Focus Pacific Test - paradigmblue vs Lockmart Lawndart

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paradigmblue
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Focus Pacific Test - paradigmblue vs Lockmart Lawndart

Post by paradigmblue »

I thought it might be fun to start an After-Action report for a test game of the Focus Pacific mod I'm working on. I already have a game going with General Patton, who has been kind enough to help me find bugs and balance issues with me playing as Japan and him as the allies, and I'm now starting a game with Lockmart Lawndart with me playing the allies and Lockmart playing as Japan.

As an aside, I'm indebted to General Patton, who has been more than patient with me in holding my hand through the beginnings of my first PBEM game and first time playing as the Japanese.

There are still a lot of kinks to work out in the mod, but I hope that this After Action Report and the game helps me identify the issues that need to be worked out.

What is Focus Pacific?

Focus Pacific is an implausible alternate history in which the Japanese player starts with the assets and resources given to the AI in AndyMac's excellent Ironman scenario, with the intention of delaying the date when the Allies can overwhelm Japan with men and materials. The allies also receive a significant amount of new toys, which I hope will allow them to make Japan work a little harder in 1942 to achieve its strategic goals.

There are many excellent mods that base their alternate history scenarios on exhaustive research. This is not one of them, and is instead designed to be PBEM scenario that will be more of a slugfest for Japan and the Allies sides, giving each more to throw into the battle. Those that are interested in plausible alternate historical scenarios will probably not enjoy this mod. If you're interested in the mod, more information can be found in the Scenario Design and Modding forum. Feel free to download the scenario, but as I mentioned, there are still a lot of kinks to work out, and it's not yet ready for a true release.

The (Far-Fetched) Alternate History Behind Focus Pacific

1934

Japan gives formal notice that it will terminate its participation in the Washington Naval Treaty, and immediately thereafter embarks on ambitious ship-building program with the intention of matching the combined naval power of Great Britain and the United States. This ambition is made possible by years of careful industrial modernization and planning, including building additional shipyards and stockpiling the steel reserves necessary for this undertaking.

Great Britain and the United States are both alarmed by the number of carriers that Japan is laying down, and both nations begin pursuing flight-deck cruiser designs as a stopgap measure until more fleet carriers can be laid down.

1936

The Netherlands begin to re-arm. Henrikus Colijin, Prime Minister of the Netherlands, directs additional funding to the KNIL, with the directive that the KNIL take steps to ensure that it can remain operationally effective even when cut off from the Netherlands.

1937

With Japan's invasion of China, France sees the threat of not only Germany invading France, but also the threat of Japan invading French Indochina and eventually threatening French Caledonia and even French Polynesia. With that in mind, French troops, material and warships are dispatched to French Indochina, New Caledonia and to French Polynesia.

Due to the difficulty supplying their forces half a world away, France encourages the development of light industry in French Indochina, Pondicherri and French Polynesia, as well as expanding the ports, airfields and shipyards in their territories.

It becomes apparent to the French Air Council that domestic manufacturers can not equip the Armee de l'Air with enough airframes. In addition to contracting other countries to produce foreign designed aircraft to help fill the void, French Aircraft manufacturers are encouraged and subsidized to license their designs to foreign manufacturers, especially in the US. American companies begin manufacturing French aircraft, some of which make their way to bases in French Indochina, New Caledonia, Pondicherri and French Polynesia.

1938

France begins retrofitting their aging carrier Bearn to contemporary naval standards, and rushes production on their two Joffre class fleet carriers.

1939

America's eventual entrance to WWII seems inevitable. Aircraft factories ramp up production, which has already expanded considerably to fill French aircraft orders.

1940

In June, Japan invades Northern French Indochina. During the invasion, French intelligence obtains documents that were to be presented at the Konoe Cabinet in Japan later that year that listed French Polynesia as one of Imperial Japan's eventual targets. This information is made known to French naval command, including Admiral Marcel-Bruno Gensoul.

In July, British Captain Cedric Holland gives the French fleet under the command of Admiral Marcel-Bruno Gensoul at Mers-el-Kebir an ultimatum to surrender their ships, sail to Martinique for interment, or be fired upon (Operation Catapult). In tense negotiations, Britain agrees to let France evacuate the bulk of its fleet, naval personnel and naval aviation assets to French Polynesia as an alternative to Martinique. The agreement allowed the British to achieve their goal of removing French naval forces that might fight for Vichy France from the Atlantic, Med and Suez, and gave an opportunity for the French Navy to maintain their autonomy and still defend French colonies. This precedent from what came to to be called the Mers-el-Kebir accords is honored for the remaining French Naval forces in the Western Hemisphere.

