Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks

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Bullwinkle58
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RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks

Post by Bullwinkle58 »

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

+ 1 on wanting to play more of the naval game and not get bogged down in a land war in Asia. The history books warn us about that!

And NO - you do not come across as arrogant or overconfident in your posts. I see the kind of optimism that helps good leaders pull off good results in a miserable situation. Lower your antlers and go to it!

As for the lack of endowment problem you mentioned, the TV says there are medicines and appliances that can help with that! I hear your inventory contains something called a "Long Tom"... [;)]

Thanks for the good words. [:)]

Not to whine (OK, some) Asia would be so much easier if the interface on the map were kinder to old guys with thick glasses. This is one area WitE did it much better, a generation ahead. As well being able to zoom the map with the mouse wheel! The tiny squares and the much tinier direction dots get old when you're playing in a higher-res.

I do not have a handle on movement costs/times for the various land types and terrain mixes. I usually just guesstimate, and lately I've underguessed by a lot. He seems to be able to run while my guys are smelling flowers along the way.

Under-endowed . . . PalemBANG! Make your own joke . . . [:'(]
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RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks

Post by witpqs »

My secret weapon for dealing with the ultra-tiny direction arrows is a magnifying glass! 3.5x Worth it's weight in gold.
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RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks

Post by Crackaces »

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

[
I do not have a handle on movement costs/times for the various land types and terrain mixes. I usually just guesstimate, and lately I've underguessed by a lot. He seems to be able to run while my guys are smelling flowers along the way.

One thing about ground bombing -- the unit in question will go into 'combat' mode if in move mode, which is 1/2 of the movement I believe. Simply getting bombs on the unit causes the change -- no casulties needed .. It is a nice way to slow an advance, or slow down prey so forces can surround and cut off their quarry ... Also I think the IJ get a jungle movement bonus which allows for a very rapid advance in Mayla and Burma ...
"What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know. It's what we know for sure that just ain't so"
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RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks

Post by BBfanboy »

Someone mentioned that LCU movement is influenced by morale. The low Chinese morale, and lack of any transport at all, add up to slower movement than any other LCUs. However, if you are in the mountains or a swamp, the Chinese can keep pace with the Japanese!
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
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RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks

Post by erstad »

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Someone mentioned that LCU movement is influenced by morale. The low Chinese morale, and lack of any transport at all, add up to slower movement than any other LCUs. However, if you are in the mountains or a swamp, the Chinese can keep pace with the Japanese!

Don't think this is correct. Fatigue will directly influence movement, but I don't think morale.
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RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks

Post by BBfanboy »

You are probably right erstad. My recall is not as good as it once was and since fatigue and morale are reported practically together on the unit info screen, I could have transposed the movement effect from one to the other. Not that it matters much in the case of the Chinese early in the game when fatigue is high and morale is low!
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
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RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks

Post by Crackaces »

Right now I would give my odds of winning the game as at best 60:40. If he lands on Hawaii and takes Pearl I'd say 20%.

I might suggest that everytime you get discouraged .. take a look at Greyjoy vs. Radier AAR. Here Radier consumes India, & China ..to only have GreyJoy in 1944 land on Hokkaido ... AndyMac vs. PzB .. PzB takes PH .. no problem 1944 the tide turns .... BigRed vs. FatR same thing .. all scenario #2 ...

The closest AV I have read about was PJH vs. CanoeRebel, and PJH made a huge execution mistake that you pointed out very early .... anyway the game stopped ..

In my opiniion, The big problem with AutoVictory for the IJ/Allies is the Denominator problem. IJ points/Allied Points > 4 by Jan 1943. Every increase of 1 Allied point increases the requirement of the IJ by 4 points. Of course the opposite is true. Every allied point lost reduces the requirement by 4 points. Very careful management of this problem [or simple luck [;)] ] gets the Allied side past this point. Like typically teh IJ lose 2:1 or 3:1 aircraft over the Allies .. do the math ...[;)]

There are some point dense areas to exploit and it will be interesting to see how your opponent manages their strategy.
"What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know. It's what we know for sure that just ain't so"
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RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks

Post by Bullwinkle58 »

ORIGINAL: witpqs

My secret weapon for dealing with the ultra-tiny direction arrows is a magnifying glass! 3.5x Worth it's weight in gold.

I saw you recco that a few weeks ago in another thread. I think Girl of the P. might have one somewhere in the house. I'll ask her.
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RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks

Post by Bullwinkle58 »

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

[
I do not have a handle on movement costs/times for the various land types and terrain mixes. I usually just guesstimate, and lately I've underguessed by a lot. He seems to be able to run while my guys are smelling flowers along the way.

One thing about ground bombing -- the unit in question will go into 'combat' mode if in move mode, which is 1/2 of the movement I believe. Simply getting bombs on the unit causes the change -- no casulties needed .. It is a nice way to slow an advance, or slow down prey so forces can surround and cut off their quarry ... Also I think the IJ get a jungle movement bonus which allows for a very rapid advance in Mayla and Burma ...

