Ein Bisschen Grieg: Cannonfodder (Allies) vs Chris H (Japan)

[KenchiSulla]

DaIronBabes:C
Beta: 1123s updated 27 October 2013

HOUSERULES AND GAME SETTINGS
REALISM OPTIONS
FOW ON
Advanced weather ON
Allied damage control ON
PDU ON
Historical first turn OFF
Dec 7 surprise ON
Reliable USN torps OFF
Realistic R&D ON
No unit withdrawals OFF
Reinforcements +/- 15 days

GAME OPTIONS
Combat reports ON
Auto sub ops OFF
TF move radius ON
Plane move radius ON
Facilities expand OFF
Auto upgrade ships and airgroups OFF
Air and ground replacements OFF
Turn cycle 1 TURN

1st turn rules:
Allied player only able to command TF already at sea
No transferring or loading of squadrons
Max 30% cap set per squadron
No Japanese invasion TF will finish the turn more than 15 hexes from a starting Japanese, no Mersing gambit turn 1

Game rules:
Max. alt for sweeps/caps best man. band + 1
No 4e naval bombing below 10k
Sensible use of paratroopers
Pay full PP for units to cross national borders
No strategic bombing from or into China
Picket ships allowed if of the military type

[obvert]

Good luck!!

[KenchiSulla]

Some of you might have read my AAR "the old world vs the new", a game against Quixote. The result was a decisive Japanese victory (allied surrender 1942). Quixote decided to take a short break so sadly he wasn't available for a rematch. Chris H picked up the glove and here we are: DaIronBabes: C.

What I am looking for this time around is a game that feels more constraint by logistics. DBB:C with stacking limits does that, while DaIronBabes:C with stacking limits hopefully does the same while giving the Japanese more strength to fight. Pilots coming out of flight school come out as 35/35 (IJN/IJA) in this game as opposed to the 50/40 of the stock scenario 2 game. This means that the Japanese player has to be a bit more careful with the early pilots as replacing them takes a bit more effort.

Before I open up the restricted part of the AAR I would like to give Chris a chance to say hi.

[dennishe]

Good Luck!

[SqzMyLemon]

Enjoy your match!

[JocMeister]

Good luck! I´ll follow this. [:)]

[seille]

Good luck.

[Quixote]

Looks like Chris is still working on his turn 1 marathon. Judging from his posting history, he seems like a nice guy. That said, however nice he is, go get 'em soldier! I'm looking forward to following along with this AAR instead of having to catch up with it later (very well written last round!) and I hope you gentlemen match up well this game. I'll be following along (at least until you get tired of me[:'(]) and I wish you luck! -Quixote.

[KenchiSulla]

Just returned the first turn to Chris. Most interesting moves: Shuffling troops in China and hiding Force Z.

In addition
- I've set some CAP (max 30% ofcourse)
- rerouted supply ships at sea to nearest hubs/strongpoints
- Lexington will move to cover Wake / pick up the marine squadron
- Enterprise is on a course SW past Johnston Island
- Canberra and Perth are coursing N
- Houston and Boise are moving full speed to the SW and the relative safety of Soerabaja

[KenchiSulla]

China, the plan....

While i'm not going to pass the chance to hurt the Japanese troops at Ichang my main goal for the first month will be to retreat to defensive positions in the decent terrain lines sketched in the attachments...

Goals:

- Preserve troops
- Defend enough bases so that supply will continue flowing

If my plan works I'll keep getting 1470 supply/day from Chinese bases. It is not a lot but it is a lifeline....

[KenchiSulla]

And the rest of China

[KenchiSulla]

7-dec-1942

No suprises. A standard Pearl Harbour strike with damage to all BBs and one CA. Looks like the airfield took a lot of hits so I'm going to prepare for a 2nd strike tommorow (max. CAP).. Chris used a lot of Vals to bomb port. I also saw some Kates bombing the airfield. Don't think that is smart but it might be part of a strategy to attack again on day 2.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 07, 41
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Pearl Harbor , at 180,107

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 118 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 39 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 88
B5N2 Kate x 144
D3A1 Val x 126

Allied aircraft
P-36A Mohawk x 1
P-40B Warhawk x 3
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed by flak
B5N2 Kate: 4 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 13 damaged
D3A1 Val: 3 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
P-36A Mohawk: 1 destroyed
P-36A Mohawk: 1 destroyed on ground
P-40B Warhawk: 3 damaged
P-40B Warhawk: 5 destroyed on ground
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed on ground
A-20A Havoc: 1 destroyed on ground
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed on ground
PBY-5 Catalina: 7 destroyed on ground
B-17D Fortress: 1 destroyed on ground
SBD-1 Dauntless: 5 destroyed on ground
B-18A Bolo: 6 destroyed on ground
O-47A: 3 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
BB Oklahoma, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB West Virginia, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
BB Nevada, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 3
BB Arizona, Bomb hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB Maryland, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB California, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
BB Pennsylvania, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 3, on fire
DD Downes, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Tennessee, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 3
CA San Francisco, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Airbase hits 47
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 101
Port hits 13
Port fuel hits 1

My finest moment on the 7th, Nells attacking Singapore airfield in the PM phase after failing to locate and attack PoW and Repulse. Singapore wasn't swept (Chris went for Rangoon instead, attacking merchant shipping disbanded in the Anchorage) so the Nells got chewed up by Buffalo fighters..

Afternoon Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 52

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 12 destroyed, 14 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 2 damaged

Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
22 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 11000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
22 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 11000 feet *
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
No.243 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (1 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes
No.453 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (1 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes
No.488 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (1 airborne, 3 on standby, 9 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes

So far troops landed at Vigan, Miri, Batan Island, Aparri, and Khota Bharu...

[Capt. Harlock]

Singapore wasn't swept (Chris went for Rangoon instead, attacking merchant shipping disbanded in the Anchorage) so the Nells got chewed up by Buffalo fighters..

That's like losing a tag team match to Laurel and Hardy. [:D]

[KenchiSulla]

Damage done to battleship row.. no sinkings so Chris might be tempted to strike again. If he tries 70 fighters will rise to meet him..

[Quixote]

Cannon, Wenchow is off your map in China. Do you plan to defend it at all, or are you just pulling everyone back to the Changsha area?

[KenchiSulla]

Hi Quixote,

This time I'll defend it. The ground is good, there is a good corps present and it has it's own source of supply. The Japanese will have to commit at least two divisions, three if they want it fast... That will buy me some time

[Quixote]

Good call. You need the time and the supply a lot more than you need some of the troops you'll eventually lose.

[KenchiSulla]

Regarding China, I'm also not reinforcing (replacements) at all. Just repairing disablements. Last game I reinforced a few corps but a couple of squads won't matter at all.. Supply matters, a lot...

[zuluhour]

He will get frustrated in China with stacking limits if he thinks he can just bludgeon his way in. Flanking and reserves now play a roll. With stacking limits, I was able to take out one of the two really big corps and build it up to 90%.

[Bif1961]

Good luck. Enjoyed following your previous game. Looks like PH got off lighter than historical, maybe he will feel the same and venture a second day of strikes?