Focus Pacific Test - paradigmblue vs Lockmart Lawndart

[obvert]

If the unsupported Miri invasion, the amphib TF composition at Legaspi and the haphazard use of the Japanese air forces are any indications, this game isn't really going to test the playability of your mod in any credible way. He should be sweeping you to oblivion and getting the plethora of IJN CVs and surface forces hunting and preparing the DEI for quick follow-up invasions. The KB being near Wake but not supporting the landing is another careless move that doesn't give you an idea of what can happen with this much Japanese force on the board from the beginning of the game.

We'll know more in a few months of game time, but while this may be a fun beginning for the Allies right now, I don't think it's going to tell you too much as a test.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: obvert

If the unsupported Miri invasion, the amphib TF composition at Legaspi and the haphazard use of the Japanese air forces are any indications, this game isn't really going to test the playability of your mod in any credible way. He should be sweeping you to oblivion and getting the plethora of IJN CVs and surface forces hunting and preparing the DEI for quick follow-up invasions. The KB being near Wake but not supporting the landing is another careless move that doesn't give you an idea of what can happen with this much Japanese force on the board from the beginning of the game.

We'll know more in a few months of game time, but while this may be a fun beginning for the Allies right now, I don't think it's going to tell you too much as a test.

+1 Obvert. I was thinking the IJ player is being indecisive and overcautious, as though overwhelmed by the amount of work involved to plan ops and assign what is needed. It is daunting for the stock game, so adding a lot of goodies increases the workload on the first few turns. Maybe a multi-player team is needed to split up the workload?

[paradigmblue]

ORIGINAL: obvert

If the unsupported Miri invasion, the amphib TF composition at Legaspi and the haphazard use of the Japanese air forces are any indications, this game isn't really going to test the playability of your mod in any credible way. He should be sweeping you to oblivion and getting the plethora of IJN CVs and surface forces hunting and preparing the DEI for quick follow-up invasions. The KB being near Wake but not supporting the landing is another careless move that doesn't give you an idea of what can happen with this much Japanese force on the board from the beginning of the game.

We'll know more in a few months of game time, but while this may be a fun beginning for the Allies right now, I don't think it's going to tell you too much as a test.

I have been entertaining the same conclusion, but I want to give it a little more time for Lockmart Lawndart to get his feet underneath him. Currently he's playing very conservatively, which I think is a mistake in 1941-early 1942 when the balance of power is tipped so far in his direction. In Lockmart's defense, his methodical use of land-bombings to soften up my troops is impressive, and may mean that his play-style is slow-and-steady. In this scenario, Japan has the time to play this way. Also, the composition of the landing forces are pre-set, using AndyMac's data. I've always thought that they looked a little awkward for the Japanese player, but I don't have enough experience playing Japan to know how they could be improved. If someone wanted to look at the disposition of Japanese forces on the first turn and make some common sense suggestions, I'd be interested in implementing them.

This is only Lockmart's 2nd PBEM game, and it's one of my first (I'm also still in December 1941 in my first PBEM game with General Patton, where I'm playing the scenario as the Japanese), so both Lockmart Lawndart and I don't have a lot of experience, which I'm sure is frustrating to watch as a more experienced player. I agree that a test of the scenario would be better served by more veteran players than myself and Lockmart - do I have any volunteers?

[Lowpe]

Commander Cody and I started a test game.

Japan is a beast, and I suspect I will kick Commander Cody far and long. I have a plan, we shall see how it works. I got him the first turn today.

Not mentioned anywhere is the huge amount of invasion shipping that Japan starts with: APD, LSD, AMC, AK, AKL. Unfrigganbelievable.[X(] I am a scenario one miser.

Then there is the pre-built forts, the massive starting air force, navy, land force, supply, you name and it is here. Current plane builds are weak thou.[:D]

[paradigmblue]

December 13th, 1941

I have a confession to make - I rushed this turn because of real life obligations. Hopefully something I overlooked doesn't bite me in the ass on the next combat replay!

Wake Island
Another small strike from the KB - this time I didn't see cloud cover, which makes me wonder why it wasn't larger. I'm not complaining though. Once again, the brave pilots of VMF-211 Det. rise to meet the strike.