French carriers Joffre and Painleve are launched. Unfinished, they flee to Tahiti to join the bulk of the French Navy and to avoid capture by the Germans.

Later in July, France signs the Armistice, while French carrier Bearn is docked on the East Coast picking up its order of Curtiss P-36s, SBC Helldivers and Brewster Buffalos. The precedent set by Admiral Gensoul at Mers-el-Kebir allows the Bearn to avoid internment at Martinique and instead sail to French Polynesia to join the French fleet.

French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Chad, the French Congo and Cameroon, join the Free French along with France's Indian colony, Pondicherri. The French navy, now ironically mostly operating in the Pacific, joins the Free French forces.

The U.S. allows aircraft manufacturers to continue their French contracts, but with the airframes delivered to the Free French colonies. Free French colonies around the world receive deliveries of aircraft.

1941

Free French ships, including the Bearn, support Free French operations off the coast of Equatorial West Africa, French Somaliland and Madagascar. With British and Commonwealth support, Free French forces continue to build up infrastructure in the Pacific and Pondicherry India.

In July, Japan invades South Indochina with 140,000 troops. While French forces in French Indochina were nominally under vichy control, the remaining French forces there choose to evacuate to Free-French held Noumea and join the Free French.

December 7th, The United States enters the war. Desperate for carrier strength in the Pacific, the United States offers to finish the construction of the carriers Joffre and Painleve.


Focus Pacific Features and Credit

Most of the features in Focus Pacific are not new, but instead rely on the hard work of other modders. Features include:

*AndyMac's Ironman Secnario used as the starting point for the Japanese Economy and OOB
*Juan's Allied Aircraft Purchase System
*Ship and air art and data from John 3rd and his Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms team
*Extended map and hex data from DBB
*French ship and air art and Data from Skyland
*Additional air art from Madman Rick
*Additional ship art from Gary Childress
*USAAF, USN, USMC, RAF and RAAF training squadrons
*The Free French Army, Navy and Armee de l'Air in greatly expanded roles
*The addition of a new French base-hex, Pondicherri, in Eastern India.

What's New for Each Side?

Lockmart Lawndart, playing with the Japanese, will have the following advantages over stock:

Starting Ships and Future Production:
9 additional CV
11 additional CVL
6 additional CVE
10 additional BB
5 additional BC/CB
13 additional CA
31 additional CL
80 additional DD
14 additional TB
27 additional E
43 additional PB
62 additional SS
26 additional AMCs
13 additional DMS
15 additional APD
9 additional LSD
307 addtional AK
126 additional AKL
22 additional TK
93 additional LCI
39 additional xAP
178 additional xAK
318 additional Airgroups, made up of 6,400 total additional aircraft
118 additional LCUs of various types
A monster of a Japanese economy, with greatly increased supply and fuel stockpiles and production.
Replacement pools of some key air-frames in addition to production pools
G3N bombers, upgrading to 65N with research, giving the Japanese a mid-late game long-range punch

I'll have to be on my toes vs Lockmart Lawndart's Japanese Juggernaut, but as the allies I have some tricks up my sleeves as well:

*The French Navy, including CVL Bearn. The Joffre and Painleve start the game in Tahiti in an unfinished state. They start the game unfinished, with no weaponry or aircraft handling capability, and must travel to a friendly port with large enough yard to complete their construction, which will take months.
*Greatly enhanced aircraft production as well as additional airgroups. Japan will have a harder time dominating the skies in 1942.
*A better prepared and supplied KNIL.
*Flight-Deck Cruisers. They're poor cruisers and even worse carriers, but they can be converted to CVLs by the allies, giving them more naval air-power in 1942.

The First Turn

House-rules dictate that I can't form new TFs on the first turn, so I don't have a lot to do other than setting search arcs, CAP and the like.

Force Z
Admiral Thomas Phillips turns south, away from the threat of Japanese airpower.

USN Carriers
Saratoga and Lexington converge on Canton Island along with the the flight-deck cruisers. They will combine into one air combat TF once they get there, and then make their way back to Pearl, well away from the KB.

