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Velius
Feb 27, 2001
I didn’t watch that video previously, and never really understood just how painful making these updates must be. Thanks again for doing this and hope the battle goes well!

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Tuna-Fish
Sep 13, 2017

What's the strike range on your carriers?

Also, ominous:

Alikchi posted:

Hopefully nothing happens tomorrow!

Alikchi posted:

Anyhow, I haven't uploaded a turn to YouTube since the carrier battle in January 1943 but this next turn will require one. Otherwise it will take a week to screenshot and write everything I want to show and say..

Tuna-Fish fucked around with this message at 16:40 on Apr 27, 2024

wedgekree
Feb 20, 2013
HOpefully it has blood for the pixel god!

Cimber
Feb 3, 2014
Depending how big the butchers bill is, with the way the Allies are starting to crap out ships and planes at a much better rate, even a 3:1 loss ratio might be a victory when they are starting to get replacements at 5:1

wedgekree
Feb 20, 2013

Cimber posted:

Depending how big the butchers bill is, with the way the Allies are starting to crap out ships and planes at a much better rate, even a 3:1 loss ratio might be a victory when they are starting to get replacements at 5:1

Methinks for this mod they're not making the replacement ratio quite that bad. And still losing a lot of carriers hurts.

Cimber
Feb 3, 2014

wedgekree posted:

Methinks for this mod they're not making the replacement ratio quite that bad. And still losing a lot of carriers hurts.

Oh, yeah. If Alikchi loses all his carriers and Pharn comes away without a scratch it'll be pretty disheartening, but recoverable.

Tuna-Fish
Sep 13, 2017

Is there a discord server or a thread or something where we can talk about things that integrate knowledge from both LPs without the players seeing it?

mercenarynuker
Sep 10, 2008

I hope both Alikchi and Pharnakes coordinate and post their turns roughly at the same time

gohuskies
Oct 23, 2010

I spend a lot of time making posts to justify why I'm not a self centered shithead that just wants to act like COVID isn't a thing.

Cimber posted:

Oh, yeah. If Alikchi loses all his carriers and Pharn comes away without a scratch it'll be pretty disheartening, but recoverable.

Also Pharnakes has pretty much the entire Kido Butai parked in Singapore "repairing from sabotage" after the initial game was so lopsided, so an extra 4-6 IJN carriers are going to pop in sometime in the future.

Alikchi
Aug 18, 2010

Thumbs up I agree

Sorry to make you wait!

June 5, 1943

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ad4pMWTW_yI

Turn replay! I’ll refer to timestamps below.

South Pacific

Carrier battle begins at 17:48. What can I say? He chased the assault transports and we were there to catch him.

With a surprisingly small CAP. Where were Shokaku and Zuikaku’s Zeros? Wildcats and Hellcats push Taiho’s aside and the bombers descend (21:45). I think they’ve all sunk or been scuttled, though he might have a shot at saving Zuikaku.

I had considered cutting the CVE loose so Scourge, Hamilton and Essex wouldn’t be limited by her speed. I’m very glad I didn’t - those Wildcats helped a lot.



Essex after the battle. What a start to the war for her!

Neither side’s land-based aircraft had any appreciable impact on the battle outside of scouting: my B-25s and B-24s targeted Mili, the SBDs and TBDs based at Abemama were just out of range, and his Nells got shredded (28:52).

Southwest Pacific

Hellcat sweep straight into Rabaul today from Milne (10:37). It’s not a successful fight, but we know the scale of the effort necessary now. B-25s are now focusing on the naval guard unit at Lae as Australian infantry approach. Another squadron from Terapo keeps the pressure up on Umboi Island. An IJN-free New Guinea is possible..

In Australia, I keep bombing Gove, mostly with B-24s (26:40). He reaches out with lots of Helens and bombs Tennant Creek from Katherine. Just a few second-line aircraft there, except for a squadron of Dakotas. There isn’t much I can do to respond right now (that P-40 sweep over Katherine was my attempt at that, and that was a write-off). Well, two things I can do - use Wirraways and Boomerangs to provide CAP in these places, and earmark some P-47s for northern Australia. P-47s are coming!

India

Very sad to see the transports and HMS Cornwall sunk at the beginning of the turn (01:20). They had been bugged out in that hex for a couple of weeks now. I think this is my fault for doing a sloppy job expanding the map..

The P-40s pop up over Delhi again to counter Tojo sweeps (06:02), get a few kills, but are ground down over the course of the day. The airfield will be untenable soon.



His troops will reach Jodhpur any day now. Our bombers try to slow them down (25:48).