I'm not sure how my 10 Wildcats are fighting through the squadron of Zeros to get to the Vals, but they do, dropping 4 Vals for the price of 1 Wildcat.

Kwangchowan
Kwangchowan is short on supply, which means I can't replace my Moraine MS410s, and an ever-dwindling number take to the skies. My Dewoitine HD-780s don't seem to be able to get kills, but I like to keep them up to act as bullet sponges for my Moraines, which actually are pretty decent at bringing down bombers.



Guam
Predictably, Guam falls without much of a fight.


End of Turn Naval Losses:
My Vindicator pilots think that they sunk the Tenryu, but again, the points tell a different story.


End of Turn Air Losses:
A quiet day all around - I'll take it. This small 2-day respite has allowed ground crews to get damaged airframes patched back up at Clark field. I'm sure that I'll start to see sweeps soon, as I now see fighters based in the Northern Philippines. I haven't been showing screenshots, but my forces in Malaya are getting pasted daily by 100+ bombers, so I suppose it's not as quiet in the air as the loss summary would have you believe. The bombing is well planned, slowing down fleeing units so that his pursuing forces can catch up and destroy them. These strikes are well-escorted for the most part, and while I'm tempted to LRCAP these ground forces, I don't like the odds of my Buffalos at Singapore going up against his Zeros.

[paradigmblue]

December 14th, 1941

Another very quiet day. Lockmart Lawndart insinuated that he had some plans in motion, so right now I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop. I have no idea where his main push will be. For now, I'm slowly beginning to move some reinforcements into Port Moresby, and continue to evacuate Borneo and the Celebes to help create the historical ABDA line.

Sub Ops
The day begins with one of my ASW patrols catching a Japanese SS outside of Pearl.


China
Kwangchowan gets hit again. Even though this base has been hit hard, I still have a core group of French pilots that are now in the high 60s low 70s for experience. There aren't many of them left, but they are standing up to the Japanese attacks.

Why yes, I'd love some un-escorted Sonia for breakfast.


I attack at Ichang with overwhelming force...

And get absolutely trounced. I'm not sure what's happening here - I'm going to bring in my Artillery from Chunking and see if I can't soften this hex up a little bit before my next attempt.


End of day Naval Losses:
Another claimed ship that we didn't actuall sink.


End of day Air Losses:

My first big batch of aircraft for the aircraft purchase system arrive, and I promptly use my PPs to buy out some P-40Bs and P-39Ds. The P-40Bs are desperately needed for replacements in the Philippines, while the P-39Ds will be used to upgrade my AVG squadrons in Rangoon to free up their airframes for China.

[paradigmblue]

December 15th, 1941

This turn was dead quiet, no update.

December 16th, 1941

Sub Ops
I lose the xAP Rangatira to a torpedo at Nauru Island. This is completely my fault - the Rangatira had steamed to Nauru to pick up the small base force there, but I gave it incorrect orders, and it tried to steam back to New Zealand instead of picking up the troops, so I sent it back to Nauru, knowing that it would be riskier a second time around.

SS O16 places a good hit on the Yamato, I only wish she had hit with another fish.


Philippines
After several turns of high bomber losses, Lockmart Lawndart sweeps my CAP unmercifully, racking up an ungodly K/D ratio. I'm not sure how to deal with these sweeps, or even if I can. For now, I'm putting a couple of my P-40 squadrons at a higher altitude - 20k - in the hopes that the dive bonus will help even the odds.


9 to 1 loss ratio with Oscars? Lockmart has to be pretty pleased with that.

China

Kwangchowan gets swept as well, both by Oscars and by Zeroes later in the day. With only 1/4 of each Morane squadron remaining, I make the reluctant decision to remove them. They have short legs, so I'll have to move them through several Chinese bases before I can get them to an airfield large enough for them to take replacements. For now, the air war over Kwangchowan is over.


Australia

Here, Wirraway and Hudson squadrons are on 100% ASW training. Once they get above 50, these squadrons will cover the entire Eastern coast of Australia.

On the West Coast, I just bought out 2 fighter wings - 1 P-40 and 1 P-39 - and loaded them on transports headed to Sydney. These two fighter wings will be the core of Eastern Australia's air defense for most of 1942. I only hope I can get those fighters in place before the KB decides to call on Sydney harbor.