China
Most units are withdrawn to the rail line, while others move to reinforce Wenchow and Kwangchowan, both of which I want to be a thorn in Japan's side as long as possible.

No I just have to wait - in this scenario, Japan starts with an additional carrier in the KB. How devastating will the Pearl strike be?


The French CV Joffre, in it's unfinished state:
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Alfred
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RE: Focus Pacific Test - paradigmblue vs Lockmart Lawndart

Post by Alfred »

You are kidding yourself if you believe that against a competent Japanese player, the Allies can survive 1942 at all.  The addition of the French navy is meaningless.
 
Alfred
paradigmblue
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RE: Focus Pacific Test - paradigmblue vs Lockmart Lawndart

Post by paradigmblue »

ORIGINAL: Alfred

You are kidding yourself if you believe that against a competent Japanese player, the Allies can survive 1942 at all.  The addition of the French navy is meaningless.

Alfred

It looks that way on its face, doesn't it?

There are a few mitigating circumstances that make the contest less lopsided than it would otherwise appear, primarily that of timing. While the Japanese player does enjoy significant advantages in ships over stock, those ships are doled out from 1942 to mid 1946. The Japanese player does start with a significantly larger naval force than in stock, but most of the additional ships come over the next four and a half years.

Some other factors that I believe will help the allies stay competitive:

*In this timeline, British carriers do not withdraw from the theater.
*The allies receive twice the number of flight deck cruisers as they do in the Between the Storms scenario, all of which can be converted to CVLs
*The French give the allies some interesting tools that they don't have in stock:
1)The Commandant Teste class AVs have a whopping 56 floatplane aviation support, and their attached float fighter and floatplane bomber groups can wreck havoc in some unexpected places for the Japanese.
2) The Breguet Br700 fighter has a range of 9, giving the allies an early game fighter with some reach
3) French SBC-4 dive-bombers give the allies more naval striking power early game
4) The Joffre and Painleve finish upgrading in mid 1942, giving the allies two additional CVs over stock.
*There are some key hexes that have greater fortifications than in stock, which will help delay the Japanese advance. Akyab now has a fort with CD guns, Wake is unlikely to fall from the first landing without reinforcements, Noumea is fortified with French troops, Darwin is now set up with more infrastructure that can support an allied defense, and Port Morseby is a tougher nut to crack. None of these hexes will stop a determined Japanese player, but they are important speed-bumps.
*The Philippines receive some of their planned p-40 reinforcements, which means air superiority over Clark and Manilla is more of a challenge to achieve.
*Greater production of allied aircraft, plus the allied aircraft purchase system means that the allied player won't be nearly as airframe poor in 1942.

I could very well be wrong (that's the point of a test, to find out!), but I think the combination of these factors will help the allies put up a stiffer resistance than you may expect.




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RE: Focus Pacific Test - paradigmblue vs Lockmart Lawndart

Post by paradigmblue »

December 7th, 1941


The day starts badly, with the Maryland taking a torpedo from a mini sub. It turns out that this is just the beginning of an absolutely devastating Pearl strike.
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Across the ocean, early morning sub combat shows one of our Dutch boats putting a lucky torp into a an xAK no doubt headed for Kota Bharu or Patani.Image

At Pearl Harbor, only a handful of planes scramble to meet the combined might of the KB...Image

The results are absolutely crippling.
Air Losses:
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Naval Losses:
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Across the map, zeroes sweep my airbases, gutting the CAP at Rangoon, Kwangchowan and in the Philippines. Japanese bombers also absolutely paste Clark Field,
Imagetwice.

At Hong Kong, a flight of Bettys sink any hope I have of evacuating the LCUs there without serious losses.
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The losses aren't all mine, however. At Batan Island, one of my Catalinas manages to put a torpedo in the side of an xAK, and a Dutch patrol squadron on 100ft Naval Attack manages to do some significant damage to a couple of ships unloading at Miri.
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End of day naval losses:
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End of day air losses:
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At the end of the day, it doesn't look good for the allies. My ability to contest the air over the Philippines has been all but eliminated, and the Pearl Harbor repair yards look grim- Battleship row was absolutely wrecked.
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RE: Focus Pacific Test - paradigmblue vs Lockmart Lawndart