He has done this scores of times in China already. I did know that rule, but what I never noticed playing the AI is if the lead LCU in a stack goes to Combat, and the others are still in Move, well, guess what? The whole train slows down. The code seems to always pick the follow-me LCU to shift to Combat. I am adapting by not using stack movement and Move in combo in eastern areas of the China map.. I"m sending each LCU as an individual to the same destination. Tedious, but I think it helps in the macro. It's also beginning to help that many more of the big stacks are west of his bomber ranges.
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RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks

Post by Bullwinkle58 »

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

You are probably right erstad. My recall is not as good as it once was and since fatigue and morale are reported practically together on the unit info screen, I could have transposed the movement effect from one to the other. Not that it matters much in the case of the Chinese early in the game when fatigue is high and morale is low!

A lot of my retreating road-Chinese are in the teens or single digits on supply too, all in the deep red. I don't know if that slows them down, but it doesn't help the other stats.
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RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks

Post by Bullwinkle58 »

ORIGINAL: Crackaces
Right now I would give my odds of winning the game as at best 60:40. If he lands on Hawaii and takes Pearl I'd say 20%.

I might suggest that everytime you get discouraged .. take a look at Greyjoy vs. Radier AAR. Here Radier consumes India, & China ..to only have GreyJoy in 1944 land on Hokkaido ... AndyMac vs. PzB .. PzB takes PH .. no problem 1944 the tide turns .... BigRed vs. FatR same thing .. all scenario #2 ...

The closest AV I have read about was PJH vs. CanoeRebel, and PJH made a huge execution mistake that you pointed out very early .... anyway the game stopped ..

In my opiniion, The big problem with AutoVictory for the IJ/Allies is the Denominator problem. IJ points/Allied Points > 4 by Jan 1943. Every increase of 1 Allied point increases the requirement of the IJ by 4 points. Of course the opposite is true. Every allied point lost reduces the requirement by 4 points. Very careful management of this problem [or simple luck [;)] ] gets the Allied side past this point. Like typically teh IJ lose 2:1 or 3:1 aircraft over the Allies .. do the math ...[;)]

There are some point dense areas to exploit and it will be interesting to see how your opponent manages their strategy.

Good points. I only joined the GJ/Rader match as India was under pressure. I never read the Chinese phase. And I haven't looked at Andy's game. If he lost Hawaii I think I will!

I asked for/insisted on auto-vic as a key component in this game, and to me it's critical to balancing the design. Due to that I have tried, in addition to not wanting to fight a ballet in China anyway, to keep him focused there since it's the one place besides the PI where I get a VP advantage. Every Japanese soldier I kill there gives me breathing room with Indian, Aussie, and British soldiers' lives. I'm also trying to "give" him China as fast as I can so he has to garrison. I'm hoping the steamroller will slow due to that in the next six months. I made a mistake abandoning the northern river valley as some of those bases he never would have cared to take, and leaving them is costing me 3-4 VPs a day because of garrison rules. Live and learn.

My hope is that having most of the Chinese army available in Burma and/or India will be a mind-scrambler he will struggle with for at least 18 months, and largely overcome the advanatge of no-PPs to move Japanese units into China. If I can relieve Indian garrisons with Chinese peasants I can free up some decent armor and infantry sooner and get it to Burma. But right now that is a distant dream, as are Seabee units in India . . .
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RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks

Post by Bullwinkle58 »

January 3, 1942

"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Cruiser"

Something funny happened this turn, hence the title. One of my Dutch subs got depth charged by a CA. I knew it was theoretically possible, but had never seen it.

1) ASW attack near Cam Ranh Bay at 62,75

Japanese Ships
TB Kasasagi
CA Atago
CA Takao
DD Mikazuki
CA Chokai

Allied Ships
SS KXV

SS KXV launches 4 torpedoes at TB Kasasagi (Why?!!! It's a rowboat!!!!)
KXV diving deep ....
CA Chokai attacking submerged sub ....
CA Chokai fails to find sub, continues to search...
CA Chokai fails to find sub, continues to search...
CA Chokai fails to find sub, continues to search...
CA Chokai fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

2) Lose another ASW bet near Pearl as DD Bagley takes a torp and sinks. Have a few early DD upgrades to do. Think I will pull the ASW in again and do some work. Unless there's a convoy headed in maybe I'll let him burn fuel for a few turns.

3) The expected extra help for Palmyra arrives, a DD and three large xAKs. No sign of a carrier; more on that in a minute. The new TF unloads in each phase. CD gets in six good hits, some penetrating, leaving one xAK burning and with severe engine damage. DD Crosby is nearby to the east; I may chance a raid on the beach.

The new unit (plus I assume a lot of supply) is the Maizuru 2nd SNLF. The attack still does not take Palmyra. Color me surprised. At the end of the turn Forts on Palmyra go back to 1.

Ground combat at Palmyra (170,133)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 2297 troops, 30 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 61

Defending force 641 troops, 12 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 7

Japanese adjusted assault: 15

Allied adjusted defense: 7

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

Combat modifiers
Defender: morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
74 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
25 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Assaulting units:
Maizuru 2nd SNLF
53rd Naval Guard Unit

Defending units:
Palmyra USN CPNAB
Palmyra (Det.) Defense Battalion

4) How Now, Brown Carrier? During the turn prep I re-looked at the locaiton of USS Perch, twice found by carrier ASW previously. She was farther north than I thought. This, combined with a 3-ship TF seen leaving Truk, combined with new sub activity west of Puget Sound and near Seward and Kodiak makes me think more firmly that an attack on Midway is in motion. This will blind me to the next war phase, which I believe will echo Canoerebel's troubles in NorPac. I know Mike has read that AAR. It's a perfect VP factory if done correctly, and he now has the lessons of PH.