Summary & Orders



Lots of dead Nells, but where are the ops losses? Did none of the three carriers actually sink? Well, all their aircraft probably diverted to Ailinglaplap or someplace. Maybe?

code:
Attu Island expands fortifications to size 7
Maiana expands airfield to size 2
Ocean Island expands airfield to size 1
Townsville expands port to size 7
Milne Bay expands fortifications to size 2
Kiriwina Island expands port to size 1
Many important base expansions today. Don’t judge my Attu Island Fortress.



Tomorrow, our carriers will race west a few hundred miles. Kumano, Tenryu and Tatsuta might be slow enough to finish off, if weather allows. If any of the three CVs remain afloat, we need to finish them off.



If the weather doesn’t allow for planes, maybe Admiral Scott can catch the enemy with his two modern battleships.

Zurai
Feb 13, 2012


Wait -- I haven't even voted in this game yet!

Can tell how happy you were with those mouse cursor squiggles in the carrier fight. It has to feel good to get a complete W finally.

SIGSEGV
Nov 4, 2010


Here's to hoping they stay down.

Nice Attu fortress too.

Tuna-Fish
Sep 13, 2017

WOOHOO

I just absolutely love how you invade a completely strategically meaningless atoll that's too small to even put a real airfield on, but because Pharnakes felt like it merited a response you end up scoring your biggest victory of the war so far.

This reads so much like so many real engagements from the war that it's not even funny.

habeasdorkus
Nov 3, 2013

Royalty is a continuous shitposting motion.

Tuna-Fish posted:

WOOHOO

I just absolutely love how you invade a completely strategically meaningless atoll that's too small to even put a real airfield on, but because Pharnakes felt like it merited a response you end up scoring your biggest victory of the war so far.

This reads so much like so many real engagements from the war that it's not even funny.

Yeah, that was precisely what I was thinking in the buildup to this moment watching both threads. Pharnakes has to be kicking himself to get into a fight over Ebon of all things.

Alikchi
Aug 18, 2010

Thumbs up I agree

Zurai posted:

Can tell how happy you were with those mouse cursor squiggles in the carrier fight. It has to feel good to get a complete W finally.

Yes! And exactly a year after Midway. Something about early June I guess, it'slikepoetryitrhymes

Tuna-Fish posted:

WOOHOO

I just absolutely love how you invade a completely strategically meaningless atoll that's too small to even put a real airfield on, but because Pharnakes felt like it merited a response you end up scoring your biggest victory of the war so far.

This reads so much like so many real engagements from the war that it's not even funny.

habeasdorkus posted:

Yeah, that was precisely what I was thinking in the buildup to this moment watching both threads. Pharnakes has to be kicking himself to get into a fight over Ebon of all things.

Yep! The best I'm going to get out of this is a level one airfield, and it will be weeks before it's operational. Look up "Ebon Atoll Airport" to see what the poor bastard engineers are dealing with. It could be important - a handy little airfield for fighters very close to the enemy, a lair for PT boats to menace the Marshalls - but it isn't yet.

I imagine it was the specialized large amphibious stuff, AKAs, APAs, LSI(L)s, etc. I'm sure he knows they are a weak point for me. If the Marines had been stuck with xAP and xAKs invading Ebon we'd have been able to unload.. maybe a company of infantry, plus a few engineers with no vehicles and (most important) not nearly enough supplies.

I am going to move right on to June 6, because things aren't quite finished around Ebon.

June 6, 1943

South Pacific

THUNDERSTORMS. The carriers are washed out and the battleships encounter nothing.



Our B-24s target Roi-Namur today. I think we will again tomorrow.

Southwest Pacific



Several groups of B-24s target Darwin and get chewed up for their efforts. Not trying that again for a while.



We are applying more B-25s to the Gove problem.



Do not rebase air groups without checking their range settings. They were just following orders.. :cripes:

India



More grinding over Delhi. Today they clear the skies early and easily and dozens and dozens of Helens make free bombing runs. It’s time to leave..



There’s also a big focus on Jodhpur. The weather is our ally here. Some very large and coordinated airstrikes do much less damage than they might’ve thanks to the thunderstorms.





On the ground, we are being essentially herded by his tanks. It’s not very dignified.



I also mistime a counterattack that goes straight at his main body. Delhi is.. Days from being surrounded?

Summary & Orders



That’s what a sunken carrier looks like. Our ratio would have been garbage today otherwise, look at all those SBD losses.



And our scouts report he still has one afloat. We will pursue. If I was him, I would’ve rebased the surviving carrier aircraft to Ailinglaplap, so this is dangerous. The weather looks good tomorrow, just overcast…

Terrifying Effigies
Oct 22, 2008

Problems look mighty small from 150 miles up.

Good luck and good hunting!

wedgekree
Feb 20, 2013
How well setup is your garrison in Dehli? As far as numbers, supplies, fortifications, etc?

And nice job catching a carrier!

