The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

[HansBolter]

CR,

Are you reconning your strategic air targets with recon type aircraft?

The reason I ask is that recon type aircraft get a huge bonus over non-recon type aircraft when it comes to the DL boost.

Bombers do perform their own recon function to boost the DL by 2 points, but recon type aircraft boost DL by 4 points.

There is just no substitute for a recon type aircraft when it comes to boosting DL to increase effect.

[Canoerebel]

Yes, I'm using reconnaissance aircraft.

[AcePylut]

Here's a burning question I've never decided the test in game or search the forums:

Do you have to set a target to make a recon squadron "fly"?

i.e. if you don't set a recon target, will the game pick one out at random and recon it? If so, will it spread the squadron around and recon multiple targets?

[JeffroK]

You can choose a target, otherwise it randomly selects a base (usually other than what you want to see)

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

I believe John will ultimately choose to fight. (And my words may set me up for a very public embarrassment soon for reasons I'll go into in about three or four turns.)

But what if the game ended this way: John keeps KB out of harm's way forever, conserving VPs while working hard to pick off the occasional Allied asset here and there; meanwhile, the strategic war increases dramatically with the Allies scoring tens of thousands of points while also attending to Japanese bases in the DEI...and ultimately the Allies achieve a 2:1 victory points ratio without anything else major happening in the game. Say that happens in June 1945. Would that be a Japanese victory of some kind because KB still existed and the Empire still existed in some form and fashion? Would it be an Allied victory because the Allies figured out how to win the game as defined by the rules?

John probably will fight, so I don't think that's going to happen. But it is one possibility.

It would sort of be like the end of WWI in Europe. Would the Kaigun mutiny if ordered to ordered to enter Pearl Harbor and surrender?

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: AcePylut

Here's a burning question I've never decided the test in game or search the forums:

Do you have to set a target to make a recon squadron "fly"?

i.e. if you don't set a recon target, will the game pick one out at random and recon it? If so, will it spread the squadron around and recon multiple targets?

Leaving targeting to local commander discretion works just as well for recon as it does for bombing.
In fact it is a method that can be used for finding and spotting previously unspotted LCUs moving in non base hexes.
If you suspect your opponent is trying to flank you, set a recon squad in the area to fly without a target and you just might see them spotting the flankers for you.

[Bif1961]

witpqs there is a current court case to decide if the monkey has copyright over you picture. You may get a bill in the mail if he wins of fettes flung at your house.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

witpqs there is a current court case to decide if the monkey has copyright over you picture. You may get a bill in the mail if he wins of fettes flung at your house.

Pure monkey business, nothing more!

[Canoerebel]

9/23/44

The strategic map lays out the Allied master plan through early 1945. Ordinarily I wouldn't go into such detail, but I've resolved to my satisfaction the "disturbance in the force" that had been vexing me. More about that later.

John will have something to say about this timeline. In the near term, the most disruptive thing he could do would be to employ big bombardment TFs against my vulnerable coastal China bases while moving on those bases in strength with his infantry. That would get my full attention, probably forcing me to recall Death Star immediately. But I'm hoping for a weeklong window to attend to logistics - and I think there's a decent chance I'll get it, as John will probably need a few days to figure things out and then conceive and implement a plan.

[Canoerebel]

9/23/44

Strategic War: 4EB declined to fly due to weather.

Peep Show II: Allied probing attack at Karenko by 77th US Div. comes off at less than 1:1 but does considerably more damage to the beleaguered Japanese garrison. More troops will arrive tomorrow.

Allied attack against messed up IJ stack SW of Karenko further messes it up and destroys seven units; Japanese losses moderate; 5th USMC Div. will shock attack tomorrow, likely to inflict heavy casualties.

China: The big question is whether John will move on a coastal base or bases.

Death Star: Currently involved in a critical logistics mission that will take about 7-9 days.

[Canoerebel]

9/8/44

About that Disturbance in the Force: For several months, I have been accumulating supply ships, transports, escorts and carriers in CenPac, including at Wake Island, in preparation for meeting up with Death Star somewhere. This would save time over the longer but more secure route through SoPac.

Beginning around September 8, changes in KB's position and course created a sense of unease that finally culminated this past turn.

[Canoerebel]

9/24/44

Well, now, about that Disturbance....: After bringing you up to date on all my mental handwringing, KB showed up this turn at Adak Island in the Aleutians. I've only read the combat report, but if the replay and next-turn file confirm what I think, scrub everything I said. The CenPac route is temporarily open and my supply ships and carriers will proceed west, shaving a week or two off the process.

[AcePylut]

[:D]

[Lokasenna]

...Adak? Why?!?

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

...Adak? Why?!?

Well, there is an abandoned McDonalds there! Oops, McDonalds doesn't exist yet. [;)]

https://www.newsdeeply.com/arctic/artic ... water-port

[BBfanboy]

Maybe the KB fleet navigator used the wrong star for his astrolabe shot ...

[Canoerebel]

Corrected map:

[Canoerebel]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna
...Adak? Why?!?

Three USN DDs are posted at Adak (I withdrew six others about ten days ago, anticipating the possibility of a NoPac raid). John felt like he needed to do something, so he chose that vector.

KB North launched two large raids against the three DDs, protected by about 100 attenuated P-40Ks and P-40Ns. But the USAAF pilots are good ones. They downed a goodly number of Sams and Judys and messed up the enemy aim. All three DDs took light to moderate damage.

This is a terrific example of how "fleet in being" was working to his advantage and he waste it. My supply/reinforcement convoy will proceed directly to the Philippine Sea (I'm fairly confident 400+ fighters can handle enemy air from Enewetok, Truk, etc.), saving about two weeks.

And he missed an opportunity to hammer Formosa/Coastal China with KB and bombardment TFs while Death Star was away.

He really wanted to do something helpful but he's ended up shooting himself in the foot, I think.

I'm going to keep my DDs forward (at Umnak) hoping to continue drawing his attention. His carriers are only 55 hexes north of my CenPac reinforcements...which will move slowly to escort LSTs, etc. So I don't want him to suddenly move south. He'd only have a day or two to try that before that window closes, and as of today he doesn't have detection.

[Canoerebel]

9/24/44

KB swings in NoPac and hits a little dribbler foul.

[Canoerebel]

9/24/44

Putting a face on the KB raid.