This turn I do what I can about it. Already underway are a small regiment ashore at Seward, and the 87th Mountain on a coastal route to Dutch. Aboard the Queen Elizabeth (Yeah, I did it, sucka!! [:)]) in a single-ship amphib task force is the 47th Construction Reg. one "QE day" out of Dutch. (IOW, half-way to Seattle.) Forts there are a bit over 2, but the AF is at 0 + 2% after a month of hammering. There is also the starting base force and a port services unit for unloading. I'll feel a lot better when the 87th Mountian arrives.

Kodiak has 135 AV in four units including an infantry reg. and engineers, plus AA and base force. Cats based there, but supply is only about 950.

Midway just has laundry hanging out everywhere. Got about 3500 supply and 1000 fuel in, and the fuel is still unloading. I've sucked some of the supply down to send to Wake. It has Forts 2, Port also building. There are a total of six DDs there in two TFs. Patrol assets and two Bolos on ASW. The Marine defense uit and an air force base force are the whole defense. I have another base force coming from SF. A heavily damaged xAK is at the pier, but needs to sail home this turn regardless of risk. I have no planes which can reach there on their own, and I don't want to risk Hawaii's meager stock on the water.

This turn I also converted an 8-pane Bolo unit at Pearl to D-Forts. They can reach Johnson, barely.

I haven't seen the KB or any BB in weeks, so if Midway is a target, especially if the effort came from Truk, I expect it will be creamed. I sent all the subs with any hope of getting there up there. A damaged USS Cachalot has four pool-emptying mines on board and left Pearl this turn. It's all I can do.

5) Miscellaneous air battles lots of places. Palembang swept, three more Dutch Demons fall. The bombers come next, and hit the AF with these results:

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
Do-24K-1: 2 damaged
Do-24K-1: 1 destroyed on ground
139WH-3: 3 damaged

At Sian the last Chinese biplane fighter in the region is destroyed. Some supply damage is done. At Bataan all the remaining PTs, three models in one combo pack TF, are strafed at 100 ft. by many Oscars. Some machine gun damage only. Bataan has little fuel and no torpedo reload capacity, so they're a one-shot weapon unless I can sneak them back into Manila. Manila has no naval support anymore, but I think could arm a PT. Changsha and Chengchow and Tuyun get supply bombiing runs.

6) Chinese bombers hit the 8th Tank at Pegu again. No damage. It does not have a direction dot, so I may escape Rangoon after all. The few Hudsons at Sian hit the 5th Tank Reg. trying to get across the river south of Sian. Perhaps it will slow it down if in Move mode.

7) Manila bombing. Two other similar attacks today.

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22
G3M2 Nell x 4
G4M1 Betty x 50

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged

Airbase hits 24
Airbase supply hits 14
Runway hits 75

Manila is not providing a lot of supply, about 100/day now. I ordered one Filipino infantry unit to head for Clark. Japan has a fork prepared in Luzon. I have recon on Cabanatuan showing five LCUs. They've been there at least a week. There are four at San Fernando for longer, which is why I've been expecting a move on Lingayan by now. There are two weak units defending this base, with no supply. It's still well-mined. If he takes Manila first he can secure the LI supply, deny it to me, and start fixing the AF. If he goes to Clark first he cuts Manila off but leaves the Manila units to move out and cause trouble down the track toward Legsapi where his takings have mostly been Rowboat Corps. I expect on odds he will do Manila first, which is why I'm slowly sneaking out. The Cavite base force just unpacked at Clark, which should accelerate the fort building, but most of the supply is stockpiled at Bataan.

8) Singapore bombing. This one doesn't go so well for Japan:

Afternoon Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 18
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 28

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 3 destroyed, 7 damaged
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed by flak
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 1 destroyed


Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 2

9) Intel combined with search sightings show a lot of activity in NW Borneo, TFs at sea as well as in port Sambas, and more coming (Cam Rahn Bay got two separate heavy radio traffic hits in intel, plus the above CA ASW TF on the shallow water line just south of CRB.) I decide to shake things up and try a Cat torpedo strike from Singers. Four fly, right over at sea fat and juicy TFs, and hit Sambas with its four CVLs-worth of CAP. I don't know if all this activity is to support a Mersing landing, or if it's for Palembang. Or Singkawang, the loss of which will greatly complicate my life.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Sambas at 57,88

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 10
A6M2 Zero x 7

Allied aircraft
PBY-4 Catalina x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
PBY-4 Catalina: 1 destroyed

Subsequently, Hudsons from Palembang also test Sambas, hit nothing, and the Batavia B-17s do a naval strike at 3000 feet (half get lost on the way in rain), also with no results. But I wanted to show the Forts in their design role at least once.

10) Jesselton is taken after a short battle. Both Allied base faorces rereat into the jungle with medium losses.