Post by paradigmblue »

December 8th, 1941

The day starts on a positive note. I sent my French destroyers Les Casque and Le Hardi at Kwangchowan hunting at Samah[/link], and they acquit themselves well, wreaking havoc on the amphibious TFs there in three separate engagements. Unfortunately, these two brave ships are then caught by Betty's during the day, and both sustain heavy damage, with fires raging out of control. It is doubtful that either will make it back to port.
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Over the Philippines, airstrikes pound Clark Field again.
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I was hoping to put up a little stiffer defense in the air here, and it worries me that Lockmart Lawndart has so effortlessly swept my fighters from the sky. Two more strikes hit the base, each of them destroying a score of airframes.
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Rangoon is little different, with a small group of Zeroes sweeping my CAP for no losses.
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My Torpedo carrying Catalinas fly again along with some SOC-1 Seagulls set to Naval Attack.
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A torpedo from one of the Catalinas finds its way to the side of an xAK, sinking it outright. Also making a return appearance is my Dutch Do-24k-1 squadron Image

At the Philippines, the exodus begins, as every ship possible seeks safer waters.
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End of day Naval Losses:
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Lowpe
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RE: Focus Pacific Test - paradigmblue vs Lockmart Lawndart

Post by Lowpe »

I think ultimately it will be very difficult to avoid Japanese autovictory, so I agree with Alfred.

One thing, I don't think you have taken into account, is the horrendously high experience Japan starts with. Some of the units and ships are simply insane.

Good luck, I would seriously pull back...and back, and back.[:D]

I downloaded the files, but haven't taken a look at them yet. Thanks for your efforts.
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RE: Focus Pacific Test - paradigmblue vs Lockmart Lawndart

Post by paradigmblue »

December 9th, 1941

Sweeps continue over my bases, including Kwangchowan. Instead of evacuating Hong Kong to the Philippines or Darwin, I instead tried an evacuation to Kwangchowan. I desperately need the CAP to hold to allow the transports to unload before being sunk. Eventually his Vals fight their way through to the convoy, with gut-wrenching results.
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Clark Field looks similarly grim, but LRCAP from Manilla and Bataan prevent it from being completely overwhelmed.
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I was actually pretty pleased with this outcome:
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My Catalinas fly again, prompting Lockmart Lawndart to ask me whether the patch changed them into "bullshit torpedo machines". They nab an xAK in the morning, and in the afternoon they put two torpedos in another xAK and the CA Ashigara.
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My Dutch Do-24K-1s continue to impress, making Lockmart Lawndart pay for not escorting his Miri invasion TF with CVEs.
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Lockmart's escorts don't fly with his bombing raids into Rangoon today, and the AVG and their French allies make them pay a heavy toll.
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Later in the day they [repeat their mistake, and then in a stroke of luck, they do the same over Bataan.
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While the air war may have went well today, I'm not slowing Japan down yet, and Tarawa falls along with Miri.

End of day Naval Losses: My Catalina pilots claim the Ashigara as sunk, but the point totals tell a different story. The Ashigara will most likely just need a couple days in dry-dock.
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End of day Air Losses:
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I continue to evacuate what non-combat ships and units from the front that I can, but despite Lowpe's (probably excellent) advice, I'm not withdrawing completely, and will instead engage in a fighting defense of the DEI, trying to take advantage of any time when Lockmart Lawndart attempts an amphibious landing without carrier support.

I can only hope that Lockmart doesn't slip a surface TF into the Java Sea right now, it would be a charnel house.
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CaptBeefheart
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RE: Focus Pacific Test - paradigmblue vs Lockmart Lawndart

Post by CaptBeefheart »

The Allies get a major boost in airframes and squadrons to put them in. With suitable CAP traps things could get slightly costly for IJ. That said, I wouldn't play this scenario with auto-victory as an option.

I'd say a good outing in 1942 for the Allies would be to wipe out a KB splinter or two and force the concentration of the KB, thereby minimizing the number of IJ attack vectors.