Alaska

Until I figure out where Lockmart's main push is going to be, I'm not interested in putting too many resources into the Aleutians, but I do want to know if he starts to expand Northward. With that in mind, a base force and EAB is dispatched to Attu, where they will play host to two squadrons of PBYs.

End of Day Naval Losses
The Le Casque slips beneath the waves after battling fires for the past 5 turns. I should have scuttled her last turn.


End of Day Air Losses
Ouch. I'm scraping to get enough P-40s as it is, and it's going to be a month before I think any are available via the aircraft purchase system. If losses like these continue over Clark Field I may have to pull the squadrons.

[BBfanboy]

Yamato cannot make it up the shallow river to Saigon, so she must go to Singapore or Nagasaki to find a shipyard that can drydock her. You can move your subs along her path to try another shot. Of course, sometimes a torp only does negligible damage and the ship keeps on its original mission.

On another topic - I love all the screenshots but it is starting to really slow down the page loading - and I have the High-Speed DSL plan. Anyone with a slower plan must have to wait minutes to get the whole page loaded.

My own preference is to omit screenshots for the very minor actions that are routine every turn: e.g. showing some planes sweeping each other does not convey much, the stats on losses are all most people need to see.
Please consider reducing the screenshots on page 2 (posts 31-60).

[paradigmblue]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

On another topic - I love all the screenshots but it is starting to really slow down the page loading - and I have the High-Speed DSL plan. Anyone with a slower plan must have to wait minutes to get the whole page loaded.

My own preference is to omit screenshots for the very minor actions that are routine every turn: e.g. showing some planes sweeping each other does not convey much, the stats on losses are all most people need to see.
Please consider reducing the screenshots on page 2 (posts 31-60).

Thanks for the feedback - you're right, the page loading is slow. I think that's primarily because I'm using dropbox instead of a true image host, and it's serving the files slower than it would otherwise.

I'll experiment with a real image host for page 2, and if that doesn't work I'll cut the images down to the bare minimum.

[Lowpe]

On your fighter losses, be grateful you are killing as many Japanese as your are. Most of the starting fighter squadrons are average 90 experience, 70+ Air, 60+Def.

A more reasonable Japanese start would have swept all your fighters away in two days or less.

[paradigmblue]

December 16th, 1941

Very little to report today, but above the Philippines, putting my P-40s on high-altitude CAP gives me the results I was looking for. It's still a bloody affair, but they gave as good as they got today. My overly optimistic ship crews claim that they sunk the Yamato, but as always, the points tell another story. To get the Yamato back to port however, she'll have to wade through 3 sub patrols that are waiting between her current position and a repair yard.

[paradigmblue]

Trying a new image host - please be patient while I work out the kinks.

December 17th, 1941

Sub Ops
Three separate subs launch torps at Japanese shipping, and all three are duds.

China
I forgot to stand down my Dewoitines at Kwangchowan, and one is repaired and takes to the sky, only to be shot down.


China has been very quiet on the ground, but as I consolidate my lines I manage to get 2 to 1 AV against one of Lockmart's divisions.


Philippines
I switch my Catalina's back to Naval Attack in the hopes to catch more shipping. Many are shot down by CAP, but they manage to find a TF without air cover, and sink an xAK carrying vehicles.



DEI
The last amphibious TF leaves Tarakan - I massively underestimated how many ships I would need to evacuate Tarakan, which means that I just now got the last of the troops out. Notice how empty this is - I've evacuated Samarinda, Blikpapan, Tarakan, Manado and Sarong, and those units are now resting at Darwin, ready to redeploy in a more defensible arrangement North of Darwin.


End of Day Naval Losses
The points tell me that the xAK kill is legit. The sub however can probably limp home. My xAKL was hit by one of his planes on Naval Search, and doesn't make it to Rangoon. It was a part of a xAKL task force delivering some last minute supplies to the defenders here - I don't know how long I'll be able to keep Rabaul supplied from the sea, so I'm taking the opportunity now.


End of Day Air Losses
I neglected to take a screenshot, but I lost 11 planes to Lockmart Lawndart's 8. His operation tempo in the air is much slower than it was at the start of the game - he might be resting and reorganizing his airgroups, but I'm not sure. I'll take whatever reprieve I can get however. This just means that when he sweeps the Philippines again, I'll more repaired P-40s to throw in the fray.