Allied ground losses:
183 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 2

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
Yokosuka 4th SNLF

Defending units:
107th RN Base Force
108th RN Base Force

11) The gas station at Cocos I. goes into operation with Force Z getting a partial tank. Several xAKLs did make it out of the Oosthaven channel and are on the way. I have sent an AVP there as well, but have no patrol assets at the moment to spare.

12) Several real time days ago Mike asked in the forum how to get subs to load mines. I haven't seen any, but they could be on the way to Midway, Kodiak, or other.

13) During the air search turn phase the ship sinking sound effect played unexpectedly. I found nothing of mine in any of the text reports. Perhpas the xAK at Palmyra?
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RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks

Post by Bullwinkle58 »

January 4, 1942

"Enemy Mine"

A pretty decent flick if you can get past Lou Gossett as a lizard. But true today in the Pacific as well. Going to be a short one today. Things in Frostbite Falls are heating up for Turkey Day, and my esteemed opponent got me another turn on a very complex day at his abode as well.

Things went a little nutso today in that early-war, mini-mini way. Later on you get the clash of fleets, hundreds of planes, battles with a quarter-million troops. In the first week of January '42 it's jabbing and sparring, ducking and bobbing. More elegant in some ways. But the dominoes continue to fall before the Japanese onslaught, and a new strategic truth begins to emerge from the fog near Hawaii.

1) A lot of action near Palmyra. The DD escorting the relief landing force did detach to operate independently as the xAKs unload. Mike continues to show very precise management of his ships. USS Crosby, the lone raider in the area, tries to get at the merchants, but both at night and the next day tangles with DD Nenohi. In the first there are no hits, despite multiple torpedo runs by the Japanese. In the later encounter they spar and separate, but the Japanese get one last, lucky 19,000yd hit on Crosby, leaving her on fire and heavily damaged. Almost ten nautical miles--good random numberizing!

The landing ships are brutalized by shore fire, leaving one heavy xAK on fire and sinking. But the troops continue to land.

USS Tuna, in the biggest show of futility in the submarine war to date, launches two during the night at xAK Kamogawa Maru and misses. Then she shifts targets to xAK Nitiran Maru and fires EIGHT salvoes at the enemy, missing or dudding each time. She then mans the deck gun, taking one heavy shell for a penetrating hit, but leaving her prey on fire. After this the sinking ship sound is heard, but it is unclear if it was this target.

Submarine attack near Palmyra at 170,133

Japanese Ships
xAK Nitiran Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire

Allied Ships
SS Tuna, hits 1

xAK Nitiran Maru is sighted by SS Tuna
SS Tuna attacking xAK Nitiran Maru on the surface
SS Tuna low on gun ammo, DeTar, J.L. breaks off surface engagement and submerges

After several more CD duels, the final battle comes time. The valiant defenders of Palmyra are destroyed.

Ground combat at Palmyra (170,133)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 2265 troops, 30 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 58

Defending force 632 troops, 12 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 8

Japanese adjusted assault: 44

Allied adjusted defense: 8

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Palmyra !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: fatigue(-), morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
157 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
783 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 60 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 16 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 13 (13 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 6 (6 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 2

Assaulting units:
Maizuru 2nd SNLF
53rd Naval Guard Unit

Defending units:
Palmyra USN CPNAB
Palmyra (Det.) Defense Battalion

2) Better news though. Mersing, intel coming true, greets a landing force escorted by a small surface TF. They are rudely recieved:

TF 115 encounters mine field at Mersing (51,82)

Japanese Ships
DD Katsutade, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kyukaze, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

After this the sunk ship sound effect is heard.

The follow-on TF consists of a DD and one xAP, sighted by a Dutch sub but not attacked.

3) The sub lurking around the Big Island once again penetrates mined waters to get at an unloading tanker force. It does not go well:

ASW attack near Hilo at 183,111

Japanese Ships
SS I-173, hits 5

Allied Ships
DM Ramsay
AO Neosho
TK Gulfhawk
DD Dale
DM Tracy

4) The mongrel PT force at Bataan sorties north on another fishing expedition and meets the same 2CL/2DD force as before. Two more are lost without a torpedo being launched. Use of these assets right now, with no search assets, is a dice roll. My only assumption is he is bringing in forces at Aparri, out of my range.

5) Palembang continues to be attritted by sweeps and airfield bombing. A Blenheim and a Demon are destroyed on the ground. The first Hurricane unit is two days from Oosthaven and will transfer to Palembang.

6) Thirty Sallys hit Singers with very light damage. Six attackers are damaged, one destroyed.

7) The under-trained and equipped Chinese bombers in Burma finally draw blood on the tanks sitting at Pegu. Every tank I can damage this far forward, with no HQ support and little supply, is worth three elsewhere:

Morning Air attack on 14th Tank Regiment, at 55,53 (Pegu)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
SB-III x 11

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)
No Allied losses

8) The combined bomber forces at Balikpapan shift gears and achieve very good results:

Morning Air attack on Tarakan , at 67,91

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
Blenheim I x 7
Blenheim IF x 4
139WH-3 x 7

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Yukikaze, Bomb hits 2
DD Tokitsukaze, Bomb hits 1
xAP Hakone Maru, Bomb hits 1


Oil hits 5
Port hits 2



Aircraft Attacking:
11 x SB-III bombing from 5000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 100 kg GP Bomb

9) Several, up to five (unclear), TFs are at sea off NW Borneo. Some are light carriers, some still carrying Claudes. At least some CAs are present, but I have no evaluation as to these forces' purpose. They could be support for Mersing landings. Or they could be waiting for landing TFs to finish off NW Borneo. Or, more unlikely, they could be for Palembang and/or Oosthaven. Multiple air attacks from three bases fly, but no hits are recorded. The Forts from Batavia come closest with 12 planes, but hit nothing and are not challenged by the CAP.