Cheers,
CC
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JocMeister
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RE: Focus Pacific Test - paradigmblue vs Lockmart Lawndart

Post by JocMeister »

ORIGINAL: paradigmblue

Starting Ships and Future Production:
9 additional CV
11 additional CVL

6 additional CVE
10 additional BB
5 additional BC/CB
13 additional CA
31 additional CL
80 additional DD

14 additional TB
27 additional E
43 additional PB
62 additional SS
26 additional AMCs
13 additional DMS
15 additional APD
9 additional LSD
307 addtional AK
126 additional AKL
22 additional TK
93 additional LCI
39 additional xAP
178 additional xAK
318 additional Airgroups, made up of 6,400 total additional aircraft
118 additional LCUs of various types

A monster of a Japanese economy, with greatly increased supply and fuel stockpiles and production.
Replacement pools of some key air-frames in addition to production pools
G3N bombers, upgrading to 65N with research, giving the Japanese a mid-late game long-range punch

Jesus Christ.... [X(]

I actually find myself agreeing with Alfred. Thats a first...

This Mod is nuts. For the allied player this will be like playing the first 4 weeks of the war. The entire war. I wouldn´t play this as the allies even if I got paid for it. [X(]
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CaptBeefheart
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RE: Focus Pacific Test - paradigmblue vs Lockmart Lawndart

Post by CaptBeefheart »

Heh. Maybe more toys for the AFB are required. Montanas? Midways? Juan's AltWNT mods have some interesting extras: tm.asp?m=2179124

I can't comment since I've only played this against a computer IJ, and we all know that isn't too tough, regardless of the IJ OOB.

Cheers,
CC
Beer, because barley makes lousy bread.
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RE: Focus Pacific Test - paradigmblue vs Lockmart Lawndart

Post by paradigmblue »

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

I actually find myself agreeing with Alfred. Thats a first...

This Mod is nuts. For the allied player this will be like playing the first 4 weeks of the war. The entire war. I wouldn´t play this as the allies even if I got paid for it. [X(]

It's really not as lopsided as everyone makes it out to be. I already detailed some of the new allied tools, but here's a straight up comparison, ship for ship between the allies and IJN in this mod. As you can see, despite all of these additions, like in stock the allies still will have an enormous advantage in tonnage over the IJN by the end of the game. The mod "just" extends IJN naval dominance for another 6-12 months.
IJ Allied
CVB 0 2
CV 25 34
CVL 16 34
CVE 16 92
BB 22 40
BC 3 6
CB 2 6
CA 31 52
CL 56 83
CLAA 0 17
DD 317 571
DE 0 266
TB 27 0
E 232 0
PG 0 22
SS 245 408
AMC 38 18

Remember that this isn't finished, so I fully expect to have to give it a couple balance passes before it's all said and done. If it turns out that Japan can get an easy auto victory, than I'll adjust accordingly.



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RE: Focus Pacific Test - paradigmblue vs Lockmart Lawndart

Post by JocMeister »

I don´t think this mod will "just extend IJN naval dominance for another 6-12 months." [:)]

The reinforcements in the air alone are enough to seriously damage Allied chances. In most games the allies already struggle for air frames well into 44/45. Its your mod and I appreciate the effort that went into it but I don´t think you will find any allied players willing to take this up. Not unless its against the AI. [:)]
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Lowpe
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RE: Focus Pacific Test - paradigmblue vs Lockmart Lawndart

Post by Lowpe »

I installed the mod to look at it.

I hope this isn't too much in the way of spoilers.

I have never looked at scenario 2, so I don't know what Japan gets in terms of more land troops, but it seems to me overwhelming here. I counted 5 full IJA divisions in Indochina alone, and 2 fully formed Tank Divisions Manchuko (6th & 7th) for 1200 pp each -- the Manchuko garrison is 19K AV.[X(]

Japan could lose the KB at Pearl, and I don't think there is anything that could stop this juggernaut.

Insane experience for the Japans starting pilots. Insane amounts of supply, fuel. Some fully repaired size 15 r&d factories for Jets, Ki44II, and others (size 15). A lot of engine factories, a lot.

No where would be safe.[:)] Would be fun if the AI works well...personally, I would go for Alaska, Canada and the West Coast as Japan.

Off to a great start, keep improving it![&o]


Ok...Looked at the Allied side. French start with 500 planes, some serious CD units, this game looks like a blast versus a Japanese AI game...but still think it would be impossible to prevent autovictory to a human Japanese player. Great work...what a blast seeing all those French troops, ships and planes.
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RE: Focus Pacific Test - paradigmblue vs Lockmart Lawndart

Post by paradigmblue »

December 10th, 1941

This was a rollercoaster of a turn.

