcePylut9

This is pretty interesting - usually someone who does aar's is at a disadvantage because the other guy knows your tendencies. But I never really thought of using "what they know" against them, in this manner.
It may not work, but its why the Military keeps dossier on its opponents.

If PH was to see something that fitted into his expectations, it might divert him from the better strategy.

Maybe.
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