Rising Sun, Falling Skies: BTSL Bigred vs John 3rd

[RangerJoe]

Yes, but not with you - rofl.

The thing of it is, he had the "lighter" side in that he had fewer units. It would take maybe 15-20 minutes per turn after the first turn and the scenario was one day turns for two months. If he would have kept the pace of one turn per day, within two months the scenario would have ended unless we agreed on ending it sooner which was a distinct possibility. So when he finally got back to me after not answering me for two months in which case that scenario would have been finished, that was my response. We both would have learned a lot about the game doing that PBEM.

Who knows, then I might finally have had the confidence to do a WITP:AE PBEM since I have plenty of time for that!

[CaptBeefheart]

Bigred: I think you are doing quite well at this point.

Regarding atoll invasions, they are tricky. I would do a lot of shore bombardment in advance and I'd overstack (for Tarawa probably 2 divs, 2 tank bns, 3 arty bns, 1 combat engineer rgt, 1 corps HQ--all prepped to at least 75). The trick is to have a lot of LSTs and the like on hand carrying only supplies that can feed the overstacked units every turn so you don't run out. Once you take the atoll, send in the Seabees and base forces and remove the combat units ASAP.

Cheers,
CB

[Bullshark]

Atoll size plays a big part in your invasion. 2 Divs for Tarawa is okay but even one div for a 6k Atoll is too much.
I still need some guidance on when the overstacking hurts your AV. I have seen that stacking over 120% of hex
size is about the max. Still looking to confirm.

Armour Btn.s seem to be the best force for an Atoll invasion, and on defense. They don't take alot of damage,
generally, recover quickly (exp 65 +) and pack a real punch with no personnel to overstack. Two of these
and eventually the island falls. They also protect you against counter invasions.

Atolls require 100% prep, only combat loading 2/3's or less of your force so they all unload on the first day, some
LST's carrying supplies only and some pre-invasion air and naval prep. Big ships in the amph. force take fire so
your troops land undamaged but fatigued. Rest a few days and then a DA. Time should be on your side and you
force your opponent to react to your moves, and you let him take the risks attacking your invasion.

Against a good IJN opponent patience and calculated massing of forces will eventually succeed. You will soon isolate.
Rangoon and Sumatra will soon be a Target. Nias, Siberoet and those Islands give you a nice foothold to land at Sabang or Padang and then threaten his oil centers and support for your current ops.

[bigred]

Bigred: I think you are doing quite well at this point.

Regarding atoll invasions, they are tricky. I would do a lot of shore bombardment in advance and I'd overstack (for Tarawa probably 2 divs, 2 tank bns, 3 arty bns, 1 combat engineer rgt, 1 corps HQ--all prepped to at least 75). The trick is to have a lot of LSTs and the like on hand carrying only supplies that can feed the overstacked units every turn so you don't run out. Once you take the atoll, send in the Seabees and base forces and remove the combat units ASAP.

Cheers,
CB

Hi Guys, thanks for the comments.Currently I have 2 atoll battles that I will be working on for the next several game weeks. I plan to reorganize the 40th div and return in smaaller size to tarawa at some point maybe in 30 days. also starting to work over Laysan and midway. I think John can read my operational direction.

Ref Capt BH, I am sure u correct in a base game. This is a Dababes C mod combined with BWTS. I consider this mod a JFB dream and very difficult for any allied player.
In comparison format the 40div landed whole at Canton is and took a 60% haircut but also took the island. So 40th div got the Tawara tasking. 100prep. the island was not supply suppressed before the invasion like I did at Christmas Island. The 40th took 100% disabled and all where reloaded onto the APAs without my command off island. A total crushing defeat. About 100 disabled av are on the APA headed to reorg. May be back in 30 days.

Any attack stack over the stacking limits will be harshly penalized using Dababes mod. I have decided to experiment with the next 2 invasion hexes. Layson is next and will receive an amphib attack after we see no more flack from my groundstrikes.