The day starts with one of my subs running afoul of an invasion TF with 3 SCs.
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The Seadragon, however, outdoes herself, putting a fish right into the CV Chiho. Hopefully that's at least a couple of weeks in dry-dock!
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Air attacks paste Kota Bharu, and later in the day it falls, with the base unit surrendering instead of retreating.
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Kwanchowan's CAP fails under a relentless assault, and by the end of the day, every single xAKL from Hong Kong is sunk in Kwangchowan's harbor.
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On my first turn, I transferred the Vindicator squadron from the Lexington to Wake. The move pays off, as this Vindicator squadron goes to work on the invasion TF.
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In the afternoon, they continue their deadly work and cripple the invasion force. This puts me in a great spot to possibly push them back into the sea on my next turn.
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Across the map, Lockmart Lawndart gets wise to my torpedo carrying PBYs, and puts LRCAP over every TF he can, shutting down my string of xAK kills.
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Over the Phillipines, an amphibious TF is taking too long loading the unrestricted Cebu base force, and is caught by carrier aircraft. The Kates exact a deadly toll.
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In China, I make a couple ill-advised attacks, but luckily my losses are not bad.

Guam is invaded, and I continue to lose ground in the Philippines. Luckily, Lockmart Lawndart has not been as aggressive in the DEI, which means I've been free to start evacuating troops. Most will wind up in Darwin for now, preventing the capture of Northern Australia. Later on, they will be redeployed into the Darwin "umbrella".

There has been no sign of Lockmart around Eastern New Guinea, which has allowed me to move some assets in place. The French AV Commandant Tieste moves into position North of Port Morseby, where its float bombers can watch for un-escorted amphibious TFs. Meanwhile, AKs carrying 2 French dive-bomber squadrons from Noumea should make landfall at Port Morseby next turn. This naval deterrent will go a long way to secure this area until more units can be brought into play.

End of turn Naval Losses:
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End of turn Air Losses:
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Bif1961
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RE: Focus Pacific Test - paradigmblue vs Lockmart Lawndart

Post by Bif1961 »

Even though you have had early success with torpedo carrying PBYs, once he assigns CAP to his invasion forces the PBYs will be slaughtered. Better now to withdraw them and base them as NAV Search, since the Japanese in this mod can have a number of carrier attacks on different locations. Recon and intel are you best weapons while you are over matched.
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Lowpe
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RE: Focus Pacific Test - paradigmblue vs Lockmart Lawndart

Post by Lowpe »

I was looking at the order of battle for the Allies, and it seems pretty important to keep the French base in India in Allied hands as in 42 5 full French Divisions spawn there!

Darwin is right on the fringe of historical expansion, and I suspect if the Japanese want it they will easily take it despite being beefed up.

What plans do you have for all of your CVLs?

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RE: Focus Pacific Test - paradigmblue vs Lockmart Lawndart

Post by paradigmblue »

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

Even though you have had early success with torpedo carrying PBYs, once he assigns CAP to his invasion forces the PBYs will be slaughtered. Better now to withdraw them and base them as NAV Search, since the Japanese in this mod can have a number of carrier attacks on different locations. Recon and intel are you best weapons while you are over matched.

This exactly what I've done - I knew that I only had a limited window to use my PBYs in an attack role, so now that Lockmart Lawndart has assigned LRCAP, they're all back in a Naval Search role.
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RE: Focus Pacific Test - paradigmblue vs Lockmart Lawndart

Post by paradigmblue »

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I was looking at the order of battle for the Allies, and it seems pretty important to keep the French base in India in Allied hands as in 42 5 full French Divisions spawn there!

Darwin is right on the fringe of historical expansion, and I suspect if the Japanese want it they will easily take it despite being beefed up.

What plans do you have for all of your CVLs?


Both Tahiti and Pondicherri are important bases for the allied player to keep, as if they're captured, French reinforcements spawn in the UK, which creates huge delays before they can get in theater.

I'm organizing my CVLs into a three quick response forces. Based out of Ceylon I'll have 4 of my British CVLs, ready to sortie if Lockmart Lawndart tries to sneak a surface TF through the Malacca Strait.