10) In Malaysia, the sad tale of the retreat reaches the last act as the two strat loading refugees from Temuoh are shock attacked by a sprinting recon unit. The Indian infantry needed to round out the recombine at Singers surrenders. I feel this whole evolution was badly misplayed by me, beginning the first day and the retreat routes chosen.

Ground combat at Kuala Lumpur (49,79)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1175 troops, 2 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 55

Defending force 945 troops, 7 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 13

Japanese adjusted assault: 25

Allied adjusted defense: 7

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Kuala Lumpur !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), preparation(-), morale(-)
experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: leaders(-)

Allied ground losses:
903 casualties reported
Squads: 71 destroyed, 0 disabled

Non Combat: 84 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 8 (8 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1
Units destroyed 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
5th Recon Regiment

Defending units:
FMSV Brigade
8th Indian Brigade

11) In China, he does what I expected, now that I'm sure from his bombing patterns he knows I'm doing a gross reteat strategy. He goes for an interim railroad segment, cutitng the sausage link 2/3 of the way home. I had already redirected strat loading LCUs up the track to target Kweilin instead, and then Move north to the next way-station.

Ground combat at Liuchow (74,55)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 7437 troops, 72 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 258

Defending force 9704 troops, 86 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 377

Japanese adjusted assault: 320

Allied adjusted defense: 38

Japanese assault odds: 8 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Liuchow !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: op mode(-), preparation(-), morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
182 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled

Allied ground losses:
4079 casualties reported
Squads: 127 destroyed, 38 disabled
Non Combat: 109 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 30 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 19 (10 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Units retreated 2

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
21st Ind.Mixed Brigade
4th Ind.Mixed Regiment

Defending units:
62nd Chinese Corps
2nd Prov Chinese Corps

12) Air recon of Johnson Island shows this turn for the first time the presence of three submarines in port, as well as at least two xAKs. I suspect one may be an AS. Or he perhaps is only using Johnson as a fuel depot for now. But the B-17s swapped in last turn will shortly pay a visit, once they are reassembled from the shipping crates.

Finally, as I open the next turn and peek in, I am greeted by this sight near Hawaii, and the flow begins to become more clear:


Image

The TF behind the KB is read as two xAPs. I'm sure there are more. My best guess of a target is Kona. It is mined but undefended. I have just unloaded a heavy convoy at Hilo, with a tank unit, another medium infantry unit, a second base force, and a good CD unit. Inbound about three days out are 2nd Marine Defense Battalion. On the Big Island I have a Wildcat squadron, Havocs, and some Cats.

I could get the tanks to Kona in time I think, but not sure I should. I have taken everything that can fight at Pearl out of repair status, and my fighters there are not what they were on 12/7. I also have about twenty subs I can flood the zone with within five days. But again, I have no good idea what is in the what's-coming.

Stay tuned, same Bat channel.
Enjoy your bird, North Americanos. [:'(]
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RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks

Post by Bullwinkle58 »

January 5, 1942

Three-Way Play

Near Hawaii, it's December 7th all over again:



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RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks

Post by Bullwinkle58 »

January 5, 1942 Continued

Three-Way Play

A VERY active turn for our game. Action on multiple fronts in multiple environments. Top-line, three major operations are unfolding simultaneously in three different areas: Hawaii, Malaysia, and Palembang. I do not know if if this is intended to overwhelm the Allies' leaderhsip, is a reaction to the calendar, or something else. But the op tempo has just spiked.

1) Hawaii. As the screenshot in the previous post indicates, the KB continues to come on at battlestations. Air strikes are launched at Pearl, although my strategic assessment is the next landing target is Kona. Pearl is also at battlestations, CAP at 70 across the board, stacked 5000ft to 25k, everything with an AA gun in a TF, undocked and ready. HMS Warspite, just arrived from Seattle yesterday, is there undamaged and ready with escorts.

On the outer islands things are more mixed. At Hilo unloading of the fuel TF continues. ASW TFs are there as well, as Japanese subs again risk the mined harbor and penetrate for no hits. CAP on Lahaina is as ready as possible. Kona has twin subs and mines, but no ground forces.

BB Oklahoma is flushed from Pearl with three DDs. A risk, but she is moderately damaged and there is no room at the inn for her if the KB is about. I will pull the escorts in two days and send them back. (BB Arizona is at the map edge for the Canal Zone, traveling alone.)