[CaptBeefheart]

Lockmart Lawndart: Is he an F-16 pilot or somehow related to that aircraft? When I was doing F-15 flight test in a different lifetime, we used to call that airplane "The Texas Icepick" after a couple crashed in Alaska on exercise.

By the way, I'm now looking forward to the Dec 8 turn with Lowpe. This AAR is very useful in giving me ideas--just be careful you don't give to many ideas to Lowpe. [;)]

Cheers,
CC

[Lowpe]

Hey, CC, I sent you the turn..check your inbox.

[BBfanboy]

How were you able to move all those Dutch units to Australia? Were they unrestricted from the start or did you have to pay PP for them?

Are the Dutch units able to fill out in the next couple of months with what is in the pools or being produced monthly?

Just trying to assess whether it is worthwhile to save them. In stock game most players think it is not worth it relative to the risk to ships and other things that need to be bought out with PP.

[paradigmblue]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

How were you able to move all those Dutch units to Australia? Were they unrestricted from the start or did you have to pay PP for them?

Are the Dutch units able to fill out in the next couple of months with what is in the pools or being produced monthly?

Just trying to assess whether it is worthwhile to save them. In stock game most players think it is not worth it relative to the risk to ships and other things that need to be bought out with PP.

You'll find many less restrictions on moving ABDA units, particularly the Dutch, compared to stock. Their monthly device pools have also been massaged upwards, so you'll be able to fill most of them back out over time.

[paradigmblue]

December 19th

After a few uneventful days, Lockmart's carriers come to pay a visit, both in the DEI and around Rabaul.

Sub Ops
Invasion forces loom North of Rabaul, well protected from my dive-bombers at Port Moresby by CV support, but under the waves one of my subs manages to put a torp into the side of an AMC


Borneo
I had moved a Vindicator squadron to North East Borneo to intercept invasion TFs headed this direction, but unfortunately my Dutch B-339s decide not to fly escort duty, and the Vindicators pay a high price. In all, 8 are lost to fighters this turn. 5 make it through to the CVE Hizen, but none can place a bomb on her deck. I move up a second fighter squadron to Singkawang this turn to provide more escorts for my precious dive bombers.


At Singapore, I set 24 Swordfish to Naval Attack, and 150 fighters are given escort orders. If that TF gets within 7 hexes of Singapore, things could get interesting.

I also set three groups of Blenheims to low-level Naval Attack, less to actually do any damage and more to give the CAP of those escort carriers more to shoot at in the hopes that a dive-bomber or torpedo bomber will get through.

Now that carriers are in the mix in the DEI, I'm going to have to pull back my frantic shipping. The good news is that I've completed all of my planned evacuations.

Solomon Sea / Bismark Sea

What looks to be a significant portion of the KB shows up North of Rabaul. I had foolishly sent two xAKs to evacuate some damaged Catalinas at Rabaul that could not repair because I evacuated their Aviation Support out from under them (have I mentioned yet that I'm not very good at this game?), and I pay the price, with both - and their cargo of Catalinas - falling victim to Kates.



I have only managed to move one squadron of fighters to Port Morseby, and it falls to them to try and protect the 3 amphibious TFs I have unloading there and their vital cargo of troops and supplies that will keep the base running.


End of Turn Naval Losses


End of Turn Air Losses

[paradigmblue]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

How were you able to move all those Dutch units to Australia? Were they unrestricted from the start or did you have to pay PP for them?

Are the Dutch units able to fill out in the next couple of months with what is in the pools or being produced monthly?

Just trying to assess whether it is worthwhile to save them. In stock game most players think it is not worth it relative to the risk to ships and other things that need to be bought out with PP.

Also, I forgot to mention that the allied player also starts with higher staring PPs than in stock, making early buyouts of units or air groups a little less painful.

[CaptBeefheart]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Hey, CC, I sent you the turn..check your inbox.

Ah, I meant to say that I look forward to playing the replay this evening when I get home. I saw it in the inbox.

Cheers,
CC

[CaptBeefheart]

ORIGINAL: paradigmblue


Also, I forgot to mention that the allied player also starts with higher staring PPs than in stock, making early buyouts of units or air groups a little less painful.

What's the daily accumulation of PPs for the Allies? How about IJ?

Cheers,
CC