Alikchi
Aug 18, 2010

Thumbs up I agree

June 7, 1943

Central Pacific



Poor Peto. Her first patrol, and she gets nailed by a Nell’s 250kg bomb. They fought the flooding for a couple of days. RIP.

South Pacific



LCI-23, attempting to slip away alone from Ebon Island, is caught by I-169.



A couple things revealed here. One, the utility of Makin: we can send dozens of Corsairs and Hellcats ranging into the Marshalls without even needing drop tanks. Two, some of Taiho’s Zeroes at Ailinglaplap. Is Taiho still afloat? I assume they’re flying from the airfield; even if Taiho isn’t sunk I seriously doubt she can operate aircraft.



B-24s brush past the Corsair-mauled Zero CAP and score excellent hits on Ailinglaplap field. The B-25s nearby target Mili.



Ah! There’s one! SINK drat you.



God bless Spruance, he found another.



And an Avenger squadron finishes off a destroyer.

Southwest Pacific

The bombing of Gasmata, Umboi Island, and the Naval Guard garrison at Lae continues, using three or four B-25 squadrons. Thunderstorms over New Guinea/New Britain hamper our efforts there. Gove is bombed by B-24s.



B-25s too. I’m getting so many B-25s in several variants - it gives me great joy. Shattered B-26 squadrons, RAAF guys training in Ansons and Wirraways, they’re all upgrading or soon to upgrade to Mitchells.



RO-103 takes a potshot at my big minelaying group. It’s dangerous to group them all up like this, but I love being able to create a gigantic field of hundreds of mines in one go. In this case, at Kiriwina Island (2 hexes NE of Milne Bay).

India



Today’s the last day we attempt to contest the air over Delhi, at least for some time. The Scythes, Hurricanes, and Warhawks have put up a brave fight. Further waves of Tojos grind them down as usual today.



By mid-morning, the Helens are bombing the airfield with impunity. (Another wave of 58 follows this one.) We will be flying out nearly all our serviceable aircraft tonight. A lot of damaged airframes will have to be shipped overland. And the escape route is about to close, I can’t keep Delhi from being encircled.



Another deep strike at Lahore. I’ve spread out my aircraft a bit more since the last raid.



We are still using what little bomber strength we have to delay the march on Jodhpur. These Canadian Venturas are astonishingly lucky to all make it home.



A follow-up. I expect Hyderabad to be bombed to poo poo tomorrow.



The main body of the IJA India Army - five infantry divisions, plus a hotde of tank regiments, engineers, artillery, AA and mortar units - pushes aside the remnants of the 10th Indian Div and are now in prime position to encircle Delhi. Two escape routes remain.

The usual bombardments at Bangalore, Jubbulpore and Nander. I wonder if Delhi will last as long as Jubbulpore and Bangalore have. There’s plenty of supplies and nearly level 5 forts, but he has overwhelming numbers.

Summary & Orders



Wow. That looks like Taiho and Shokaku’s aircraft to me. At least. Is Zuikaku still afloat somewhere? We did the least damage to her on the 5th, and haven’t spotted her since.



The Fun Police have been spotted charging east towards the Marshalls from the Palau area. With most of the CVLs off of India, and the heart of the Kido Butai damaged or sunk, this must be.. Tairyu and Donryu? Maybe more?

Spruance will begin withdrawing back towards the relative security of the Gilberts, but I want to port-strike Kwajalein while I’m in range. Recon reports 40+ ships, mostly xAKs, patrol boats and so on.



And here’s Delhi. Supplies are getting sucked into building forts and repairing the airfield simultaneously. With the airfield untenable, base forces (particularly anything with aviation support) are loading onto railcars for their last-minute escape. With only ~500 AV to hold the place, a siege may not be necessary for the IJA.

Cimber
Feb 3, 2014
Fun fact. IJN CV aircraft have unique names identifying what ship they are from. If you look closely at combat reports you can identify where they are flying from. Lots of CV aircraft coming from a base? That's a good sign.

wedgekree
Feb 20, 2013
Congrats on butchering the carriers and all the planes they had! Nice work. Your first major victory against the IJN in awhile! Looks like the Marshalls are going well so far.

ChaosDragon
Jul 13, 2014
So how are you going to fix India?

Pirate Radar
Apr 18, 2008

You're not my Ruthie!
You're not my Debbie!
You're not my Sherry!

ChaosDragon posted:

So how are you going to fix India?

Japanese positions in India will become untenable when the Marines land in Indochina. :black101:

I mean, I assume. I don’t know what the Japanese supply lines are like with China being quiet.

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Alikchi
Aug 18, 2010

Thumbs up I agree

wedgekree posted:

Congrats on butchering the carriers and all the planes they had! Nice work. Your first major victory against the IJN in awhile! Looks like the Marshalls are going well so far.

Yes! It's very heartening. I need to be a bit more methodical - I lost too many AKAs and APAs at Milne and Ebon - but we are picking up momentum.