Based out of the Cocos Islands (which get a very small base force detachment this scenario, as it was used throughout the war historically as a cable station and had a seaplane anchorage) I'll have the Vindictive, Charlotte and Savannah, looking to catch any surface TFs that try to make their way through Merak or past Denpasar into the Indian Ocean.

In the East, the Bearn, Auckland and Melbourne will base out of Noumea to try and catch anything coming into the Coral Sea. Each of these groups will run at the mere suggestion of enemy carriers.

Between the three groups, I hope to keep the Indian Ocean free of surface TF raiding for the time being. Eventually, Lockmart's carriers will come calling, at which time my CVLs will make themselves scarce and retire to Capetown for their upgrades.

I'm dividing them, not concentrating them, because even with all of these CVLs together, they will still get massacred by Japanese CVLs, not to mention CVs. Zeroes rip through the meager CAP of Fulmars and Buffalos that these carriers can put in the air, which means that there is no safety in numbers here - not until the late spring early summer once the flight deck cruisers convert to full CVLs and begin getting better planes.
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RE: Focus Pacific Test - paradigmblue vs Lockmart Lawndart

Post by paradigmblue »

December 11th, 1941

Not a very eventful turn.

Wake Island
The assault force wisely re-embarks after last turn, when my Vindicators managed to sink an AMC full of troops.

Malaya
Lockmart Lawndart pounds my retreating LCUs with wave after wave of Sallies and Bettys. He's being very methodical so far with his assaults, ensuring that my units are battered and disrupted heavily before he commits his troops. Luckily, he hasn't hit Singapore with airstrikes yet, which has allowed me to build up about 120 fighters on CAP. That won't be enough if he comes calling in earnest, but meanwhile, Singkep and Tandjo build airbases. Once they hit level 2, Dutch fighters will supplement the Singapore CAP. With 40 British TBs at Singapore, I should be able to hold the Northern entrance to the Java Sea for the time being. I see a lot of players putting their Swordfish on Naval attack at max range, where they get torn apart by CAP because their fighter escorts don't have the legs to follow them to target. I prefer to keep by Swordfish at range 5 instead, where my Buffalos can act as ablative armor for the deadly TBs.

Phillipines
At Legaspi, I sent PT boats to try and disrupt the invasion. They fail to do any damage, but most manage to slip away. The combat report shows one PB damaged, and I heard a the mine-hit sound effect this turn, so I think it might have run into my impromptu sub-layed minefield I left there. If only one of the CVLs ate the mine instead...
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Please send me more un-escorted Bettys. They make my pilots happy.
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China
Despite 2/1 odds, my assault on Ichang is a bloody affair. This turn I have another 340 AV in the hex, so I'll try again and hope that Lockmart Lawndart doesn't rebuild his forts back to 3 in the meantime.
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End of turn Naval Losses:
After burning in port for the past 4 turns, the Nevada slips beneath the waves, giving Lockmart Lawndart a big point boost. The Chiho is reported sunk, but my point totals don't change on the victory screen, so it's still very much alive and kicking.
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End of turn air losses:
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paradigmblue
Posts: 784
Joined: Mon Sep 15, 2014 10:44 pm
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska

RE: Focus Pacific Test - paradigmblue vs Lockmart Lawndart

Post by paradigmblue »

December 12th 1941

Another uneventful turn for the most part.


Sub Ops
The day begins with a Japanese sub putting a torp into one of my xAPs I have evacuating the Celebes. Luckily, float and system damage is only in the 30s, so if the Koolinda escapes a second torp she should make it to Darwin.
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Guam
Guam is invaded, with Japanese landings taking light casualties.

Wake
A small group flies from the KB to bomb Wake - I'm luckily that thunderstorms prevented more planes from launching, otherwise the airbase would have been plastered.
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Instead, my plucky Wildcat squadron fights through 39 Zeroes and splashes 5 Vals for only one loss.
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Philippines
Continued airstrikes come in from both land and carrier based aircraft. My CAP holds for now.
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China
Hong Kong is lost, with thousands of casualties. Even though it's inevitable, it still hurts.
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At Ichang, I attack again, only to get trounced by the defenders despite 3 to 1 AV.
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End of Day Naval Losses:
Le Hardi succumbs to fires at Kwangchowan.
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End of Day Air Losses:
For whatever reason, Lockmart Lawndart is having difficulty escorting his bombers. I'm not complaining, those kills will give my pilots experience they desperately need.
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