[bigred]

March 28/29, 1944.
Alot of action. Roving allied CV TFs, Sinabang, off Alieutiens, In the Marshalls, give and take with the enemy.
The Sinabang CVTF moved away from Sabang toward the maylay Ismus and into range of the port of Bangcock on the 2nd day.
IJN CA TF looks to bombard Sinabang but just keep running into allied shipping until the sun came up. Whoops....

Allied LBA at Rangoon decided to suppress Moulmein first before ejecting enemy troops from pegu.

[bigred]

44/3/28b
this was alot of action.

[bigred]

I would say the cruiser forces of IJ and allies are now closer to equilibrium. The Jap subs did nail one of the beginning allied Oilers, but now it does not matter as much. The Japs are starting a renewed push into china.

The next jpegs are from the Second day as my Bengal CVTF swings north into the range of Bangcock.

[bigred]

44/3/30: Did not shell me last turn. Get redy guys, I am sure they will bombard tonight, even if they sink while shelling me.

[bigred]

Since 27 july I was at Wifcon. We had a winner called Covid-19. wiped out 2 tables. So far everyone is recovering. One table of uninfected players did play on.

[Bullshark]

What Board Game is that?

Nice action around Sinabang. Shows how tough this mod is. Minefields in these coastal waters really disrupt
IJN movement and can make him reconsider future bombardments.

"3rd ADU Gun Regiment at Laysan"

These Coastal Gun Regiments are very dangerous and can cause alot of damage to invading ships, everything takes alot
of sys damage and your CA;s and BBs are weeks in port repairing. A Gun Regiment on a lonely Island may not be a
worthwhile target.

Thanks for the AAR, really like your style and detail. This is a really tough mod and now it seems the IJ pilots are
really good. Not many AARs see the SAM and Frank in these large numbers with skilled pilots.

[Yaab]

Mithril..eer, pardon, War in Flames is the name of the game.

Though when bigred said Wifcon I thought it was a support group for wives whose husbands are addicted to strategy games.

[BBfanboy]

I think that game is World in Flames.

Had a chuckle about Tone going under because its crew left their damage control efforts and ran to action stations to fight off the threat from an LCM!

[bigred]

I think that game is World in Flames.

Had a chuckle about Tone going under because its crew left their damage control efforts and ran to action stations to fight off the threat from an LCM!

me too. how low can you go, apparently to the bottom....sunk by a .5cal gun

[bigred]

So I got curious. no luck w the .5 cal story.

[bigred]

Sunk cruiser comparision. Allies still have more sunk CAs.

[BBfanboy]

So I got curious. no luck w the .5 cal story.

It happens often enough in bombing attacks too - no hits are scored but the ship sinks anyway from previous damage. I think they do a check for damage increase on a die roll and no not apply any damage control modifier. If it was that close to sinking/burning up it wouldn't have much equipment left to do damage control.

[RangerJoe]

So I got curious. no luck w the .5 cal story.

It happens often enough in bombing attacks too - no hits are scored but the ship sinks anyway from previous damage. I think they do a check for damage increase on a die roll and no not apply any damage control modifier. If it was that close to sinking/burning up it wouldn't have much equipment left to do damage control.

I do believe that when the ship is under attack that the damage control parties go to their battle stations instead of trying to save the ship.

Then again, maybe the damage was increasing anyway to the point where the ship would have sunk no matter what.

Of course, it could be that the ship just got scared!

I have seen xAK ships sunk from PT Boats using the 50 caliber. Once, there was only one hit recorded in combat. The crew probably decided to cook their food over the open fires instead of fighting the fires!

[bigred]

44-3-30/31
Mistakes are made, unseen is a IJAAF FB unit bombing my ships near Luganville.
Allies are using air power at Pegu to help push out the japs. John has to spread out his air force after my landing at Sinabang.
Screenies include an armored landing t Ocean island.
A major IJA push up the gut in china.
and a major allied attack at Pegu.
@nd day will show some jap transports getting bombed in the Aleutians.

[bigred]

March 31st.

[bigred]

44-4-1: