Today, with some spare time, I did a controlled experiment to see how Socotra is treated by the game code.
Methodology:
1) I began a fresh Scenario 2 game in Head-to-Head mode. On the first orders phase I immediately set all air forces of both sides to Stand Down. I recalled the KB and did not attack PH. Every TF in port, for both sides, I disbanded. All TFs at sea I sent to the nearest port, and unloaded/disbanded on subsequent turns. This offered a fresh board, and sped up turn execution.
2) I strat moved the entire Singapore LCU group to Jahore Bahru. I set the remaining lone Singapore CD unit to Rest, and assigned the worst CO I could find.
3) I collected and sent several minesweeping TFs to Singapore. This took some time. They swept Singapore clean.
4) I sent several amphib TFs to Singapore. They took substantial losses from CDs, but took the base, opening the strait to the NW.
5) I created a smallish amphib TF, loaded two infantry regiments (the 11th and 41st) and sent it toward Socotra.
6) While this TF was in transit, I cleaned out Aden, Abadan, and Karachi of all ships, planes and LCUs that I could carry. Aden still had an AA unit, and the motorized support of an Aussie division I sent to sit in Bombay. I sent the Karachi units inland, SE past Hyderabad. Once done, I had a clean board in these potential reinforcment bases as well. Socotra had its inital defense unit, an RN Det. Karachi had its CD unit on Rest. Aden was almost clean as noted. I believe two base forces arrived, plus the defense unit, and the mech. support as previous.
7) I stopped the amphib. TF one hex from Socotra and saved.
8) I invaded Socotra. It fell quickly.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jan 27, 42
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Ground combat at Socotra (14,8)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 7128 troops, 52 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 250
Defending force 253 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 7
Japanese adjusted assault: 346
Allied adjusted defense: 1
Japanese assault odds: 346 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Socotra !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(-), preparation(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
253 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 20 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1
Assaulting units:
11th Infantry Regiment
41st Infantry Regiment
Defending units:
Socotra RN Det
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9) No reinforcments were triggered on this turn:
OPERATIONAL REPORT FOR Jan 27, 42
Japanese forces CAPTURE Socotra !!!
Group Withdrawals:
9 overdue (91 Daily PP, 1221 Accumulated PP)
xAK Exhibitor arrives at Balboa
xAP Aquitania arrives at Aden
SSX Ha-22 is reported to have been sunk near Pearl Harbor on Dec 07, 1941
No.136 Sqn RAF arrives at Aden
VII US Bomber Cmnd arrives at Pearl Harbor
10) On Socotra D-Day +1 no reinforcments were triggered:
OPERATIONAL REPORT FOR Jan 28, 42
Group Withdrawals:
9 overdue (91 Daily PP, 1312 Accumulated PP)
xAK San Lucas arrives at Balboa
xAK Historian arrives at Abadan
xAK Scottish Chief arrives at Abadan
TK British Chemist arrives at Abadan
11) I reloaded the 41st Infantry Reg., and left the 11th at Socotra. I transited to Karachi over six days.
12) I invaded Karachi. It did not fall on the initial attack.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 03, 42
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TF 12 encounters mine field at Karachi (40,8)
Japanese Ships
LSD Shinshu Maru, Mine hits 1
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Pre-Invasion action off Karachi
52 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
xAK Seizan Maru
xAK Tamaki Maru
xAK Kyokko Maru
LSD Shinshu Maru
Japanese ground losses:
59 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
xAK Seizan Maru fired at enemy guns
xAK Tamaki Maru fired at enemy guns
xAK Kyokko Maru fired at enemy guns
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 5,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards
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Amphibious Assault at Karachi
TF 12 troops unloading over beach at Karachi, 40,8
Japanese ground losses:
19 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad accidentally lost during unload of 41st Infantry Rgt /4
10 Support troops lost from landing craft during unload of 41st Infantry Rgt /5
10 Support troops accidentally lost during unload of 41st Infantry Rgt /6
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Ground combat at Karachi (40,8)
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 3196 troops, 39 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 35
Defending force 3525 troops, 26 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 121
Assaulting units:
Karachi Fortress
Defending units:
41st Infantry Rgt /1
13) Indian trigger line reinforcments reported activated on day of inital, unsuccessful Karachi attack in Ops Report.
OPERATIONAL REPORT FOR Feb 03, 42
6th Australian Division packing for load on xAP Aquitania (TF 3), 1 day(s) remaining
No additional repairs possible on SS Truant
using currently assigned resources at Bombay
6th Australian Division packing for load on xAP Aquitania (TF 3), 1 day(s) remaining
Coastwatcher sighting: 7 Japanese ships at 40,8 near Karachi , Speed 3 , Moving East
No additional repairs possible on SS Truant
using currently assigned resources at Bombay
TF 4 does not have enough fuel to complete mission
Ship Withdrawals: 1 overdue (20 Daily PP, 40 Accumulated PP)
Group Withdrawals:
13 overdue (171 Daily PP, 2178 Accumulated PP)
Low garrison leads to damage and 1 VP loss from partisan attack at Hyderabad (Sindh) (42, 10)!
India invaded! Counter invasion forces released.
xAK Charles McCormick arrives at Cristobal
xAK Ganges arrives at Cape Town
AM Kiwi arrives at Auckland
AM Moa arrives at Auckland
XXI Indian Corps arrives at Aden
6th Indian Division arrives at Abadan
10th Indian Division arrives at Aden
Waziristan Division arrives at Karachi
31st Armoured Division arrives at Aden
8th Indian Division arrives at Aden
Emergency Convoy Supply Convoy arrives at Aden
5th Indian Division arrives at Aden
XXI Corps Engineer Battalion arrives at Aden
Conclusions:
1) The Indian reinforcment trigger line does not extend across open water to the island hex of Socotra, at least in January 1942. Extrapolating, it appears likely that the trigger line is not active for this base during the period 12/7/1941 until the date of my actual invasion either. Whether the line extends at some later date is undetermined. However, as this would involve extra code which could have as easily been included to activate on all dates, it seems unlikely that this is the case. Socotra is therefore "safe" for a Japanese player to consider engaging.
2) The trigger line works at Karachi as early as February 1942. Extrapolating, it appears likely it is also active from the first day of the game onward.
3) The actual Indian forces composing the reinforcment body are listed in the Ops Report above. All but one LCU arrives in the Mideast, not on the Indian mainland. The infantry divisions are of good quality, fully-filled TOEs, of 75, 70, and 40 Experience, with no Fatigue. I can print exact specs if anyone is interested.