The air strike on Pearl is moderate, but the CAP is ready. Planes continuosly arrive through the encounter, and eventually burn through the Zeros, downing about 8 Vals and Kates, many on the egress. The best news: no hits on the many ships targeted.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Pearl Harbor at 180,107

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 110 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 47 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 48
B5N1 Kate x 17
D3A1 Val x 16

Allied aircraft
P-36A Mohawk x 8
P-40B Warhawk x 15
P-40E Warhawk x 19
F4F-3A Wildcat x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
B5N1 Kate: 3 destroyed, 6 damaged
D3A1 Val: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged


Allied aircraft losses
P-36A Mohawk: 1 destroyed
P-40B Warhawk: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed
F4F-3A Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CL St. Louis
CA San Francisco
DD Schley
BB Warspite
DD Craven
CL Raleigh
DD Selfridge
TK H. M. Storey

The daily intel also contains this entry: "7/38th Division is loaded on AK Sado Maru moving to Pearl Harbor."

I don't know if this xAK is in this formation, but I think the prep is deception. A landing on Oahu now would be very problematic for the Japanese. The entire US Navy, less the carriers and about seven escorts, is at Hawaii. There are over twenty submarines within twenty hexes. The harbor has 335 mines. Forts are at 3.5. There are two Army divisions and many, many support units. All infantry COs have been upgraded. Nimitz has PacFlt.

As above my best guess is Kona. He will get ashore. I hope to attrit the landing with surface raids from Pearl, risking the KB which will be the central submarine target. He has no effective LBA. Johnson is not large enough so far as I know, and Palmyra is too far. I have seen two BBs, but I don't think there is reloading capability closer than Kwajalein, even if there is an AKE at Johnson, which daily recon has not IDed. (This turn the three subs and two "xAK" there have disappeared.) Even so, if division+ LCUs come ashore at Kona the Big Island will be a fight. And I will engage in it if necessary. A large AF close to Pearl is the beginning of the end of Hawaii in 1942. It's possible Lahaina is also the (or a, in simultaneous landings) target, but it's another day's sail, and the AF is very small as yet. It's also much harder for Japan to supply given the geography of small islands, channels, and proximity of Pearl. But I don't discount it could be on the list.

I also have not forgoten about Midway, but for now it's on its own.

The next 2-3 days will be interesting.

2) Malaysia/Mersing. A debacle for Japan, and the source of the e-mail comments I recieved with the movie.

The op begins in a normal manner. Two infantry regiments begin to land at vacant Mersing. There has been no bombardment or air prep, so I'm sure he knows it is empty.

Amphibious Assault at Mersing (51,82)

TF 115 troops unloading over beach at Mersing, 51,82

Japanese ground losses:
115 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

20 troops of a IJA HMG Squad lost overboard during unload of 16th Infantry Rgt
20 troops of a IJA HMG Squad accidentally lost during unload of 24th Infantry Rgt /1
19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad accidentally lost during unload of 24th Infantry Rgt /3
10 Support troops lost from landing craft during unload of 24th Infantry Rgt /3
19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost overboard during unload of 16th Infantry Rgt /3
10 Support troops accidentally lost during unload of 16th Infantry Rgt /4
10 Support troops lost from landing craft during unload of 24th Infantry Rgt /4

Last turn the combo of the two IJN DDs hitting mines as well as intel indicated that Mersing's time was up. At Singers the two CLs torpedoed ten days ago are still in the yards, leaving only five RN DDs as offense. Not knowing today was the landing I had sent them to Mersing on the off chance, risking Netties from Saigon, etc. They catch the landing in the night phase and the carnage is extreme. One DD in the landing force is already bleeding from the mine strike as the turn commences.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Mersing at 51,82, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Akikaze, Shell hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Dairen Maru, Shell hits 27, and is sunk
xAP Hoten Maru, Shell hits 21, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Tsingtao Maru, Shell hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Taizan Maru, Shell hits 22, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Keihuku Maru, Shell hits 27, and is sunk
xAP Ussuri Maru, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1
xAP Shanghai Maru, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAP Ukishima Maru, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
DD Katsutade, Shell hits 9, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Vendetta
DD Stronghold
DD Encounter
DD Isis, Shell hits 1
DD Jupiter, Shell hits 3, on fire

Improved night sighting under 89% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 89% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 10,000 yards
Japanese ships attempt to get underway
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 10,000 yards



Image


The next turn shows about 9500 men ashore at Mersing, but no TF. Minimal supplies should have been landed in the single night phase achieved. All of the severely damaged Japanese ships (x4) should sink unless excellent die rolls are recieved. The sunk ship sound effect is heard at least twice as the night phase ends. Of greater importance than the transports is the loss of IJN DDs. They are the workhorses of the mid-war period for Japan, and every one bagged makes the Allies happy.

Mark Mersing down as the best Allied operation to date. The RN DDs' weapons are only average, but their rate of fire is immense compared to the Japanese. My opponent's e-mail comments indicated be was shocked by how bad Japanese night gunnery was on this turn. I'd rather say the British was just better. Two of the DDs will need yard time at Singers.

3) Palembang. This one is a head-scratcher since I don't even know if it is Palembang. Multiple facets here.

An initial probe by a light surface TF:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Palembang at 49,90, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Arashi
DD Hagikaze
DD Nokaze
DD Namikaze

Allied Ships
DD Parrott
DD Stewart
DD Banckert
DD Witte de With

Here again, these four DDs represent almost all of the offensive power at Palembang. CLs are under repair, but will need yard time to finsih, which may never happen.