ChaosDragon posted:

So how are you going to fix India?

This is a good question. I expect maybe a few more months of mopping up. There just aren't enough Allied troops left to hold him back. The goal now is to occupy as much of the IJA as possible for as long as possible before he's shouting Banzai in Peshawar.

Pirate Radar posted:

Japanese positions in India will become untenable when the Marines land in Indochina. :black101:

I mean, I assume. I don’t know what the Japanese supply lines are like with China being quiet.

This is one answer to ChaosDragon's question: leave it be, force him to garrison the whole subcontinent and just beeline straight for Japan & China/Indochina. I might do this, if he cleans up India rapidly.

Right now, I have an African brigade and (soon) an American infantry division garrisoning Diego Garcia - 24 hexes from Ceylon. Two British brigades garrison Socotra (26 hexes from Karachi), with more earmarked. These guys could form the core of a Ceylon landing force, but a serious invasion of mainland India needs to have something similar to the force he's wielding, 6 or 7 divisions - a full army. Plus clear naval superiority and lots of carrier support, naturally. Maybe I can accumulate such a force over the course of the next 9 months, with American help. But these are 1944 plans.

On that note, an Allied re-invasion of India or (especially) Indochina next year could act as a starter gun for Nationalist China's re-entry into the war. President Wallace is very interested in supporting national liberation movements..

June 8, 1943

Central Pacific



HMCS Canso reports damaging an enemy submarine while escorting an empty convoy back to Pearl Harbor. SS Portmar is unscathed.



USS Hake, operating off Formosa, scores a hit. Liverpool Maru almost definitely won’t sink, but all functional Mark 14s should be celebrated.

South Pacific



Massachusetts and SoDak lightly season Jaluit with 16 inch shells. The task force stays at ~15,000 yards to avoid fire from Jaluit Naval Fortress. With just the fortress, a Naval Guard unit and a small base force on the island, Jaluit looks more and more tempting. We have units planning for the invasion right now, as well as others set aside for Majuro and Maloelap.



Ailinglaplap, a level 4 airfield, is also a concern. The Makin Corsairs tangle with Taiho’s homeless Zeros.



Theater B-25s bomb Mili, with no opposition. The B-24s target Maloelap and are surprised by a combination of severe storms and A6M3s. The enemy is prevented from doing any serious damage by 50 cal turret fire. All thirteen Liberators drop their bombs on the airfield, but the Zeros and weather succeed in throwing off their aim.



Essex, Scourge, Hamilton and Prince Edward are smack in the middle of the Marshalls now, eager to pick off what they can before the fun police arrive. The Zeroes do well against our F6Fs, but not well enough. And once again, the CVE’s Wildcats overperform. Uji Maru and Yahada Maru are not built to withstand 1000lb SAP bombs.



The strike on Kwajalein isn’t the smashing blow I was hoping for, but Takashima and Jingei are important targets.



Nothing wrong with hitting destroyers at Jaluit, either! A shockingly successful few days for the barely-reconstituted Allied carrier fleet. Time to pull back.

Southwest Pacific



RO-103 gets run over.



The bombing of Gasmata, Umboi Island, Lae’s garrison,Gove, and Shortlands continues. Good hits on Shortlands today, in particular.

India


Fulmars .. you were too brave, too perfect, and too useless for it to end any other way. :britain: Another 26 Nells follow this wave, but my remaining quality bombers escaped overnight.



Heavy rain and a handful of fighters impede today’s Helen runs on Delhi. Most of the aircraft there have also escaped. (Or “escaped”, to primitive airfields on the Afghan border with zero support.)



A few shattered squadrons peck at the army advancing on Jodhpur, but his LRCAP takes many down.



Two more enemy divisions push across the river - the 37th Infantry and 2nd Guards. Now there is only one railroad out of Delhi.

Summary & Orders



Solid!



DANGER. The enemy has spotted Hawkins and Frobisher, escorting a convoy of reinforcements for Diego Garcia. I’m sending them into port to avoid their sinking in open seas. If we’re lucky, the convoy will finish unloading its important cargo tomorrow and we can sprint the warships to safety at Cape Town or Mombasa before the hammer falls.



Another wave of refits.



Some notable intelligence today. Subs based at Soerabaja - or maybe she’s just using the small repair shipyard there? Either way, we should mine Soerabaja harbor. Plus, AA units and infantry heading for Truk. And a full division pointed at Tabiteuea. He is plotting out a response to my moves in the Gilberts & Marshalls, presumably.

When he gets Akagi, Kaga, Hiryu and Soryu back, he could do a lot. Maybe he’s thinking of retaking the Gilberts, going right for the throat at Tabiteuea. I will have to prepare for that.

Alikchi fucked around with this message at 16:43 on May 11, 2024

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