Then a second probe, heavier assets:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Palembang at 49,90, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Nachi
CL Kinu
DD Amatsukaze, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Yakaze

Allied Ships
DD Parrott
DD Stewart, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Banckert
DD Witte de With

This one could be a sweep for oncoming landing forces, or it could be looking for single-ship refugees, or something else.

During the day air activity near Palembang steps up. An AF strike takes a Dutch patrol plane for two damaged Nells. Blenheims from P. hit Sambas, looking for TFs, but are met by Zeroes and roughed up. More Zeroes sweep P. in thunderstorms. In the afternoon Dutch bombers from P. attack the multiple light carriers hanging around in the shallow water east of the river mouth. Instead they find a lone APD CAPed by Claudes from the carriers. They miss, but the presence of an APD is troubling. It's possible this ship will land a fragment at Palembang to freeze supply production, but more importantly do a recon-by-attack. I have almost gotten the last of the British infantry units there from Oosthaven, but the defenses are not very robust. Singkawang is still Allied, but it's possible he will leave it for later and come at Palembang before too much more time passes.

In the afternoon the busy day concludes with the mini-Carriers attacking land targets:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Palembang at 48,91

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 6
A6M2 Zero x 4
B5N1 Kate x 22
B5N2 Kate x 5
D3A1 Val x 3

Allied aircraft
CW-21B Demon x 1

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
DD Banckert, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Van Nes
AMc MMS C, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

DD Banckert sinks.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Oosthaven at 48,96

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
B5N2 Kate x 8

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AMc Djampea, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AMc Endeh, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

Overall Palembang is a moderate Japanese win, but the real objective is still unclear. Force Z is at Cocos fully fueled and armed, but the time is not yet ripe to bring it onto the field.

4) Other operations:

A) Rangoon sweeps, followed by heavy strikes on strat loading Rangoon troops. About half are away, arriving at Prome. The others should leave by tomorrow.

B) Heavy supply bombing at Sian, Changsha, Chengchow, Tuyun. The latter is the rail terminus and has been heavily used. I feel certain now he knows I am abandoning China.

C) Allies bomb the tank regiments at Pegu and crossing the river near Sian with poor results.

D) At Johnson Island three B-17s attack the port, but find it emply. Zero CAP of eight destroy one, damage one. More attacks will await more Forts coming on-line. They may be needed closer to home as well. But the strike demonstrated that Johnson is not a safe haven.

E) Four Oil points damaged at Tarakan. The parallel port attack finds the previous day's ships gone.

F) Three more Chinese divisions reach Lashio. Only one more is needed to reform the Chinese 5th Corps, an "American armed" heavy corps about as good as the best Indian army unit when it's filled out.
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RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks

Post by BBfanboy »

Wow- you are both doing imaginative "unconventional" things and the results are very interesting! Congrats on your defence of PH and Mersing!
The strike at PH was quite small - like one carrier's worth. Could he have split the KB to go hunting in the area?

Did the Brit DDs at Mersing have radar? It makes a huge difference to night time surprise - the Allies get it more often than the Japanese. The landing losses at Mersing suggest stormy weather in the night phase too. As for the Japanese DD's poor performance, they were shackled to the transports which were stopped and unloading so they were easy targets. Once they took a few hits their gunnery would suffer badly. High experience on the Brit DDs also helped your cause! Great timing on your part! [&o]
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
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RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks

Post by Chickenboy »

Heya Bull,

I've been thinking about this for a few days and decided to post it: I apologize for my strident / ardent tones earlier. It was unnecessary. You're doing quite well and don't need to be told what to do in such a manner.

I refer to my exhortations to bug out in Burma and my short commentary as a rationale for same. The tone was unbecoming.

While what I said was true: Burmese infantry stinks on ice and Rangoon is a death trap for the Allies in the beginning of the war. Your British support HQ and base forces would not avail you either in defense. However, the manner in which I said it gave you no credit for the very intelligent defense you've conducted to this point.

In retrospect, *your* war is different. Your fight in Burma is now different and should not be gauged by previous experiences. The fact is that you've got a shedload of Chinese infantry coming into Burma and your opponent has not conducted his Burmese offensive with as much force as I'd have expected. These two factors in combination will make your Burmese war different than anything I've experienced. You may even be able to "hold until relieved...hold until relieved...Ham and Jam...Ham and Jam...". So, I should strongly consider backing off and letting your war play out as it will.

I give you more credit for an intelligent campaign and avoiding the paint-by-the-numbers reactions of many Allied players. As our Manitoban / Manitobian / Winnipegger / Winnie (?) colleague has astutely observed: you're doing imaginative things and the results are fascinating. Keep up the good work!

Don't get down on yourself. You're doing fine. I think your 60:40 in favor of a loss is way off base. Hold him for a month or two or break whatever the heck he's doing at Hawaii and you'll be in really good shape. Chin up. Jolly good. Keep calm and put bacon on. [8D]
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RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks

Post by Bullwinkle58 »

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Wow- you are both doing imaginative "unconventional" things and the results are very interesting! Congrats on your defence of PH and Mersing!
The strike at PH was quite small - like one carrier's worth. Could he have split the KB to go hunting in the area?

Did the Brit DDs at Mersing have radar? It makes a huge difference to night time surprise - the Allies get it more often than the Japanese. The landing losses at Mersing suggest stormy weather in the night phase too. As for the Japanese DD's poor performance, they were shackled to the transports which were stopped and unloading so they were easy targets. Once they took a few hits their gunnery would suffer badly. High experience on the Brit DDs also helped your cause! Great timing on your part! [&o]

Just sent the next turn back. The last search results on the carrier TF near Hawaii show 1 CV, 5 CVLs (yeah), 3 BBs. I know there are Claude-carrying somethings near Palembang, and recent A2A unit name read outs there say those are the CVLs/CVEs. Ruyjo, etc. I think the TF near Hawaii is the KB, or most of it, but he's reserving sorties for whatever his main mission is going to be.

I cleaned out bystanders this turn, even though the unloads weren't done, and I'm pulling in about a dozen subs for reloads. Unfortunately I let Nevada go into upgrade cycle; she could have fought before at about 6/2/2 damage or so. I have Warspite and about six CAs around Hawaii fully ready, and I think three CLs, plus numerous DDs, maybe fifteen? I'm counting on the short sprints, ready reloads and fuel, and the yards to save me if a series of surface actions happens. If I can make him worry about the KB and my S-baots as much as I have to worry about its planes I have a chance to do at least OK, although a landing at Kona would be unpleasant. So far the TF trailing the KB reads as 2 xAKs and a CM (?) Of course, some of the Japanese CMs are really light cruisers. But 2 xAKs is not enough to do anything but sink. And I have very good naval search around Hawaii, the best on the map. I don't get it. Yet.

The RN DDs have what they start with. I don't think they have radar, but I'd have to check. We're playing with realsitic weather OFF, so I don't know if storms really affect landings. I've never played with it off before. Getting 9500 men ashore is pretty good. Darn amphib bonus!!! [:'(]
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RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks

Post by Bullwinkle58 »

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Heya Bull,

I've been thinking about this for a few days and decided to post it: I apologize for my strident / ardent tones earlier. It was unnecessary. You're doing quite well and don't need to be told what to do in such a manner.

I refer to my exhortations to bug out in Burma and my short commentary as a rationale for same. The tone was unbecoming.

While what I said was true: Burmese infantry stinks on ice and Rangoon is a death trap for the Allies in the beginning of the war. Your British support HQ and base forces would not avail you either in defense. However, the manner in which I said it gave you no credit for the very intelligent defense you've conducted to this point.

In retrospect, *your* war is different. Your fight in Burma is now different and should not be gauged by previous experiences. The fact is that you've got a shedload of Chinese infantry coming into Burma and your opponent has not conducted his Burmese offensive with as much force as I'd have expected. These two factors in combination will make your Burmese war different than anything I've experienced. You may even be able to "hold until relieved...hold until relieved...Ham and Jam...Ham and Jam...". So, I should strongly consider backing off and letting your war play out as it will.

I give you more credit for an intelligent campaign and avoiding the paint-by-the-numbers reactions of many Allied players. As our Manitoban / Manitobian / Winnipegger / Winnie (?) colleague has astutely observed: you're doing imaginative things and the results are fascinating. Keep up the good work!

Don't get down on yourself. You're doing fine. I think your 60:40 in favor of a loss is way off base. Hold him for a month or two or break whatever the heck he's doing at Hawaii and you'll be in really good shape. Chin up. Jolly good. Keep calm and put bacon on. [8D]

Thanks, CB. I didn't take the Rangoon comments badly. They really did make me relook at the railroads-and tanks-combo. Mike was a soldier and he thinks like one. I had hoped to use Rangoon longer, as it is a tasty VP treat to give over for free, but already, with only one more Indian unit to move out, the supply stockpile is down to 900, so it flowed up-country anyway. His tanks are still sitting at Pegu without a movement dot.

Getting the Chinese in will be "odd", but as always in Burma it's the supply quesiton. So many of them need months in a big, rich city to fatten up. I have replacements off for all of China except Chungking, where they are fattening, and building toward Forts 7. My overall goal is to relieve much of the Indian garrison load with Chinese and free up some Indian heavy units to bring down to the Irrawaddy Valley later in 1942. Longer term, if he allows it, I'm thinking of staying off the coast with the Chinese and using a good portion of them to try an Indo-China thrust on about the longitude of Chang Mai, with a view to cut Bangkok from the east, and proceed to Saigon if possible by 1/44. But that's long range.

Right now the Hawaii stuff is very interesting and making me think a lot. The turn I just sent back took four hours of checking and clicking. I think I'm getting a lot more milage out of secondary small fry I'd just let sit in an AI game.

But again, no worries. I like having people comment in here. Otherwise I'm writing just for Mike's reading someday. If what I'm trying makes folks break out of the common mold any, so much the better.
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RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks

Post by BBfanboy »

The only other invasion of Hawaii that I can recall was in Yubari's [Allies] rookie AAR. The Japanese landed very early with heavy commitment of troops and ships. Yubari was able to hold them for some time by shutting down their airfield construction with HBs. Unfortuately he lost all his carriers in a trap a few months later and didn't have the heart to continue the game, but I was impressed at how the weak allies were able to pin the Japanese in place and not let them progress in their conquest. I think Big Red took up the AAR and continued it but it still shows as Yubari's AAR, if you want to look at it.
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
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